Looks like business is good for Tim and Terry (Shoe Shine Boys). The boys are well known to many of the business travelers down at the depot.
Great Scene Bob
I see the station master sweeps the platform nicely but never gets the paper off the road bed. I like the reverse profiling in who shines whose shoes.
Art,
Yeah, 1930’s??? Bit of social engineering? I thought Bob was an aircraft structural engineer. Anyway, good to see.
The old newspaper litter always gets my attention. Must remember to put some on my layout.
Hi There;
Another awesome pic!! That dude sitting on the bench looks pretty scary sort of like the Wolfman. Hope for the sake of the locals he’s on the next train out.
Hey Tom,
You’re right mate. But if he is on the next train pity the passengers when they go into one of those tunnels. Who wants Wolfman sitting near them when the train goes into a tunnel?
That’s a nice little scene Bob! I agree “Wolfman” is a scary guy.
Terry
Bob,
Has there been a census of late in Maritaville and surrounding district? I seem to know a few of the characters, but was just wondering what total the population runs to.
I have developed a sort of affection for the guy dubbed “Wolfman”. I expect he is really a nice guy, but just looks scary. Does he drive a horse and cart when he is not sitting on the seat waiting for a train?
Better get back to work. I enjoy your photos so much I am playing truant. Have to finish some quotes[:(] before I leave for Oz tonight.[:D]
I’m just worried that the signal above his head is going to fall and take out Wolfman. They would never allow anything like that in today’s safety-and-lawsuit environment.
Are those Campbell shingles? That’s great modelling of a beat-up roof.
Jump to 2006,
Wolfman is still sitting there. Ticket office has been replaced with Starbucks and the shoeshine stand is now an ATM. Freight dock and warehouse section is now a taxi service office. The platform is poured concrete with a yellow line along its edge. Milk containers have been replaced “Auto Trader” and “Real Estate” advertising boxes and one for USA Today. Add in a totally functional and purely bland/ugly station name sign and we’re just about all set.
In other words, changes aren’t always for the better.
The fellow sitting on the bench is on his way to Hollywoodland, A suburb just north of Los Angeles. His name is Lon Chaney. A Universal Pictures producer spotted him at the local drug store and offered him a “bit” part in one of his motion pictures. Since leaving town, his whereabouts remain a mystery. I wonder if he ever got that movie role?