I was born and raised in Chicago and remember the original model railroad display at the Museum of Science and Industry. So after 40 years a Californian and reading the amazing article about the “new” MSI train setup in Model Railroader, I decided to carve out some time from our annual Thanksgiving visit to Chicago to go the Museum. Well, it certainly is a mind-blower “in person” and the modeling work, the scenery, all of it made me feel hungry to come back to California and complete my beginner’s layout. But something bothered me: the “old” trains were, what, some kind of off-scale, like maybe S-guage or 027? And they had a sense of “heft” to them running that the HO trains just didn’t seem to have. Maybe I’m stating the obvious in terms of differences between the scales, but somehow, for all of its amazing trackwork, scenery, city-scapes and variety of rolling stock, the new layout seemed ever so slightly less convincing than the original layout. Anyone else have that experience?
I have seen both the old and the new and will always have fond memories of the old although my favorite layout now has become the Tehachapi layout in the San Diego Model RR Museum. Peter Smith, Memphis
PS: Does anyone know if Fred Icken’s locomotives were ever run or displayed at the old Chicago layout? (Or if any of Icken’s locomotives still exist somewhere?) Peter Smith, Memphis
I was born in Chicago but the family moved away when I was 2. We did make a number of trips back to Chicago but I only have a vague memory of the old layout. The coal mine made more of an impression on me. I think that is still there.
The original Minton Cronkhite(sp?) layout was O scale. By the time I saw the layout in the early '60’s the original scale rolling stock had worn out and the track had been relaid with center third rail and supported a Lionel fleet that was a mere shadow of the original. That was the last time I was in the Chicago area.
Visiting the Museum again is on my list of things to do - someday - maybe.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I was fortunate enough to be taken to the MSI several times growing up, and certainly remember the original layout. Also got a chance to visit Chicago in '03 and made time to visit the new layout.
Without getting into a “which scale is better” debate, I think part of the perception from the original post is that even though it does fall under the banner of trains, I believe when you are discussing or looking at O-27 and HO it really is apples and oranges.
I understand what you mean, but it would seem to me that you couldn’t separate the idea that in our minds, the O-27 layout is going to be perceived as larger because the trains themselves are larger. And the orginal layout seemed to be more of one large rectangle, where the whole layout was easily seen from the balcony above. The square footage of the newer HO scale layout may be harder to grasp because of the trackplan as it snakes around.
If anyone is planning a visit, one of the coolest views of the new layout is looking out the window of the airplane that is hanging above the layout. I guess I’m a little biased, but seeing this layout alone is well worth the price of admission.
Plus you get all the other stuff…yes, the coal mine is still in operation. Or at least it was in 2003.
The new layout is ok, but seems a little corporate sponsored. The old one had a real feel to it.
Times change
This surprises me, as I re-visited and took photos of the layout in the late 1980s and the track was two-rail at that time.
You people are coocoo for coco puffs.
The Original Museum&Santa Fe was 2 rail dc O-gauge track with 1/4" scale models exactly what Minton Chronkite always built. It NEVER was Lionel O-27.
I saw the original during the 80s many times. I loved the Warbonnets and the California vistas. I wish the new layout was also Chicago to LA, but I like the Pacific Northwest too.
I had a friend who works in the Memebership department at the museum. She was gonna try and get me an engine or something, but they decided to Ebay a lot of it. Supposedly, there was a storeroom that held much of the original rollingstock.
The original layout was definately “corporate sponsored”. It is no coincidence that it was everything Santa fe.
Thanks YoHo1975, I for one stand corrected.
I’m guilty of using the term “O-27” in a generic manner…bad habit of mine as I do get corrected every once in awhile. Sorta like people ordering a coke at the Pepsi place.
I do know the difference. And I do LOVE Cocoa Puffs![:P] Anybody have some milk?