So im at that stage on the layout where I’m trying to figure out which station to use for my passenger and commuter trains. I want this station to be sort of like a flagship type station or station that commuter trains typically use. Anybody have any nice stations that they know of or would possibly sell?
So I originally was going to purchase the commuter station that Custom Model Railroad sells for $156.00 but with shipping it comes to $180.00. Kind of pricey but I love it. Kato makes a suburban station that I like as well but it’s only for N scale.
The few Walthers stations seem out of place for a layout in the Chicago area as they seem more West Coast with their mission style or Southern Pacific theme.
The Union Station is too big and would need a huge place for it plus trains would need to be underground and have many tracks to look practical.
Also thought about the butterfly platforms but kind of want something more than that as well. Again love the station kit that CMR sells but don’t want to spend almost $200 if i can help it.
When in need of an idea, reference your prototype for the period.
If you look hard you could find the old “train shed” style train platforms on ebay. HOWEVER a lot of people don’t like these because they hide the trains. Walthers created the see through roof kind as an answer to the train hiding problem. (And it looks horrid IMHO…Nothing personal Walthers…you create a lot of really great looking kits. This is not one of them!)
Since you can’t find what you want at a price you can live with (always a problem for me as well), might I suggest you try to scratch build a station. I was looking to model the old Santa Fe Depot in Santa Ana, California but could find no kits of it at any price nor any kits close enough to it to kitbash. My only option was to scratch build it.
A few sheets of styrene and one or both door and window assortments from Tichy Train Group and you can model all sorts of structures. Find some photos of a prototype station that really strikes your interest and go for it! Work out the structure’s dimensions from an exterior swing door in the photos (usually 3’-0" wide by 6’-8" tall). Draw up a plan based on those dimensions, maybe make a quick mock-up out of cardstock, and adjust the plan as needed. I found that I had to compress my depot slightly.
The really fun part of this project was watching a former mayor of Santa Ana (and train nut) checking out my finished model. He was practically drooling over it so I guess I got pretty close to the prototype.
When I bought my 135’ CMR Turntable back in 2001 I was very concerned about the high cost. I had never had any experience with a total Acrylic Kit before that purchase. It was a learning curve for me working with laser cut Acrylic parts. Because I had not worked with that much Acrylic before I ran out the supplied glue and bought some at a local plastics shop.
The bottom line with the CMR turntable is it is the best engineered and packaged kit I’ve ever seen in my 60+ year Model Railroading career. The CMR Turntable looks and works better than anything else I have! If you decide to go with the CMR Station you will not be sorry about the cost, guaranteed!!!
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
Oh wow I didn’t know this station existed in real life. Wow it looks good. I might just have to purchase it.
Rich
I have been looking at the city station but it doesn’t give me enough “umph” if you know what I mean. It’s not bad by any means and if i had no choice that would be the one i would go with. I still would need a platform for the other side of the track since the station only can serve one track. I guess I could use styrene and drill a few holes in it to install a light post and a bench and a sign and paint the styrene a brick color to match the station…
yes Rich i wouldn’t mind a few pics but I know what you’re talking about. I’m aware that yes on each side of the station you can lay track there but the way my layout is set up and the way most commuter trains operate is they may have a station on one side and just a platform on the other. In other words the two tracks are in the middle just like in the above link i showed. What you’re referring to im assuming is have the station in the middle with the two tracks on either side. My track layout isn’t set up like that…Both the tracks are together so the stations/platforms have to be outside the rails.
Don’t reject out of hand some of the European plastic kits of stations and depots. By Americanizing the roofing and the window mullions some very plausible stations can be created, perhaps not without some kitbashing. This is particularly true if you want to mimic some of the more elaborate Chicago area commuter stations some of which have a sort of faux European look to them anyway.
LION builds stations in HO from scratch. My most latest works are not on my web site yet, but since I am still in the nursing home until saturday, I can not post new ones today. Check my website for what you can see.
I’m going to second Hornblower’s and Lion’s suggestions that you consider scratch building the station. You could certainly do it for less than $180.
I don’t see anything on the CMR model that couldn’t be scratch built fairly easily. I think the most challenging part would be modelling the canopies at street level and the roof on the walkway between the two towers. The curved roof sections could be done with styrene 1/4 round for the curved edges with flat stock between them. Evergreen Scale Models sells 1/4 round in .100" which would be close to the prototype in HO. Scroll down a bit:
One thing I do not like about the CMR model is the railings. The round bits are way too big in diameter IMHO. Heljan currently offers a similar design with what appears to be a thinner profile. Unfortunately they are going to be discontinued so you should act fast if you want them:
Another advantage to scratch building is that you can make the platforms as long as you want. The CMR model will only accomodate two passenger cars.
If you haven’t done any scratch building you have missed out! It is lots of fun and very satisfying. There are lots of people on the forums who would be more than willing to coach you if you need it.
Here you go Angelo, this is close to what you would like in a station.
This is a Walthers Cornerstone model. look it up at their site. Good price too.
OK, now I understand… they don’t show it in “N” scale. So sorry…
At: Kit - 8-9/16 x 11-13/16" 21.5 x 30cm
Walthers Part # 933-3038, p. 397 Walthers 2015 HO Scale Reference
HO scale, $34.98, currently in stock at Walthers
This product is on-sale today for $25.98
Download the Instruction Sheet (1268 K bytes, PDF format)
The depot was a magical place. At train time, everything stopped as local folks went down to watch the varnish come in. The old depot may be gone, but the magic is still there! Today, shiny Amtrak streamliners glide by, and in many areas, daily commuter trains make up much of the trackside action. These modern trains require modern facilities and bringing your layout up-to-date is easy with this kit. It’s based on a design first used in the late 1970s, which was adapted for use in several Amtrak-served communities. This detailed model captures the clean lines of the original in a size that’s right for the contemporary layout. Full-color Amtrak station signs add the finishing touch.
Regg, I need to stop pushing the City Station on you - - LOL. But, the City Station has matching platforms that could be placed on the other side of your two tracks, similar to what you want to do.
Here is the City Station with platforms set up on each side to accommodate passenger tracks on each side of the station. You could easily place the platforms across from the station, separated by two tracks between the platforms and the station. That is done all the time on commuter railroads.
Rich I really do like that picture you posted. Is that your station? I like how you got the platforms on both sides of the tracks. As for the platform sheds, what did you do cut the roofs of the platform sheds to lay or line up on the roof of the station…I see they look to be cut at a anlge and glued to the station roof.
Actually, most Walthers structure kits are based on midwestern prototypes, I’ve been through small towns in Wisconsin where it looks like a Walthers display layout. The Walthers “city” station is almost identical to the Milwaukee Road station in Hastings, MN (and I imagine many other Milwauakee depots).
Of course, maybe we should clarify - are you talking about a suburban commuter / passenger station, or are you talking about the big city station the commuters are going towards? If the latter, the trains usually would just end up at a big downtown station, that would also be used for regular (Amtrak in modern times) trains.
