Well, for the time being, this is a First Class operation; steak and potatoes! However, the trackwork is far above the low standards that were set by Louis Houck on the Cape Girardeau Northern (which laid all this original track on the prototype).
More to come. I plan to get more track laid soon. Photos to come. Solid it is, you could get up on this benchwork with no fear of breaking it down.
I remember a discussion I had with a fellow modeler regarding the difficulty of modeling bad track (like on one of the Houck roads, or the DM&E in South Dakota. I said, "It's nearly impossible to model bad track." He said, "Oh, no there are lots of guys who can do it. They just don't mean to." GS
Keith, No doubt you will build a fine layout, after all, you went to school on everyone else's layouts. Not cutting you down, that's how I built mine LOL!
In reality, since the 70's I have read nearly everything I could about building a model railroad including planning, benchwork construction, track laying, electrical devices and wiring, modeling techniques, scenery, painting, etc, etc. Add to that what I have seen built in layouts around me in KC and from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan and Colorado, and add what I learned from my dad about building, wiring and plumbing houses and one builds a huge base of knowledge. Throw in electronics learned on my own. Actually, I have done some schooling and introduced new concepts. The guys here are still finding out what I am capable of that they have not yet seen. It's just a great pleasure to have a hobby that I share with so many great, fun-loving guys.
Unfortunately over the past two and one half weeks family issues out of town have precluded more work on the layout. Hope to get back at it soon.
Here is the newest addition to the layout space. Local modeler extraordinaire, Doug Taylor, who is known for his Pennsylvania Railroad layout designed by John Armstrong and his East Broad Top narrow gauge layout, had seen pictures that I had of the old Cape Girardeau Northern depot and offered to build it for my layout. Attached are pictures of the original depot and the model that he built for me. The model is pictured where it will reside on my layout. I think he did some very nice work.
Holy smokes! I know just right where that stood! I can remember a loading area made with the same stone just south of , hmmmm, Independence Street maybe. Not far from Indian Park I believe. I’ve seen a photo of a Cape Girardeau Northern 2-6-0 sitting behind that depot. Beautiful model! He got the color just right.
I have a black-and-white photo of the street side of this depot that I took in 1963 before it was demolished. It was three stories high on the front elevation. I will find it and scan for posting if I can. Ken McElreath