While waiting for the passenger trains to arrive, I shot this sequence of a Frisco southbound through freight at Camellia Park, followed by a Southern freight, a Central of Georgia coal drag from the Frisco at East Thomas, and a northbound Central freight. Enjoy. Ken McElreath
Although the city scenes are unfinished, here are some photos of the urban environment around Camellia Park, just so you can visualize the whole setting. The Frisco's Ninth Avenue Yard is next to the through mainline, so the first shot is from across the yard looking at the station. I also shot the Frisco's switcher working on the Sunnyland and the Southern's Birmingham Special departing. Ken McElreath
For one last group of photos of Camellia Park, here are several shots of Frisco (yes, "Frisco" in real life) passenger trains #1353 "City of Miami" and 1309 "Seminole" running between Jasper and Birmingham, Alabama. Enjoy. Ken McElreath
My friend Dick Schultz and I have finished the "Uptown Main Street" scenes of Camellia Park to the west of the union depot. I would like to share some photos of the street side and the railroad back side of the buildings for your enjoyment. I have long wanted to model this kind of scene; it is so typical of midwest and midsouth "Frisco towns" of the early 1950s. I think of my city of Camellia Park, Alabama as an "All-America City" of 1950. Ken McElreath
Excellent modeling and very nice pictures, especially the backside of buildings that is seldom seen. Thanks for posting, John
Today was the first time that Hudson #1067 showed up on the Sunnyland from Memphis, so I made sure to get out to Camellia Park and photograph it. What a beautiful machine! Thanks to you, Don Wirth, for making this possible. Ken McElreath
That is a beautiful model! Frisco sure was proud of it's locomotives and this is a great example. That's a great layout as well. Wonderful scenery and details.
This is incredible! Not sure how I've missed this thread. Just my kind of layout. A lot of action and very busy in scenery. Great job...
I managed to miss this thread too, lots of action, and a great looking Steam Locomotive. A question. What did you do for the people on your MRR? Preiser are great looking, but will break you if you buy very many of them.
Now that is something like. Even the washout plugs sparkle on that Hudson. Ken, I think I could spend several hours gawking at your heavyweight turtleback cars. The spacing - or lack thereof - between the diaphragms is great. What type couplers did/do you use to get such good visual effects? Best Regards,
Over the years I have watched for figures at train shows, second-hand stores and places like that, to get them cheaply. After a while, one can accumulate quite a few. The couplers on the passenger cars are Kadee #5s, body mounted. The cars will negotiate 34 inch radius track, but that's about it. Ken McElreath
Camellia Park has a new restaurant, the "Yellowhammer Cafe" (called the "Yallerhammer" by the locals.) It is named after the Civil War cavalry regiments of Alabama, who initially wore yellow scarves when mustering for duty. The Yellowhammer is also a name for the Alabama state bird, the Northern Flicker. You can see inside the restaurant on the walls a Confederate Battle Flag and a mural with photos of the most prominent Confederate generals. This restaurant is the brainchild of my friend Dick Schultz, who is a Civil War re-enactor on weekends. I love injecting lively local color into the layout anytime I can. It really adds interest for visitors, and teaches a little history. In 1950 you could probably find the protoge of this restaurant in real life, but not any more now. I am also attaching a view up the street from the Yellowhammer Cafe toward the depot, where the downtown Camellia Park building construction is progressing. Enjoy. Ken McElreath
Very nice, Ken! I need to make a point to arrange another visit the next time I make a trip to Cedar Rapids. There won't be very many more opportunities for me to make it on company business.
Thank you, guys. I can imagine some grizzled old Civil War veterans still trolling their stories to the younger fellows who might gather each morning at the cafe. I remember hearing on the radio when I was a kid that the last Civil War veteran had died, sometime in the mid 1950s. Walking down to the depot after eating at the cafe, I found a Seaboard sleeper in town for the beginning of the horse racing season, along with the switcher that had just set it out on the station stub track. Ken McElreath
