Bill Lenoir Chicago and Great Western freight train 1930's

Fabulous...and 2 rail to boot. Isn't that rather unusual? Weren't most scale O trains of that period outside 3 rail?

Mark in Oregon

Engine built in 39 so right at the birth of 2 rail operation for O scale ...cars being earlier started with non insulated wheels ...but we're changed out with insulated later,.

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A beautiful bit of history and some fine modeling....real talent to create those cars. Many of us  forget how much talent and effort it took to create a string of cars and loco. Ready to run made us consumers not craftsman.

As the magazine title proclaimed Model Railroad Craftsmen. I think we lost something along the way!

@Dave Funk posted:

A beautiful bit of history and some fine modeling....real talent to create those cars. Many of us  forget how much talent and effort it took to create a string of cars and loco. Ready to run made us consumers not craftsman.

As the magazine title proclaimed Model Railroad Craftsmen. I think we lost something along the way!

The hobby wouldn't be as wide spread today if everyone had to be a craftsman to be in it.  Nothing prevents anyone from using their time and talent to build if they have the mind to do it.

There are S Scale proponents that think S Scale should remain "the builders scale."  We can see how well that's working out.  (And yes, I'm in S Scale...)

Rusty

@Dave Funk posted:

Ready to run made us consumers not craftsman.

That's only rather recent history.

As the magazine title proclaimed Model Railroad Craftsmen. I think we lost something along the way!

Only those that chose to lose something did so.

Please note the motor is far enough forward to leave the cab "open": sure wish Varney had done that with his Ten Wheeler...

Mark in Oregon

Denver CO

1935 when the DSMR (Denver Society of Model Railroaders) begun building the Colorado Midland Model Railroad was 2 rail block to block DC operation. With some improvements implemented in 1959 it was largely still in operation in 2014 when we dismantled the layout. I am unaware no talk anyway was ever given about the original 2nd floor mezzanine layout built in 1924 and dismantled in 1934.

Fabulous Model

Hello Erik ...1924 ? Wow that is very early ...for O scale ...are there any photos of the original layout ?

Thank you

Cheers Carey

The logo on the tender is a mystery to me.  It is unlike any CGW logo I've seen and looks like a cross between the Erie's and ALCo's.  The locomotive passes too quickly for these old eyes to discern the image.  What say the experts?

Of primary interest to this CGW fan is that it appears that no one has offered a kit or RTR version of those extended vision cabooses since Mr. Lenoir's day.  They're available in HO...

The logo on the tender is for the Soo...

Meredith,built at least 2 engines ..in 1939 and both were lettered for the Soo..other engine is an Indiana Harbor Belt 080

@Rapid Transit Holmes posted:

The logo on the tender is a mystery to me.  It is unlike any CGW logo I've seen and looks like a cross between the Erie's and ALCo's.  The locomotive passes too quickly for these old eyes to discern the image.  What say the experts?

Of primary interest to this CGW fan is that it appears that no one has offered a kit or RTR version of those extended vision cabooses since Mr. Lenoir's day.  They're available in HO...

Well if you want one or two badly, currently you do have the OGR forumite "Brother Love" route!

@Carey Williams posted:

Hello Erik ...1924 ? Wow that is very early ...for O scale ...are there any photos of the original layout ?

Thank you

Cheers Carey

I've never seen any even though ChipR and I tried to locate someone with anything. The Judge John Horan who joined before World War 2 had a lot of early documentation on the layout had only hand written notes about the layout which was largely sectional of some kind and portions of it were used in the new layout as Springs and the round house and coaling tower which was made 1925-26 and dated on the bottom. That layout was on the 2nd floor Mezzanine which now the "Cooper Lounge" is above the original ticket offices on the main floor of Denver Union Station.

In 1933 the Platte flooded over and left a foot of river mud in what was the REA records storage area below the main floor. DUS offered the space to the club if they cleaned it up. By 1935 they were building the new layout. We were donated a trolley set up by a longtime Union Station affecinado through Dana Crawford the developer of the new hotel that claimed it was part of the mezzanine layout we could never confirm this but it was certainly early stuff. Rail was possibly Märklin that was 2 railed and wired from below. No power supply so we never knew anything about that. The new layout power supply was a custom built thing with huge heat sinks and it buzze sounded like a electric trimmer. It was obviously due for replacement in 2010s. I'll see if I can find some photos to share.

Keep up the good work.

Guess Atlas hasn't offered that CGW reefer?  I, too, thought Brother Love regarding the interesting caboose.  Wish l coulda seen that CM layout mentioned by ECL.  All very interesting.