The City of Delphos, Ohio was founded in 1845 in northwest Ohio along the route of the Miami and Erie Canal. It was eventually served by three railroads, The Nickel Plate, AC&Y and Pennsylvania Railroad. The area surrounding Delphos was rich in hardwood forests and wood products became a major source of income for the community. The canal was the only means of transporting these products until the railroads came to town.
The Delphos Canal Commission was formed to preserve the heritage of the community. A former bank building was purchased and remodeled to serve as their headquarters and museum. They soon outgrew the original bank building and were able to purchase the adjacent sundry store. Renovations to the second floor and basement provided plenty of room for the varied exhibits. A few years ago a group of volunteers constructed a model train display in the Railroad Room of the museum.
I was recently asked to make repairs to one of the locomotives that had quit working. After making the repairs I returned it to the museum and did some test runs on the layout to make sure everything was working properly. The trustee that was accompanying me graciously allowed me to photograph the display and shoot a short video. He gave me permission to post the photos and video on the OGR Forum.
The layout is "U" shaped and utilizes Lionel Fastrack. It features two train operation using conventional control. A push-button switch activates the power to the two transformers, which are pre-set to the proper operating speed. A timer lets the trains run for ten minutes before automatically shutting them down. For obvious reasons, a plastic shield is installed around the perimeter of the layout. The layout is a popular display at the museum and sees extensive use during the annual Canal Days celebration and during the Christmas season.
The layout was constructed with funds and donations from local businesses and citizens. Several citizens donated vintage accessories which are displayed throughout the layout
Many local landmarks and businesses from the 1940's are depicted in the backdrop mural that surrounds the layout.
Off-the-shelf buildings have been modified and re-signed to depict local businesses.
A collection of photos, equipment and other artifacts completes the Railroad Room of the museum.
Some shots of the entire layout from different views:
If you are ever in Northwest Ohio on a weekend, The Delphos Canal Commission Museum is definitely worth a visit.
https://delphoscanalcommission.com/
Tom
