I have a fair amount of Menard's model train products. We do not yet have a store in my region but one is being built about 2.5 hours from me.....but near where my kids live so happy! My two brothers live in Columbus Ohio so I do get to visit a Menard's a few times a year when we visit. That's what happened this past weekend.
We went by the Broad St store. This store had one isle about 30 feet long of train items. The vast majority of items were O scale structures. A sew were plugged in and operating. It was great to see some of these in person....the Sash and Door factory was BIG and impressive to say the least. Also on the shelves were HO scale buildings the Starbucks looked very nice. Menard's O track was in stock and looked well made....I'm just a GG guy.
I was hunting for the large flat car and the new gondolas. Neither were on hand....most of the military box cars were, the new AT&SF box car and a few of the smaller flats with loads. I was a little disappointing but the AT&SF box/reefer was so nice at under $20 I picked it up. Another item that was on the shelf was the modern bill board. When it came out I didn't look at it much as it was to modern. In my hand it was heavy and very well done. At under $20 I figured I had to have it. What I'd do with it I didn't know!
Here is the AT&SF box car. The normal Menard's 40 foot box car with metal floor. I don't see a 'Made by Menard's' tampo on this one....not sure if that is a change or just this one. Decoration is GREAT but may get weathered to tone it down a tiny bit.
Now that 'modern' lighted billboard. After I opened it I thought it looked kinda like a overhead hiway sign. It is heavy, well made. The thin metal base part is removable with a few small screws on the underside. A power plug is on the side of the base but ALSO under the base to hide it. Nice! When I got home I made a sign to use in place of the 26 signs provided. I made a hiway style sign for the road going into my big town of Weston. Printed on bond paper on my laser printer. When I cut it out and put it in place, powered it up and looked like I hoped it would.....like it was lit from below. It may be to modern for 1957 West Virginia......but I think it will be cool.....and I do a lot of 'wrong' things in 'My World'. Thanks
Temp test....will be attached when installed.
