The guy with a "real" train in his basement

I remember reading an article some years ago about a guy who bought the front end (cab) of a real EMD F-unit and built it into his basement.  I think he ran his model layout from the cab.

And Happy New year to you!

John

I can recollect a Seattle area oncologist ( Dr. Nicolas Muff, I believe) who had an F7 cab and sleeper in his basement.  Both were painted and lettered for the KCS Southern Belle.  The engine cab was real, having been lowered into his basement before the house was built over it and the sleeper was framed in and then completed using items from a real sleeper.  Tracks Ahead ran a piece on this about 10 or 12 years ago.

Curt

I remember that one too. The red, yellow, and black of the KCS was really an standout!

With todays flat panel TV's he should post those outside the windows to create the feel of travel while you sit in the seats.

I think he actually had a sound track set up in the sleeper that played the sounds you would hear while the train was in motion.  The flat screen idea would really add to the overall effect.

Curt

Call me when the UA Turbo design become available!  (Hmmm.... would have to the a lead unit!)

Very cool - thanks for the link!

/Mitch

This is so cool!  I, too, remember the Model Railroader article about the fellow who did the real F-7 nose in his basement and the replica car along side.  In fact that was some of the inspiration I had when we designed our present house.  The train room is in the basement and I wanted to do an "authentic" railroad bathroom.  So, I bought real bathroom artifacts to use.  Other than the toilet, everything in it is "real"  (Some "friends" did suggest I dig a pit under the toilet and use a real railroad one.  But then I would have had to use a sound recording of the wheels on the track that you could hear when using them in the "old days".)

Actually the only part that didn't work was the sink's faucet.  Turns out that the water pressure in a pullman is only from the water tank and my plumber could not work out a pressure reducer that would keep from blowing out the faucet's gasket.  So, I had to substitute a contemporary faucet.  The other issue with the sink is that the drain is hinged backward from normal sinks, so you have to push the plunger down to drain it.  Most people do not figure that out even though I put a sign on the mirror to that effect.   BTW, the towel rack is a hand rail and the towels are authentic Pullman's.

Then in the train room itself, I've added a few more artifacts.  Here is a bedroom light, with the switch for the night/day lights.  I love the blue night light's glow.

Here is one of two sets of Adlake repro caboose lamps that I use for reading lights.  And below is another Adlake repro marker lantern.

Anybody else using real artifacts in their train rooms?

It was written up in the October 1990 Model Railroader, too.

Rusty

@ Peter A..thanks ..that's a real neat batroom, well done.

@ Rusty..thanks for the MR scan, so this is a real F cab and not a replica..

I remember the MR article on the F-7, too.  I read an article about a coach from the

Ohio River and Western's narrow gauge being hauled, mostly in pieces, from where

it had sat rotting for years next to a privy in SE Ohio.  About 1/4 to 1/2 was totally restored and used as the anteroom inside a business in that area.  Don't remember any other details about it, except, that was about all they could salvage of the complete car, and that it was one dirty job, as the car was used as a trash collector for years. 

 Hey! You guys gave me an idea! (imagine that)

Instead of a motor home, I'll retire in a train. Maybe not like a Ross Roland style, maybe something I could afford.

 Hmmm, looks like I'll be needing an old street car or caboose at best. Nope, I'd better stay here.

Lafondue,

  Thanks for posting this video, I enjoyed it

Alex

More on Dr. Muff layout from Model Railroad hobbyist magazine page 47

http://issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/d...g2011-ol/47?mode=a_p

When the railroad authors, Beebe and Clegg, were writing their books, they traveled around the country in a private rail car, like a railroad business car.  Since all the rock stars and other five minute famers use buses, motor homes, and private planes, I guess there is nobody now that can, even if they could afford it, get railroads to move their private car whereever?  Recent election nominees all were shown as traveling by bus...no Trumans on observation platforms...

Very neat article George; thanks for posting the link!

The level of detail in his Kansas City Union Station is just incredible.  It will be especially nice when he gets it so a train on the layout can be operated from the cab of the F7.

Just an aside, but there is a retired doctor here in the Atlanta area with a huge HO layout in his basement.  One of the highlights is a locomotive control stand with a TV from which you operate a camera equipped train around his layout.

Curt

Thanks for the link to the article.

Amtrak still hauls private rail cars.  I've seen them a number of times on the rear of Amtrak trains.  Some of them could be considered land yachts.  Bill Gates ran a entire private train out on the West coast a few years ago.

John

Better hurry, they are scrapping those units right now in NY state.

John

Boy, I don't know about this guy.  Did you notice all the Star Wars figures on the ledge going down to his basement?  A few years ago the DME was getting ready to scrap an SD-9 in their Huron, SD yard.  I talked them into selling me some big chunks.  My idea was to use the side of the loco to stick on the wall of my kid's room like paneling.  Turned out the pieces were so huge and heavy this just wasn't going to work.  I didn't realize that until I hauled some of them home though.  I still have some big pieces of a DME engine in my backyard.  It's driving my wife a little nuts, but I point out it takes several men to lift each piece.

Kent in SD