Inspiration from Jess Bennett

[Anonymous]

Inspiration comes at the darndest times, mostly when you least expect it. My wife and I bought some property in 1999 in north Idaho.. 50 miles from Canada. I have been in the process of building a new house over the past 16 months. I planned for a room over the garage with a sloped ceiling approx 12 x 45 to use for trains and my old restored schoolteachers desk with the computer perched on top. The house is about finished and I started taking my trains out of storage around Christmas and was starting my layout. Nothing really huge , as a matter a fact I pre fabed my benchwork in my shop ( I have a large cabinet shop here as that is my business) and covered it with green felt I have this called tinplate style. Anyways in the middle of all this I ran across some HO folks in Sandpoint ID. And talked to them about joining thier club. Well they are currently inactive as they have no place to meet, but one of the gentlemen suggested I should give Jess Bennett a call as he only lives about 5 miles from me. I gave Jess a call and he invited me over to see his "model train".
MY GOD I thought as I went up into the train room . I have died and gone to S gauge heaven. The complete attic about 40 x 60 is wall to wall layout. I have seen some large layouts before , but nothing to compare to this. I was speechless by the detail of the scenery, I just had to pull up a chair and soak it all in. Thank god the chair had rollers so I could roll and drool, roll and drool, get the point? We had visited for about an hour when I noticed several s brass locos and tenders. Well come to find out Jess scratchbuilt these and has been doing that for thirty years. He has some of the most beautiful engines I have seen and I cannot believe the detail work.
We talked on for a while when I noticed a roundhouse and turntable, scratchbuilt of course,something I have considered starting but never had the nerve. Jess was very helpful showing me all the details of his, we even crawled underneath to look at the mechanics.
In conversation I learned that he only worked on the layout in the winter. He was in the logging business and always had that time of year off. Over the years he has built and sold many s guage brass locomotives all over the country , and his layout has been in many magazines over the years. Jess is working on what he says will be his last loco, for his grandson. Oh by the way Jess is 90 years young.
Well I have finished my roundhouse and turntable and I have it all hooked up with lights a burning. Mine is more of a modern building, but it will house 5- 36" locos and the turntable will also handle 36" consist. It has remote opening and closing doors, lights and snow on the roof .If I can ever figure out how to "easily" post pictures I will Be happy to share with all of you. I was also inspired to build some Howe Truss Bridges and am currently buildind a 48" long lift bridge.
As i sit here next to the roundhouse I know that every time I look at it I will think of my new friend Jess and the inspiration he was to me.
Who is your inspiration? .........................................................Tim Mitchell

[spankybird]

Great story Tim,
e-mail me and I'll give you instructions on posting pictures.

tom

[Anonymous]

I have been wanting to build a turntable for the longest time, but am afraid to try. I feel like I'll do it wrong or never finish.

Angelo

[FJ and G]

Hope I can still do it when I'm 90. Great story.

dav

[TODD VERHEI]

Thank you for the nice words My Grandfather passed at 96 years of age. The last loco you saw has a prize spot in my railyard. Jess's Great Northern Pacific railroad was split between my Uncle and my self. I have moved the railroad to my home and have added it to my layout. My Grandfather may be gone but the Great Northern rolles on.   Thank you Todd Verhei