Trains.com

Company Houses

1078 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 36 posts
Company Houses
Posted by Brady on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:17 PM

The on-line article on Bill Loop's layout  http://www.trains.com/ctt/default.aspx?c=a&id=815  has a photo of some very nice models of company houses often seen near coal mines.

Based on the doors and windows I thought they were modified Plasticville Cape Cod houses, but the Plasticville houses have stucco siding.  I think OGR magazine used to sell Cape Cods, but they're no longer listed on their web site.  Any ideas? 

Thanks

Brady 

 

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 3,584 posts
Posted by Sturgeon-Phish on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 12:46 AM

I've seen several of the company houses in Southern Ohio and Northeastern Kentucky, and the structures are very simple and plain.  You could build very realistic models with cardboard.  Cereal boxes are a great source.  The company houses were cheaply build one room building with usually clapboard or board and batten siding with tin roofs with a stovepipe from a potbellied stove for cooking and heat.  Usually they had no foundation and was build on stacked stone piers or posts driven into the ground.

Jim

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Southwest Georgia
  • 5,028 posts
Posted by dwiemer on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 7:16 AM

Tony Lash's layout has some as well.  His was built by a professional, but it does give a good idea of prototype.  As mentioned above, I think it could be a nice project to do yourself.

Dennis

TCA#09-63805

 

Charter BTTs.jpg

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 36 posts
Posted by Brady on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 8:56 AM

Dennis & Jim

Thanks for the input.  The Model Railroaders Guide to Coal Railroading http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12453.html has a very good chapter on company towns with lots of photos.  My past attempts at scratchbuilding were not very good, but I may try it again. 

Brady 

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 9:06 AM

Here's a site from where they filmed "The Molly MaGuires", back about 1968.  This is near my hometown of Hazleton, Pa.  Lots o houses still look like that back there.

http://www.eckleyminers.org/

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Media, PA
  • 600 posts
Posted by Joe Hohmann on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:27 PM
 Brady wrote:

 

 I think OGR magazine used to sell Cape Cods, but they're no longer listed on their web site.  Any ideas? 

Thanks

Brady 

I'm looking at a 1994 ad for these OGR houses. While small, they still look too "upscale" for a "company house". I think your best bet, if you don't want to scratchbuild, is the Walthers "O" motel units, which sell for about $20. each. They have a carport attached...just put a beat-up car or pick-up in them. Joe

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month