Featured in the February 2007 issue of Garden Railways was the superb and delightful indoor model created by the late John Franzen. I believe Kalmbach have published a book about the model.
I am almost certain that I read somewhere, most likely here or in GR, that the model was not broken up but is now in a museum or it belongs to a club.
Does anyone know, for sure, what has happened to it?
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
Hi Alan,
The last I knew, all of John's work was still in his basement. His wife, with the help of several friends and club members, maintain the layouts and his other models.
I don't know, longterm, what will become of everything. I'm not even sure his wife knows at this point!
Rene
Rene Schweitzer
Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader
http://www.trains.com/grw/default.aspx?c=a&id=523
I believe John Franzen's widow is, for the time being, maintaining the railroad in the home. There is hope that it can be on the tours during the 2010 NMRA convention in Milwaukee, but I do not believe that has been finalized.
Dave Nelson
Thank you very much Rene and Dave. I see where my knowledge about a Club arises. I have a few railfan (1:1 aficionados) friends in Wisconsin with whom I speak frequently. I have mentioned this wonderful model to them and was hoping that they might be able to see it. If it does get exhibited next year that will be great and of course they and many others will get the opportunity to see it.
Not only is it a great piece of modeling it is also an historical artifact as, I am told, quite a few of the structures depicted are no longer to be seen. Even the C&NW has gone but I believe UP runs on the ROW now.
Alan,
The layout is indeed legendary, and perhaps you should consider coming over to Milwaukee for next year's convention in July! The layout tours are still being firmed up but I think a few other large scale/garden layouts are being reviewed by the convention committee. There are some dandies in this area in spite of the winter weather.
Within the Milwaukee area there are still Chicago & North Western artifacts to be seen, including the wood depot in Cudahy and the brick depots in South Milwaukee and Racine WI. In general the track plan around town is as it was, with some important industrial abandonments of course. I'd be happy to show you around if you make the trip.
The trackage on Jones Island itself has changed over the years, as have the traffic patterns. An aging C&NW caboose, or shoving platform rather, is still seen from time to time when the UP serves the Jones Island area.
I think it is important to understand however that while there are some signature scenes and structures on the Franzen layout it is not really a replica of the Jones Island/Bay Street/Bay View trackage -- even in N scale that would be a huge layout -- more like an artistic and imaginative rendering of the general feel and scope of the area. Any of the aerial photo map services on the internet would give a good feel for what the area looks like today.
Bumping this info up to date
Hi everyone,
I checked with Model Railroader, and as of 2010 or so, the layouts were still intact. Sadly, no one had updated information. I tried a Google search but found nothing. Perhaps someone else knows something?
Thanks Rene.
As it happens the Winnebagoland Division of the NMRA (which includes Oshkosh where John lived with his wife Lucia) is going to have a meet this May that includes Larry Easton's program on virtual tours of John's layout(s). It is to be found in the link below.
That word "virtual" suggests to me that no actual tour is possible any longer but if you can locate Larry Easton or the Winnebagoland Division leadership I bet they know for sure.
About 2010 you stopped reading anything about the layout being open for tours. Sorry I can't be more helpful than this.
http://www.wld-nmra.com/
Many thanks Rene and Dave for your updates. I brought this topic to the fore in case it was of help to a poster on the Model Railroader Forum who was looking into former MILW industries for his modeling.
The Beer Line, as readers of MR Forum will know, was mentioned but for a compact and diverse industrial area Jones Island is a fine place to consider. I am not familiar with the railroading operations of Jones Island in the days of the C&NW and MILW but with the usual 'modelers licence' taken then other railroads could be added and of course the industrial premises on the island could be altered to suit modelers preferences. Whilst I appreciate this is more a smaller scale railroad project I do find the place even today, very interesting. Those who love switching, rather than circuits, could use this as a project basis.
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