I have been doing some further research on the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal since the last update to this thread. My main issue is to determine the basic dimensions of the various structures that comprise LAUPT. These dimensions have changed a bit over the years as architectural changes have been made to the passenger terminal. I have settled on a preliminary design, but I am open to suggestions for change.
The Walthers LAUPT kit would be my first choice, but it is discontinued and pricey when it was in stock. After further research, my objection to the Walthers kit is that it uses selective compression and omits the left found on the prototype structure. The overall width of the Walthers model is 29 inches. From front to back, it is approximately 22 inches.
Source: Walthers Cornerstone - Walthers.com
I was able to locate some architectural drawings that show the left wing missing from the Walthers model.
Source: kcet.org
Using Google Maps, I captured a 3D angle look at the current station which gives an overal aerial view of the station.
Source: Google Maps
Here is my preliminary design which includes the left wing missing from the Walthers kit. The overall width would be 48 inches. That is a massive structure in HO scale, but I believe that I will have the space to do it. Before I start scratch building, I have to confirm that this design will fit in the available space. I also need to do some design work on the passenger station tracks, of which there where 10, but I may settle for a few less tracks depending upon the available space.
One thing that I noticed on the Google Map image is the use of clay tile on the roofs, a pretty common roof type in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. I will definitely incorporate that in my design.
Rich
Alton Junction
Hey Rich-
Your plan view and front elevation view sketches look pretty good. When a design idea forms inside your head, there are a lot of variables. But you have nailed down a lot of variables into hard points and dimensions. This is an important step.
Here's a screen capture image from Google Earth street view showing the station as it exists today (or at least fairly recently). Is this the time frame you model? Or, will your station be configured to a previous era? Do you have any up close and detailed photos of the windows and doors and whatnot to help develop your model? I get the impression there are some more architectural plans around for the original construction and for the various renovations that have occurred.
Keep up the good work.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK Here's a screen capture image from Google Earth street view showing the station as it exists today (or at least fairly recently). Is this the time frame you model? Or, will your station be configured to a previous era? Do you have any up close and detailed photos of the windows and doors and whatnot to help develop your model? I get the impression there are some more architectural plans around for the original construction and for the various renovations that have occurred. Keep up the good work. Robert
The time frame that I plan to model is the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. I know that there have been architecural changes over the years, so I still need to pinpoint the period around 1960, give or take 5 years before or after. I need to get my hands on one or both of the two books cited earlier in this thread.
The design of the windows and doors remain an open question in my mind. I can get good views of the current windows and doors, but I am not at all certain if those designs were there around 1960.
For example, in the architectural drawing above, the original design was a 3 by 3 window pattern, and the top of the palladian window frame were 3 larger windows. In the current design, it is a 5 by 5 window pattern, and the top of the palladian window frame are 5 larger windows. Heck, maybe I should compromise with a 4 by 4 window pattern and a row of 4 larger windows at the top of the palladian window frame.
Rich, if you need a look at the inside of the station, watch the 1950 film Union Station with William Holden and Barry Fitzgerald. All of the interior scenes were filmed inside the station. It's a great film noir.
It was also featured in The Dark Knight Rises and Blade Runner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(film)
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
Great idea, Andy. I will do it. Thanks.
I don't recall a lot of footage from the outside of the building but there is some.
The outside I have figured out but the inside is something that I would like to explore. I normally don't decorate the inside of my buildings but this could be fun for such a prominent structure.
Union Station is ranked #62 in Trains magazine's 100 Greatest Train Movies special publication. FWIW
The Milwaukee Road Warrior Union Station is ranked #62 in Trains magazine's 100 Greatest Train Movies special publication. FWIW
Rich, regarding the truncation of LAUPT, I had PM'd you about Milwaukee's Everett Street Station and how the Walther's version is also truncated in a similar way: two whole wings (one on each end of the station) are missing from the Walther's kit for space reasons. With those wings included the kit would probably be pushing 4' long.
Here is a screenshot of the station showing the missing wing on the north end:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/88/fb/1888fb165c0531c53c21b49a21a6c585.jpg
You can also see the extra wings on this site for an N scale laser-printed depot that looks really nice.
https://www.therailroadconnection.com/products/product_2887f06c-20d7-ff08-61b0-66fd9d723463
Just an interesting tidbit I'm sharing here since your PM access is out right now.
Andy, those are great photos. Thanks for posting. Sorry that my PM feature is not working.
Not your fault!
The 3d laser-printed depot looks awesome. I don't know if they make an HO version but I wouldn't have the room for it anyway.
Anyway, sorry to hijack. Back to Los Angeles.
richhotrain Wow, I just found out that Walthers had a kit that replicates the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, but it has been discontinued. It was priced at $199.99. Ouch! They do sell NIB on eBay for $400 or so. That answers question #1. I will have to scratchbuild it. Rich
Wow, I just found out that Walthers had a kit that replicates the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, but it has been discontinued. It was priced at $199.99. Ouch!
They do sell NIB on eBay for $400 or so. That answers question #1. I will have to scratchbuild it.
Meanwhile, I have been watching a Buy It Now listing on eBay for $400. The original MSRP was $200. I was tempted to offer $300, just to see if the seller would accept an unsolicited offer. But, yesterday, that kit sold for $400. Unbelievable.