This Old Spot: A Modeler's Visual Library

[steinjr]

chpthrls

I don't have any pics to show, but, as I'm sure Norfolk-Western fans already know, there is a museum in Roanoke, Va. that houses the photo work of O. Winston Link. The photo contents on the museum are available to the general public just by accessing its web site

 

There are several good photo sites out there for prototype pics from older times. A handful of interesting ones I have visited:

http://www.shorpy.com - pictures from the period 1850-1950.

http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/ - Minnesota Historical Society, visual resources collection

http://imagebase.lib.vt.edu/ - Virginia Tech image database, including 10 000 or so N&W related photos

http://www.forgottendelaware.com/ - pictures from out of the way corners of Delawere

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/ - photos from New York, including subway and railroad pictures

 

A few Library of Congress online collections:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fahome.html - Farm Safety Administration/Office of War Information photo collection from the 1930s and 1940s

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/habs_haer/ - Historical American Building Survey/Historical American Engineering Records - line drawings and photos of various historical buildings

There no doubt are dozens or hundreds of other  websites with photos of various buildings etc.

Smile,
Stein

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Try even the local libraries that have historical/archival photos. Some universities have special collections departments that have available DVD's with even home movies documenting village/town life as well---

A couple more sights--

I came across a set of poles that still had the railroad's old telegraphy wires attached ---long disconnected but--- 

You don't even need big honkin' elevators---

 

[0-6-0]

Hello this is the NS yard office on chamberlain rd in Twinsburg.

and this is the yard

and the new water tower the white letter's are 6 feet tall

have a nice day Frank

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An old barn can be effective on its own as a scene element 

Feed supply store---Brussels ON

A place called Elora ON--a good river scene can be developed with this element--

All kinds of possumbilities---

 

[tstage]

[I posted these pics over on the other thread.  So, my apologies for those you have already seen them.]

This is the old NYC Big Four Grafton Interlocking tower in Grafton, OH.  Here's the view of the tower looking east and north:

A partial view of the bank of Armstrong levers (taken through glass window in doorway):

This is where a set of the Armstrong lever rods come through the tower flooring:

The operator's desk:

From all appearances and this link, the Grafton Tower is slowly being renovated and preserved.  (Notice the paint cans on the floor in last picture.)  It was originally located just to the NE side of SR 57 at the tracks.  At some point it was moved ~200' east and back from CSX's current double-mainline.  From the 2nd to the last picture, you'll notice that the vertical tower supports themselves are rail.

Tom

[steinjr]

 Here is an oddball location, seen from the viewpoint of American modelers - Sorumsand RR station in Norway - a small RR station on the Kongsvinger RR line, about 30 miles east of Oslo. Pictures are from April 2005 :

 

Three tracks, raised platform between track 1 and track 2 to the left, some signals, catenary wire and masts, platform edge, asphalt and ballast color and texture, light poles (background left), station color, wooden crossing of the track for RR passengers (front left).

 

 

 One view (of about 8-10 pictures I took from different angles to show the station building - this one shows characteristic rounded windows with many small panes, doors, signs, clock (far left), the characteristic roof lines, garbage can (dark green), ashtray (dark red), tiles in front of main entrance.

 

 

 Closeup of details - main building is made of concrete, stationmaster's window section is made of wood, typical station sign (blue with white text), crew phone (gray box with gray T, loudspeaker with flashing light on top to alert crew on train that the phone is ringing), some trash on the ground that still hasn't been picked up.

 I realize that these pictures are pretty useless for American modelers - but what the heck - maybe it will inspire someone to build a layout set in Norway.

 A link to three photo journey along "my" RR line, done by another Norwegian railfan (Roy Olsen), who is also a far better photographer than me: 

http://trips.rool.no/kongsvingerbanen_190508
http://trips.rool.no/kongsvingerbanen_300407
http://trips.rool.no/kongsvingerbanen_210305

 Quite a few oldish structures here - RR line was built during the time of the American Civil War - in the mid 1860s.

 It was electrified sometime in 1952. The second second RR line at Sorumsand (the narrow gauge steam RR Urskog-Holandsbanen) was closed for general traffic in 1960, after having run since 1896. It now operates purely as a museum RR line.

(Send me a PM if you get curious about any of the structures  and need the text translated from Norwegian to English)

 Grin,
 Stein

 

[tstage]

Ajacent to the Grafton tower above is the small Grafton freight station:

Tom

[tstage]

steinjr

 I realize that these pictures are pretty useless for American modelers - but what the heck - maybe it will inspire someone to build a layout set in Norway.

Stein,

No one said they had to be just American prototypes.  Thanks for posting these.

Tom

[markpierce]

This is one of my favorites.  Presumably it had been a general store.  It is located at Sheep Ranch, CA, in the central California "gold country" somewhere between Sonora and Volcano.

 

 I particularly like the looks of the front porch with its varied foundations, and the gasoline price!  Of course, it has the obligatory Coca Cola sign.

Mark

[markpierce]

tstage

A partial view of the bank of Armstrong levers (taken through glass window in doorway):

Thanks to American Model Builders, Inc., this scene is easy to model.

 http://www.laserkit.com/images/388Ct.jpg

Edit:  Sorry, the above link isn't clickable.  Just go to www.laserkit.com and look for the new product listing.

Mark

[rrinker]

steinjr

 I realize that these pictures are pretty useless for American modelers - but what the heck - maybe it will inspire someone to build a layout set in Norway.

 Grin,
 Stein

Actually, it doesn't seem all that unusual at all. The signals look fairly normal, as opposed to, say,. German types. The color that the station is painted might be a bit odd, but the overall shape of the building seems fairly generic, at least, it doesn't scream out "hey that's obviously in Norway" to me.

                           --Randy

 

[blownout cylinder]

markpierce

This is one of my favorites.  Presumably it had been a general store.  It is located at Sheep Ranch, CA, in the central California "gold country" somewhere between Sonora and Volcano.

I drove through that area many years ago. Those places are fast becoming harder to find in some areas---do you know whether it is a private residence now or---?

[steinjr]

rrinker

steinjr

 I realize that these pictures are pretty useless for American modelers - but what the heck - maybe it will inspire someone to build a layout set in Norway.

Actually, it doesn't seem all that unusual at all. The signals look fairly normal, as opposed to, say,. German types. The color that the station is painted might be a bit odd, but the overall shape of the building seems fairly generic, at least, it doesn't scream out "hey that's obviously in Norway" to me.

 

 That had me scratching my head and googling a little before I realized what the link was.

 I learned that Sorumsand  station was designed by Norwegian architect Paul Armin Due (1870-1926), and that P.A. Due, like quite a few architects of his age, was heavily influenced by what is known over here in Norway as the "Jugend style" (from the German words for "youth style").

 Jugend style, which is better known in English speaking countries by it's French name "Art Nouveau" ("New art"/"new style"), swept both Europe and America during the last couple of decades of the 1800s, up to World War 1 or so.

  An American RR station in Art Nouveau style was the old New Orleans Union Station, designed by Chicago designer Paul Sullivan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Union_Station

 I also found quite a few interesting books on Amazon and google books on railroad station arctitecture, and some pictures of some of the buildings designed by Sullivan (e.g. at  http://www.chicagohistory.org/sullivan150/credits/index.php).

 Btw - another source I have very much enjoyed on buildings in the Twin Cities (which is the place I try to model) is Larry Millets book "Lost Twin Cities" - on historic buildings the Twin Cities that has been torn down. Was recommended to me by forum poster wjstix, if I remember correctly.

 Btw2 - I also found a fascinating web page on modeling Norwegian signals (unfortunately only in Norwegian): http://www.platelayer.com/artikler/norske_signaler/signal_del1.htm

 The type 1 signal mentioned (entry to station) and type 2 signal (departure from station) has three lights above each other. Center light is red, top and bottom is green.

 Just red (or no light) is stop.

 Just top green light is "proceed slowly" (because you will be going through one or more turnouts thrown to the deviating path).

 If both top and bottom green light is "clear" - you are going straight ahead into (or out of) the station, and can proceed at greater speed. (Or in other words - if one of the bulbs burn out, you drop to signal which is more restricted).

 Btw3 - and utterly off topic, but I just love the world wide web, hyperlinks and search engines like google.

 It makes it immensely easier to avoid being a dullard (according to Science Fiction author Philip José Farmer, a dullard could be defined as "Someone who looks up a thing in the encyclopedia, turns directly to the entry, reads it, and then closes the book")

 I now have a few more bookmarks and a couple of new entries in my "train/subway commute reading list" on railroad station architecture.

 Randy - thanks for making me look for a connection, and take a very enjoyable side trip down this lane!

 Grin,
 Stein

 

[blownout cylinder]

Stein: Those are some neat buildings and that railroad looks more like a NE corridor area!

Staircase on the outside---note the 'bracing'---near Seaforth ON

A former diner of sorts--was a lawyers office as well--near Wingham ON

I posted this thing on another thread some time ago---note the warpage---near Winthrop ON

Another riverside view----I used to live in a place like these---over a bakery yet----this is Elora ON-near the Elora Gorge

[markpierce]

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markpierce

This is one of my favorites.  Presumably it had been a general store.  It is located at Sheep Ranch, CA, in the central California "gold country" somewhere between Sonora and Volcano.

I drove through that area many years ago. Those places are fast becoming harder to find in some areas---do you know whether it is a private residence now or---?

My impression was the structure was unoccupied, but can imagine it containing lots of "stuff."  I was there about 20 minutes, and didn't see a soul or vehicle in the meantime.  Now if you want some place (Sheep Ranch) really quiet, I'll recommend it.  Hope you won't mind a 30 to 45-minute drive over winding roads to any stores.

Mark

[chooch_42]

Stein, Hello ! Went to the "norsk_signaler" site and used Google Translate: it did a fair job of making the information understandable (sometimes I have a tough time with English !!) for me. Both your site and Translate are quite useful. Thanks. Bob C. 

[spidge]

I have a few more if its OK.

This next set of structures are adjascent one another in Higland CA. The rails have been removed quite some time ago. The first structure is obveous but I am not sure of the tin nor the concrete and brick structure.

I will use two posts.

 

[spidge]

These two structures are to the east side of the Sunkist building with the tin structure first the the cement and brick structure just north of the tuin building.

 

[blownout cylinder]

A couple of building ideas that I came across in my files--

Rowhousing developed from old storefronts--Paris ON

In Cambridge ON--part of old millsite being converted into condo units--

Then we came across this house tucked in the valley wall---not far from old mill site

Wonder how many find space for buildings on their layouts by sticking buildings into valley walls---

[Seamonster]

When I went to add more pictures to this thread, I discovered that due to my ignorance I had been creating sub-folders in Photobucket and had hit the limit of 5 sub-folders and couldn't add any more. Reading their help files I have determined that the best way out of this is to create new folders and group the pictures better. While I am doing this the links in this thread for my pictures will be broken. I will re-establish the links once I have re-organized the photos and I will add some more.

[blownout cylinder]

I've left my pictures in a sort of semi coherent chronological order---well--sort of---kind of---well---

Glencoe N. ON----capacity over one million bushels --- can load up to 25 carloads a pop----more in season

Semi modern/post modern VIA station/flag stop in Strathroy ON

The 2 hoisthouses at the Sifto Salt mines at Goderich harbour, Goderich ON.

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Another view of the hoisthouses

A blue sign----remember these around cars/locomotives on tracks being dealt with please---

[0-6-0]

Hello this is the popcorn shop in Chagrin Falls Ohio. This building sits right next to a water fall. The first pic is the front.

This is the right side looking over the bridge.

This is the back from the bottom of the falls looking up.

and this is the inside when you walk in this the first thing you see.

Have a nice day Frank

[Seamonster]

Here's a couple of pictures of a signalman's shack from the Ft. la Reine Museum and Pioneer Village in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. They've got some restored railway stuff there including a caboose and a private coach.

[Seamonster]

I thought I'd re-post the picture of the old service station in Boissevain, Manitoba here too.

[cudaken]

 Today I was killing some time and poking around in my Train pictures files and came across a few that seem to fit this posting. They came off the Internet so I cannot give you the when, where or how of them. But, still fit well here.

 

 The mine, sure looks like Walther's mine, does it not?

 Bad side of the tracks.

 The yard.

                     Hope you can get some ideas from them.

               Cuda Ken

[steemtrayn]

A classic gas station, Washington, NJ.

[blownout cylinder]

A couple of puzzlers---

there is a lot of corrugated panels around that one.

and then there was this restaurant

---which overhangs the Thames R in London ON

There is a studio of sorts

right beside a one lane only underpass

[tstage]

Time to bring this thread back up on page 1.  I took a trip with the New York Central System Historical Society (NYCSHS) to Bucyrus, OH back in May 2008.  Below is the passenger platform and station for the Toledo & Ohio Central RR.

I'm particularly fond of Victorian houses and architecture.  The inside upper windows on the first floor have stain-glass in them.  All but one is original.  (Boy!  They just don't build 'em this way anymore, do they? )

They are renovating the entire station and work so far looks terrific.  I will post a few interior photos later on tonight.

Tom

[blownout cylinder]

Thanks for reminding this little one---one thing that sometimes will 'spruce' up a scene are details---some I fell over recently

Above entrance is on a house---this house is/was not associated with any church or such but the entrance does kind of go with that

Landscaping around a house--this one full of Dahlias---

Wall of windows anyone??