Another Depot

[Dee Das]

Wolfgang's scratchbuilt depot and the photo that I posted for him jogged my memory. I had started a wood kit too and I thought I would post some photos of the finished model.

In the baggage area of that Depot museum was an old wood sign. This sign was originally on the depot in a little town called LaSalle, MN. The Minneapolis and St. Louis railway, who the depot belonged to, was never a very prosperous railroad. Consequently, the "Tootin' Louie" (as it was locally called), had some rather simple depots. Upkeep was a problem and after a period of time their physical plant started to show it.

The sign in the baggage area of the Depot museum
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2411607235_9ece90c921_o.jpg

The Depot Museum
This is the former Amboy, MN depot of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2411951555_21cdb86fd7_b.jpg


One of the older members of our club, a gentleman in his 80's explained to us that he had tried to save the depot in the 1950's but was unsuccessful. He was able to save just one of the signs, which he donated to the "Depot museum". He also produced a copy of a photo of that depot.


We got the sign out and a couple of our members held it against a dark background for me so I could photograph it in the sunlight.
http://www.hickorytech.net/~deedas/graphics/lasallesign.jpg

The photocopied image of the La Salle depot
http://www.hickorytech.net/~deedas/graphics/depotpix.jpg


I decided to build the depot.

I've hit the four image limit so I will continue in the next post.

[Dee Das]

I wanted it to look like it had in the 50's with really weathered paint. So instead of painting the finished model, I sealed it and sparingly applied a white stain. I just need to add a few details like the electrical boxes and the signalling apparatus above the bay. I also need to finish up the soffits a little. I reduced the photograph of the sign and printed it out in the approximate dimensions, mounted it on a pirce of wood and glued them to the sides of the building. The building is Laser cut and I used Elmer's Carpenter's glue to hold it together. The tarpaper roof is masking tape painted with a semi flat finish. I plan on weathering the roof with chalks. I also have to finsh staining the rest of the doors.

http://www.hickorytech.net/~deedas/graphics/lasalle1.jpg

http://www.hickorytech.net/~deedas/graphics/lasalle2.jpg

http://www.hickorytech.net/~deedas/graphics/lasalle3.jpg

Wolfgang's interior insipred me so I will add and interior at a later date. I built the roof so it comes off.

[RRfan]

wow it is looking pretty good so far
on the second photo the saturation is a little messed up but regardless they all look pretty good

[Dee Das]

wow it is looking pretty good so far
on the second photo the saturation is a little messed up but regardless they all look pretty good

Oh No, the saturation is not messed up a little, it's messed up big time. I didn't have a better photo of the depot, so I just posted what I had.

[Wolfgang Dudler]

Great! How did you make the tar paper roof?

Wolfgang

[Dee Das]

Wolfgang,

the tarpaper roof is made of strips of masking tape laid one on top of the other. I started from the bottom edge of the roof and worked upwards. I placed them so each layer overlaps the other a little bit. I didn't pay much attention to the lengths. When I was finished I used a razor blade to trim along the sides and bottom so I had a nice straight edge.

Choose a decent quality masking tape like 3M or you will find the adhesive letting go after a while. If you're really picky, you could trim the tape into 3 ft wide sections. Many types of tarpaper are sold in 3 ft wide rolls.

Tarpaper comes in rolls and pieces are cut to fit particular applications. So you can have some going the full length of the roof or have random pieces (leftovers) patched in.

[BarstowRick]

My compliments.

Nice work!

[BoxcabE50]

The Depot Museum
This is the former Amboy, MN depot of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2411951555_21cdb86fd7_b.jpg



A really nice looking project. Can you tell me about the tower at far right? Is this a crossing watchman's tower? Or an interlocking tower?

Boxcab E50

[Dee Das]

Thank You Barstow Rick and Boxcab for your kind comments.

Boxcab,
It is an interlocking tower and is probably a Chicago & North Western (or its predecessor, the Omaha Road). I'm pretty sure that it is not a "Louie" tower. For safety's sake the stairway has been removed. If you would like more photos of the tower, I can get some the next time I'm there.

[BoxcabE50]

I really like depots, towers, etc. So, if you happen to catch a few more views of that tower, they would be fun to see. Perhaps they could tell you a bit about it's history?

Boxcab E50

[Dee Das]

Boxcab,
I will be there on Saturday.
I will try and get photos of all four sides and I will try and find out the history of that tower for you.

[Dee Das]

Boxcab E50,
It looks like I have some information for you. The Tower is a Milwaukee Road tower.

Rather than take this thread over, I will post this in another thread in The Inspection Pit

I was incorrect in stating that the Depot Muesum was a "Louie" depot. It is actually a Chicago & North Western depot. It was built in 1894 and was moved to its present site in 1973. It is a 24 x 80 structure and at one time at least 8 people were employed there.