So I am currently modeling a protolanced Pacific Electric branch based on the Santa Monica Airline just west of Los Angeles. I live in Casa Grande, AZ, 40 miles south of Phoenix. I originally started a layout based on the area that I live in, set in the 1980's, but I have backdated my layout to the 1950's and moved it 400 miles west to the Pacific Coast. I am torn, there is only one Southern Pacific building left in Casa Grande, AZ, and it is a 18'x22' speeder and maintenance shed. It has a date scratched into it, and that is April Fifth, 1938. I want to make a model of this building, but while the Southern Pacific had many of these buildings, the Pacific Electric did not. I know that I can make a very good model of the Casa Grande speeder shed, but it is not realistic for what I am trying to model. I am really in a tug-o-war between logic and what I want. I am not sure which one to listen to, the brain or the heart. The speeder shed prototype is a rather unique structure, it is steel on all sides, except for the bottom 10 feet of the front, which is wood. Even the roof is steel, and I can't imagine working in there when it is 110 degrees Fahrenheit in June. Again, I am at a cross roads, and I am not sure what to do, what would you do?
Build it. You like it so do it. I understand that it is not prototypical for your era. Perhaps a way to get around the era dilemma would be to build a small display diarama. You’ve satisfied your desire to model the building and haven’t compromised the era integrity of your layout. Just a thought.
Everyone has their own standards and taste, and if it's that kind of a dilemma you probably shouldn't. Personally, I'd build it, and wouldn't have even considered otherwise.
When I modeled a real road I had to compromise and bend and compress time if I wanted the businesses and structures I liked to be on it. Now I model a road that really existed but in a area that is total fiction for it. The road actually had 44, 50, and 70 ton locomotives. The island setting it is on only had a small steam operation from a quarry and the port only had several canneries and a fishing fleet. By staying freelance I have ended up having more fun and enjoyment with my hobby. I am combining my love of ship building with trains and my likes of Japanese with American railroading. And for once I am happy and not concerned that it is not prototype. So you do what makes you happy and satisfied.
Very true. My HO layout is strictly prototype. My N/Nn3 freelanced Arizona mining project let’s me have more creative outlets. They both have their rewards.
It seems to me that you have the ideal reason to model a small bit of SP trackage- with an identifier ("while the Southern Pacific had many of these buildings, the Pacific Electric did not.") I did a quick search for the Santa Monica airline, and among things mentioned was that the original line was laid out by a predecessor of the SP, and when a section of the line was abandoned 40 or 50 years ago, there was a Southern Pacific boxcar stranded when some track was torn up. Also mentions substantial freight on the line. Did the line cross or interchange with the SP at any point? Adding a specifically SP building to a scene could be an ideal way to indicate that an interchange track is SP. Even if it is just a rail line crossing on a viaduct over the Air Line trackage (or vice versa), or running parallel for a short way, can make it visually more interesting, even if that "mainline Class A" rail never runs a train.
Absolutely, build it! Who is to say that a similar building wasn't in the area. At least by the coast, the design would not have been quite so brutal for the workers.
So the PE didn't have it...I have to assume that you interchange with the SP at some point. Include it at the interchange. As everyone else has said, it's your railroad, you are already free-basing (freelancing but based on a specific prototype) so do it. Hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable, do what you enjoy (and then post pictures so we can see how you did).
My 2 pennies (As I replied to you on another forum): I for one, try to capture the essence of the railroad. In other words - when someone looks at my layout, they think, wow - this is the Southern Pacific. I used SP buildings from all over their system. Again, to capture the essence/flavor of the SP. So, give your layout the feel of the PE. As we know, the PE is a subsidiary of the SP. So, it would/could be possible that the PE used building designs from the parent company. So, yeah, go for it. Stop fretting and enjoy. Your layout is looking great and this would be an awesome addition. Wolf
It seems to me that in the long run, you'll be happier building what you want to build rather than making yourself stay true to the prototype.
Do it! Not enough scratch building going on these days- and don't forget to post it in the 'what's on you workbench' thread!
Can you include a small section of SP track, perhaps crossing the PE lines, and locate the speeder shed adjacent to it?
So, I am leaning more towards building it, I posted the same questions on a Facebook group and I was shown pictures of two PE speeder sheds...
