Hello again; First off I accept the apologies of the two gentlemen...and I apologise to all here for getting bent. There are 2 Titan missile silos within 15 miles of here that have been converted into living quarters and folks around here think the people that did the renovations are goof balls with mental problems for doing it. To the folks in the small town where the school is located I am an outsider and some look at me as a goof ball for wanting to convert this school into a toy train place. So thats why I am a bit sensitive to any comments out of line with my thinking. Hope you all can understand where this came from. After Fridays meet with the architect I got my recomendations for the removal of some walls. I have now decided to utilize the side of the building from the music room to the second classroom from the art room for my N-scale layout with each room having a connecting road theme i.e. the Sante Fe room, the Rock Island room, the Mopac and Sante Fe room, and the Missouri Pacific room. This gives me an estimated 300' point to point Frisco line with the music room depicting Ellsworth Kansas and the Union Pacific KP line. My blog that is posted on my website that was in an earlier post will be updated regularly and will include pictures once something substantial happens. The living space will be in the two classrooms at the lower end of the building and will be closed off from the rest of the structure. My plans for the rest are just tentative...but I would like to hold train meets in the auditorium and maybe a rail fest for the live steam crowd since there will be outdoor tracks. Since no eating or sleeping establishments are in town, I have planned to build 4 camping cabins on the grounds and a camp ground for RV's but how many I don't know...some of this is just a dream at this stage. Anyway, I rambled enough here today. Thanks for the suggestions and if any are interested in the progress check my blog. Dale S.
Friscoluvr, realize one thing- you have an enormous amount of space at your fingertips. To the vast majority of modelers, this is a fantasy akin to winning the lottery. We're a wee bit jealous of you, but it's with tongue in cheek. My goodness, you could just about model most Frisco subdivisions with a minimum of compression or omission in the space you have! However, as suggested, the costs of utilities, insulation, upkeep, etc. may prove to be an obstacle. I have known folks in northeastern Oklahoma and west of Paris, Texas who bought old schools and converted them to living quarters (or at least built new houses on the foundations). The fellow in Paris kept the gym intact- no idea what he uses it for, but to me it would make an awesome train room. Again, cost of utilities and construction would be an obstacle. Then again, John Allen spent years building his Gorre & Daphetid RR in the basement of his home, and if you've ever seen it live or in person, you've seen his awesome handiwork. Whether you do it in N, HO or whatever scale, you have the room- now to get to work on the other items on your list! ELlsworth.......IIRC, that was the far west end of the line from Pierce City, MO to Wichita to the middle of Kansas. I can somehow envision the gym full of the Frisco's west end (Beaumont, KS- Frederick, OK; OKC, OK- QUanah, TX to Floydada, TX; and the Pierce City-Ellsworth line). Your classrooms are rentable for art galleries, or combine two or three for living quarters (lotsa trips to the lumber yard in your future) and make your present residence a rental house. Don't see any reason for double-deckers or helixes, but I can see some hidden staging (LOTS of staging) in your future. How big is that gym, anyway?
Rural life is far better than any urban environment. People are even nice and say "hi" to you, and wave at their neighbors when they drive through the neighborhood.
In the Frisco forum I posted an idea that we should have one of our old diesels painted back in original SLSF colors and sent to a museum... Is there any room in the playground for GP15 or GP38, hmmm or dare I say the gym?? That would be awesome! Now we just gotta find someone to donate the loco, oh, and of course get your blessings. I used to work for a company that hosts the official website for the "National Association of Realtors", we did this promotional film on unique homes that we've showcased, one of which was a converted Titan missile silo, it was the coolest home in the movie. We also featured a model railroad home, although it was of average size, it was completely devoted to model trains EVERYWHERE. I really like your idea of themed rooms! Now, as far as gettin stuff done, is there a local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts troop? I think they have Model Railroading merit badges, maybe wood-working one, too? (it's been so long I can't remember) I think you'd be the hit if you had workshops to teach them how to paint and put together a workbench, scenery, planning, etc. While they'd get their merit badges, I bet they'd return for more just for the fun of it and you'll have contributed to the future of model railroading to boot! Best Regards, -Mike
Hello Dave, I am so jealous of the space you have available. Anyway, I once thought of what I'd do if such an opportunity presented itself. Very large curves, long turnouts more like the prototype, number 12 maybe 15 on the main, number 10 or 8's for the yard, nothing smaller than number 6 even for the industry track. I would try and pick a few prototype scenes, even with your space available you might find you'd still need to compress them. A real good size division point yard with engine facilities, car repair shops, industries up the kazzooo. In the east you could get some real accuracy on yard size and length. Midwest lines might require more space than even you have available. whatever, enjoy. Its going to be expensive, just in track, lumber and wire. Not to mention scenery. Rob
You know you gotta laugh at some folks who think folks are nuts for converting a missile silo to a home. especially in the midwest. I mean, when the next tornado comes through, who's gonna have the last laugh? Rob
For the gym, there is a lot of vertical space that is unused. Maybe a false ceiling or something to curb the cost of heating or air conditioning the entire space? Of course, I am sure the architect has ideas on this, too.
I was born and raised at Wichita, so I can vouch for Friscoluvr's view of Kansas people. We are friendly, but like our own space. If we own it, we shall do with it what we wish, and will usually appreciate any kind comments others may submit for approval. Well, maybe not quite that stuffy, but once we have made up our mind, please don't try to confuse us with facts if you disagree. We seem to get some huge wheat fields plowed simply because we started here, and kept at it stubbornly until the field was plowed and done up. We better be good to Dale, because he just might decide to buy up next year's production run of track, cars and engines to outfit his empire! Then where would we be? Go for it Dale! Enjoy!!!
That's true, I wonder if that could be converted into 2 or 3 stories to add to the space and/or a overhead view (catwalks) of the layout(s) below which most the time you can never see from that perspective.
If you look at the ebay listing, the Gym isn't a normal size... remember the town's population is under 500... so my earlier post/idea of multi stories is not valid. Although 2 stories "might" be obtainable. I think someone suggested the gym for a modeling space, while either renting out or remodeling some of the classrooms as living space. If so...the profit could help fund the venture! Maybe volunteers get a free room for as long as you contribute to the project! Just random ideas
I tried to see if I could reach friscoluvr (Dale) but so far no responce. The website he had started for the project is somewhat offline also.
Hi Dale, the link was not working for me, so I might not fully understand the magnitude of your problem. It would appear that you have a truly unique issue: Too much space! I am not really sure if I would want to trade with you... My advise would be: Find a Prototype (if you are into Prototype Modelling) and / or define what you want to model. If your heart beats for the Walla Walla Valley you could partition of a small protion of your school and still build the whole prototype. If you need to have NYC from New York to Chicago your only chance would be to fill the whole Building. BUT: If you go for only one intermediate terminal again a small portion might be enough.... If you do not have group support start small, get operational ASAP (maybe with movable staging yards at both ends f the main that can be relocated as the mainline gets longer) but keep the design expandable. I would advise against planning an "Empire" that only works once completed: It appears to be the fastest way to frustration! And keep the scenry to track ratio high! Scenery is much, much cheaper and faster than track! Also Cities are much more time consuming than rural scenery! Whatever you do: Keep us posted and invite us to constrcution / operationg sessions Cheers Dirk
Exactly Rob!! One would think by now that in this day and age, Tornado shelters/basement would be standard code for houses, and even trailers in the Midwest.
