I recently purchased the NP 2 story depot kit from the NPRHA with the intention to build the Lester depot. I originally thought this would be a build and paint and be done. I was wrong. Lester has some variances from the typical 3rd class depot that need to be adressed. First, the telegraphers bay window is larger than the bay window upstairs. Second, on the far left wall there is an additional window that is not in other depots of this type. And finally, on the main line side of the depot the door/window arrangements differ from other dpeots as well. My intention is to make the necessary changes using parts from an American Model Builders NP class A depot. I have not started on this project yet, so I will post photos as work proceeds.
I would be interested in seeing any research, and model photos. Lester is a place on the NP, which almost all Monad clan fans know about, or have visited. Legendary! Boxcab E50
Lester Depot I too, would be interested in seeing that depot. Many years ago, there was a small logging camp called Maywood, which sat just a short distance from Lester. We were in Maywood to tear down some of the buildings that had long since been abandoned and sometimes we'd get over to Lester. I'll never forget watching FT's go through...
Another unique Lester feature was the train order signal. One blade was shortened so it would not hit the building. Boxcab E50
Ha! I can just imagine the Signal maintainer's scratching his head when he first climbed the ladder up there to install it!!:teeth: And what was up with the way the first floor sagged at the foundation? From pic's it looked like it started showing around the late 60's or so.
The lester depot project will soon be underway, as I have almost finished my 3 year long project of building the sawmill for the United Northwest model railroad club. So now Lester needs to be done as my friend Keith is anxiouslly waiting for it to be put on his Tacoma subdivision layout.
If I am able to get over that way again this summer, I am hoping to catch Keith for a quick visit. Haven't seen him in years. But did swap some emails a few weeks ago. He sent me some views of areas with scenery. WOW. I saw the layout room just as he was starting to build, before we moved away. Boxcab E50
WOW!! Three years?! How long did the real one take to build? I gotta' see this! Do you have any pic's?
Well Kurt, if you happen to have a July/August 2009 N scale magazine floating around, the pictures of the mill are in there. But if you dont have that magazine the mill will be at our Monroe show as it is now premanently afixed and sceniced on the UNW layout.
