Should I Scratch or Should I go?

[johnb]

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?

[up1950s]

Ok , I have a solution . Make both on the same size lift out base . This way your head and your heart can be at peace as you can swap them out as your innards demand .

[thomasjmdavis]

I think I just gave my answer to you on a different site (at any rate, it was the same question).  So short answer is- did the SP cross or parallel or interchange at any point within the area you are modeling?  Seems the perfect way to indicate that a bit of trackage installed for scenic reasons, even if you don't run trains on it, is the "SP line crossing ....."

[Philip H]

Being a protolance aficionado myself - build the building.  Make a nice miniscene round it. Call it good.  You won't regret the time spent.

[wcfn100]

What sort of 'logic' gets applied in a protolanced situation?

It's a prototypical building on a railroad with strong ties to the railroad you're modeling.  What more does there need to be?

Jason

[randgust]

One of the real truths is that the only person it will every annoy is likely you.

I had the Corwith, IL fuel & sand racks in my Winslow, AZ ATSF N yard for years.   I knew it, it irritated the heck out of me, but I never got busted.  But I finally redid the whole works when I got good enough data and photos.

Those of us that model specific prototype areas can get really stuck on this stuff.   Even if you're doing a specific area, the only way you can be 'busted' is either to admit it, publish a photo of it in context, or run into the one person in a thousand that can actually spot it.

To me, the bigger question is 'feel'.   Whether or not that actual speeder shed existed on the PE is secondary to whether or not it looks like it could have.   Southwest buildings have a lot in common, particularly railroad buildings.    I like the removable idea, but a plausible lie also works!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Those of us that model specific prototype areas can get really stuck on this stuff.   Even if you're doing a specific area, the only way you can be 'busted' is either to admit it, publish a photo of it in context, or run into the one person in a thousand that can actually spot it.

Ugh. Just happened to me today. A friend sent me this photo of the area of my layout that has the street running.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Notice the second track.

I figured that had gone out with the PRR before Agnes hit. Nope.

So now... my operational bottleneck isn't quite so bad, and the entire end of my one peninsula would need to be reworked.

Or, I'll just tear it down and do better next time.

Either way. These are the things that really only bother us owners. No visitors to my place would EVER even think of this as an issue.

[DKS]

No visitors to my place would EVER even think of this as an issue.

And even those that might probably would not say anything. There could be a dozen reasons why you consciously omitted the second track, and few if any would be brave enough to ask. We all make compromises on everything we do. (Well, except maybe for Max.)

[MichaelWinicki]

Ugh. Just happened to me today. A friend sent me this photo of the area of my layout that has the street running.

(Attachment Link)

Notice the second track.

I figured that had gone out with the PRR before Agnes hit. Nope.

So now... my operational bottleneck isn't quite so bad, and the entire end of my one peninsula would need to be reworked.

Or, I'll just tear it down and do better next time.

Either way. These are the things that really only bother us owners. No visitors to my place would EVER even think of this as an issue.

The second track adds a lot to the scene... How often do we see a second track in a street-running scene that's apparently not a track going to an industry.

Digging deeper would love to know what the operations were in that area involving the second track.

[johnb]

So I am going to do it...and would not be as far off as I originally thought. I posted the original post of this thread, and was shown pictures of a pair of Pacific Electric speeder sheds...

So would this be eligible for the MOW contest?

[mu26aeh]

So I am going to do it...and would not be as far off as I originally thought. I posted the original post of this thread, and was shown pictures of a pair of Pacific Electric speeder sheds...

So would this be eligible for the MOW contest?

@tom mann , MOW eligibility question !

I say go with the scratch build.  You might be surprised at what you can come up with. 

[johnb]

@tom mann , MOW eligibility question !

I say go with the scratch build.  You might be surprised at what you can come up with. 

Not really, of the three buildings in this picture, one is a laser cut kit (rear left) and the other two are scratch built...

[tom mann]

@tom mann , MOW eligibility question !

I say go with the scratch build.  You might be surprised at what you can come up with. 

Do it!!

[randgust]

Never mind the street running, what the heck is in that picture?

I'm seeing a PC GP-something pulling what looks like an excursion train with TWO hot steam locomotives and a long passenger string.  Maybe a George Hart operation with the 972??  I didn't think it was running that early in the PC years.

Is that the NC on North Pershing, or someplace else?    I've seen the old track charts for that, don't remember ever seeing two tracks.

Not a typical day on the PC.  Or anyplace else for that matter.   That's like debating the grass color under a field of grazing Unicorns.  Or my favorite, a shot of a California Zephyr dome crossing the Allegheny in Warren, and noting the bridge rust color.

OK, extreme thread drift... but, but....  ????

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The second track adds a lot to the scene... How often do we see a second track in a street-running scene that's apparently not a track going to an industry.

Digging deeper would love to know what the operations were in that area involving the second track.

I know! That's what breaks my brain.

That track is actually the mainline of the Northern Central (http://conrail1285.com/what-is-the-northern-central/) line. The PRR used it primarily as a passenger line between Baltimore (and points south) to Harrisburg (and points west and north). There was also a brisk local business on each end of the line (around York and around Baltimore). By the PC era it was in decline, and Hurricane Agnes killed it south of York. That stretch there is just south of the center of York, and still exists today but only as a branch to a local customer or two currently served by the G&W owned YorkRail.