Dropped by my LHS (more than "local" since it's well over 25 miles from our house), and snagged a read deal on a Walther's N scale ATSF depot with freight house. I didn't plan on putting it on my layout, I just wanted one. There are very few of these original structures still standing, all of them here in the Southwest, and I like the architecture. I'll try and see if I can find a spot for it on my layout, otherwise I think it'll make one heck of a diorama some day when I have the time.

Oh, and the deal: Walther's is selling the kit for $64.98, I got this one for $19.98, new in the box. It was worth the 50 mile drive, just for this. I checked Walther's and even if I wanted to buy one from them, they are out of stock, making this a double good deal.

Here's a picture of the kit:

[attachment=16144]

A very unusual building and at a great price. Would be totally out of place on my eastern layout but right at home on yours Don.

NICE!!!

I love finding great and unexpected deals like that!

Tyson Rayles Wrote:A very unusual building and at a great price. Would be totally out of place on my eastern layout but right at home on yours Don.

You're right, if only I can find the room. I did find out that the freight house and depot can be built as two separate structures, and that may help with that. I'd like to put it on the layout if I could, but, the price not withstanding, I really like the structure I guess because it is from the SW and I kind of tend to building around this area. Plus, it would still fit in most eras including today's.

nachoman Wrote:NICE!!!

I love finding great and unexpected deals like that!

Yeah, I'm sure you know where I got it, up by the Deer Valley Airport. A long drive for me and I went there just for this. They had more, but I guess at any price, they're still a bit large for a N scale layout. The depot/freight house measures just about 12" x 4" if built as one unit.

Very nice! Sante Fe had some classy depots back in the day. We've got a couple of them preserved right here in my area in both Canon City and Florence.

I have the HO version of the same station and bought it because it reminds me of several train stations that I've seen in southern Ontario. I may or may not modify, but I'm not trying to model a particular prototype. I never even thought of it as a southwestern-style structure, though.

EDIT: Took me a while to find it, but here's a photo of the VIA station, in Cobourg, Ontario (not too far east of Toronto).



There are several others I've seen, although many of them also have a low circular tower added to the design, often capped by a "witches hat" roof. This one, at Brantford, Ontario, is a little grander, but of a similar Normanesque architectural style:





And the former CNR station at Goderich, Ontario:






Wayne

doctorwayne Wrote:I have the HO version of the same station and bought it because it reminds me of several train stations that I've seen in southern Ontario. I may or may not modify, but I'm not trying to model a particular prototype. I never even thought of it as a southwestern-style structure, though.

Wayne

There are a few of these old Santa Fe depots in Arizona and New Mexico, I'm not sure of any other states, but there could be. I don't know of any that look exactly like this one but the one's I've seen do like a bit southwest or Spanish in style, maybe because that's where I've seen them . The one up in Flagstaff is brick like this one, but is a lot larger. The one in Winslow is basically the same footprint but has Spanish arches and has been stuccoed. I don't know if they were added later on, or they were original to match the La Posada (Harvey House) hotel on the same property.

Here's a couple from Texas and Oklahoma

Beautiful buildings all...

I like the regional distinctions, but as Wayne points out, there were similar ones all over North America. It's interesting though in that they are all recognizable as railway buildings, not matter the style or trim.

Andrew

Tyson Rayles Wrote:A very unusual building and at a great price. Would be totally out of place on my eastern layout but right at home on yours Don.

Mike,I have seen station similar to that here in the "Yankee" states.The freight shed would have to go bye,bye.
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Don,Great deal!

I saw another one today, just down the road (well, 15 miles or so) in St. Catharines, Ontario, and it even has the same stepped and rounded concrete trim above the operator's bay. Unfortunately, I didn't have the camera with me, but next time...if I remember.

Wayne