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Structures - Depots/Stations/Yards Articles

"Rio-Granding" the Forks Creek Station

Using the Classic Miniatures' Forks Creek Depot kit, the author converted it into a depot that would be appropriate for a D&RGW layout.

$6.5 million restoration of ex-PRR Wilkinsburg, Pa. train station to be completed by October

A brief history and current status of the restoration of this passenger station.

A (PRR) Day at Cincinnati Union Terminal

The author visits the CUT, and then covers a day-in-the-life of a PRR train at the CUT in 1954, complete with complimentary HO-scale model photos.

A Black Hawk Warehouse

The article is accompanied by photos and scale drawings of this structure in Black Hawk, Colorado.

A Brick Platform for Oostburg

The Hidden River Manufacturing's kit comes with a wooden platform, but the author wanted a brick one, so he describes how he built his.

A Classic Wooden Freight House

A description of this freight house located in Canton, Pennsylvania on the PRR's former Elmira Branch. Includes photos and scaled drawings.

A Depot from Two Houses

Creating a single small town depot from two Rix Products Maxwell Avenue house kits. Diagrams of the modified walls are shown as well as some construction photos.

A Depot Scene at the Pittsfield Branch

The author builds the Walthers Pella Depot kit.

A Hoboken-inspired Terminal

The model built for the Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders club layout hints at the Hoboken, New Jersey terminal. This article describes how the author scratchbuilt this model making many castings to handle the repetitiveness of the model. Includes many model photos.

A Pennsylvania RR Scale House

Scale houses are found near the throat of a yard to weigh cars as they enter or leave the yard. This article has a prototype photo and scale drawings of one such structure found in Lewistown, PA.

A Simple-to-Build Scratchbuilt On30 Engine Shed

Based on the C&NW prototype, the author built this model from plans. Although there is some scale-specific material in the article, there is no reason one can't build one in another scale using this article. Construction photos, scale drawings, and a bill of materials are included.

A Station for Middletown

The author describes how he built a model based on the prototype Central New England (later New York, New Haven & Hartford) station in Middletown, Conn. Includes scaled drawings, model and prototype photos, and various construction diagrams.

A View Inside

Modeling a building such that the front-facing wall is removed, so that the viewer can see inside.

A Wood Flagstop Station

The author builds and reviews the "Flag Stop" structure kit produced by Laser Art Structures.

Abingdon Freight House

The author's quest to build a replica of the Abingdon area continues with the construction of the freight house. Prototype photos, scale drawings, and many construction photos accompany the article.

Abingdon Freight House

Learning how to cast round window treatments using Castolite.

Alvard's Landing Part 3

This installment covers how the author built and installed his turntable and pit.

Alvard's Landing Freight Depot

N-scale drawings of a freelanced freight depot.

An Amazing Train Accessory: The 799 AF Talking Station

The author fully describes this large structure that includes a small record-player and record.

An Easy-to-build, Fully Automatic Turntable

The author describes how he built his turntable. Includes lots of detailed drawings, and construction photos.

An Inexpensive, Easy-to-build Turntable

Using a headphone plug and jack, Bob described how he built a simple turntable for Dave Frary's layout, and how it has lasted for many years.

Blueprints

Reprints of blueprints of the Atlantic Coast Line Orlando Train Station.

Blueprints

Many blueprints and photos for the C&O Thurmond Depot in Thurmond, West Virginia.

Build a Small Brick Depot

Using DPM modular wall sections, the author built this small-town depot. Using these wall sections, it is possible to build a number of structures that have the same family "line", while not all being the same.

Build an HO Brick Freight Station

The author describes how he used six small DPM kits to build this impressive city terminal building.

Build the Stone Avenue Station

The model is an exact replica of the station in LaGrange, Illinois. The author was commissioned to build this model, and he describes the process from research to construction in this article. Includes one model photo and scaled drawings.

Building "HARRIS" Tower

The author describes how he built the Merchandise Service kit, with many construction photos. Prototype photos are also included.

Building a Decorative Platform Lamp

This articles describes how to scratchbuild a station lamp that fits the 1920s or later as it was found at the Soo Line Waupaca, Wisconsin station.

Building a Derelict Depot

The author describes how he built a decrepit structure. Even though the model is of a depot, modeling any run-down structure using his methods is possible.

Building Buck's Creek Station

The author describes how he built this AM Models' structure, including lighting and detailing the interior.

Building the Charlotte Southern Station in S

The author owns Model Building Services, and was commissioned to build a scale model of the Southern Railway depot in Charlotte, North Carolina. He described how he did his research, how he created his drawings from print and online sources, created the CAD drawings, and laser-cut the acrylic parts to build the model. He also describes the Stonewall Hotel that is next to the station. Final photos of both models are included in the article.

Building the IGN Depot

Detailed, step-by-step instructions for how to build the Micron Art 1888 Capital City Passenger Station.

Building the Tama Depot

In this photo essay, the author shows the changes he made to the Walthers City Station #933-2904 to make it look like the Tama Depot.

Building Varick Freight Co.

Describes how the author built the Fos Scale Limited structure.

Built Like a Brick Freight House

These buildings were used to transfer goods between truck and freight cars. The article describes how the author built his model, and it includes prototype photos, scaled drawings, and construction drawings.

Canadian National's Weston Depot

Scale drawings of the depot in Weston, Ontario.

Canadian Pacific Railway Banff Station

CB&Q's Coburg, Iowa, Station

A small freight and passenger station. Contains no photos but detailed drawings.

Chessie System Classic: Quinnimont

This C&O depot-like structure is actually recognized by the railroad as a yard office in West Virginia. Prototype photos and scale drawings of the structure accompany the article. Includes one interior photo.

Chicago Union Station PRR Display

The store about enlarged photos wanted for the Chicago Union Station waiting area. Includes the history of the Union Station with many historical photos.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad's Highlands Station

Prototype photos, and scale drawings (1:64) of this building found in Hinsdale, Illinois.

CN Engine Foreman's Office

This article covers how the author built a Canadian Northern Railway engine foreman's office typically found near a roundhouse. Includes a prototype photo, several model photos, scale drawings, detail close-up drawings, and a bill of materials.

Cumbres Depot

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this D&RGW depot, including how to make a mold and cast roof braces.

D&RGW's Wagon Wheel Gap Station

Wagon Wheel Gap in Colorado has a remote branchline station that includes a passenger office, waiting room, freight house, and agent's living quarters. Includes prototype photos, and scale drawings.

Depot Quiz

The reader is to identify the prototype depots shown in the 6 photos.

Duluth's Endion Depot

This small depot was originally constructed two miles north of Duluth, Minnesota serving the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad. The building was moved in 1986 to a park to make way for a freeway and to preserve it. The article includes many photos of the building and scale drawings.

Easy to Build Turntable

After describing the history and fundamentals of prototype turntables, the author describes in step-by-step instructions how to build a turntable. Includes prototype photos, construction diagrams, construction photos, and a materials list. More photos can be found on page 33 of the PDF version of this issue.

Englewood

Englewood Station in Chicago. The author shares photos of the model he built, prototype photos, the track arrangement at the station (four railroads intersected there), and a track plan for his 22'x26' HO-scale that modeled the area along with a photo.

Freight Depot

A one-page scale drawing of a small freight depot as found on the Port Louis & Northern team track.

Freight House

Drawings for a small freight house.

From Factory to Freight House

Converting a Walthers' HO-scale Dayton Machine Co. "built-up" structure into a Pennsylvania RR freight house. Includes many detailed photos.

Getting Real Part 3

The author decided to use Benjamin Moore interior house paint, thinned with water, and applied with an airbrush to paint his Kansas City Union Station model. The model has an incredible amount of interior detailing, as well as LED lighting. The exterior is also exquisite with lots of vehicls, figures, and LED lighting. He used hundreds of SMD LEDs.

Governor Announces Plans to Improve Ex-PRR Harrisburg Passenger Station

PennDOT envisions an initial investment of $15 million in federal and state dollars to bring the Transportation Center to a state of good repair.

How I Built My Gilbert Union Station

Having problems finding a good copy of the A.C. Gilbert #799 Union Station, the author decided to scratchbuild one himself. He describes his process and shares a couple of photos of the finished model.

How I built My S Scale HRM Laser Models Board & Batten Depot

The owner of HRM shows how to build one of his kits.

How to Model a Stucco Depot

Includes prototype and model photos of the Santa Fe Ry station in Lamy, New Mexico. Article covers how the author built the model from scratch, includes scale drawings, and includes a side bar on how he developed his approach to modeling stucco.

Illinois Central's Iowa Division Type "C" Depots

Type C depots were for communities that no longer had an assigned railroad agent. They were only slightly bigger than a shed. Includes several prototype photos and drawings.

Imagineering Column

The author describes how he scratchbuilt his freelance depot using Sintra PVC board and styrene, but not a step-by-step process, but rather as a means of showing how to start building something from scratch, and continue to learn. Many different examples are shown, such as engines, vehicles, detailing parts, etc.

Jeff's Junction

The editor contemplates which plastic structures the major manufacturers could produce that would be of benefit to S-scale modelers, preferably ready-to-run.

Kitbashing a C&O Cabin

The author used a Korber Models kit to build a standard C&O tower. Includes photos of the completed model and prototype photos.

Kitbashing a UP Freight House

The structure started off as the Moore & Company Warehouse kit by Life-Like. The structure was made longer than the kit intended.

Lehigh Valley's Naples Branch Freight Depot

Information, photos, and a scale drawing of this small depot.

Lincoln, Iowa Depot in S Scale

The author modifies a Mount Blue Model Works S-scale kit to look like the Iowa depot.

Los Angeles Union Passenger Station

Prototype information and photos are interspersed with the author's model photos.

Louisville Union Station

Constructing the roof and final details.

Louisville Union Station Part 1

A brief history of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad station in Louisville, Kentucky. The structure was started with cardstock frame, covered with Hogate & Reynolds vinyl sheeting, and includes cast resin windows.

Making Model PRR Station and Tower Signs

This article describes how to create your own PRR station and tower signs using your computer.

Milwaukee Road Everett Street Station Diorama

The Everett Street Station (Milwaukee Union Station) was located on Everett Street in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jim Lorbiecki built a highly-detailed diorama of it.

Model of the Month

Single-stall enginehouse with complete interior detailing.

Modeling "KASE" Tower in HO Scale

After describing his layout, the author discusses how he built the "KASE" tower in Sunbury, PA. Several construction photos accompany the article.

Modeling a Weather-beaten Wood Structure

This article shows how to build, paint, and weather an American Model Builders HO-scale depot. It describes appropriate wood stains, how to apply the stain, internal bracing for wood structures, how to distress the exterior, how to use a finishing pad for weathering, how to do roof weathering, and how to simulate broken glass. Also included is a sidebar on how to simulate peeling paint using rubber cement.

Modeling the Boone, Iowa, Yard Office

Prototype and modeling photos, as well as scale drawings of this modern-day structure owned by the UP. It houses the yardmaster's office, crew quarters, and training center for new employees.

Modeling the EBT's Stone Yard Office

This structure was originally built as a farmhouse, but was soon after converted to the yard offices for the EBT's yard in Orbisonia, PA. The author describes how he took the photos, converted those photos to HO-scale, and constructed the model from those drawings. The walls were cast in plaster, and he even copied the exact layout of the random stones. A sidebar on how to scratchbuild double-hung windows is included. There are many prototype and model construction photos accompanying this article.

Modeling the Stone Avenue Depot Part One

This installment starts off the project of building a model of this depot made out of hydrocal castings. Although the focus is the depot, it is actually a good article on how to make castings.

Modeling the Stone Avenue Depot Part Two

The final installment covers completing the construction of the entire depot.

New London, Wisconsin

Buildings in the historical village display.

New York Central Branch Line Depot

Scaled drawings for the depot and the outhouse found in Eau Claire, Michigan.

No Kit? No Problem!

The author scratchbuilt the Louisville & Nashville depot in Limestone Springs, Kentucky. Construction of the windows and the odd-shaped roof are shown in close-up photos. Includes a materials list and a prototype photo.

Otter Valley RR Needs a Station

The author describes his process for building a depot based on real-world measurements.

Palm Springs Station

This article describes the SP passenger station in Palm Springs. Includes the area track plan, and scale drawings for the station.

Passenger Servicing Facilities Part 2

Pullman servicing buildings. Passenger department offices. Head end servicing. Railway Express building.

Passenger Servicing Facilities Part 3

Their construction on your railroad. Model photos. Cleaning Passenger Cars.

Passenger Station for Grand Riviere

The author used three kits to make a unique building that resembles two structures on the Alaska RR. Includes cut list, parts list, and detailed construction notes.

Penn Station, Reborn?

It is possible, with funding from New York state, that the station might be rebuilt. This article covers the problems the whole area where the station was has been experiencing since the demise of the original masterpiece.

Pennsy's North Philadelphia Station

Covers the history of the PRR station at 2900 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Includes photos and scaled drawings.

Piqua Crossing

The article describes the brick interlocking tower near Piqua, Ohio where the PRR (now Conrail), Chessie, and B&O cross. Includes a track diagram of the area, and a scale diagram.

Portable Automobile Unloader

Scale drawings and one prototype photo of the unloader found at New York Central's Little Ferry in Ridgefield, N.J.

Preservation of the Glencoe, Maryland Northern Central Ry./PRR Passenger Station

This article describes the history of the route and the Glencoe Station, concluding with reasons to consider stabilization and preservation. Includes a couple of photos and track diagrams.

PRR's Welding Shop at Sodus Point, N.Y.

A one-page article about a boxcar converted into a welding shop. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.

Putting Together a Station Scene

The author shows how to build a small passenger station and position it on the layout (on curved track). Includes step-by-step photos.

Quincy, Pa. Station

This beautiful late Victorian station served the town of Quincy, Pennsylvania, which was located on the Mont Alto Railroad, a branch line of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. These later became a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Includes several photos.

Railroad Station

Photos of and around the South Bend, Indiana Union Station, as well as its history and the area's track diagram.

Restoring the NYS&Ws Maywood Depot

Scale drawing, prototype and model photos accompany this article about how this depot was saved from the wrecking ball by railfans and industry. The depot is located in Maywood, New Jersey.

Ridgeway, Wisconsin: The Restored Depot and Caboose

A brief description followed by track maps, prototype photos, an audit of items found in the depot, and a set of plans for the depot.

RMC/Dremel Kit-bashing Award

John kitbashed several kits from different manufacturers to create this large Victorian-style passenger station/general headquarters building.

Rochester Junction Station and Storage Building

Prototype photos, scale drawings.

Rural Freight House

The scratchbuilt structure is based on the building found on the D&RGW's narrow-gauge line in Gato, Colorado.

Scientific Models / Micro-Mark HO Scale PRR Standard Branch Roads Passenger Shelter

A product review of the kit.

Scratchbuild a Sandstone Station

The author built a New York Central-flavored passenger station by casting the walls and then carving each of the individual blocks. He describes how he built the molds, cast them, and then carved the blocks. Also covered is how to stain the plaster casting, inserting the windows, building the corbels, and adding the final details. Included are model and construction photos, scaled drawings, and an assembly exploded 3D drawing.

Scratchbuilding a C&NW Northern Star Station Office

After describing this mobile-home-style office buildings, the author describes how he built one for his 1976-era layout. Includes prototype photos and drawings, and several model construction photos.

Scratchbuilding a Country Depot

The author describes how he built the Rutland's South Shaftsbury, Vermont, depot. Includes prototype, model, and construction photos, as well as scaled drawings and a materials list.

Scratchbuilding a Small Wooden Freight Station/Platform

The article includes completed model photos, scale diagrams of all sides. Includes a full description of how the author created the large advertising posters on the model.

Scratchbuilding Midland City Part 2

This installment includes completing the structure, including weathering, painting, and adding details.

Scratchbuilding NWP's Bell Springs Depot

This article describes the model of a very small depot found along the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. Scale drawings, one prototype photo, and several model close-up photos accompany the article.

Scratchbuilding the Great Falls Station

The author describes how he modeled the station. A sidebar on how he makes circles with punches is included.

Scratchbuilding the Great Falls Station Part II

This installment includes building the station walls and the roofs. Includes sidebars on using brick paper, and building window mullions.

Scratchbuilding Your First Wood Structure

The author takes us through the steps to build a small B&O Railroad station. Includes scale drawings, parts lists, tools list, and step-by-step instructions with photos.

Seaboard Coast Line Freight House

This structure now houses the Lake Wales Model Railroad Club. The article includes scale drawings, the history of the building, and several modern-day photos.

Short and Easy

John Tomlinson's layout has an under-the-tracks pedestrian walkway that is described in this article. Includes photos and diagrams.

Small-Town Combination Depot

Wood-frame construction depot with prototype photos and N-scale drawings.

Soo Line Standard Plan

Shows scale drawings for a standard timber loading platform.

South Amboy, New Brunswick, and Trenton Locals

Photos of the trains and stations in the area.

South Pacific Coast Railroad Passenger Shelter

Scale drawings of this passenger shelter, based on the Call of the Wild, California prototype structure.

South Pacific Coast Railroad Powder Works Freight Station

Scale drawings of this small freight station in California.

Southern Pacific's No.22 Combination Depot

This depot was an SP standard. The article shows several locations, and includes a scale drawings of both the interior and the exterior. It even includes a typical track plan.

Standard Class H 66-foot Balanced Turntable

This article describes the 1901-built bridge by American Bridge Co. This type of bridge carried all of its weight, including the locomotive, on the center bearing. Includes several photo and scaled drawings.

Steilacoom Station

Prototype, model, and construction photos and scale drawings of this station near South Puget Sound.

Suburban Station Renovation

The author (the general manager of Micro-Mark) takes a simple Atlas O-scale structure and turns it into a DL&W station in Berkeley Heights, N.J. This kit is also available in HO and N-scale.

Sulphur Springs Depot

This depot was built by the Tampa Northern Railroad in 1926 in North Tampa, Florida. Prototype photos and scale drawings are included.

The Abingdon Depot

Fixing a gable roof mistake and adding many details to the structure.

The Abingdon Depot Part I

The project starts with the roof.

The Abingdon Depot Part II

Start of construction: building walls, windows, and casting small details.

The Banta Products SOO Line Class 2 Standard Depot

The author describes his first experience building a wooden laser-cut kit, namely the Banta Modelworks Soo Line Class 2 depot kit, of which he needed two for his layout.

The Erie Railroad's Marion Diesel Shop Part I

This article covers the first EMD-designed shop in Marion, Ohio. Many photos of its like-new condition are included with the article. The shop was designed for the FT engines, but they soon discovered that the newer engines couldn't quite fit, and so modifications were made over time.

The Erie's Prefabricated Honesdale Freight Station

Prototype photos and scale drawings.

The LaGrange Depot

The depot in LaGrange, a suburb of Chicago, was served by the CB&Q and now by the BN. Includes prototype photos and scaled drawings.

The LaPointe Depot

This article describes how the author scratchbuilt this depot, which has the same color scheme as the other depots on his layout. Includes a side bar on how to make the fish scale shingles used for the structure's roof. Scale drawings and many construction photos are also included.

The Middletown, Pa. PRR Stations

Drawings and photos of some of the passenger stations found in Middletown, PA.

The NYO&W's Ellenville, N.Y. Depot

Prototype photos and full-size N-scale drawings.

The Pacific Motor Trucking Co.

Article includes prototype photos, track plan, and scale drawings of this structure in Eugene, OR.

The Quitman Depot

This article describes how to make an MTH plastic structure look like weathered wood.

The Story of Chicago Park

Describes the history of this small station in rural California. Includes track arrangement, prototype photos, and scale drawings. Also described is the nearby water tower.

The Utica Freight House

This article describes the New York, Ontario & Western freight house in Utica, N.Y., and includes prototype photos, scale drawings, and a track plan.

Try Hallmark Cards Oceanside Depot

The author reviews and upgrades the tin model produced by Hallmark Cards in 1999. The model is close to S-scale.

Two-stall Engine House Part 1

The author shares how he started this project, by building the walls, the doors, and how to weather the walls.

Union Pacific's "Harriman" Standard 24'x64' Depots

When Harriman took over the reigns at UP in 1900, he developed a standard for equipment and structures, including depots. The author models one such depot starting with an American Model Builders kit.

Union Station Revisited

The author describes how he took two Bachmann Plasticville Union Station buildings to build one unique one that has been enhanced.

Walkup at Slapout

The author describes how he built the B.T.S. kit #1400-8, Flagstop, which went through a basement flood.

Western Maryland's Cumberland Station

A magnificent station reborn as a museum and tourist railway terminal. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.

When Things Aren't There Anymore: The Midvale, Pa. Freight House

Researching a structure that no longer exists. The author then shows how he built a model of the freight house.

Winch-type Car Puller

This brief article contains prototype information about a machine used to move cars in the yard when a locomotive is not available. Includes prototype photos and a model photo using a non-operating part from a marine winch made by Model Shipways.

Woodstown, NJ Depot

Drawings of the depot at this location.