This Depot was torn down in the late 50's or early 60's. One of our club members was there when it was going down and he took the signs and the photo. With the photo and the signs available, I decided to model the depot. Just as I was starting the project, The C&NW Historical society came out with a generic M&St. L depot laser kit. With a little modification, it could be made to look just like the LaSalle depot This really simplified things so I started. Here is a photo of the original building. The signs were photographed and reduced and glued on to the building. The hardest part was trying to represent the building as it showed up in the photo. There was hardly any paint left on it and it was in poor shape. I used a white pickling stain to stain the wood and it does seem to capture some of the look. The building is not finished. I have to make the signal over the bay window and I have to close up the ends of the roof, glaze the windows and finish the interior. The roof is removable.
Very nice! Of course I am a fan of M&St.L depots..... Looking at that structure, it strikes me as likely being the perfect size for a layout and associated hobbying activities! I wish that fellow had found a train order or two stashed in it's attic... I'd love to buy one! Boxcab E50
That's an interesting question. The M&St.L was a big time user of the "Swift" (not Smith as some errantly call it) style train order signal. Does anyone make them in HO or for that matter, N scale? Boxcab E50
I plan to. It shouldn't be too hard to fabricate out of some brass tubing, wire and styrene. The harder part is going to be to put the caps on the ends of the eaves. It looks like two oddly shaped pieces for each end and I still want the roof to be removable.
