Somehow I got the hang of creating beautifully ornamented masonry with engraved acrylic sheet when working on the IRT Powerhouse model. New York City is full of mostly historic buildings with more than just plain, ordinary brick walls. Having one or two models of this type of structures would add a lot of excitement to […]
The VanCortlandt Building Read More »
The Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Powerhouse was really not on my Westside Railroad Layout to-do list. That was until a fellow modeler asked me if I could help him with a flat structure that would hide part of his staging yard. And he also pointed me to that building in the Upper West Side. I
The Interborough Rapid Transit Powerhouse Read More »
Researching the commercial structure on Eleventh Avenue and West 46th Street now named Metropolitan Lumber, I came across a gigantic cylindrical structure looming over that same entire block on 1940 tax photos. Checking the map it became obvious that it must have been a gas holder of the Consolidated Gas Company of New York. History
Consolidated Gas Holder on West 45th Street Read More »
It sometimes takes me multiple visits to a neighborhood before I register a particularly interesting structure. The building at the corner of Eleventh Avenue and West 46th Street is one of these. A big sign says Metropolitan Lumber, but an oversized poster also indicates that that company has left for good and can now be
Metropolitan Lumber Read More »
My last section of the left leg of my Westside Railroad includes a reverse loop for the high line. Close to the reverse loop is the ramp connecting the high line with the street level tracks. Those tracks are 270 and 180 degrees circular tracks with a radius of 13″ or larger. They take a
Barclay Street Hoboken Ferry Terminal Read More »
Having finally built the single 45 degree crossing at the eastern yard entrance, I was able to finish my rail yard of the B&O West 26th Street Station. Hand-laying a crossing is messy and even though after about half a dozen of such builds, I now know what works best and what does not work,
Building the B&O W26th Street Station Yard Read More »
Originally, I decided to use the Fast Tracks BullFrog manual turnout control to switch my turnouts on the street level. (Note that ehe elevated track is a different story and will use remote control). I felt that this would be appropriate for street running trains in the transition era. My first three modules I equipped
From Manual to Electric Turnout Control Read More »
Having recently built a model of the Bennett Building and explored other representations of the cast-iron type in SoHo, I could not resist having a closer look at another one of those unique architectural jewels I came across in Chelsea. I’m talking about the former B. Altman “dry goods” department store at 615-629 Sixth Avenue.
The B. Altman Department Store on the Ladies Mile Read More »
While working downtown Manhattan over the last couple of years I often took a longer walk than necessary to enjoy the day and the busy (or not so busy post-pandemic) life in the Financial District. It took me several years to realize that on my way south through Nassau Street, I always passed in front
The Bennett Building Read More »
What’s the Baltimore & Ohio West 26th Street Station without a rail yard? I had it on my plan from the very beginning but never gave any thoughts how I could fit a few tracks into a limited space. Let alone how I could make it prototypically looking. Some History The Baltimore and Ohio West
Adding a Rail Yard to the B&O W26th Street Station Read More »