The Ontario Express

Official Website Of The Ontario & Western Railway Historical Society, Inc.

Rich Cobb’s Modelshop

“The secret to a clean workbench is to have a small one so you have to clean up to have any room.
The floor is another matter – I sweep it out when the chair won’t roll any more…” Rich Cobb

Looking for a custom built model or your favorite O&W Depot or Structure?

You can contact Rich Cobb at: [email protected]

Goshen Depot – I finally got around to doing an HO scale model of my hometown station in Goshen, NY for an architect that lives up near Albany. He measured the actual building, after getting permission from the village police, who now occupy the building. The model is about 22 inches long, and was constructed of Plastruct brick sheets, Grandt Line and Tichy doors and windows, and Northeastern slate roofing.

Webb Depot – Prototype Photo – “Webb was a small station on a Boston & Maine branch that ran up to Bellows Falls, Vermont. The prototype photo is the only known picture of the depot, so some guessing was involved in building a HO scale model of it. Materials used were Northeastern scale lumber, Grandt Line railings, some doors and windows found on Ebay from a defunct Santa Fe station kit, and Northeastern Scale Models slate roofing. The model is set in the era when the station was no longer in use, so the order board had been removed.”

Sylvan Beach in O’ scale – the model was built from photos in John Taibi’s book “When the railroads went to the beach” with some help from John on the colors and the canopy. It’s about 6 actual feet long and built in 3 sections for shipping. Materials are Northeastern wood, Grandt Line windows, and Plastruct shingles. It was tough getting a picture indoors, but with 4 feet of the white stuff on the ground, I wasn’t going to try outside.

Railroad Weed Control – Photo of Original Equipment – Walt Kierzkowski sent out the photo of a motor car that was converted to cutting weeds, and I just had to give making a model a shot. It’s in HO, and a little oversize, but I don’t have a weed growing on my layout.

O&W Resin Kits – Photo 2Photo 3. John Canfield has been making resin kits of O&W rolling stock and structures for several years now, and has made available HO scale equipment that isn’t available elsewhere. The kits require some work and patience, but if you take your time and follow his well-written instructions you’ll end up with a good looking model. These are limited run kits, and I don’t know if you can twist his arm enough to make another run once they’re sold out.

MQ Tower – An Erie freight drifts past MQ Tower on the Graham line and is about to cross the Lehigh and Hudson River line to Maybrook. The HO scale model is built from Northeastern Scale Lumber siding and dimensional wood; Northeastern Scale Models laser cut shingles; Grandt Line doors and windows; and Plastruct corrugated roofing. Thanks to Doug Barberio for photos and plans.

NYC Waterfront & Ferry – Joe Bux decided he’d like an HO scale diorama of a New York City waterfront to go with the model of the ferry boat I’d built for him several years ago – the pictures are the result. Joe provided the 3 sections of the diorama, and a lot of research and photos of what he’d like. The ferry apron and hoist tower is scratch built, as are all the pilings. The rail car float is a modified Walthers kit, as are the hoist tower and the warehouses. The light house is also a Walthers kit. The diorama is almost 4 feet square, and I’d guess it’ll probably turn up at some shows in the future. 

Farm Machinery Dealer – “Having grown up on a farm in Orange County, I’ve always had a love for farm machinery, and finally got around to building a 2′ x 2′ HO scale diorama a couple years ago. The building started with left over parts from a Revell kit, while the tractors are modified commercial products and the other equipment is mostly scratch built. The shop includes complete interior detailing. The diorama is featured in Lou Sassi’s latest book, ‘Building and detailing Model Railroad Scenes, Vol. II.” Incidentally, the diorama is for sale, if anybody’s interested. Photo 2 – Photo 3 – Photo 4 – Photo 5

Roscoe Station: A northbound freight led by a set of FT’s rumbles by the Roscoe station in the summer of 1956. In less than a year wheels would no longer turn, and after not too much longer the station would disappear to make way for Route 17. The HO scale model is built of Northeastern lumber, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Northeastern scale models slate roofing. Thanks to Mal Houck for casting up those nifty roof braces.

Ontario Dispatch: “Around 1887, the O&W decided to start a fast freight service called the Ontario Dispatch. They soon realized they didn’t have enough box cars to provide the service, and promptly leased 300 box cars from the Madison, Alton & Chicago. Here’s one of the cars on the Auburn branch, and I understand it’s scheduled to arrive in Middletown on Sunday, 7/26.”

Greensboro Bend, Vermont, Creamery – Creamery 2Original Creamery –  “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s easier to model an abandoned building.. I don’t know when this creamery closed, but the prototype photo shows how it looked in the 1970s. Evidently throwing rocks is a major sport for kids in the area. The HO scale model was scratchbuilt using NorthEastern siding, GrandtLine doors and windows, Campbell corrugated roofing, and a lot of ‘broken’ little window panes. Yet to be done is a hint of red paint on the front of the building, and lots of rust on the roof.

O&W’s #542 Baggage Car – John Canfield produces resin kits of O&W rolling stock that aren’t available otherwise – here’s his version of the O&W’s #542 Baggage Car. The kits require a bit of work – sanding, drilling, painting, decaling, etc., but make a great looking model when you’re finished. These are limited run kits and sell out very quickly – you can contact John for future kits: [email protected]

O&W 8300 series cabooses in HO scale – Al Seebach and Branchline Trains have produced outstanding kits to model the 8300 series cabooses – enough information is included in the kit to build any one of the 59 cabooses that were built in the Middletown shops. Here’s a not so great picture of four of them – Al has them in kit form and built up.

Tappan Station was on the New York, West Shore and Buffalo, and “The Shore” must have liked the design, as at least 9 other stations were built to the same plans, although in a mirror immage. The HO model is from Al Seebach’s outstanding laser cut kit, and would make a great addition to any layout. It’s small in size – about 4″ x 5″ but loaded with detail.

Oneida Castle – Oneida Castle 2 –  was an interchange station between the NYO&W and the West Shore (upper level) – later the New York Central – and still later a trolley line that brought folks from Syracuse and Utica to ride the O&W to Sylvan Beach. The HO scale model is one of two I built with the help of some color photos from Joe Bux of his model, and plans that were published in Model Railroader. Castle5 picture is on Marty Leukhardt’s layout with some landscaping added.

Oriskany Falls Depot  –  “The station sign says ‘Niagara Falls, 136.12, Newark, New York 354.32,’  part of the Auburn Branch of the O&W, but the prototype was actually 100 miles or so east on another branch – can you guess where? The HO scale model was built from O&W Historical Society plans, photos, and recollections of the owner from 1967 when he was there. Materials include poster board, Plastruct brick, Northeastern Scale Lumber, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Northeastern Scale Models slate roofing.”

Oneida station – the HO scale model was built from society plans and a couple photos for Mal Houck. Materials used were Plastruct brick, SS LTD and Grandt Line windows, and GC Lasercraft diamond shingles. Bill Schneider of Branchline Trains laser cut the fancy roof braces on the single story end.

Lamoille Railroad covered bridge – Photo 2 – The Lamoille Railroad covered bridge is now at home on Mike Confalone’s model railroad in New Hampshire, and Mike, who’s the publisher of Railroad Explorer, sent me a couple pictures of it in place. The layout has some of the most realistic scenery I’ve ever seen, and the photo backdrop is from the sight of the actual bridge. The night shot duplicates the work of O. Winston Link and other night prototype photographers in model form. Mike said he set his camera to a 25 second exposure and “painted” the train and bridge with flashlights.

Awesome! The Flushing was an East River Ferry Boat serving New York City. Her history is kind of sketchy, but she was probably built in the 1920s, and lasted until the Bronx-Whitestone bridge opened on October 1st, 1940. The HO scale model was built from plans, photos, and research by Joe Bux. The hull is 3/4″ thick pine, covered with Northeastern siding. Posterboard, Grandt Line doors and windows, Walthers lamp posts, Atlas hairpin fence, brass tubing, Plastruct tube, and various ship fittings were used in construction.

Greensboro Bend, Vermont, is on the Lamoille Valley railroad, and has a rather plain station which was dressed up with fancy trim. The HO scale model is built of Northeastern wood and Grandt Line doors, windows, and modified roof brackets.

Covered railroad bridge – This covered railroad bridge was on the St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County railroad in Wolcott, Vermont, and was in use until 1995 when flooding ended the railroad’s life – steel pilings were installed in the 1960s to support the weight of the trains. Today it is part of a recreational trail. Plans were in the November 1968 Model Railroader, and the HO scale model is built of Northeastern individual scale lumber throughout.

Walton Depot – Photo 2 – The HO scale model of the O&W station at Walton was built from a copy of a blueprint from the Archives, and a few post card views. Construction materials were poster board, 1/8′ square balsa to give the walls thickness, and Plastruct brick and spanish tile sheets. The windows were drawn on a computer and printed on clear acetate.

SX Tower – This tower was located at Sylvan Beach on the east end of Oneida Lake in central New York. Not only did it control a reverse loop for vacation trains, it also controled joint trackage shared with the Lehigh Valley railroad. The HO scale model was built with Northeastern scribbed siding and dimensional lumber, Grandt Line doors, windows, and stairs, and North Eastern shingles. Truck #35 is a Busch 1950’s Chevy pickup with a scratch built flat bed. Engine #23 is a repainted Bachmann.

Hamilton Station – HO scale model of the Hamilton station I built for Mal Houck. Materials are Northeastern wood, Campbell shingles, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Northeastern scale models slate roofing. The 44 tonner is a modified Bachman with the shutters in the correct location.

Cadosia Freight House – the HO scale model was built from plans in the Scranton Division book, using Northeastern siding and scale lumber, Grandt Line freight doors and windows, and Northeastern Scale Models slate roofing.

Santa Fe Station in Alhambra, California – the HO scale model was built from blueprints and photos – materials used were poster board, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Plastruct spanish tile roofing. The large round top windows were drawn on a computer and printed on clear acetate. The interior ticket office and waiting room is detailed with office furniture, benches and travlers, as so much is visible when the interior lights are on.

Coal Yard Office – this HO scale model was built from photos I took of the actual structure located in Binghampton, NY, back in the ’80s. A truck would be loaded to the approximate order weight, and then pull on the truck scale. Coal would be added from the bins on the left, or removed from the truck to get the correct weight. Materials are Northeastern scribbed siding and stripwood, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Northeastern Scale Models roof slate shingles.

Wurtsboro – An HO scale model built from plans in Mainline Modeler, some photos of the real thing, and some help from Walt K and Mal H. Materials are Grandt Line doors and windows, Northeastern wood, Plastruct brick, and Northeaster Scale Models shingles. The switch engine is from Concor and was custom painted.

Cadosia Coal Tower – O scale model built from society blueprints. Materials are Grandt Line doors, windows, coal chute parts and stairs, and Northeastern lumber. There’s close to 400 nut/bolt/washer castings, but who’s counting.. If you look cross-eyed at the Lionel engine and squint real hard, it might look like the Mountaineer. Here is a another shot of two of the O scale models I built for Al Seebach.

Mamakating Depot – “GE 44 tonner 102 is running light past Mamakating and up the grade to High View on the return trip to Middletown. The HO scale station model is built of cardboard, Plastruct brick sheeting, Grandt Line doors and windows, Northeasten wood, and Northeastern Scale Models slate roofing. The 44 tonner is from Bachman, with the radiator grills moved to the sides and Mal Houck decals.”

Monticello Station – 50 years ago this month in the March 1956 Model Railroader, M.B. Wakefield described how he built an O scale model of the Monticello station. With a little proding from Mal Houck, here’s an HO version – materials are Northeastern wood, Grandt line doors and windows, and Northeastern Scale Models slate shingles. Yup, I know the Vintage Vehicles railbus is a Mack instead of a Brill.

Mayfield PA Engine House – Photo 2 – I built the Mayfield engine house for Joe Bux quite a few years ago – a year ago it made a trip back north for a few repairs and a display case. The model itself is built from Northeasten wood and Grandtline windows and parts; the turntable is Diamond Scale. The display case base had to be about 5″ tall to accomodate the drive for the turntable and a power supply. (The case was made by a wood-working friend of mine). The pictures were taken before the plexiglass top was put in place.

Cadosia Station (Oswego Side) (ScrantonSide) – After a couple of false starts, some hair pulling, and a lot of help from Mal H. and Walt K., I think I’ve got the window and door placement right – I almost drove the 125 miles to look at the real thing, which wouldn’t have helped much since it’s been changed a lot over the last 50 years or so.. The model is constructed of Northeasten scribbed siding for the lower part of the walls, Campbell shingles stained walnut on the upper part, modified Grandt Line doors and windows, and Northeastern Scale Models gray slate shingles for the roof.

Cadosia Engine House – This HO scale model was built from NorthEastern wood and Grandt Line windows. My sources tell me the doors were removed soon after it was built because of close clearances with another track. The Mountain is a Spectrum engine from Al Seebach. Thanks to Walt K. for finding me some photos and even some plans of the structure.

Bump End Barge – This is an American Model Builders HO Scale laser cut wood kit of a “Bump End Barge” that was used in New York harbor. Freight would come into the rail yards in New Jersey and be loaded on the barge, which would then be moved by tugboat across the Hudson to New York city. The “Bump-end” term refers to the Captain’s cabin/office on the rear. The freight would either be moved by hand through the doors, or more likely by crane through the roof hatches over the doors.
Assembly time was about 25 hours over a couple of weeks.. many of the parts are peel and stick. The revenue inside the doors are crates of Dominator Tomatoes – Do a Google search for produce labels – you’ll be surprised at what you can find.

Pennsylvania Railroad Kendall Interlocking Tower – Original – Model –  The HO scale model was built from a photo of the real thing, so some guess work was involved.. I thought I was all done, when my sharp-eyed neighbor spotted the roof outline in the photo – it has a peaked roof, while I had thought it was flat.. another couple hours corrected that. Materials were North Eastern scale lumber, Grandt Line doors, windows, and details, and North Eastern Scale Models slate shingles.

Bockman’s Drugs – If you were fortunate enough to ride the O&W during the first half of the 20th century, as you went through Luzon (now called Hurleyville), as you crossed main street on the train, one of the buildings you’d see would be Bockman’s Drugs. The scratchbuilt HO scale model was built following several pictures found on the internet, and my interpretation of Al Collier’s recollections of when he was growing up in the town. The building was constructed with North Eastern scribed siding and scale lumber, and the doors and windows are Grandt Line. The interior includes shelves, counters, a soda fountain, a pin ball machine, and a druggist and several patrons. All of the signs are computer generate ….. more photos

Creamery at Luzon – all I had to go by was a picture on pg 168 of “To the Mountains by Rail,” and some plans and photos of other style creameries, so there was a lot of “imagineering” involved. Materials are North Eastern scribed siding and lumber, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Plastruct brick and stone.

Liberty Station View #1 – View #2 – Here’s a couple so-so shots of one of the Liberty stations I just finished in HO scale.. It’s built from North Eastern wood, Campbell shingles for the walls, Grandt Line doors and windows, and North Eastern Scale Models shingles – the photos don’t do justice to the coloring on the shingles. The turret was made by Mal – he turned a wood turret, covered it with shingles, made a mold, and cast two of them. Now all I have to do is find boxes big enough to ship them – they’re about 40 actual inches long in HO scale

Inspection Car # 26 passing the Crystal Run station.. She started out as a Mantua General. The car sides are from a Roundhouse old time passenger car (yes I know it has one too many windows); the front and rear ends are Grandt Line doors and windows. The staircase is made of styrene, and the roof is a piece of North Eastern passenger car roof stock, covered with paper strips to simulate tar paper. The tender was wrapped with thin cardboard embossed with rivets, and the wood load was replaced with coal. Paint is Floquil Tuscan with a coat of gloss, weathered black for the roof, and engine black for the frames. Champ decals finished the up the job.

Ferndale in HO scale.. made from Northeastern wood, Plastruct brick sheeting, and Grandt Line doors and windows.. built from copies of blueprints in the archives.

American Brewery – Original – Model –  The real brewery was built in Baltimore in 1887, and still stands today. The O scale model was constructed of Plastruct brick and ribbed roofing sheets applied over cardboard, which was braced inside with 1/4″ square balsa. Some changes were made to be able to use Grandt Line doors and windows. North Eastern siding and dimensional lumber was also used. Construction time was around 175 hours.

Clemson Bros. Building Middletown NY – Here’s an HO scale version of the Clemson Bros. building – I made it with Walthers new Modulars building kits, so it’s not exact, but fairly close.. A heck of a lot easier than scratchbuilding.

Gravel Loader – Original Photo from Walt Kierzkowski – Model and Model photo by Rich Cobb

Luzon – The station at Luzon was built in HO scale from photos of the actual station and some help from Walt K. and Mal Houck. The walls are made of cardboard covered with Holgate and Reynolds brick sheeting, and braced on the inside with 1/8″ balsa. Doors and windows are modified Grandt Line products.

South Fallsburg – The HO scale model was built from historical society blueprints and a few photos. Materials used were posterboard, Holgate and Reynolds brick, Northeastern lumber, and a few Grandt Line parts.

Preston Park – Joe Bux scratchbuilt the water tank, and I did the rest of the structures from plans and photos. The HO scale module was built into a display case for Joe.

Munnsville – John Tabi gave me a copy of the blueprints for the station, the ice house and creamery were built from society plans. The HO scale module was built into a display case for Joe Bux.

Old & Weary Car Shops Lineside Structures including  a Watchman’s shanty, Handcar house and Tool house.

Brookmont farms was located between Florida and Warwick, NY, and was originally purchased by my grandfather in 1910. My uncle took over operations in the early 1940s. The buildings were scratchbuilt from memories of growing up there, and one old photo. Detailing this scene is described in one chapter of Lou Sassi’s new Kalmbach book “How to build and detail Model Railroad Scenes.” HO scale models. (Lou Sassi photo)

Peerless Tannery was located near Gloversville, NY. The HO scale model was built from photos that Lou Sassi sent me, and is featured in his new Kalmbach book “How to build and detail Model Railroad Scenes.” (Lou Sassi photo).

Pasadena California – HO scale model of the Santa Fe station at Pasadena. Ca. This is one of two identical models I built from photos and copies of blueprints. Materials uses were poster board covered with fine sandpaper and braced on the inside with balsa wood. Most of the doors are scratch built, and the tile roofing is from Kibri. Windows were drawn on the computer and printed on clear overhead projector material. The finished model is about 30″ long by 9″ wide. 

Missouri Pacific station –  in Kirkwood, Missouri. O scale model of the for a lady in Kirkwood who sent me photos of the real thing and a few rough measurements – I had to shorten it up a bit to fit their available space. The model is made of poster board covered with Plastistruct stone. Interior bracing is 1/8″ and 1/4″ balsa, windows and doors are Grandt Line, and trim is Northeastern scale lumber. Construction time was about 100 hours.

New York Central station at Clyde, NY – This is a diorama I did with my youngest son back in 1986 for a school project. The station was built from a postcard picture, and the Hudson is a display model by Monogram. The Clyde Historical Society sent it back to me for some minor repairs, so thought I’d take a photo while I had the display case off of it.

Carbondale Coal Trestle – View #2 – I’ve been doing some repairs to the coal trestle I built for Joe Bux a few years back and getting a display case made for it. It’s built mainly of balsa wood and Northeastern lumber, and is about 5′ long.

Highview Depot – Photo 2 – I used cardboard that’s like posterboard, only a little thicker, and has a dull white finish on both sides for the walls. I then ran the plans thru a copier and cut out the building ends and glued them to the inside of the posterboard to use for the pattern. The window and door openings were cut out to match the sizes of Grandt Line windows and doors, and the openings were lined with 1/8″ square balsa covered with paper to make the walls look thick. After painting, the doors and windows were glued on the inside. The roof is Kibri tile roofing.

Firthcliffe Station – Here’s a couple of pics of models of the Firthcliffe station – one while it was in useand another after abandonment. Both models are HO scale, and made of Northeastern scribed siding and stripwood, and Grandt Line doors and windows. I only had a couple of photos to work with, so I’m sure there are errors, and dimensions were adjusted to fit available doors and windows, but I hope they capture the general design of the original.

Steam Shovel – Remember that Steam Shovel on the flat car y’all were discussing a while back? Well, here’s an HO version – the Shovel is a discontinued Vintage Vehicles kit; the depressed center flat is by Branchline, and the standard flat is by Athearn. I assembled and painted them all. Photo of steam shovel by Earl Smith

Crystal Run – I’ve done several models of the Crystal Run station in HO Scale over the years, but never taken a decent photo of one of them.. So here you are. The model was built following the article in Model Railroader in the mid-80’s, using Northeastern Wood and Grandt Line doors and windows. The FT’s are Stewarts that I painted.

Warwick, NY – Here’s a pic of an HO scale model I made years ago of the Lehigh and Hudson River Station in Warwick, NY. It was built from photos and actual measurements of the station – the building is now the home of the Warwick Advertizer newspaper, and except for enclosing the area between the station and the freight shed on the north end, the exterior remains the same. The model was built from Volmer cast stone, SSLTD windows and doors, and Campbell roof shingles.

Campbell Hall “Then” – The HO gauge model was built for Marty Leukhardt from O&W plans, with the help of Joe Bux and Bob Mohowski on determining the colors. I painted the Stewart FT’s, never thinking that they would come out with ones done up in O&W colors. The Lehigh & New England is a Proto 2000.

Campbell Hall “Now” –  Photo1 &  Photo2 – A C44-9W in O&W colors comes off the New Haven track from Maybrook and heads northbound for Middletown while a set of FT’s bring a freight up from Weehawken.. Who says the O&W isn’t alive and healthy?

Mayfield Coal – I  built this model for Joe Bux several years ago – I have it back now getting it put in a display case for him. Plans for the HO scale model were published in a model magazine.

Norwich – The coal tower was built from several photos.. there aren’t any plans in the archives, so it was eyeball construction – the HO scale model is built of NorthEastern wood and Tichy coal chutes. The water tank is vertical, contrary to the distortion in the photo, and is a brass import. This model was built for Joe Bux.

Facility – This G scale two-holer answers the old question about what a bear does in the woods…(It’s an outhouse).. NorthEastern wood and Grandt Line windows.

Lehigh Valley Engine Shops – Sayre, Pa. The HO scale model is about 28″ by 32″ – half the size of the real thing. It was constructed of cardboard with balsa wood bracing, and covered with Holgate & Reynolds brick sheeting.
Windows were drawn on a computer, printed out, and then copied onto clear acetate. Roofs are cardboard covered with sandpaper, with Grandt Line windows for the skylights.

Clemson Bros. (Star Hacksaw) Building  O&WRHS Archives: The model is O scale, and approximately 2′ x 3′ in actual size – it is constructed of posterboard covered with Holgate and Reynolds brick sheeting, with Grandt Line windows installed from the inside. The roofs are Northeastern board and batten siding. Construction time was about 250 hours. The model cars are from various sources – all die cast metal. Rich Cobb

Grizzly Flats station – In 1949, Walt Disney was shooting the movie ‘So dear to my heart,’and needed a station. Ward Kimball, one of his animators, designed the station. Following the shooting, Disney gave the station to Kimball, who moved it and installed it on his back yard railroad. Although model kits have been produced of the station in both HO and O scale, this model is G scale. The plans were modified to add a baggage area, and the model was scratch built from balsa and North Eastern wood and Grandt Line doors, windows and shingles, and features a detailed interior.”

Sodus Point Coal Trestle – the Pennsylvania RR. hauled coal up to Sodus Point on Lake Ontario and loaded it on Great Lakes ships for delivery to various points. 1967 was the last year the trestle was in use, and it burned in 1971 as it was being dismantled.. The HO scale model is 8′ long, although to be full size it should be 10′.. construction materials were balsa wood, NorthEastern wood, and posterboard – the ship started out as a hunk of 2″ x 4″. Central Valley bridge girders were used to make the self unloader.. Construction time was a little over 200 hours, and I hauled the whole thing up to Sodus Point to take the photo looking out over the lake. Plans for the trestle are in the April, 2003 issue of Model Railroader.

Cadosia NY Coal Tower – Photo 2 – This HO scale model was built for Joe Bux from NYO&W blueprints and photos. Materials used were NorthEastern wood, Grandt Line doors and windows, and modified Tichy coal chutes.

Steam Ship Ticonderoga, the last operating steam ship on Lake George – it is now on display at a museum in Vermont. The HO scale model was built from a pice of 1″ x 6″ wood, cardboard, scale lumber, and Campbell windows and doors. The railings were made from window screen and scale lumber. The model is not actual size, as all I had to go by at the time were a couple of photos in Jim Shaugnessy’s book on the D&H railroad.

Wurtsboro Coal Business – The O scale model was made from photos and measurements of the structure, which was still standing the last time I was thru Wurtsboro, NY. Oatmeal containers covered with Northeastern scribed wood was used for the silos, and scale lumber and siding was used for the rest of the structure. Grandt Line windows and stairs were also used.

Utica Coal Tower – The HO scale model was built from NYO&W blueprints using Northeastern scribed wood and scale lumber. Modified Tichy coal chutes were also used as well as Grandt Line stairs, doors, and windows.

“O” gauge engine house based on John Allen’s famous HO scale model. Plans were in Model Craftsman in 1948 (NowRailroad Model Craftsman). The model is built of North Eastern wood and Grandt Line doors, windows, and shingles, and features a complete interior.

North Conway, NH Station: Here’s a pic of an HO scale model of the Boston & Maine Railroad Station, in North Conway, New Hampshire. The model is scratchbuilt, using North Eastern wood, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Holgate and Reynolds roofing.

Summitville NY Depot – This model was scratchbuilt in HO scale from O&W society plans and photos of the station and the surrounding area. Materials used were Northeastern scribed siding, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Campbell shingles. The engines are custom painted Varney F-3’s made in the late 40’s. The module was built to fit into a coffee table, and was photographed outdoors. I tried to match a Jim Shaughnessy photo of the real site. A similar photo was published in the June 1997 issue of Model Railroader.

Middletown NY Coal Tower – This HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and old O&W drawings from the archives. Materials were Northeastern scale lumber, Grandt Line doors and windows, and Tichy coal chutes. Following construction, the model and blueprints were used to prepare scale drawings which were published in the February 1998 issue of Model Railroader.

Evanston, Wyoming Union Pacific Station – This HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and measurements of the actual station. Materials used were Holgate & Reynolds brick and stone, posterboard, Northeastern scale lumber, and Campbell shingles. The interior has complete detailing. The cars are by Busch, and the Big Boy is a Concor plastic display model.

Hammondsport Station – This G scale model was built from plans in Model Railroader. I had done several models in HO gauge. Materials were Northeastern siding and Grandt Line doors and windows. The model is over 3 feet long and is displayed on an outdoor layout.

St. Albans Coal Tower – Plans for this coal tower were published in 1952 & 1953 issues of Model Railroader. I have built probably half a dozen models in HO scale, and the photo is of the second one I did in O scale. Northeastern lumber, balsa wood, and Grandt Line stairs and coal chutes were used in construction

Allen Junction Station – Plans for this station in HO scale were published years ago in Model Railroader – it was a station on John Allen’s famous layout. The O gauge model was built with Northeastern lumber and Grandt Line doors and windows. The engine is a modified Lionel, painted to look like O&W’s Mountaineer.

Hoosic Junction Station – this HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and a few measurements. Northeastern lumber and Grandt Line doors and windows were used. A similar photo was published in the September 1990 issue of Model Railroader. Photo by Lou Sassi

U.S.S. Maine – this 1/8″ scale ship model was built from Navy Blueprints and photos for the VFW hall in Goshen, NY. Balsa wood, posterboard, and other materials were used for construction. A photo was published in the February 1998 issue of VFW magazine to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the Maine.

North Bennington Station – This HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and drawings to be published in Model Railroader. Materials used were posterboard, Grandt Line items, and SSLTD doors and windows.

Bennington Station – This HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and measurements of the actual station. Materials used were Volmer stone siding, Grandt Line doors and windows, and posterboard for the slate roof. Photo by Lou Sassi

Perkins Produce – This HO model was scratchbuilt from plans in Model Railroader, although a manufacturer did offer a kit for it. Northeastern lumber and Grandt Line doors and windows were used. The roof is paper cut with pinking shears. Photo by Lou Sassi

Washingtonville NY Station – This O scale model was scratchbuilt from photos and measurements of the actual station. Northeastern lumber and Grandt Line doors and windows were used. Photos and plans are to be published in a future Model Railroader article.

Utica NY Depot – this HO model was scratchbuilt from photos and measurements of the actual station. Construction materials were posterboard. The windows were drawn on a computer program and copied onto clear acetate.

WaxWorks – this HO model is a wood laser-cut kit – even the ornamental roof trim is wood.

If you would like to have something custom built you can e-mail Rich at: [email protected]

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