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I'm assessing my layout, which is already crammed to the gills, and wondering what is "missing". For me, I think it's the Menard's Train Shed. The thing is big, and I don't think it'd fit on the layout as it currently stands. Since my wife never knows what to get me for my birthday, I was thinking of telling her to grab this for me ... and then I'll figure out how to get it on the layout (maybe that'll be my incentive to expand earlier than planned).

So for you, what's the one item you want on your layout, but haven't gotten yet?

 

MenardsShed

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Apples55 posted:

A turntable and roundhouse... just don't have the real estate to add them   

I was just looking at those Millhouse River Studio turntables mentioned by @MartyE and @tcochran. They're mighty fine. The transfer tables look sweet too, and I'd probably go with one of those just to be different, but like you, I don't have the real estate and likely won't for the next two decades (until my kids move out and I can move the layout into the house). Actually, until they're out of college, I might not even have the funds for it!

Well, have set aside room for the needed turntable, but may have to go with a transfer table instead ( have the Lionel PW version) and build my own turntable for the savings, upgrade in detail over time, and install on upper level planned service and classification extension.  More time and funds to work on the layout, overall.  Really need more room, never enough, right?

JD, I agree on the St Louis station...  Have been there many times when in town for a Cards game.

Jesse   TCA

I thought I'd like to scratch build a Steak n Shake. With the building style from the 40's through the 60's, those black and white floor tiles, also loved the roof marquee style sign with the logo and chase lights when I was a kid.

I might have room for a turntable, but, would have to scratch build that, too. I can't afford the cheapest one available, that I've found so far from any manufacturer. I think it would be enjoyable to just build my own, anyway.

I seen on the Weekend tinplate photos-videos 2-8-18 thread earlier where forum member "Steamer" scratch build a turntable, I thought it looked pretty cool! That's just one of the reasons I joined this forum, to see what others have done, and, learn from members here.

Rusty

I have not seen a passenger station that I really liked. Most of what is out there is post-Plasticville-inspired junk--like the MTH and Rail King stations. I'm not asking for Grand Central. But there were thousands of beautiful stations for medium volumes of traffic that no vendor has given us kits to build. The best book I have seen as a prototype reference is Down At The Depot by Edwin P. Alexander.  Go through that and drool at all the great modeling potential that has been missed--at least in O Scale. 

Don Merz

It seems to me, with the responses thus far, that most of us don't have the room to include everything we want. Honestly, the forum doesn't help our plight because daily we see some awesome creations on each other's layouts. There's so much out there! I guess if you're one that believes a layout is never completed or at least you don't want it to be completed, you could rip things up and add something else you would like. 

With that being said, what I would like requires more space and I am currently in the process of planning another section of the layout in the adjacent room by cutting through the wall. Once that project is started I should have what I need to get my train fix and feeling of satisfaction. Plus there is still a ton of work to do on the current phase of the layout which is hardly done. 

Mill City posted:
JD2035RR posted:

I'll put this in two categories - 1. Likely to Happen Within 1 Year and 2. Dream Scenario

2.  Dream Scenario

Scale version of the St. Louis Union Station - It Scales down to 12.5 Feet Wide

Related image

Image result for st louis union station

 

Image result for union station st louis mo passenger

 

Ambitious scenario, with an equally ambitious track plan...

File:Union Station St Louis diagram.jpg

Haha - I'm glad you included this.  32 tracks under the shed.  I'd better start now or I won't live to see it in its completion

I may have to settle for selective compression. That building is stunning inside and out. A real gem of architecture.  I would have loved to have seen it in its railroading hay day.  It was repurposed into a mall/hotel/restaurants in the late 80s/early 90s. Most of the stores and restaurants closed in the early 2000s. Now they are planning to add a large aquarium attraction ($45 million) and a Ferris wheel in the next couple years.

I wonder if it's been done in HO, N, or Z scale? I tried searching online, but didn't find anything. 

JD2035RR posted:
Mill City posted:
JD2035RR posted:

I'll put this in two categories - 1. Likely to Happen Within 1 Year and 2. Dream Scenario

2.  Dream Scenario

Scale version of the St. Louis Union Station - It Scales down to 12.5 Feet Wide

Related image

 

Ambitious scenario, with an equally ambitious track plan...

File:Union Station St Louis diagram.jpg

Haha - I'm glad you included this.  32 tracks under the shed.  I'd better start now or I won't live to see it in its completion

I may have to settle for selective compression. That building is stunning inside and out. A real gem of architecture.  I would have loved to have seen it in its railroading hay day.  It was repurposed into a mall/hotel/restaurants in the late 80s/early 90s. Most of the stores and restaurants closed in the early 2000s. Now they are planning to add a large aquarium attraction ($45 million) and a Ferris wheel in the next couple years.

I wonder if it's been done in HO, N, or Z scale? I tried searching online, but didn't find anything. 

When I visited Todd Architectural a few days ago, I saw one facade of the New York Penn Station model he is restoring... it would have stretched a Manhattan city block - if I remember correctly, Doug said it was 10 feet wide in H.O., so I assume it would be double that in O. Talk about not having real estate!!!

JD2035RR posted:
Mill City posted:

Ambitious scenario, with an equally ambitious track plan...

File:Union Station St Louis diagram.jpg

Haha - I'm glad you included this.  32 tracks under the shed.  I'd better start now or I won't live to see it in its completion

I may have to settle for selective compression. That building is stunning inside and out. A real gem of architecture.  I would have loved to have seen it in its railroading hay day.  It was repurposed into a mall/hotel/restaurants in the late 80s/early 90s. Most of the stores and restaurants closed in the early 2000s. Now they are planning to add a large aquarium attraction ($45 million) and a Ferris wheel in the next couple years.

I wonder if it's been done in HO, N, or Z scale? I tried searching online, but didn't find anything. 

I had the opportunity at the hotel when newly minted in the mid eighties and fell in love with that depot. It's a true beauty. The trainshed is an amazing 11.5 acres, or over half a million square feet. There was also some private varnish parked there and was offered tours, good times. It's sad that the hotel and shopping/restaurant concerns have enjoyed little long term success, and I'm not convinced that an aquarium and enormous Ferris wheel wil be the answer either. At least it's not in a state of derelict.

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