Mike White’s
Layout Open House
By Bill Day
Following the Civil War, American railroads bound the country together in a magnificent network of freight and passenger service. From its first beginnings, represented by TV’s Hell on Wheels, to the computer-driven sophistication of today’s operations, the story of railroads has been movement and operation.
Mike White’s
layout represents that
prototype movement, joining Tony Koester, Bill Darnaby and Allan
McClellan in
modeling historic rights-of-way with authentic buildings and
industries. Mike
has carefully reconstructed
Some
two dozen modelers and wives saw Mike’s layout in early December,
seeing how
meticulous modeling and trackwork can add a touch of history to
operations
night. Although the
railroad is a
fictional short line, it follows the right of way of the unfinished
Baltimore
& Drum Point Railroad. When finished, the S&P will
service the Owings
passenger station, glide by County landmarks--some abandoned, some
still
standing-- that dotted
What’s more, few layout rooms boast the care and craftsmanship seen on the S&P. The benchwork and scenery are the product of eight years’ effort, and they show it. The room is finished, the lighting is bright, the wallboard backdrop is beautifully crafted, the horizon lined with trees and distant hills.
Even
the working part of the fascia shows attention to detail. The yard
switches are
miniature “armstrong” levers, not just positioned on a fascia shelf,
but set in
bases carefully cut with a scroll saw, the bases boasting coved corners
and
finished surfaces, cabinet work at its best.
Is Mike pleased with his progress? He should be. One
veteran modeler who only operates on exceptional layouts throughout the
country, braced Mike and said, “When can I come and operate?”
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