What became of the old Museum/Science/Industry Chicago layout
- Thread starter dekker
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
I would imagine various collectors got their hands on all the old stuff within minutes after the layout's last run. A few years back there was an ebay auction proclaiming to be stuff from the CMSI layout. It was actually a bunch of utterly ordinary spare parts and off-the-shelf models that had been purchased for the layout but never actually used on it. Not one piece recognizable from the layout or rolling stock itself.
I imagine some of those lovely, many scratchbuilt items, are in glass cases here and there and some may be operating on private layouts.
If you want to see some hand-built O-scale models even older than CMSI that are still operating, come to Cincinnati at Christmas and see the B&O display in the lobby of the old CG&E building (I won't name the current electric company that has now laid claim to the 60 year history of this display). There is some new stuff, but lots and lots of old stuff including scratch-built passenger cars, EA slant noses... and it's all outside 3rd rail including some of the newer brass steamers that have been converted.
Every year as a kid I was mesmerised by the B&O at Christmas, and the CMSI Museum and Santa Fe layout in the summer.
Andy
What irks me is when they claim "The B&O model train display has been a tradition in the lobby of Duke Energy for more than 60 years".
Uh, no. The B&O layout and the original rolling stock was built 60+ years ago by the B&O railroad itself, as a traveling exhibit. By the time I was a kid in the early 1960s, it was on "permanent loan" to the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company, where it was set up and displayed every year at Christmastime. The lobby of the building has glass picture windows and passers-by can look in at the yard area, or you can walk on in and see it up close for free.
Puke Energy merged/bought CG&E (then called "Cinergy") about 15 minutes ago, on that time scale. Puke now owns the building, and puts on the display, but didn't even exist at the time the tradition began.
The only good thing about Puke taking over is that it did away with (permanently?) the stupid name "Cinergy", which for some reason CG&E changed to some years ago. They also bought naming rights for Riverfront Stadium (which was mercifully blown up in 2002), and the former Albert B. Sabin Convention Center. So instead of honoring one of the few famous Cincinnatians known for something good (Polio vaccine), the convention center is now named for the gas & electric company's current incarnation. I understand why the city took the money, but not sure why the company spent it. It's a public utility - a monopoly. Its customers are a captive audience. There is no need to advertise or "spread the name". If I were a stockholder, I'd be saying WTF - why not pay it out in dividends if you've got money you don't need?
I think one of the many tendrils of the current economic crisis is placing value on something that has no value, i.e. "branding". A brand only has value because it associated with *products*. When branding is used outside of the context of the product, or is treated as an entity unto itself - as in, used as collateral for huge loans, etc - that's a vapor asset. It works as long as all the parties involved cooperate and pretend it's worth something. But when there's a crisis of liquidity, the vapor assets are the first to evaporate.
Andy
Yikes... if I had to pick the lesser of three evils, I think I'd pick the tobacco company over either of the cell phone companies...... all of 'em may kill you, but at least the tobacco takes a while. Cell phones can put you in the looney bin in a matter of minutes.
Yeah I have Sprint...
Andy
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
I heard that it was auctioned, then later I heard that it is in storage.
Bob
Bob
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
I've seen both the O and the HO. The HO is just amazing. A great departure from the old layout. The have "pop-ups" in the layout for maintenance. And the layout itself is huge.
bob
bob
I would imagine various collectors got their hands on all the old stuff within minutes after the layout's last run. A few years back there was an ebay auction proclaiming to be stuff from the CMSI layout. It was actually a bunch of utterly ordinary spare parts and off-the-shelf models that had been purchased for the layout but never actually used on it. Not one piece recognizable from the layout or rolling stock itself.
I imagine some of those lovely, many scratchbuilt items, are in glass cases here and there and some may be operating on private layouts.
If you want to see some hand-built O-scale models even older than CMSI that are still operating, come to Cincinnati at Christmas and see the B&O display in the lobby of the old CG&E building (I won't name the current electric company that has now laid claim to the 60 year history of this display). There is some new stuff, but lots and lots of old stuff including scratch-built passenger cars, EA slant noses... and it's all outside 3rd rail including some of the newer brass steamers that have been converted.
Every year as a kid I was mesmerised by the B&O at Christmas, and the CMSI Museum and Santa Fe layout in the summer.
Andy
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
I convert my layout to a Christmas theme every year. Been a bit of a tradition here at the house for the last 6-7 years. I change out 7 or 8 modules, add a bit of "snow" to some of the other modules, and play Christmas Carols through the stereo. Probably not the scale you're talking, but everyone enjoys it. Cleaning up the "snow" with the Shop Vac kinda sucks.
We also set up a Christmas village in the family room and have an S-scale train running around that. And the G-Scale train, a 2-6-6-2 logger, around the Christmas tree in the living room. I enjoy that the most. The cats hate it!!
How I hate all the work at Christmas time. Bah!!! Humbug!!!
Bob
We also set up a Christmas village in the family room and have an S-scale train running around that. And the G-Scale train, a 2-6-6-2 logger, around the Christmas tree in the living room. I enjoy that the most. The cats hate it!!
How I hate all the work at Christmas time. Bah!!! Humbug!!!
Bob
Andy, my former SIL lives in Cincinnati and I've seen that layout several times when we were visiting at Christmas. I'm glad to hear that the "new" company is at least keeping up that tradition. Utility companies in general are not the best loved among American businesses but things like this are sure good publicity and help put a more human face on the company.
Bob, I tried a G scale train arrund the tree last year. With four cats, unless I set up razor wire around the tree, there's no way the cats don't derail the train every time it comes around. How do you keep the cats away from your trains?
Bob, I tried a G scale train arrund the tree last year. With four cats, unless I set up razor wire around the tree, there's no way the cats don't derail the train every time it comes around. How do you keep the cats away from your trains?
stationmaster
Crusty Old Geezer
Jim, my dogs..... The male Boston Terrier is a "cat babysitter" that does one heck of a job. A cat gets within 10 feet of the tree and he's on 'em!!! We call him our "Kitty Kop".
I actually have more problems with some of the cats sleeping on the Christmas Village. The dog can't get up there. But, he sure lets us know if there IS a cat up there.
There used to be a real nice layout in Fort Wayne, in Desshauer's(sp) window during the Holidays. I remember it as a kid back in the early '60's.
Bob
I actually have more problems with some of the cats sleeping on the Christmas Village. The dog can't get up there. But, he sure lets us know if there IS a cat up there.
There used to be a real nice layout in Fort Wayne, in Desshauer's(sp) window during the Holidays. I remember it as a kid back in the early '60's.
Bob
Hmm, I don't think I'm going to get a dog to ride herd on the cats. Babysitting this nutty dog for two weeks is enough to break me of that notion. 
Maybe I can run some low voltage cattle wire around the tree. Might spoil the overall holiday effect thought. Our big layout was in the Higbee's Department Store window. If you've ever seen the move A Christmas Story, they did a good job of reproducing that look in the original Higbee's windows. I think that staring into that window, with all the newest Lionel trains runing through Christmas scenes, first got me interested in model trains. I think companies like Athearn, Atlas, and Bachmann are missing a really good opportunity to grow the business by not teaming up with some department stores and setting up layouts for Christmas. It's sure a fond memory of mine and one that kids don't get a chance to experience today.
Maybe I can run some low voltage cattle wire around the tree. Might spoil the overall holiday effect thought. Our big layout was in the Higbee's Department Store window. If you've ever seen the move A Christmas Story, they did a good job of reproducing that look in the original Higbee's windows. I think that staring into that window, with all the newest Lionel trains runing through Christmas scenes, first got me interested in model trains. I think companies like Athearn, Atlas, and Bachmann are missing a really good opportunity to grow the business by not teaming up with some department stores and setting up layouts for Christmas. It's sure a fond memory of mine and one that kids don't get a chance to experience today.What irks me is when they claim "The B&O model train display has been a tradition in the lobby of Duke Energy for more than 60 years".
Uh, no. The B&O layout and the original rolling stock was built 60+ years ago by the B&O railroad itself, as a traveling exhibit. By the time I was a kid in the early 1960s, it was on "permanent loan" to the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company, where it was set up and displayed every year at Christmastime. The lobby of the building has glass picture windows and passers-by can look in at the yard area, or you can walk on in and see it up close for free.
Puke Energy merged/bought CG&E (then called "Cinergy") about 15 minutes ago, on that time scale. Puke now owns the building, and puts on the display, but didn't even exist at the time the tradition began.
The only good thing about Puke taking over is that it did away with (permanently?) the stupid name "Cinergy", which for some reason CG&E changed to some years ago. They also bought naming rights for Riverfront Stadium (which was mercifully blown up in 2002), and the former Albert B. Sabin Convention Center. So instead of honoring one of the few famous Cincinnatians known for something good (Polio vaccine), the convention center is now named for the gas & electric company's current incarnation. I understand why the city took the money, but not sure why the company spent it. It's a public utility - a monopoly. Its customers are a captive audience. There is no need to advertise or "spread the name". If I were a stockholder, I'd be saying WTF - why not pay it out in dividends if you've got money you don't need?
I think one of the many tendrils of the current economic crisis is placing value on something that has no value, i.e. "branding". A brand only has value because it associated with *products*. When branding is used outside of the context of the product, or is treated as an entity unto itself - as in, used as collateral for huge loans, etc - that's a vapor asset. It works as long as all the parties involved cooperate and pretend it's worth something. But when there's a crisis of liquidity, the vapor assets are the first to evaporate.
Andy
jtudor
Member
Andy,
That is just along the same line as how NASCAR irritates me when they talk about a driver has X number of "Sprint cup victories since 1990"! Nope that's not correct, the driver has X number of Winston Cup, and X number of NEXTEL Cup and x Number of Sprint Cup victories. But you never hear the previous name of the cup mentioned. Most of the trophies will say Winston Cup on them but now they are all called Sprint Cup because that is the current sponsor. Sheesh.....
That is just along the same line as how NASCAR irritates me when they talk about a driver has X number of "Sprint cup victories since 1990"! Nope that's not correct, the driver has X number of Winston Cup, and X number of NEXTEL Cup and x Number of Sprint Cup victories. But you never hear the previous name of the cup mentioned. Most of the trophies will say Winston Cup on them but now they are all called Sprint Cup because that is the current sponsor. Sheesh.....
Yikes... if I had to pick the lesser of three evils, I think I'd pick the tobacco company over either of the cell phone companies...... all of 'em may kill you, but at least the tobacco takes a while. Cell phones can put you in the looney bin in a matter of minutes.
Yeah I have Sprint...
Andy
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)