On A Matter of Downtowns---

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.


B

blownoutcylinder

Active Member
How about a shift in scenes here---on the subject of downtowns in your layout. I'm redoing part of my layout and had the opportunity to photograph a number of towns around London ON to get an idea of downtown scenes. Here are a few that I came across that might aid in getting some ideas going--

L-R--All of these 4 are in Arkona ON. Small town/village scene--the one on the far right is filled with possibilities. The least of which is the bent look of the run of bricks that you can see. Anyone that makes a run like that on their models can now point to a prototype and say--"see? see?----it exists!" BTW--this was due to a settling of the foundation sometime ago----
 
Another thing about this town---weathered buildings--the photo on the far right is the one of the store on the corner in the preceding shot. Silver/Grey wood---unpainted and left to the elements. One might be able to make out the nails on the clapboard here---if greatly enlarged. The others here are just to show what kinds of buildings show up in a downtown of this size:D
 
From that we go to this----I find that sometimes driving through a town renders some interesting views of a downtown.

From L-R. I wonder how many of us try to landscape our houses--I know I did not until I started doing all this photography stuff! Downtown Ingersoll ON--I think wide angle kind of brings it all together don't it?:rolleyes: This was downtown Woodham ON. Its actual downtown is now down the road--well--kind of--:eek:
 


Of course I'm doing a fair bit of really small places on my layout except for Exceda and Williston---now--on to some more--

L-R: Three images of downtown Atwood in construction destruction mode. We went through here with a whole pile of traffic squished into two lanes. Lotta fun---:rolleyes: Downtown--or at least a part of---downtown Listowal ON--:rolleyes::):)
 
there are some more where this all came from----

From L-R: The studio side of an old factory, Lowry signs has been at this location for a few decades now, Old shoe factory now apartments, Micheals on the Thames restaurant---overlooks the Thames R.
 
The thing about these scenes is that there are a number of options

L-R--near Ethel ON, old firehall , House with outbuilding, Downtown Teeswater---in point of fact--the firehall and the house were also in Teeswater ON
 
Very cool pictures as usual, Barry. That one concrete block building that's settling from the middle looks a little sketchy at best. :eek: Downtown landscapes for towns at least 100 years old are really interesting. One of the hallmarks of a growing town was the first three or four story building. The block of buildings in Teeswater is a good example of trying to make two story buildings look as tall as possible without the expense of a third story. As Chris said, the Merchants Row One kit replicates that effect.
 
UP2CSX said:
Very cool pictures as usual, Barry. That one concrete block building that's settling from the middle looks a little sketchy at best. :eek: Downtown landscapes for towns at least 100 years old are really interesting. One of the hallmarks of a growing town was the first three or four story building. The block of buildings in Teeswater is a good example of trying to make two story buildings look as tall as possible without the expense of a third story. As Chris said, the Merchants Row One kit replicates that effect.
Click to expand...

I had to chuckle about that one as well. The story about that was that the ground slumped about 30 years ago and that it has since been reinforced about every 5 years:eek: the window just popped out about 3 years ago from there---

As well ended up with some more to peruse--from L-R we have an old abandoned store in Ripley ON, St Mary's ON old clock in building --still worked, storefronts in some of these stores were still in the 1920's style--or even earlier,Limestone was used here in many of the storefronts being that St Mary's was home to a large Limestone quarry
 


There are any number of things that do show up in a downtown--L-R--again. Notice the nice arch on the roadsurface going over that bridge at the end of the downtown--far left corner of the photo, another bridge over the river near the downtown, back of buildings also give us an idea of the kinds of building mat'ls used--in this case the bricks were limestone, another set of limestone blocks buildings---all St Mary's ON
 
And then there are--an interesting building housing a design firm, Wroxeter ON; a side street in Exeter ON, house on same street, Exeter ON; and a former diner/law office up for sale in Exeter----
 
A few more--Brussels was going through hard times here--most of its downtown is empty here. taken on a rainy Thursday afternoon you can see just how one can make a near ghost town out of it. Placing small strips of kraft paper behind the windows can make it look just as bleak as this was.:eek: Another example is this failed town of Staffa ON---the last photo on the far right here--
 
there are a few from somewhat larger centers that I took as well--L-R: Ingersoll ON--Charles St. E., sign above convenience store has a term that not too many places use---"pop", This former municipal hall is being slowly restored--it was being used as a church as well at one time -Paris ON, Converted storefronts---old row housing--Paris ON.
 
There are many different ways that housing could be developed as well---old motel complex near Aylmer ON, Multi family units in Paris ON, Back of stores in main part of Paris ON--right on the Grand R.
 
Some more things--From L-R :Downtown Paris ON on the two pix, There is a convenience store on a terrace there--and another bunch of buildings with apartments facing the river--Paris ON
 
Those pictures of the back of the buildings toward the river remind me of Venice. I like that building with the clock tower. I swear it was the prototype of the look of the three story AHM fire station.
 
As an aside to the downtown stuff we have here there are older houses that tend to be somewhat part of an older downtown that we see--L-R: Old mill building--some think old labourers cottages but---, going up hill in Galt ON, Elora ON backs of stores --- residences--, old stone house in Elora ON--
 
A few more residential types of ideas ---L-R:--b&b in Paris ON, House overlooking Grand River near Hespeler ON--Cambridge ON, Elora ON--riverside residences, downtown Mitchell ON....
 


And a few more potential candidates for your perusal---L-R:--small village near Jarvis ON, Wroxeter ON, House near downtown Woodstock ON, corner of Victoria Pk. Woodstock ON---
 
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top