Aristokraft Cabinets is modeled like the business that was in Elkhart, Indiana.
Bruce Petrarca
It is easy to look at trains running during our open houses or during our operations sessions (first and third Tuesday mornings) and get the idea that the club is just like running trains around a Christmas tree. While that movement grabs the interest of visitors of all ages, a lot more goes on behind the scenes.
Every member of the club has learned skills that they didn’t have when they joined us. It is a mutual adventure, sharing and coaching and encouraging and teaching.
While it is easy to see the level of detail that goes into a diorama, like Aristokraft Cabinets, let’s take a look at what isn’t immediately obvious.
There is a lot of research behind the selection of this industry to be modeled on the layout. We are modeling the mid-1960s in South Bend, Indiana. A cabinet industry works well with our operating scheme; it takes in wood, hardware and finishing chemicals (box cars and tank cars) and ships finished cabinets (in box cars). It took a search of industry records to find that Aristokraft was in nearby Elkhart, Indiana, at that time. We didn’t try to model their exact building. We used a kit that had been built by a member and modified it to fit our idea of what Aristokraft might have looked like had they been in an old cannery that had been converted. There are remnants of the cannery sign on the right side of the building.
What gets delivered and picked up and when? Our Chief Dispatcher worked out a plan and then implemented it so that during our twice monthly operating sessions cars come and go with a sense of purpose. For example, the chemical car parked by the tank farm in this photo may be unloading acid (most likely, as it is a Hooker Chemical car) or lacquer. After a later session, one may find box cars loading or unloading at the dock. It takes a bit of space compression to squeeze industries in the available space. The trick is keeping it looking realistic.
Other skills involved include painting and creating rocks and grass, etc.
If you have any interest in models, railroad or not, we would love to have you join us. We would love to learn what you know and share with you skills you may not have, such as electronics or carpentry or industry research.
The PebbleCreek Model Railroad Club has been a part of community life here since 1998. We are headquartered in the Eagle’s Nest Activities Center, Room 106. Members are there on Tuesday and Thursday mornings – but not always running trains. You can always keep up with the PCMRC on the web (www.pcmrc.org).