Water Tower

The water tower is a 1:48 scale model made by Lionel.



Missouri Pacific Double-Sheathed Boxcar #45111

MODEL INFORMATION

Company: Lionel
Item#: 6-27247
Gauge: Standard O
Catalog: 2008 v1
Trucks: Die-Cast, Sprung
Notes: Runs on 36" curves. It is a scale model except for couplers and trucks. Separately applied detail parts. Die-cast operating couplers. Hidden uncoupling tabs. Metal underframe details. Opening doors. Min Curve: O-31.

Reading 2-Bay Hopper #6177

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-6177

Gauge:  Traditional O

Year Produced:  1986

Trucks:  Plastic

Notes:  Part of the Cannonball Express set. 

Monsanto Single Dome Tank Car #9155

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-9155

Gauge:  Traditional O

Year Produced:  1975

Trucks:  Plastic

Notes:  Commemorates the 1975 LCCA convention in St. Louis, Mo. and features operating knuckle couplers, metal wheels and axles.

Illinois Central PS-1 Boxcar #400666

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17293

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2004 v2

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  Runs on 36" curves.  It is a scale model except for couplers and trucks.  Separately applied detail parts. Die-cast operating couplers. Authentic paint scheme. Box load. Hidden uncoupling tab. Metal underframe details. Opening doors. 6’ Superior doors. O Gauge. Min Curve: O-31. Length: 11 1/4”

Missouri-Kansas-Texas PS-2CD 4427 Hopper #1122

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17194

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2004 v1

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  Runs on 36" curves.  It is large - a scale model except for couplers and trucks.  Die-cast metal operating couplers. Separately applied details. Hidden uncoupling tab and rotating bearing caps on trucks. Die-cast metal end platforms. O Gauge. Min Curve: 0-31. Length: 12 1/2”.  Pullman-Standard.  Supremely detailed, beautiful car.  Doesn't roll very well.  Painted body.

Union Pacific 3 Dome Tank Car #41609

MODEL INFORMATION
Company: Williams
Item #: 47014

Gauge: Traditional O

Trucks: Metal

Notes: Die-cast side frames and operating couplers.

C & O Waffle-Sided Boxcar #15002

MODEL INFORMATION
Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-15002

Gauge:  Traditional O

Catalog:  1996

Trucks:  Plastic

C & O 9464 Boxcar #12700

MODEL INFORMATION
Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17268

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2001 v2

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  A very heavy-bodied car.

Frisco ACF 6 Bay Cylindrical Hopper #81015

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Atlas O

Item #:  6333-1

Gauge:  Standard O

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  This hopper handles the 60" and 72" mainlines just fine, but the trucks hit the car on 36" curves.  It is a large - a scale model if the couplers and trucks are converted, and it is made for easy 2-rail conversion.

PROTOTYPE INFORMATION

Car Manufacturer:  ACF

Notes:  An early design of what would become the highly successful "Center-Flow" car.  Frisco had 25 of these cars: SL-SF 81000 thru SL-SF 81024.  The cylindrical design was expensive to build.  ACF soon modified their Center-Flow design into what has become a very common covered hopper in many sizes and capacities.

Introduction to the Merritt-Wright Railroad

The Merritt-Wright Railroad is a 3-rail O gauge layout; about 95% Lionel stuff.  The table is shaped like an "L", and is 20' long by 8' wide, with the L part being 11' wide.  The attempt is a "high-rail" type of layout, in that it mixes the toy end of the hobby with as much realism and scale as possible.  Here is a photo of the layout from early November 2010:

It has taken about 3 years of planning and construction to get to this point. 

The train collection is almost entirely modern Lionel.  There are 2 postwar cars and 1 postwar engine; everything else is modern.  The track and switches are all Lionel Fastrack.  Power is modern ZW and a CW-80 for switches and accessories.