Barriers to Model Railroading: Benchwork

Woodworking 101 , or I’m not a carpenter could either just have easily been the title to this post. Let’s talk about benchwork. How do you start in model trains, well in building an operating model railroad? More than likely you need to make some sort of “benchwork”.

Recently, I was in an email discussion with Chris Mears regarding his new magazine “one”. We got on a tangent of benchwork building. Chris had a very interesting comment that never occurred to me before. To quote him directly, “ I insist that it’s these considerations (woodworking and tools) that should be considered as barriers to access and accessibility questions governing entry and participation in the hobby.” He is 100% spot on in his comment.

By no means would I say I’m an accomplished woodworker. Yes, my wife and I were the general contractors on our house build, I have done a fair amount of rough and finish carpentry, completed a short apprenticeship in pre industrial furniture making with Mortise and Tenon Magazine and feel comfortable using hand tools. I can cut wood with a handsaw and power saws. I can even cut down a tree and get a plank from the tree if need be, as that was part of my apprenticeship. So the thought of not being able to make the benchwork never occurred to me. Not having the tools to even begin was equally interesting but I can see some modelers not having the basic tools to make a small layout. For the next few blog posts, I will describe my tool kit for model railroad benchwork, and how I build my C modules.

Barriers to Model Railroading: Benchwork. By H. Mathews April 2024

Field Notes: The Enginehouse at Fawn Grove

The front of the engine house in New Park. Trust me, it is there under the porch and siding! Photograph by H Mathews

The white-washed foundation is the original foundation for the Engine House. Photograph by Herbert Mathews

One of the scenes to replicate on a P48 module is a single stall enginehouse. The New Park and Fawn Grove Railroad has been game for almost 100 years now, but it’s enginehouse survives as part of a block of stores in Fawn Grove Pennsylvania. It’s Fawn Grove Station survives as well as a private home.

Somewhere in my stack of Stewartstown RR And New Park and Fawn Grove RR papers I have a printout of the enginehouse after service but before its current use.

Editors Note: This post will be added to from time to time as more information is obtained. There is also a good microbrewery across the parking lot from the old Enginehouse. Returns trips for more photos and brew will occur from time to time!

“Field Notes: The Enginehouse at Fawn Grove”, by H Mathews April 2024.