“That Clinches It!”

In my last post I talked about the logical reasons for choosing the Eastern Ave. underpass for the corner just past Consolidated Coal (track plan). But some research provided additional interest that clinched it for me. That area will be the first project in Phase II of the layout build, which is still some time away. But since we’re on the subject, I’ll talk about these “clinchers” before we get back to the Phase I narrative.

Clincher #1

I talked about the Crown Cork & Seal Building (now Crown Industrial Park). Here are some shots of the building I took from a research trip I took back in 2004. (Click for larger images.)

You can tell from these shots that the building has seen better days. The Google Street Maps view from 2017 shows that they haven’t done much in the intervening years to improve it.

It’s an interesting old building with lots of different facades and architectural styles all rolled into one, which will make for an interesting modular and kitbash project.

Clincher #2

Another interesting feature is that you actually access the building via a different underpass, at a slightly different elevation from the main street.

I envision my main benchwork (which is at a relative 0″) to be to the right, and “ground level” for this section to be two-and-a-half to three inches below that to allow for the bridges and scenery. Hopefully they all play nice and fit well.

Clincher #3

Need more? From that same 2004 trip, I took this picture of the underpasses.

The one I’m concerned with is the one at the very top of the photo. I’m fascinated by the painted-on tile mosaic pattern. I’m hoping this was there in 1984 because I so want to replicate it. It might just have to be one of those things that goes in regardless of whether it’s an anachronism. I’m wishing I had taken the shot from further back so I could make a decal of it. But as you can see, we were driving and it was probably a snap decision (ha!). At the time I was taking photos for “feel” and had no idea I would build this out 14-15 years later. If for some reason you have a picture of this bridge that I could use with the mosaic, let me know.

Clincher #4

And finally, this area features a billboard on the underpass approach.

“So what,” you say? Well, in addition to the fact that it will help hide the over-population of track in this area, it just so happens that on that same 2004 trip, my friend Greg got a shot of a pretty humorous billboard. I’ve wanted to include it on the layout, and this provides me the perfect opportunity. What’s on this billboard? Like Joan Jett said, “Nobody knows what anticipation is anymore. Everything is so immediate.” Let’s prove her wrong: you’re just going to have to wait for that one.

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