N scale Standard Combination Depot 30x60
N Scale Standard Combination Depot 30x60
During the late 1890's the Great Northern's engineering staff developed standard designs for various sizes of wooden depots. These structures were used system wide to serve small towns.
The majority of the frame depots followed one of two basic standard designs. The simpler of the two was used prior to 1909, but its exact design origin date is unknown. The plan on which this kit is based was designed in 1909 and revised in 1930. This standard design was used for new construction until a depot modernization program featuring new designs began in 1949.
The 1909 depot featured architectural treatments missing from the earlier design such as angled bay sides, enclosed eaves with special corner treatment, and an external wainscoting, which separated the different types of wall siding. Depots of this design were constructed in several standard sizes: 24’ x 48’; 30’ x 60’ (as this kit is modeled); and 30’ x 64’ (with a warm room in the freight end). Larger depots were built when necessary, usually by enlarging the freight and baggage room. The design also featured reversible waiting and freight rooms, so that the waiting room could be placed on the end closest to public access.
Starting in 1909, a two-tone yellow paint scheme was utilized which included medium yellow/ochre on the large wall sections with a darker ocher trim on windows, doors, belt rails, and corner posts. Beginning in September 1930 wood frame depots were painted light gray with darker gray trim. In the 1950s the standard colors became white with green trim.
Great Northern depots typically had a wooden platform between the building and the track for the length of the building. The edge of the platform was 5 feet, 6 inches from the center line of the track, four inches above the top of the rail and extended 16 feet from the front wall of the main body of the depot, not the bay window, to the edge of the platform. Planks were three inches wide. As built, most depots also had a 12-foot wide cinder platform at least 100 feet long off both ends of the wooden platform to provide level and safe areas for passenger to walk to and from their train and to get on and off the cars. As originally built, cinder platforms had a 4x12 on edge on both sides to keep the edge of the platform at the proper height. Over time these edge boards were replaced by poured in place 12"x12" concrete curbs. Later, the wood platforms and cinder extensions were replaced with asphalt.
Most depots serving a town were soon equipped with a house track behind the depot where box cars of merchandise could be spotted. The Agent and/or Telegraph Operator would unload the merchandise, contact the consignee, and they would come an get their goods. Less than carload shipments also often arrived as 'way freight' on the local freight or mixed train and these shipments were placed on a baggage wagon and held in the freight end of the depot. Less than carload lots originating from the town were handled to the depot and then to a box car, but more likely to the local freight. The Agent was the railroad's local representative to the community.