A Santa Fe freight train passing over an urban viaduct. Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois. March 2014.

 

I took this photograph last week Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. This miniature model railroad club with their huge layout, is located at 255 Augusta Street in west suburban Oak Park Illinois, and meets for their weekly operating session on Wednsday nights from 7 to 9PM, in the basement of the Oak Park Public Library's Dole Learning Center building.

 

In a scene out of most any North American city in the Midwest, west or southwest regions, my Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe freight train passes above the city traffic below on an urban viaduct.

 

The locomotive is an Athearn H.O Scale model of an EMD model GP 35 roadswitcher diesel electric locomotive introduced by EMD in 1963. This model is painted and decorated in Santa Fe's blue and yellow "Book Ends" or "Billboard" color scheme, that was used from 1960 until 1972, when it was eventually replaced by the higher visibility "Yellow Bonnet" color scheme.

 

The bus below the viaduct, is an American Precision Scale Models H.O Scale model of a Flxible Flyer or "Clipper" model compact streamlined motor coach. These buses were used primarily for suburban crosstown commuter bus operations, airport terminals, hotels, and large downtown rail terminals. These buses were a common sight in most North American cities from the 1940's, until the early or mid 1970's, when they were eventually retired from service and replaced with newer buses.

Many would be sold to private individuals, and converted to recreational vehicles.

 

This urban scene, is a typical one from the 1960's era.

 

Thanks.

Eddie K.