Models for Allentown [4] Back to the Old Times

Winona "Windsplitter"

The last group of N scale models for the Allentown meet are three classic Interurban cars, a combine representative of the mid 1920 steel car era, and two older wooden cars. All three models are derived from HO 3D models.

The steel car is a St.Louis Car Co combine built for the Fort Wayne & Lima and the Indiana Service Corp, later Indiana Railroad. I am particularly attached to this model for two reasons, first because the late Paul Mayer asked me to make this car and gave me many photos and documents, and second because it was the first model I have drawn only from photos.

Indiana Service Co/Indiana RR steel combine

Winona "Windsplitter"

Now I know that I could build every car even if only photos and no plans ara available. I will present the car in two versions, the early two manned version with the baggage compartment in front (in production, red with green roof) , and the later one man version turned front to back with a folding passenger door (already finished, in Indiana Railroad traction orange with green roof). The car is powered with the extra long Tomytec TM-TR05 drive and has Commonwealth truck frames.

The two wood cars are the famous big Winona "Windsplitter" and a C&LE arched roof box motor, based on C&LE car 622. The fine wooden grooves are a challenge, because they are going to the limits of 3D printing, and sometimes beyond. Both cars have Tomytec drives with bigger 5.6 mm (36") wheels and a 14 mm wheelbase, all trucks powered. The Box Motor has a truck mounted Micro-Trains Coupler in the rear and can safely pull (and push) several freight cars even through the sharpest curves with 103 mm radius.

C&LE Box Motor

Rear Micro-Trains coupler on the Box Motor

Winona Windsplitter

Photos of Winona Windsplitters are rare. Photos of two of them are even further rare. Here are two of them in the Indianapolis Traction Terminal , on track 5 and 6.

Electric Railway Journal, September 30, 1916, page 658

Winona Windsplitter Interurban, painted

Winona Lines Interurban, Jewett Car Co 1910, H0 scale

The Winona "Windsplitter" Interurban has received his second coat of paint and takes the mild sun of a Paris spring afternoon...

This is a pre-production model, some minor changes will be made, as relocating the chimney behind the baggage door.

Winona Lines Interurban, Jewett Car Co 1910, H0 scale

First coat of paint for the Windsplitter

Winona "Windsplitter" Interurban Combine (Jewett Car Co)

Black operations

No, this is not a funeral car.

This is only the Winona Windsplitter wearing a very first black primer coat.

Winona Windsplitter nearly completed

I am still waiting for my test prints of the Fort- Wayne - Lima Lightweight Combine, Shapeways is a little bit behind its schedules ...

I use the waiting time to complete the Windsplitter. Now it has a pilot, roofwalks, and the typical small circular toilet windows of Jewett cars.

Only the underfloor equipment is not yet ready, I need to do some final research within the old photos.

Winona Windsplitter H0 scale model

While awaiting the first test print of the Fort Wayne Lightwight Combine, my old Windsplitter project meets some attention. 

The first job is done: the model looks somewhat like a Winona Windsplitter. The general proportions seem mainly ok, when compared to photos. As no side elevation exists from this car, modeling work must be done essentialy with photos. Fortunately, a floor plan were published in reviews when the cars were new. 

Any comment, critic or help is welcome.

The mythical Winona Windsplitter - and his not so spectacular rear end

Winona Windsplitter rear end

One of my current "long term projects" is the Winona Windsplitter as an H0 print model. It is not as advanced as the Ft Wayne - Lima Combine, but sometimes I like to change, because working on a single project could be boring.

Nothing spectacular was done, just the rear end of this car, which is nothing else than a standard rear end of a Jewett build car.

But some details were more difficult than expected: the arched doors and the buffer with its steps. But it is done.

Of course, the elliptical front end, this will be another round.

Time for a new project: The Winona Windsplitter

Work in Progress : Side elevation of the Winona "Windsplitter"