3.16 Spano's Mobil Station
The Greystone & Rock Bottom had no gas station, but I thought it was an appropriate addition to the WR&N VIII to give it a somewhat developed feel in order to justify a railroad. So, I turned to the kits I'd purchased for the aborted Black River & Western, and what was going to be D&D Auto Service, JL Innovative #310 McLeod Super Service, got rescued. I also named it for my longtime friend and modeling mentor, Rick Spano, and it's a Mobil station to honor my father, who worked for the company for 50 years.
It was at this point, just as the station neared completion—naturally, right?—the whole project took a 90-degree turn, thanks to a reference image taken in Nashua, New Hampshire, circa 1945-50: the Esso station in the background was vaguely reminiscent of the Mobil station from the White River & Northern IV I'd started to rebuild six years ago. The hallmark of the project was the working car lift. Sound will be used to enhance the effect.
After having gone to the trouble of installing the station, however, I expanded the layout, and the station got moved... three times!
Reference Images
My original inspiration was perhaps more typical old New Hampshire, but it would have been a space hog.
This is the image that really got me motivated, taken in Nashua, New Hampshire:
And then there's this, also in New Hampshire:
Named For...
...my oldest friend and modeling mentor, Rick Spano.
