Beartrap Memories from Under.

Posted by Chris Walker on Mar 25, 2024; 1:58am
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Beartrap-Memories-from-Under-tp19551.html

 I don't know about you, but I can trace my first exposure to the C&S and predecessors down to the very Month.

 50+*  Years of following the C&S.



Here is the first issue of the RMC I ever saw, during my last year of High School.  American RR mags weren't usual fare in our rural corner of NZ and I chanced upon this Issue on the rack in town, only the British Railway Modeller was available at that shop.  
Suddenly all my pocket money went on two mag subscriptions(actually I never got any in hand, Dad just picked up the tab.)  
 
The differences in prototype, modelling and layout scene creations was like night&day between the two countries, and in turn, totally foreign to our railways here.

Of great interest was the essay of Earl Martin and his Thunder Mountain line, which not only introduced me to the Beartrap and the Moguls, but cemented a lifelong obsession with Mines, Miners and Mining in the US West.



But it was Earl's conceptualisation and approach to the modelling albeit freelanced in depiction, that inspired me.  Actually Dad remarked "you're filling your head with nonsense, boy".    It would take me a few years to discover the Gilpin Tramway and Earl's 20" gauge side-door Caboose model inspiration.





Then a few weeks later, this also appeared in the rack(Bookseller Carthews saw $ signs in this kid), a different beast.
Ebay Image


My copy is a little well worn.... and faded.


And upon opening the pages, my(to be life-long) journey of discovery was off and running.



This Denver yard structure revealed itself after digging this issue out of the junkroom; something I've never seen in any of the Books.

Any ideas on purpose?  Thawing a carload perhaps or steam-cleaning the inside of a Reefer maybe?

*
I should have done this last year, on the golden anniversary(magazines took 6 weeks minimum to reach NZ) but I procrastinated, only to be reminded with the Railroad mag cover showing up on Ebay last week.  My copy funnily enough, was easily found right on top of a pile of yesteryear.