After a long day of track maintenance or repairing rolling stock, a rail employee needs a place to sit down and catch up on paperwork or perhaps schedule tomorrow’s activities. The Cripple Creek & Western crew can now do just that — Menards has released the Cripple Creek Rail Maintenance Office (No. 275-9491).
The ready-to-use scene measures 11-⅝” wide by 7-¾” deep, and is 5-½” high, but the height is mostly due to the two trees. The base plus the boxcar height is approximately 2-¾” high.
There are some nice details in this scene, including crates, barrels, a paint bucket, trash can, and a worker with a handcart. A 1951 Ford pickup truck is parked next to one tree. The entire base is covered with static grass.
Only one boxcar door opens (the rear door), allowing you to add more details in and around the scene. The packaging says the boxcar is weathered. Though it’s not shiny new, it doesn’t seem derelict enough to me. It would be easy to add rust or faded spots with some chalk or PanPastel colors, if you want to add that level of realism.
Like most Menards structures, this one features lighting. The truck’s headlights and a light-emitting diode above the door illuminate. The lighting requires a Menard’s 4.5 volt power supply (No. 279-4061/4361, 4060/4362, or 4050), sold separately. There’s a pigtail for power under the structure, or a plug-in on the back of the boxcar.
If you’re looking for a smaller maintenance structure for your railroad, especially one you can customize and add extra details to, you’ll want to check this out this release!
Other Cripple Creek products from Menards:
Menards Cripple Creek Rail Maintenance Office (275-9491)
Features: 1951 Ford pickup truck with lighted headlights, landscaped base, figure, scenic details
MSRP: $49.99
Website: menards.com/trains
