THE NP HOTEL

NORTHERN PACIFIC
HOTEL, EASTON

Another busy day on the hill. The NP Hotel at Easton is the perfect resting place for your tired engine crews. The Northern Pacific built this hotel just across from the roundhouse at Easton, at the base of Stampede Pass, on their mainline route over the Cascade Mountains of Washington.

I was inspired by the photo in Charles Wood's NP Pictorial (page 84). I had looked at it for years thinking it would make a great model, but the task of cutting out all those windows was just too daunting.

Then I bought Builders In Scale and inherited a laser-cutter. Perfect tool for the job. NP historian Jim Fredrickson shared a floor plan from his collection. And I went to work- I knew I wanted more in my model than just your regular generic cut-and-paste laser kit. So I kept pushing it. Starting with a bunch of Grandt Line Products I added some of our own white metal detail parts (from Builders In Scale), as well as some laser-cut Venitian blinds and lace curtains. Interior wall partitions, floors, and even the stairs are included. The porches and roof are covered with laser-cut self-adhesive shake shingles and it all rests on a cast Hydrocal CCC stone foundation.

I had assumed the building was long gone as is the roundhouse and other facilities. To my amazement I learned it's still standing. A lot worse for wear with "new" vinyl windows placed over the original boarded-over locations. I finished my model off with the NP two-tone cream over brown paint job though I suspect the original was simply painted white (as it roughly is today). I then placed my model on a small diorama adding standard scenery (from Woodland Scenics)- though not included.

The kit includes step-by-step instructions with full-size drawings and templates.
There's no reason to sit around for years like I did thinking someday I should build a model of this great structure- Order yours today!

40' x 68' ( 5-1/4" x 9" ) in HO Scale

C. C. CROW   P. O. BOX 1427   MUKILTEO, WA 98275

THE GALLERY

You can see the old windows, boarded up and "new" ones cut in.

I'm certain it's been moved. The old photo shows a car part on this side.

There's a new side entrance but it looks like it was added long ago.

MODEL CONSTRUCTION

The corners are dovetailed for stability.

Here's what's in the box!

  CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE KIT AND ITS CONSTRUCTION

FINE HYDROCAL CASTINGS BY C. C. CROW