Paducah Hotels Progress

Paducah is starting to take shape.The three hotels in these photos are (from left) Hotel Paducah, Irvin Cobb Hotel, and the Jackson House. None of the buildings are prototype, but the Cobb Hotel and Jackson House names are authentic to Paducah.

This view provides a better look at the hotels themselves, the street in front, and the stone retaining wall. Signs and lights on the hotels, the street and sidewalks, and the retaining wall which is carved into the pink foam material and painted, are all the work of John Ellenbracht. The trees in the park, which for the present is being called Paducah Park (compliments of Ken Heyl) are Scenic Express, and I think they look great. I was aware of the material, but John recommended them highly and about the same time, outstanding modeler Dave Abeles also was most enthusiastic about them on his Onondaga Cutoff. The three hotels are from the late Dean Freytag's railroad; the fourth building obviously needs some work to fit into the scene. People and vehicles are next.

Paducah coming to life

With the efforts of outstanding modeler John Ellenbracht, Paducah is starting to come to life. The first of the four photos shows the "base" upon which the hotels will be placed. The scene includes three hotels and a park in front of them. To the right in the photo are the locations for the hotels, and the area in front is the boulevard (unfinished). In the second photo, John is putting the final touches on the fence. Next, he's placing the fence that separates the park from the railroad and the Paducah Engine facility, and finally, the location on the bench work where this all fits. The hotels are not prototypical, but the names of two -- the Irvin Cobb Hotel, and the Jackson House -- are authentic to Paducah. Signage for the hotels is complete and lights are being added. There are numerous details to come in the park, including a statue of Chief Paduke, for whom the city is named.

Also happening in the progress of the P&LE is the addition of fascia, followed by the installation of Intuiswitches, flush mounted turnout controls. We are moving forward, and finally getting into areas that lend themselves to progress pictures.