John’s been in touch with his HO scale haunted house. It’s always a joy when I see his name in my inbox:
“Hi Al,
There may be a few universal truths in what’s required when building a model railroad layout, tracks, trains, and train stuff.
I have another one – every layout needs a haunted house. I added mine now as Halloween approaches (my birthday by the way) and finally got around to getting my haunted mansion in place.
It’s the old recluse Bartholomew Polesitter place, known locally as “Polesitter Peak” never sold after the old man died.
Potential buyers the real estate people took up there who wanted the place would leave after 10 minutes in it. They universally claimed cold hands were brushing their neck, or other body parts, always after they entered the study where ‘ol Bart’s carcass had been discovered by the three teenagers who went to the place on a dare.
Finally, the real estate people stopped trying to sell the place. It can still be purchased for $286.00 in back taxes.
It all started when one high school jock, a nerd, and a beauty queen in high-heels took the dare to explore the decaying mansion. And yes, upon entering, they decided to split up and explore – the high-heels finding the mummified remains. She, screaming so loud at finding Bart that a few hundred bats woke up in the top floor attic and chased the jock down the stairs. The high heels, on que, twisted an ankle.
The nerd waited for the bats to settle down and rescued the beauty queen, with he and she limping back to the jocks car where he had locked himself in, refusing to open the doors until sunrise, some 4 hours away. His jock title forever revoked once the Craig Mountain High School classmates heard the story.
Other than the twisted ankle, the only other injury was the embarrassing jock’s case of poison ivy so bad that the fuzzy seat-covers in the jocks car had to be trashed. The local sheriff, called after an attack of conscience by the nerd, found no foul play, and no relatives could be found. The nerd permanently replaced the jock as the boyfriend of the beauty queen in high heels.
Ok, this HO scale haunted house model is from Gold Rush Bay Goldrushbay and took a number of hours to paint, age, then partially destroy. This company sells 3-d printed models, completely ready to paint.
Finding a place to put the model was a challenge, finally ending up with the space over my pull-out work bench/shelf, which resides below the tracks which are below the new portion of mountain where the mansion ended up.
I cantilevered some braces to hold my typical screen wire hardshell up and away from the tracks. For interest I thought a few stone walls would add some detail and give a logical reason for terracing the scene.
The pictures follow the construction.
Regards, and again thanks Al for all you do for our hobby!
John”
A huge big thanks to John for sharing his HO scale haunted house – I absolutely loved it! It reminded me of Dan’s: Halloween model train.
If you want to see more of John’s stuff, his last post on his new layout is here:
John’s HO scale coal mine layout.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
And as always “Happy Birth-D” and easy to remember that day. Want to get in on a time share stay at haunted house. Yes, those anomalies do exist, no explanation. Great work, is scene permanent fixture or just seasonal? I’d keep year ‘round, do like the castle ruins idea too.
Terms & Conditions here are a good clause to be noted, just did so myself. Typical, after all else fails… read directions.
One of the Best haunted scenes I’ve ever saw. GREAT WORK!
Beauty job well done and happy Halloween uh Birthday
Love the “History” of the place!
The ominous sky on the backdrop really helps the scene.
Looks like a great addition. We’ll done
Love it, the house on haunted hill Great idea
the haunted house is awesome & the truck depot & the bridges are well done & the bridges look like they are part of the landscape. well done.
John
Awesome job on the mansion and the story was a gas. The missive really got me thinking about the Adams family LOL. Lurch must be on the porch & Gomez is the basement smashing his Lionels.
You are the iterant modeler so you can keep adding spooky things as you see fit.
Big Al
Sweet! Coffee & John- it’s gonna be a nice day
Great scene- great story. Thanks for sharing!
Truly, a mansion worthy of the Addams Family. Magnificent!
What a hoot!!! Very well done and I agree with you about every layout needing a haunted house or whatever. Happy Batday to you!!!
Very cool! Nicely done, and very well told. Thank you.
I’m an architectural historian and author of books and articles on American domestic architecture. The style house chosen here, Second Empire, is the most commonly used type in movies, TV, and print for haunted houses. It’s a wonder choice and is iconic the history of American houses. Happy Birthday, John, and Happy Halloween all!
Rob Schweitzer
St. Goar & Murren Scenic Railway
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Nice one John. Good to see something different with a great back story.
Best to all.
Brian, Wokingham UK
Very nicely done! I have no room in my basement for a layout and I am jealous!
Rich B.
Yes, Polesitter Pike is now part of the Craig Mountain Energy Railroad. Placing this model where it is actually fills in a blank space along the wall, and it’s the first thing one sees as they come up the stairs to the train room. Thanks to all for the kind comments.
John From Baltimore
Happy birthday, incredible job on the haunted house. I am starting my first layout this year. I can only hope my work will be as good as yours!
Love the haunted house. Happy birthday
Wow…..John…..great work.