Wasatch Bridge & Trestle

Bridging Generations

Pardon our dust, we are currently under construction!

A word about the Diorama displayed at the HOSTLERS:

First of all, I’d like to thank the many people who inquired about the cost of the diorama and would like to have purchased it.  Unfortunately it was not for sale for a number of reasons; the most compelling, I believe, was that it had, due to a very untimely accident, been damaged while loading it for the show.

We spent the next twenty-four hours working very hard to restore it for the second day of the show.  Even then, it had many defects that made it impossible for me to sell it to anyone with a clear conscience.  It took most of the following week to fully restore it.

One of my greatest regrets is that the first day’s attendees were unable to view the diorama.  Especially in light of the many people who enjoyed seeing it and the many compliments it received (Great for a modelers’ ego)!

Second, though I appreciated the wonderful offers for the diorama, it hadn’t been created for sale.  To be very honest, the thought of putting it up for sale hadn’t even occurred to me.  So, even if it had been in “Tip Top” condition, in reality, I had no idea what to ask for it!

The diorama was created to allow the viewer to visualize our bridge designs on their layout at home.  The reason the Arched Bridge was shown as being “under construction” was in the hope that the viewer could visualize that our arch bridges are, in deed, created using individual blocks.

To further complicate matters, all of the engines, tenders, and rolling stock came from my families train collection.  To have sold the diorama “as is”, I would have had to break up two collectors sets: a Lionel ‘Fallen Flags’ set and a K-Line ‘Maintenance of Way’ set.  In addition, one of the engines & tenders on the diorama belonged to my wife and the other engine & tender belonged to one of my sons – not really mine to sell.

In future shows, I will make a sincere attempt to ensure that all of the items on the diorama are for sale should anyone wishes to purchase it.

Finally, the diorama is the center-front section of a planned series of six, each featuring either one of the variations of the Arched Bridge design: the ‘Short Arch’, the ‘Pier to Pier’, the Tunnel Portal and our other bridge designs.  For example, the ‘All Brass’ Truss Bridge and Deck Bridge are planned.

It is planned, eventually, for each of the six dioramas to be sold as a separate “stand alone” display or, the six sections can be combined to make a ninety-six by sixty-four inch layout with two operating lines.  A very nice layout with two trains operating in a fairly small space!

I did take the time to figure out a wide variety of prices for the HOSTLERS diorama.  And, the basic cost (Bench work) would be true for each of the other five modules.  If interested in purchasing any of the modules or ordering the set as each become available, a variety of options are available to you.  The pricing is listed on Page 2.  Different pricing options and what is included are listed on Page 3.

Diorama Module “B”

1.      Bench work (Includes all wood supports, wire screen, and cork roadbed ready for completion): Cost $360.00

2. Brick work (Includes over 200 hand-cut blocks mortared & laid and the modeling of the “quarry” area): Cost $168.00

1. Order the brick for $38.00
2. Price includes enough self-hardening clay for mortar joints and to model the quarry area.

3. Celluclay® covering of screen (Includes molding of cliff faces): Cost $42.00

1. Order Celluclay® for $12.00
2. Includes 50% by volume Plaster of Paris (Premixed).

4. Bridges:

1. Rustic Wood or Solid Brass Truss Bridge: Cost $200.00
2. Arch Bridge built to order: Cost $135.00
3. Order Arch Bridge as Kits: Cost $90.00

5. Landscaping (Includes grass, trees, track ballast, and painting): Cost $250.00

1. Order Tree Kits (Tall hand-made trees not included), Grass Kits, and Ballast for $80.00
2. Order Paints (Ten original different colors) and Glues (3) for $20.00
3. Total cost as Kits: $100.00

6. Track: Cost dependent on type of track used.  Current plans only support:

1. Gargraves®
2. O-27

7. Engines, Tenders and Rolling Stock:

1. As seen on diorama: Cost $1,000.00
2. Substitute Engines, Tenders and Rolling Stock: Negotiable

8. Buildings and accessories (Signals, Catwalks): Negotiable

1. Buildings and Signals can be ordered as Kits (Price varies).
2. Cost of Catwalks varies with type of track used.
3. Catwalks are included in the cost of Custom Built Bridges.

Pricing Options:

1.      Best Price:

Completed bench work ready for you to finish out; comes with a complete list of products, part numbers, and their manufacturers.  Most good arts and crafts stores, hobby shops and train dealers can supply the items you need.

If you live or shop in northern Utah, we will be happy to provide a list of reputable dealers where the items may be purchased.  This list includes the retailers that sell our bridges and bridge kits.

Total Cost: $360.00

2.      Best Buy:

Completed bench work ready for you to finish out along with the following:

A.     Hand cut brick and mortar for detailing all of the brickwork.

B.     Pre-mixed Celluclay® (All you add is water) for covering screened areas and molding cliff faces.

C.     Rustic or Brass Truss Bridge and the Arch Bridge kits.

D.    Landscaping materials (Does not include scratch built tall trees).

E.     You provide the Track, Engines, Tenders, Rolling Stock, buildings and accessories.  As with the first option, we’ll be happy to provide a listing of where these items may be obtained.

Total Cost: $800.00

3.      Next Best Buy:

Completed diorama; includes Gargraves® track, tall scratch built trees, all buildings or equivalent – depending on product availability – and accessories. You provide Engines, Tenders and Rolling Stock.

Total Cost: $1,181.00

4.      Worst Buy:

The original Diorama, fully restored, with my wife & sons Engines and Tenders replaced by identical models.

Total Cost: $2,000.00

One final note; we are working very hard to reduce the cost of the Rustic & Brass Truss Bridges.  It is our sincere hope to offer them as kits very soon.  This would reduce their cost greatly as the time required to assemble them is, for the Rustic Bridge, 80% of the cost of the bridge (50% for the Brass Bridge).