N scale Republic Depot 24x36

The Great Northern Railway Historical Society Company Store is proud to offer this N scale, laser cut kit of the 24’ x 36’ Republic, Washington, depot custom made by Monroe Models. We are offering Republic as a 'not quite standard' small-town depot intended for use in small spaces.

The Republic depot was built at the end of the Republic, Washington, branch in 1902 as a 24 x 96’ standard plan combination depot. Because it was located at the end of a branch and served a booming mining town, the company expected substantial Less than Carload (LCL) freight traffic, so the depot received an unusually long freight room. In 1964, with both LCL freight and passenger service gone, the building was shortened by removing the freight room. One passenger waiting room was converted for use as a speeder shed by the section crew while the other continued to be the business office for use by freight customers. It retained its decorative roof peak over the bay window, which was characteristic of depots on this line of railroad north of Marcus, Washington.

You may build your model as Republic really was in 1964 and later, a freight only structure that housed the Freight Agent and the Section Foreman’s speeder.

You can also build your model as a combination telegraph office and passenger depot and use paint to establish the era. Separate wall panels are included to enable you to build the kit either way.

Photos taken shortly after the Republic depot was built show it was painted with relatively dark colors, probably red with green window trim. A few years later, GN frame depots were painted medium yellow/ochre on large wall sections with a darker ochre trim on windows and doors, belt rails and corner posts. We have photos of Republic in that paint scheme. In September of 1930, the two-tone gray scheme was introduced, which was followed by the 1950 or so white with green trim. Photos in RS 35 show the building was painted all white after it was shortened. Station name boards were always white with black lettering and black trim along the edges.

See RS 35 about the depot; RS 53 about painting frame depots; and RS 397 which includes early photos of the depot and details about Republic and the Eureka Gulch Spur which served gold mines and mills beyond the depot.

The kit

The kit is a laser-cut basswood structure kit with laser-cut doors, windows, trim, etched platform with three dimensional shingle sheets and cast detail. Directions include photos and diagrams for easy step by step construction. The overall footprint, including platform, is 5 inches long by 4 3/4 inches deep.