Sense of Humor
Armstrong was also noted for his quirky sense of humor that was demonstrated at many locations throughout the layout including an area known as 'Gasmeterszag', named for the detour the tracks made around a gas meter, and another named 'Warm River' after a nearby hot water heater.
At one location where the track passed behind a fiber-board partition on route to another part of the layout was a carefully hand-lettered sign that read 'Cut Here In Case Of Excruciating Trouble'. Alongside a spectacularly modeled gorge was a sign recording dates of significant events in the construction of the bridge over it, including 'Last Train Accidentally Backed Into Gorge'.
Among several brochures he designed for the Canandaigua Southern is a 'Timetable No. 9 Effective at 2:01 A.M.' with no date, 'For the Government and Harassment of Employees Only'.
Other humorous touches included a flatcar that had resting on it a piece of machinery labeled as a 'Dolorator', which was ultimately bound for the 'Depleted Lugubrium Reprocessing Plant No. 71' of the 'Lugubrium Corporation of America—Processors of the World's Saddest Material'.
Read more about this topic: John Armstrong (model Railroader)
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