Coupeville Open House Showcases Award Winning Cloud City Model Railroad
Coupeville resident Jack Tingstad opened his basement layout Cloud City and Western to the public over the Thanksgiving weekend, drawing crowds to a detailed HO scale depiction of Colorado mining era railroading. The display matters to enthusiasts for its craftsmanship, accessibility, community outreach, and the possibility that this was the last public showing under Tingstad's stewardship.
Each holiday season has become a highlight for area model railroad fans, and this year was no different when Jack Tingstad invited the public into his Coupeville home for his Cloud City and Western open house. Held over Thanksgiving weekend on November 24 and 25, the layout filled the converted basement with roughly 250 feet of track, multiple moving steam era locomotives, and rich scenery modeled after Tennessee Pass, Glenwood Canyon and the New Crystal River Mine. The scene takes visitors to a slice of Leadville, Colorado covering the 1900s to 1930s and showcases a level of detail that has earned Tingstad attention in Railroad Model Craftsman and Model Railroad Hobbyist.
Tingstad has long been a familiar name in local hobby circles, and the layout reflects decades of modeling experience. The display is handicapped accessible, which broadened its appeal to families and collectors of all ages. Admission was free, and visitors were asked to bring nonperishable food donations for a local food bank, reinforcing the event as both a hobby celebration and a community fundraiser.
For repeat visitors there was an added layer of fun. Tingstad hides playful "I Spy" elements each year to engage enthusiasts who return, creating incentives to study the scenery closely and to compare notes with fellow hobbyists. Organizers advised arriving early or late in the day to avoid peak crowds, advice that many followed as lines formed during mid afternoon.
This year’s open house may carry extra significance for the community, as Tingstad indicated that other commitments could make this his final public showing. That possibility has prompted collectors and neighbors to savor the exhibit, and to discuss how such private layout open houses serve as important informal hubs for skill sharing, inspiration and local outreach.
Practical visiting information was provided at the door, and Tingstad offered a contact number for directions. For modelers who could not attend, the layout’s coverage in the hobby press offers a durable record of its techniques and scenes, and the event underscored the value of personal layouts in keeping the steam era and mining railroad lore alive for new generations of hobbyists.
