As the summer nears an end, I have been working furiously on the draft of a book on the history of American OO. While based on content from this website, it will be a very new product, making many new connections and presenting quite a bit of new information beyond that found online.

Sometimes I unexpectedly found I had examples of a product that I was not even aware of it being a commercially produced item. Specifically, I recently sold some track, but saved some interesting pieces of track that were really well made by what I assumed to be some very fastidious modeler. I also had used a little of it when we lived in an apartment, and I thought maybe someday I or someone else might use it again as the basis for a simple shelf layout. I have eleven pieces, all completely unmarked as to the maker.

What I learned is that this track must be prewar Vanden Boom track. It matches their catalog illustrations perfectly. What they produced was in effect a line of sectional track laid on plywood, including double track curved and straight sections as seen in the photo. It has traditional OO rail in steel, and the wood ties are ballasted. It has also held up well with the long storage, probably because the plywood was given a good coat of shellac. And hopefully will see some future use still.

Probably some reader also has some Vanden Boom track? Worth taking a look. I’ve still yet to locate an example of a Vanden Boom freight car, built or as a kit, but some it appears were produced.