Richard Chrysler - Layout

An overall view of Port Dover, one of the new scenes on the layout.

CNR Hagersville Sub - 1950

HOMES Layout Tour

The first stop on the HOMES layout tour last Saturday was Rich and his son's Geoff Chrysler layout. I was shocked to hear of Rich's passing this spring. I had seen him a few times last fall and during the winter and all was well. This open house was a tribute to Rich's accomplishments. Arriving at his home I visited with his brother Roger and some of his close friends including Clare Gilbert of Sylvan Scale Models and Pierre Oliver of Elgin Car Shops to name a few.

Rich's layout is a 18' by 30' two level HO scale line in the Hamilton to Lake Erie Ontario area set in 1950. The track is 90% done and scenery is in place at all locations although they say it is only half finished. The engines I saw operating all are DCC and sound equipped. The scenes are all prototype based with photos of the actual location posted below. Track is all hand-laid.

The CNR main line is seen crossing the NYC. Rich did a great job blending the foreground into the background. There is not a lot of room beyond the main line. Most of this area is painted on the backdrop.

Rich's brother Roger operates a local during the layout tour. Roger is now retired and can be found working a couple of days a week at Credit Valley Railroad Co. a hobby shop near Toronto.

 Rich's son built the final scene, Port Dover, while living in Vancouver the past few years. This scene was in place for the tour, being trucked cross country just recently. I really enjoyed seeing this layout as some of these location I have visited in the past by rail while working for the CNR...George Dutka

Rich did a great job blending building flats with painted structures to give a narrow shelf depth.

Another example of how structures added to the backdrop look real.