Sunday 24 January 2016

A Look Back At The Old Green Mtn. Division Layout

A CV Passenger train is passing the White River Jct. yard office as a Grand trunk 2-8-2 is taking coal on the shop track

Memories from My Previous Layout...By Don Janes

     While I was having my Sunday morning coffee I decided to sit down at the computer and browse some photos of my old layout.  As I looked at the various scenes I found it hard to believe that I had accomplished all I did in the time I had.  Now it is all gone and the room is filled with mostly bare benchwork and track.  I had a wonderful time building the original Green Mountain Division but there were just so many new things I wanted to incorporate into a layout that I decided to bight the bullet and tear it down and start again.  It was really hard pulling up that first section of handlaid track and removing all the structures that I had so carefully built and added to the layout but once it was gone and I started with fresh ideas I am glad I made that decision.  I am really enjoying the challenge of building my new layout with new scenes that I had always wanted to add.  The first layout was a true learning experience since I had never built a layout before and the knowledge that I gained over those twenty years was invaluable.  
    So, I decided to pick out a few photos of some of my favorite scenes and do a post. Some of the structures are gone now and some have found a home on other layouts. I am heading to Arizona for a couple of months so this will be my last exposure to modelling for a while.
Crews go about their daily chores at the WRJ engine terminal as
This shot of Rutland 2-8-2 #37 is one of my favorite photos from the old layout.
Here we see a couple of trains at Bellows Falls
In another Bellows Falls view, a B&M RS-3 spots a milk car at the creamery.
A Rutland 70 tonner spots a gondola at the quarry.  This structure found a home on the new layout.
The Bellows Falls freight House has found a new home on George's White River Division.
A pair of B&M F units are being serviced at the WRJ engine terminal.
Another view of the WRJ coal dock.  SAdly, this structure is gone now.
A CPR freight rounds a curve as it approached Bellows Falls.
CV GP-9 4548, built in 1957 occupies the crossing at WRJ as a 1957 Chevy waits.The scratchbuilt Pillar and Post Inn will find a home on the new layout.
This is Essex Jct. where  a CV freight powered by a pair of CNR C-Liners has been given the route while a B&M freight waits patiently.
The wood stove in the cabin is going as a Rutland freight passes on a cool Oct. morning. 

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting these photos, that layout was one of my favorites!

    Regards, Joe Smith

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  2. Hi Joe: thanks for the comment and I'm really glad that you liked the layout. Hopefully the new one will be just as good with lots of new scenes and structures.....Don

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  3. Wow great photos! I hope the next layout you build is still a New England prototype! I was really inspired by this layout when I saw it on the cover of "How To Model the '50s". If you need any prototype ideas, I'd suggest modeling the line from Brattleboro, VT, to White River Junction, VT. There you can get 3 union stations, 3 other stations, many interchanges, 3 big yards and plenty of high bridges. Hope building this new layout goes well!

    -Brett

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  4. Hi Brett: Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it. The new layout is still New England in the 1950's with a few more prototypical scenes . Layout design elements I believe they are called....Don

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  5. George: Awesome layout and fantastic photos. Is there anywhere in your past posts where you describe how you create your ground cover. It is so realistic looking.

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  6. Hi Steve:
    The Green Mountain Route in this post is actually Don Janes layout and he also posts on my blog. He is on his way out west at the moment...when I touch base with him I am sure he will respond here...I don`t believe ground cover was ever covered on the blog...but good idea...thanks for mentioning it...George Dutka

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  7. Love the little cabin scene. The layout Im planning is more rural, a scene like this would be perfect.

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