Photos by Gord Taylor

Here is Gord at the throttle of  a LVRC locomotive...he is not going to get far as the locomotive is in the scrap line. Bruce Douglas photo. May 19, 1987.

Here we have a few more photos from the Gord Taylor collection. Gord and Bruce Douglas spent a lot of their time in Vermont photographing the St J. & LC and later the LVRC...one of the photos I scanned has Gord in the drivers seat...George Dutka

St Johnsbury, Vermont May 25, 1989.

Morrisville, Vt. May 23, 1989.

UP Inspection Train…… by Don Janes

An eastbound Intermodal train holds the main at the west end of Tucumcari, NM

While on my yearly pilgrimage to our place in Apache Jct., Arizona we pass through

the town of Tucumcari, NM. Located on Old Historic Route 66. At one time this was

where the Rock Island Lines routes from Kansas City, MO and Amarillo, TX merged and

trains were handed off to the Southern Pacific to continue south west to Texas and

California. Today it is all part of the Union Pacific with the line from Amarillo and points

east abandoned. It is still quite a busy route hosting a variety of intermodal, auto and

general freight trains. Passenger trains no longer ply this route that once hosted name

trains like the Golden State Ltd, a RI/SP train to California.

We usually stay at Amarillo on our second night on the road but with a snow and ice

storm forecasted for that area we decided to push on a couple of extra hours to

Tucumcari to get ahead of it. It turned out to be a good move as Amarillo was hit by a

nasty winter storm that night and the roads were treacherous. The day dawned quite

overcast and gloomy but I decided to swing by the old restored station and see if there

were any trains in sight. Just as I pulled up to the station an SD70 rolled by with an 80ft

flat car and track geometry car in tow. I didn’t even have time to get the camera turned

on and it was gone. Looking up the tracks I noticed a red signal on the track the train

was on so scooted up the road to where they had stopped. To the west, a headlight

appeared so I staked out a spot where I could shoot the trains but stay off the UP

property. Unfortunately, the inspection car was behind a tree and the crew was out

crawling around it so I didn’t want to get too brave and end up in the UP doghouse.

Within minutes the eastbound intermodal train passed and the inspection train started to

pull. I was able to get several shots of each train. Once it was gone we headed west to

the town of Santa Rosa, another Old Route 66 town that had a large trestle in a good

spot for photos but the train passed over the bridge just as we were driving by. The

conductor, having recognized the car gave us a friendly wave and then they were gone.

There are some great spots to shoot trains along Highway 40 once you get into

New Mexico and Arizona and I always try to get some photos on our trip out west. 

The conductor of the Inspection train gives the eastbound a visual roll-by

inspection. There were 2 DPU’s on the rear

The Inspection train has the light and is starting to pull westward

A couple of views of the track Geometry car

Wordless Wednesday No. 223

Snapshot - Don Janes in Winslow, Arizona

A westbound train 30 miles from Flagstaff.

Don Janes is spending his winter once again in Arizona. He recently sent me a couple of shots he took while visiting Winslow, AZ.  So this month we have a second snapshot. The train is facing west with the mountain in the background about 30 miles away in Flagstaff.  The second view below is called "standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona" complete with the flatbed ford, a tribute to the rock group, the Eagles.

Traveling route 66.

CV Caboose 4016

Freshly painted CV caboose 4016 is seen with it's original style steps still in place. I don't have a date for this photo.

Last Sunday I met up with fellow CV modeler and CVRHS member John Hajnosz at the Copetown train show. We had a nice visit and by the end of our visit we both had purchased a 55' bulkhead flat kit that could be used to build one of the following...CN, DWP or BCR car. John asked me a question that I did not have the answer for at the moment, but once I got home and looked through my files of photos found the answer. John wanted to know if any of the CV cabooses got the orange paint prior to having the end steps changed out. Here is an undated photo that shows CV 4016 freshly painted with its original steps. The caboose behind appears to be still in the mineral red scheme...so not all your models need to have their steps changed out if you model the era of change...George Dutka

What I have been doing this past week.

One of my projects finished this week is a ball signal for Bellows Falls. I decided to build the wood post version which was in use till the end of the 1940's. I always liked the look of this one so now I have two. One at Bellows Crossing and one here. The metal post signal is in the future though.

I play old timer's basketball twice a week and this past week I rolled my ankle for the first time in about 20 years. Well I have been laid up not being able to walk or drive anywhere. A blessing in disguise for me but not my wife. She does not drive. I was able to hobble down to the basement (I now know why one needs chair lifts as one ages) and as long as I stayed put at my workbench with my leg raised I was fine. After three pretty long days downstairs working on anything but the layout, I really cleaned up a lot of projects. Now that my foot is starting to feel better it is catch up time my wife is saying on home projects and running around trips she needs done...might not see the basement again for awhile unless I can get out to basketball for another game...George Dutka

The ball signal under construction.

Peter and I have spent the last two work day Monday's working our our Tichy boxcars. Mine is ready for paint now after about an hour or two of extra effort. Thinking I better take another car over to Peter's on Monday to work on.

I also began my passenger shelter for Bellows Falls. 

I could not find any styrene long enough so it is being pieced together. The ends are cut wrong and will have another one applied shortly. I don't have any finished photos at the moment but this model is also done now. 

Carman's Shed for Bellows Falls

My new carman's shed is ready for the boys in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

I picked up a B&M baggage car shell from Clare Gilbert of Sylvan Scale Models. Don't know the whole story but Clare made the shells for Rutland Car Shops years ago. The kits are now offered by Bethlehem Car Works. There was a problem with the first few and these are the ones that he still has I think.

I was not going to build it as a baggage car but I thought this would make a good shed in my Bellows Falls yard. It will be the carman's shed. If it was going to be correct I would have to use an old Rutland Ry. boxcar.

This project took me two afternoons to complete since most of what one would add to a car that runs is left off and only one side is lettered and detailed...George Dutka

This is what I started with.

Ready for paint.

Now that it is painted and detailed all that is left to do is drop it into the scene.

Floquil grimy black on the roof and Tuscan red on the sides. Micro Scale B&M passenger car set decals are used. I did not do anything to the other side as it will not be seen.

I like leaving doors open. It just adds more interest to the car. I had to add a floor and the door is split in two and attached. Bragdon soot is applied to the roof and dark rust to the sides. A stove is needed in the office inside so a stack is applied to the roof.

RPM Copetown 2017 - A Second Look

Bob Fallowfield models.

The final tally had just under 50 attend on Saturday and just over 140 models displayed. Here is a look at a few more models...George Dutka

CP Zora station under construction.

Bob Fallowfield model above and below.

A CP hopper in cement service in the Woodstock area. This car is actually black.

Models displayed by Steve Lucas a CN engineman.

Chris van der Heide ACR models. Chris is a younger modeler compared to most of us and is a fine scratch builder to boot. Chris lives in Sarnia, Ont. When I hear about no young guys in the hobby this RPM meet will prove them wrong with a good number of extremely good modelers half my age.

 

Some more of Chris's modeling.

Operation Lifesaver Special Visits CN London Depot

This Gord Taylor image of Oct. 20, 1992 features an Operation Lifesaver train parked in front of the London, Ontario CN tower.

Throwback Thursday
Commentary by Peter Mumby, with Photo by Gord Taylor.

On Tuesday, October 1992, an Operation Lifesaver special train visited London, Ontario.  It put in appearances at both CP Quebec St yard and the CN depot.  Gord followed it around, taking photos in various locations, but the image above seemed to tell the best story.  Motive power consisted of CN 9669, CP 6034, and GO 543.  What was unique was the assortment of units gathered together;  individually, each locomotive was fairly standard power of the time for its particular owner.  CN GP 40-2W 9669, class GF-430c (GMD, 1973) was ex-GO 701, exx-GO 9809.  278 units, CN 9400-9677, had originally been acquired, with 10 units, 9668-9677 (ex-GO 700-702, 704-710) joining the roster in 1991.  CP SD40-2 6034 belonged to class DRF-30v, produced by GMD in 1982/83.  CP's original SD40-2 units included 5565-6080.  Units 5629-5658 came from EMD; the balance emerged from GMD.  Add to this a sizeable collection of used SD40-2s in the 5400 series, plus the 9000-9024 series SD40-2F "red barns" of 1988, and it is easy to see why most CP trains of the day were hauled by this type of power.  GO 543 was an F59PH-2, a member of class GCE-430h, produced by GMD in 1989/90.

Accompanying the three units were Go coach 2304, A Via steam-heated coach, and two CN business cars, Coureur des Bois and Sandford Fleming.  The CN cars were painted in the then-standard Via blue and yellow.  The entire train was parked in front of the 1960s-era CN business tower.  The Via passenger station was located in the lower floor, although by this date many of the upper floors were unoccupied. The milepost mounted on the train shed opposite the GO unit indicated MP 78.2 of the Dundas Subdivision/MP 0 of the Strathroy Subdivision.  Visible trackage included three station tracks, two mainline tracks, and the several tracks of Charlie yard.  The track curving off to the front right side of the frame led through a parking lot, across a busy city street, and into Labatt's Brewery.

So, out of what we see in this 1992 photo, what is gone, and what remains in 2017?  The station and mainline trackage remains, but the entire Charlie yard has disappeared and Labatt's product travels exclusively by truck.  The CN tower was imploded on Feb 04, 2001.  In its place now stands a much more compact Via structure.  The GO coach is still standard equipment, but most of the rest of the train is now outmoded.  Most of CN's 9600s are now off the roster; 9669 was retired in the summer of 2007.  CP now operates only about 15 of their SD40-2s, although many others are still stored unserviceable.  GO 543 was sold to Amtrack in 2011.

Sadly, the photographer, Gord Taylor, is also no longer with us.  I was present on the day in question, taking a standard front three quarter view to showcase the equipment.  Gord, however, was the one who took a few steps back and took in the "bigger picture."

Wordless Wednesday No. 222

Snapshot - March 2017

Paris West on CN this past Saturday afternoon on the way home. A U turn and a quick trip down a side road.

On my way home on Saturday from the Copetown RPM show I stopped by the hobby shop in Paris, Ont. I normally follow the tracks from Paris Junction to Woodstock. As I passed the side road at Paris West the crossing lights went on. I also noticed a large amount of deer in the field by the tracks. A quick U turn and I was off down the side road. The train had already crossed the roadway so I decided to stop in the middle of the road part way down and see what I could get as a shot. I only had my 55mm lens on for this view above that I cropped. Once I had a few views I got out my telephoto lens and took a few more of the deer herd seen below with the eastbound CN train in the background. Nothing great but a fun last second stop...George Dutka

Once the engines passed I had time to change lens...a telephoto view.

Copetown Train Show - March 5, 2017

The CN sig table at Copetown.

Sunday I returned to Copetown for the train show. Many of the same vendors and models on display but also a few others such as Sylvan Scale Models, Black Cat decals and a few Canadian Railway Historical societies. Missing was Rapido.

I picked up a few CN Sig magazines and two sets of Black Cat brass etched CNR caboose wood screen doors. There are two sets per package so I have enough to do four CV or CN cabooses. There are CPR versions also.

A good day with lots of sun to check out train locations on the way home...George Dutka

I took a close look at these cardstock storage containers that keep your prize models safe.

Sylvan Scale Models had a nice display of what Clare has left after Springfield.

Black Cat has these nice storm doors laser cut. I purchased the CN version for $8 which has enough for two cabooses. On the left is some leftover screen material from my farm house which I will use for summer and fall operations. They also have a CPR version. I must thank Roger Chrysler for pointing these out to me.

RPM Meet Copetown - Saturday March 4th

A fleet of Accurail 36' boxcar. Yes you are correct they just came out and Roger Chrysler has already rebuilt four of these. Roger has been anticipating these cars for some time now and has done these all in just two weeks. Great begin retired  we discussed.

Yesterday I attended the first annual RPM Meet Copetown. Although the group was small the meet was a great success. Steve Tuff anticipated about 30 to turn out and the total was well over that. There was a lot of table space for models although a little less than half was used. I took along a couple of models not knowing how much space was available. Next year I will be taking more, and yes I will attend again as it was great. I sat in on all four clinics not knowing what to expect. They were all excellent. If you are interested in Canadian prototype and live in Southwestern Ontario you missed the boat as I learned a lot. The entrance fee was only $10 which got one a ticket for a door prize plus a free pass to Sunday's Copetown train show which would cost one $6 if one did not attend Saturday's RPM meet...what a deal.
 
There was complimentary coffee available all day, but if you needed to eat one needed to bring a lunch or drive a good distance. I had packed a lunch while some others grouped in on pizza orders.

I am not lucky when it comes to draws, but there was a ton of door prizes and with a smaller group with many leaving before the end we all went away with a door prize. I think I was 5th or 6th from last, one prize ahead of Roger Chrysler and there was not any Accurail 36' boxcars. To my surprised a Scale Trains -Rivet Counter crude oil tank car was still available which I scooped up quickly. The photos tell the rest of the story with more to come later in the week....George Dutka

Dick Walker (left) talks CP Woodstock with Bob Fallowfield (middle) as they both model Woodstock but in different era's. Dick is set in the 1950's while Bob models 1980. By the way this is Dick's layout's 50th anniversary. Bob did a wonderful presentation about his layout. That is Steve Tuff on the right. Steve is the force behind this RPM Meet.

One of the better weathered limestone service covered hoppers done by Bob Fallowfield. Bob models Woodstock in the fall of 1980. He also is Matt Herman's sidekick at the Lok Sound display table.

Ryan Mendell who displayed his modeling next to mine has a New England influence also. We spoke for sometime which brought us to the topic of Sylvan Scale Models brass etched caboose steps. As it turned out he got a deal on a set and pointed me over to the location I could get the last pair. Ryan is working on getting a sheet laser cut for his fleet.

Ryan also casts his own doors.

Ryan Mendell's great looking MEC boxcar.

Ryan has done a wonderful job on his roof...just had to get an up close view.

The last three views are of Roger Chrysler's great looking models of Accurail offerings.

CNR Baggage Car - Work Service

A neat car to model. Note the boxcar style end ladders, boxcar coloured roof and bright yellow steps below the doors. A simple but interesting piece of equipment for a work train.

I had run across this baggage car many times during the 1980's while at work. This era was heavy in work programs and this car was normally in the middle of it. It is kind of a neat looking piece of rolling stock that I think would make a great modeling project. I don't recall were I was going in April 1989 when I took this photo of the baggage car in Brampton, Ont. I do recall there was a big track program going on between Halwest and Peel on the Halton Sub back then. I also remember seeing this car sitting on a siding on my trips to Mac Yard (Toronto area). Guess I was in the Brampton area with my camera for some occasion...George Dutka