CN Caboose Ditch Lights

On  the Credit Valley Free-mo Group layout this March one modeler had converted the lighting on this True Line Trains caboose.

While at this years Kitchener layout tour I ran across a modeler that decided to remove the interior lighting and add ditch lights instead to his CN True Line Trains caboose. A really good idea since the interior lighting never looked right to me. I just might try this with one of my models....George Dutka

This caboose looks more realistic with the ditch lights working. On this model the lights are on all the time since they are wired to what once was the interior lighting.

Loading Hoppers

I picked up these photos of CP hoppers being loaded somewhere in Southwestern Ontario but typical of may areas in Canada and the US.

A very simple way for a hopper to be loaded on any siding and a great modeling project that one can use anywhere on the layout.

A tractor is the kind of power used to move the hoppers around in many farming communities.

Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum....by Don Janes

Willimantic, CT 

      While attending the Enfield RPM meet on June 2, Bill Moore and I ducked out of the show on Saturday afternoon and headed over to Willimantic to visit the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum.  The last time I was there with George in 2014 while attending the Collinsville, CT RPM meet we stopped by on a Friday only to find the Museum closed, being open only on weekends.  This time we made sure to visit when it was open.  We were two of only about 10 visitors so we had the place pretty much to ourselves for photography and browsing around.  

    There is a very nice new brick six stall roundhouse built on the original footprint of the old New Haven structure.  Inside was a fully restored Central Vermont USRA wood caboose #4052 still waiting to have the correct lettering applies. Also inside was a CV long wood caboose in terrible shape, hopefully on the list for restoration in the near future and an old CV wood boxcar in pretty good shape. This is where restoration work is carried out.  It was interesting to see some of the original brick lined inspection pits still preserved.

    Just as we arrived they were running an old EMD SW8 which had just been fired up that day. It sounded really good. Wondering the grounds we found quite a few exhibits in various states of repair.  Being a volunteer organization progress is limited to the amount of time people can spend working at the museum.  There were several old railroad structures that had been moved to the museum and restored to excellent condition with displays inside.  There is also a working turntable with the original stone block pit used for turning equipment.

     While stepping into the roundhouse, just as the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour I met long time museum volunteer Art Hall, who by the way follows this blog.  Art was very knowledgeable about the museum and northeastern railroading in general.  He gave us lots of information about the museum and the history about the surrounding area.
     I am glad I finally got to visit the museum when it was open.  The volunteers are doing a great job restoring equipment and making this a great place to visit.  The following photos give an idea of the various equipment and structures at the museum.

This SW8 was fired up when we arrived at the museum. Not sure of its origin.

The roundhouse and turntable

GE 44 Tonner and Chaplin Station display.  A very nicely restored display.

Interior view of the station

Some of the equipment is still in need of repair

Here we see a little GE 45 Tonner lettered "New Haven Terminal Inc."

This old CV train order signal was very interesting. It once seved Willimantic

A restored section shanty and Fairmont Speeder inside

CV 8081, an ALCO S4 has been nicely restored and can be made to run again at some point

New Haven FL7 2023 is open for display

CV 8081 as seen from the cab of 2023

CV USRA caboose 4052 has been beautifully restored inside the roundhouse. It still needs some interior work and lettering to be applied

In contrast this Conrail, ex New Haven caboose is showing the effects of sitting outside exposed to the elements.

A trackmobile is moving a CV wood caboose in the roundhouse.  This caboose is in really rough shape but hopefully someday will look like the 4052

CV Power - CN Eastern Ontario Freight

A 1966 CN westbound freight with all New England Power. John Vincent photo.

Bruce Douglas sent me this view of a trio of New England power handling a westbound train at Port Hope during November 1966. Although not that clear of a photo it is neat to see. The power is CV 4927 leading followed by GT 4450 and a DWP RS-11 now assigned to the CV...and all in the classic green and gold...George Dutka

Snapshot - June 2018

The GEXR engine-house in Goderich appears empty with two engines one track over. One engine is clearly for parts. No train in town on this day June 11, 2018.

This months snapshot are of views taken in Goderich, Ont. this past week. I traveled there on occasion from my boat docked 10 miles south of town. The Goderich salt mine has been on strike for over a month now and I don't believe there is much salt leaving by rail. This was my first time in town since last summer. I took a drive down to the docks and checked out the freighters, one being loaded with salt...George Dutka

Down at the waterfront Algoma Central Corporation Captain Henry Jackman is being loaded with salt at Goderich, Ont.

Stored in Goderich harbour is another Algoma Central Corporation freighter which is scheduled for scrap. Note there are a few salt covered hoppers in the salt mine yard. Not the amount of cars one would normally see.

Bruce Douglas sent me this photo of the same freighter seen in Sarnia a couple of years earlier.

Another Drop-in Structure Under Construction

Here is how my station looked when I purchased it last fall. The model is a City Classic kit which has been assembled pretty well.

My current structure project is a simple gas station I picked up at the fall Woodstock train show. It was in a vendor's dollar box. I recently ran across a neat looking rendition of the same model in an old MRP. The modeler completed the station as abandoned. I thought what a neat idea...maybe I can do something similar. A part two will follow once the model is completed...George Dutka

One can see many of the windows are boarded over. The pumps are gone but the sign remains.

The walls are brush painted white while the roof got a chalkboard paint black. Two stacks will be added made from small cuts from a plastic off brand Q-Tip. They are hollow and look good in HO scale.

The stacks are applied and some license plates are added to the roof. More trash will be added once the roof is installed. The station got some Floquil dark blue brushed on. The base is painted Floquil old concrete with some PanPastels applied. Since one door is open on this model (it was missing from the kit) I will model some trash and car parts inside the doorway. This means a floor has to be added. A scrap piece of styrene is glued in. Since I have some Sunoco signs, that is what I am using. The windows will be boarded up shortly.

Now that I am almost done with my abandoned Sunoco station I decided to look around the internet for photos of what they look like...thinking I might be building a second one in the future.

This closed Sunoco station appears to be a lot like the model I am working on.

Another Sunoco station that has seen better days in Breeden WV.

A long lost Sunoco station in Lacota, Michigan...note the station sign appears in better shape than the structure.

Throwback Thursday - 1490 McKeen Ave.

On a fine summer day in 1989 Remote Control Locomotive 688 poses for its portrait in the BC Rail yard in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

By Peter Mumby

Sometimes when we take a roster shot of a piece of railroad equipment it pays to step back a pace or two and establish a bit of context.  In this photo, taken within the confines of the BC Rail yard in North Vancouver on July 06/89, some interesting signage appears on the building behind the locomotive.  Some thoughtful individual decided it would be instructive to include the street address of the structure; if only the postal code had been added, I could have sent them a thank you note! The purpose of the building is also clearly outlined.  The line "Budd Stores" alone indicated that BC Rail was unusual among North American railways not only in still operating a passenger service at this date, but in using RDC cars exclusively.

The star of the show, of course, was unit RCL-688, the last of eight units occupying class MFB 20.  This MLW M-420B came out of the Montreal erecting shops in July of 1975.  These were the first B units built in Canada since the F units of the 1950s.  The "RCL" stood for "Radio Control Locomotive," meaning that the unit was equipped with a "Locotrol" control receiver and would operate as a mid-train slave.  The locomotive could be shuffled around in the yard employing a hostler's cab and control stand.

Wordless Wednesday No. 286

Ayer, Mass.

MEC Rolling Stock

MEC plow 90 stored July 1970 St. Johnsbury, Vt., Gord Taylor photo

Here we have a couple more of Gord Taylor photos from the Peter Mumby collection...enjoy...George Dutka

A clean looking covered hopper at St. Johnsbury, Vt. during Gord Taylor's New England trip May 19, 1979.

CP Waffleside Boxcars

Crossing the White River on the WRD.

I picked up two CP white waffle side boxcars this winter at one of our local train shows. The cars came from Chris Wright who is a New England modeler focusing in on the Brownsville area. One car had decals applied while the other appeared factory finished. I pulled them out for weathering during my Monday workshops with Peter Mumby. We each finished one car which was pretty simple. We needed a break after working on those Athearn airslides...George Dutka

The two CP waffleside boxcars before we began our workday back last winter.

Our models posing together for a photo shoot.

I added a bit more rust to my model. Some is applied around the roof edges and a bit more on the door and lower areas.

A close up look at my car. I went really light with my PanPastels.

Here we see Peter's model. He applied a bit of arylic rust colours to the roof before applying some PanPastels. Most of the photos we both have seen view these cars as cleaner looking. Peters car is now added to his CP fleet.

A last look at my car which is currently in service this summer on the WRD.

Monster Modelworks - Closing June 17th 2018

 

After seven years, Monster Modelworks is closing / selling the business. 
The business is still very robust and will take serious offers from interested parties.

We started this business in 2011, during a recession.  I had just been let go from a corporate management position that I held for over 12 years, at that time no one was hiring.  Hence, Monster Modelworks was born. After seven years of creating hundreds of products, the process has taken it's toll creatively.  It's time for a life reboot and a change of direction.

Now that the economy is booming, the job market for my skill level is in high demand here in Colorado. I can't resist these opportunities.

We have been blessed with thousands of incredible customers over the years, something we will never forget. 

The website will be open for new orders until Sunday June 17th 2018.
All orders will be shipped following our current shipping policy posted during checkout. After June 17th, only items in stock will be available to order online. Everyone who orders will be guaranteed to receive their order.

We will not be taking any custom orders.
We will resend this message as a reminder on Wed June 13th 2018.

We deeply appreciate all of your support over the last seven years, it has been an incredible ride.

Regards,
Jimmy & Lisa Simmons