CV Boxcar

CV 4396 on May 28, 2015 Palmer, Ma.

One had a peek at this car on Wednesday. It is surprising to see an old wooden boxcar still being currently used. At Palmer, Ma. one can find a CV outside braced boxcar used as the NECR mechanical office. I had seen it many times but thought it might be best to take some photos of it while still around...George Dutka  

The sign notes NECR Mechanical Palmer on May 28, 2015. One can see the Progress Rail smaller sign.

 On Oct 14, 2017 the NECR logo is still there and the smaller Progress Rail sign.The nice looking Mechanical Palmer sign is gone.

Oct 14, 2017

GMD Recollections - Test Track for Two

Crew number one was putting SSW GP60 number 9662 through its paces on the GMD test track on September 30, 1989.

By Peter Mumby.

There were times when two crews were active on or near the test track simultaneously.  Such was definitely the case on September 30, 1989.  SSW GP60 9662 was occupying the test track when I arrived on the scene.  Shortly thereafter this unit transferred to the east leg of the wye for some static testing, making room for CN SD60F 5545 to pose for its portrait on the test track with the SSW locomotive in the background. 

Once the SSW unit had been maneuvered onto the east leg of the wye, crew number two brought CN SD60F out for a spin on the test track.

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 429

 

 

D&H Submerged Track Update - Lake George

Kip Grant pass along this additional information about the D&H marine track...George Dutka

"Ian Stronach (cc’d) called my attention to the blog photos of the Lake George Marine Track. The marine track was sought by boat owners and installed by the D&H in 1910.  When built, it was winter and the marine track was laid out on the ice.  As it melted, the track settled into the water on a bed that was previously installed.  Boats were delivered for various purposes, including regattas, boats for dealers, and of course, boats for vacationers who could afford such a luxury.

One end of the steel cable was attached to the pilot of the locomotive and the other end, the rail car’s coupler.  The cable went around a snubber post on shore, to create a straight pull with the rail car going into the lake.  This was necessary because the locomotive was on a curved part of the marine track and if there hadn’t been a post, the cable would have caused “string lining”.  The side and more commonly, end doors, were opened on land and the car lowered into the water.  When the water reached the desired depth the boat would be released from its cradle and floated out, started up and away they’d go.

There is some disagreement about how much of the more than 800 ft. long marine track remains.  Railroad documents say that in 1950 674.5 ft. was removed and 135.5 ft. abandoned in place under water.

Here’s part of a graphic I’ve used in some of my talks on the branch, showing long-gone railroad features at Lake George (except for the steamboat pier and depot which are still present).  I removed the callout for the Marine Track so that it shows better.  It’s sticking out into the lake at the bottom of the drawing.  I would simply advise your reader when visiting Lake George, to look for the historical marker along Beach Road, just a few hundred feet east of the steamboat company pier.  The marker is at the location where the marine track spur curved out toward the lake.

I was involved in a project to create about two dozen interpretive signs for the Warren County Bikeway, which in large part if the old Lake George Branch.  One of the signs (which includes the photo of the box car in the lake) is located across the road from the historical marker near Fort George Road"....Kip Grant

 

Valley Railroad - 2019

A nicely restored caboose at the Valley Railroad in Connecticut, June 1, 2019

A couple of views from a trip to New England back in 2019 with Don Janes. We met up with Ian Stornach for a side-trip during a RPM meet...George Dutka   

ITLA - Albany Manufacturing

A look at my workbench with the basic construction completed.

I was working on ITLA kit Albany Manufacturing last month and thought I would show you how it went together. I will do another post with how the colors are finished. I used all acrylic paints for the base coating...George Dutka 

The structure can be built as a flat also. This end piece is included for use as a side. It is not a true flat but one that would have some depth.

The walls went together easy and neatly.

The walls have concrete, brick, stone and blocks not to mention areas were the concrete has failed and the steel reinforcements can be seen. All the coloring is done using acrylic paints. The concrete is a mix of rain grey and white randomly mixed.

Woodsy Smoke and Rain Grey are mixed together for the stone and block base coat.

The brick has a base coating of rust red by Anitas.

I thought the way the pallets were cut made assembly easy.

Unloading Boats at Lake George

A boxcar is in the water, note the operator working the hand brake as the car rolls in to the proper depth. A boat is approaching that will enter the end doors or has been unloaded. If you look close you can see the cable that will pull the boxcar out of the water once work is completed.

There was an era when boats were loaded and stored in rail cars on Lake George. The NEB&W mentioned this operation on the D&H which I thought was neat since I was a boater...George Dutka     

Although the siding is gone the trackage underwater still remains to this day.

CV Athearn Geep - Update

Don Janes CV geep in action on his layout. Don Janes photo

In the current issue of the CVRHS Ambassador Don Janes describes how he changed a few items that makes the CV model look more like the prototype. Don had done a post a few months back which was the basis of the article, but his article expanded on this with some of the additional details he added following the original post. Here are a few additions that where added.

Don's model also graced the Ambassador's cover. It was hard to tell it was a model on the cover and not the prototype as mentioned by Don McQueen when he saw it. Great work Don...George Dutka

Don cut down the side of the fuel tank for his model. He thought the capacity was 1200 gal. According to Don McQueen who checked the CN equipment records indicated that the total fuel capacity for the CV geeps was 1080 Imperial gallons. Don Janes photo.

The smaller size fuel tank is added to the model. Note the fuel gauge is added to the engineman's side of the tank. This is a Details Associates part no. 3101. Don Janes photo.

Don Janes photo

Three manufacturers of rerailers. Don Janes photo.

Don Janes applied the rerailers on two of his geeps. Green on his freight engine and yellow on the passenger engine. He used the Rapido version on this enigne. They are held in place by adding a wire bracket. Don Janes photo

Rerailers are seen on both engines. Don Janes photo.

It appeared that on CV engines designated yellow and green depending on service for a period. Don Janes photo

 

GMD Recollections - Something Borrowed, Something Blue

EMD 117 was waiting at CN London East to be transferred to the GMD plant on March 11, 1994.

 

By Peter Mumby.

EMD 117, an SW1001 switcher, arrived in London early in 1994.  Initially it appeared as if its stay would be short in duration, since these two views at CN London East were taken merely 3 weeks apart.  However, the addition of some type of spark arrestor during this interval probably was a hint that a longer stay was in the offing.  Later in the year the unit had its number changed to GM 1,  and a maple leaf flag showed up on the black band at the bottom of the cab side.  Shortly thereafter, a full Diesel Division paint job was applied. 

Number 117 was back at London East again on April 04, 1994.  In the interim it has gained a spark arrestor, and has had at least one trip around the GMD wye.

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 428

 

 

The Spray Booth 1949

 

One last view of the assembly line in 1949. Back in that era not much protection was required to paint. I wonder what year masks where required.  

 

St Mary's Jct. Station

Last week I made a return visit to St. Mary's Jct. after hearing from my friend Andy that the brewery was now open in the station. The area around the station is cleaned up and the windows and doors refurbished or replaced. As the brewery is curb side pickup as we are still in lock-down I could not take a look inside...George Dutka 

Ex - CN station, built for the Grand Trunk Railway in 1858 at St. Marys Jct. is now a brewery. It had been sealed up and fenced off for decades. The Jct. is were the Forest sub and Thorndale Subs once met. Today only one line remains and is called the Guelph Sub. This station has a bit of a claim to fame as being a location that Thomas Edison worked as the night telegraph operator when he was 16 years old, 1863-64. Broken Rail Brewery opened in February 2021 after restoration work was completed to the stone structure.

 

One can purchase jugs of beer or tall cans as seen below.

Looking East at the Jct. station.

White River Jct Station - Model

My rendition of the WRJ station. Modeling the station in a 2' by 6' area requires resizing the plans.

I took a few photos to go along with an article I just completed for the next CVRHS Ambassador. It is regarding how I modeled my WRJ station. I won't get into details here as to what I did but here are a few photos that view the station...George Dutka 

The station was built in three parts. The center section is close to the prototype size. If more room becomes available I can build the other portions larger. Also the middle section can be reversed to view the B&M side without changing the freight doors on the larger portion of the platform.

The B&M side of White River Jct. station.

A view taken with my phone set on the layout the other day.

Snapshot - June 2021

CN 397 westbound from Toronto to Sarnia included military commemorative unit 3233 in the  three unit consist on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. CN 397 had just completed a re-crew at Watford West on the Strathroy Sub. A slow pull by at First School Road gave me an up close photo option.

On Memorial Day (last Monday) it was a ho-hum day trackside with nothing actually passing by me. It was more cloud than sun while hanging around the Komoka detector. VIA 72 did pass but no CP WB that morning. I heard dispatcher call CN 397 telling the crew they would be re-crewed at Watford West. The train appeared a few minutes later at a good speed. To my surprise the middle unit was a CN military tribute unit as seen in my photos. I decided to head to Watford West for a better shot and a good look as the train would stop and pull slowly at the crossing. On to the freeway 402 then back on Kerwood Rd. I could see it had not gone across the crossing here yet so a quick trip into Kerwood for a shot. The gates just started as I crossed the crossing. A couple of shots there and once the train cleared off to Watford West. I got my best look and views at Watford West as the train pulled slowly over the crossing. 

It was nice for my first encounter with a military tribute unit  to be on Memorial Day. CN 397 later in the day arrived in Pt. Huron Michigan for a run west on the GT...George Dutka

CN 397 at the Komoka hot box detector just west of London on May 31 2021.

At the Komoka hot box detector.

A crew change took place at Watford West with a puller crew arriving from Sarnia.

 

White River Junction - Coal Tower Scene

A pair of Geep's are ready to roll. The GT unit is a blue box Athearn dummy that has a good amount of details added back in the 1980's or early 1990's. The CV engine is a detailed Front Range model. Note the string of CNR 40' boxcars that will be lifted shortly. The coal tower remains but unused.

It is well beyond the steam era in this view on the WRD. A pair of geep's are ready to go on another run over the layout. This is from a group of photos that were staged for a MR article sent in 3 years ago. This view was not included with the article...waiting patiently for what becomes of the feature...George Dutka   

GMD Recollections - Switching at the North Side.

 

CP SD40-2F number 9015 is being shoved back through the main gates to the GMD plant on February 19, 1989.  This rear view makes it quite apparent how the "red barn" nickname came to be applied to these units.

By Peter Mumby.

Oxford Street East runs along the north side of the GMD plant.  Both of today's photos were taken looking north across the street.  The main gate to the plant is behind the camera.  If a locomotive was to be switched from one erecting bay to another, it had to be pulled out to the street before being shoved back into the building.  The track nearest to the camera continues across the road towards a connection with the CN (later, GEXR) Guelph Subdivision.  If you look carefully, you can see that the track the switcher is occupying features multiple gauges, allowing for the testing of the many narrow gauge export locomotives produced at the plant.

After the 9015 has been relocated, we get a chance to inspect the plant switcher in its Diesel Division paint scheme. 

Wordless Wednesday No. 427