RPM Show Purchases

I have built the Rockingham Jct. freight house in the past and thought I would like to try the station. It might all go onto a small diorama. Thought I would try their ball signal kit. I also stocked up on a few details.  

I did not purchase a lot at the Springfield RPM last month. I had an order to pick up from BEST and that was really all I got. On the way home Don and I stopped in Niagara Falls at Tiny Railroads which has a lot of new and more so used stuff. I picked up some Hunterline stain that I feel one will not find going forward after Ricks passing. I also picked up some AK asphalt and concrete to try out. Never used the stuff so interested to see what it is like...George Dutka

Have not tried these AK products before so will see if I like them.

This and That - July 2025

 

I thought this was an interesting view taken by the Moosehead Webcam of the CP in Maine.

I mix of information and modeling from the past month...enjoy...George Dutka 

Gary Pembelton passed along this clip about a new railway painting on a local building next to the tracks in Ingersoll.

A bit of history about PB's fry truck in Ingersoll that I posted about a week or so ago.

Mr. Jetty was the name of the man who started the chip wagon way back when. It was originally called Jetty's chip wagon. Learned from his son that on his first day he only sold one ten cent cone of chips.

His truck was a staple at the fastball games at the Princess Elizabeth school during ball season.

PB Kobus took over the chip wagon when Mr. Jetty retired and it has been PB's ever since through various owners. PB was a great cook and his fries were the best. It seemed that there was always a line up at his truck. For quite a few years it was parked in front of the Presbyterian church beside the CPR tracks on Thames Street.

GO is running Toronto to Stratford 7 days a week now. Early morning from Stratford through the week and mid day on weekends.

I heard that Mass Central might be sold...and bluebird units may become something from the past...hope not. Always fun to see.

Another view of a new Rutland Ry. boxcar. May 12, 1956 D R McCullock another view from the David Hutchinson collection.

I was doing a bit of digging into my Rutland Ry. notes and articles...my associate editor Dick Dermody when I was in charge of the CVRHS Ambassador wrote in his research that the boxcars had yellow roofs. It looks like from photos the higher number series are yellow but from photos of the 200's they might appear to be silver. Unfortunately Dick passed a number of years ago so I can't ask him. Keith McCauley also thinks they were painted judging from past practices. 

It was reported the new station in Brattleboro became operational last week. When I stopped by the Brattleboro station on May 3, 2026 it was nearing completion as seen here.

At the London Station.

I saw this photo the other day of Norm Nicholls last run prior to retirement. In the background is my father-in-law Jake Millette who was the master mechanic back then in charge of engineman. Jake was at all the retirement last runs and had the banners made up for the engines.

My newest caboose I photographed on the layout in Bellows Falls. As with many of my brass cabooses the trucks suck for operations and will be changed out. I am thinking it may get repainted in the bright red tone shortly too.

Our local model railroad club and a few old time friends from the CN gathered this past Wednesday in Springbank park for a BBQ I host annually. We have it in sight of the train that carries youngsters around the park. Larry Broadbent photo.

I recently acquired another NJ covered hopper. This one is from Chris Wright who had added some data decals to the sides. Will see how the weathering goes. It currently has got as far as new air hoses, lift bars and flat finish.

Bill Schneider - NYO&W

The NYO&W and D&H interchange location.  

On the Sunday of the Springfield RPM meet Don and I visited two of the layouts. The second was Bill Schneider New York, Ontario and Western in HO scale. Bill models between Walton and Sidney NY circa 1947 in a 16' by 30' basement room which is a newer addition to the home. I feel it did not take Bill long to get this one completed although everything had to be scratch-built and it is double decked.

Don and I sat in on Bill's clinic called "the old woman in the new basement" which was very informative regarding the NYO&W and how to model it...George Dutka

The layout is double decked and to me looked complete.

Milk traffic was a big thing on the NYO&W and there is a lot on the layout.

A very realistic view looking down a main street.

A creamery as one enters the layout room. All the structures had to be scratch-built as no kits are available if one wants to keep things accurate.

Don Janes checks things out at the entrance to the layout. I believe it is point to point. This layout is under a new addition to the house.

Throwback Thursday - Peter Mumby - GMDD London Part 1

by Keith MacCauley 

The story of the Canadian Division of EMD is fairly well known. Opened in 1949, the first locomotive delivered was T, H &B GP7 No. 71. A name change to General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) took place in 1969. In 1989, following the implementation of Free Trade, all EMD locomotive assembly took place in southwestern Ontario. Truly a magical time. Sadly, following acquisition by Caterpillar, the London facility was later shuttered in 2012. Fortunately, London was also home to a number of talented railfans, including Peter. Some of his new EMD locomotive material as follows.

Wordless Wednesday No. 682

 

 

Bill Badger's Caboose

The following is my correspondence with Bill Badger about his CV caboose...George Dutka

I am reading your article on modeling CV cabooses. I am doing that in 1:1. Around 1977 I bought VTR #6 (CV4008) to convert into a mini house. Not long after I met my wife who had a slightly bigger house with running water, septic and electricity. I moved in with her and the caboose slowly deteriorated in the woods. Now, however, I am in the process of getting it moved down to behind our house to be my semi-retirement office. 

At the moment it is not in great shape, sadly the roof went and one side has given way. I have a guy lined up to repair it when it gets moved. I haven't decided how to paint it up but probably old CV not the orange scheme...Bill Badger

Snapshot - July 2026

The train was just about to depart but it gave me time to include Don in one of my photos. May 29, 2026.

This months snapshot is of Don's and I visiting the Springfield, Ma. station during the RPM in town. We walked over in maybe 10 minutes. Although there was not much to see other than one train departing as we arrived we waited for a bit. It appears that day a fire broke out in the station in NYC which delayed trains...George Dutka

I'm not sure if the platform is coming down or being rebuilt. But all there is at the moment is the frame.

On our walk to and from the station in Springfield we saw something of interest. Tucked into the base of the railroad bridge is a small tavern. Kind of a neat thing to model. 

A closer up view of the tavern tucked in next to the bridge. May 29, 2026.

We took a different route back to the hotel and passed this wall of painted photo related logo's. It appears that the building was once a photo shop. Hard to believe they needed 5 floors to keep supplies that today Staples keeps on one shelf.

Before and After

The before of the bus station.

I got a bunch of sorry looking structures from my friend Gary that he was not going to be able to sell from an estate he acquired. Some might work out while others will be in the trash. The bus station might have been the easiest to do   

Another before view.

The sign got dollar store black applied with the white being touched up with PanPastel white. The roof is a mix of black and gray. The walls are Anita's grey.

A gas meter and sign is applied to the side along with PanPastel raw umber shade and grey's weathering.

A sign is also added to this side with weathering streaks.

The roof got some small stacks and roof hatch along with some scraps leftover from a crew repairing the flat roof. The chimney was with the kit originally. I just repainted brick red. with black soot Bragdon powders.

CP by the Mill

A CP local heads past the grain elevators on his new contemporary module. Note the 3-D printed details in the foreground. Don has invested heavy in these. Don Janes photo.

Don Janes photographed his module with some interesting details in the foreground. He has purchased heavy from Mini Prints lately. They have some really neat stuff. I have to put in an order too soon. Oh and his models are really nicely weathered which really adds to the scene...George Dutka  

July 2026 - Update

This is an O scale structure I finished back in early spring that I picked up at a show a number of years ago for 2 bucks. It is scratch-built but without roof, paint and any details. More on it on my narrow gauge blog shortly. It is going on my new On30" shelf layout.

Well summer is here and it is sizzling here in Southwestern Ontario. I have a lot on my plate at the moment with family commitments so posts will be hit and miss some weeks. I usually get a bit of modeling done when home and the days it is really hot...so will see. 

On another note it appears the Woodstock train show will happen this fall as a flyer from Collectors Shows came out and they are also venturing into Hamilton for a fall show...George Dutka

At the Ancaster train show there was these two CN speed signs for sale...one for 20$ which I really thought I would buy till the reality set in. I have no wall space left to hang them. A number of years ago I got rid of a bunch of CN station signs and cross bucks to the Komoka Railway Museum for the same reason. I had picked them all up at work with no idea where they would work on the walls of a New England themed layout.

I picked up this Rutland Ry. brass caboose at the Ancaster train show. It is in the old mineral brown scheme. I think I might repaint it red as in the 1950's. I do have decals for the project. Not sure yet will put it on the layout for a bit first.

A view from last weekend in London of CPKC on Saturday June 27, 2026.

Zebra strips still in use at CN London East back way lead Saturday June 27, 2026

CPKC Quebec Street lead viewed by the yard office London, Ont. Sunday June 28, 2026.

ThrowBack Thursday – CN 4016/9316

 by Keith MacCauley  

Canadian National GP40’s have long been my favourite locomotive. Delivered from London in two groups (4002 – 4011 in May/June 1966 followed by 4012 – 4017 in October 1967), the 3,000 HP units were CN’s second foray into so called ‘Second Generation’ motive power following a GP35 twosome (4000/4001 delivered 8/1964). The only GMD/Canadian built GP40’s, the units were distinctive due to their below walkway split air tanks. Of note, two class members (4006 & 4013) would serve as test beds in the creation of Positive Traction Control (PTC). Following preliminary development work in the mid 1960’s, in 1971 the GP40 Guinea Pigs were rewired for over the road testing. Successful, the duo paved the way for some two hundred and seventy-eight follow up ‘Comfort Cab’ GP40-2’s. Aside from No. 4011, retired due to a wreck while on a lease to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1978, the balance of the GP40 fleet would serve CN for more than three decades in a variety of roles, including passenger service. The last two delivered (4016/4017) were re-geared to 89 MPH operation in 1972 and would pinch hit on occasion in both commuter service while on lease to GO Transit as well as inter-city service for CN; subsequently VIA, following its formation. Towards the end of their CN tenure, a handful were assigned to Sarnia tunnel service, resulting in a very soiled/grimy appearance. The fifteen GP40’s would be renumbered into the 9300 series in 1981 and several would find new homes with new owners following retirement.

(Information source: Canadian National Railways Diesel Locomotives Volume Two)

CN 9316 was constructed by GMD London as CN 4016 in October of 1967. Retired in November of 1996, the unit would be rebuilt into a GP38-2 equivalent and acquired by the Roberval and Saguenay Railway as RS 65. Note the original horns location and lack of dynamic brake fan in the later photos. Note also the lower height center radiator fan.