Throw Back Thursday – PROX 41220

by Keith MacCauley  

In 1957, Procor commenced the manufacture of tank cars at their newly constructed facility in Oakville Ontario under the name ‘Products Tank Line’. So eager to start fabrication, the first tank cars were in process before some of the buildings were completely closed in. Further to the name change to ‘PROCOR’ in 1962, tank car construction would continue for some four decades, into the early 2000’s. PROX 41220, a non-pressure, nominal 30,000 usg, so called General Purpose (GP) tank car would be the last built. Somewhat fitting, as GP30’s had long been the bread and butter of the accomplished facility. Not viable to be upgraded to DOT 117R status, the gasoline/diesel hauler would be removed from service and dismantled in 2023.

Wordless Wednesday No. 668

 

1965 

Boxcar - Collection Scans

 

Milwaukee reefer 79034 7-18-71 Houser photo Bob Bowes collection, Peter Mumby collection.

A group of scanned slides from the Peter Mumby Collection...enjoy...George Dutka 

NYSW 502 Little Ferry, NJ 4-70 Houser photo, Bob Bowes collection, Peter Mumby collection.

REA cars Boston, Ma. 1-69 Peter Mumby collection.

C&I 1999 Allentown Pa. 12-7-75 Houser photo, Bob Bowes collection, Peter Mumby collection.

C&S 99347 July 27 1987. John Benson photo, Bob Bowes Collection, Peter Mumby collection.

Rolling Stock - Scanned Views

NSRC 468 a PS-1 is in Windsor, Ont. June 10, 1980. Ken Annett photo, Peter Mumby collection.

Just a number of views from the Peter Mumby collection that I scanned last year. Most of these are now part of Keith MacCauley's collection...George Dutka

C&O 53305 St. Thomas 1993 Bob Bowes collection, Peter Mumby copy. 

C&O 913406 11-3-84 Don McQueen photo Peter Mumby collection.

Lincoln NH Sunday May 20 1979. Peter Mumby collection.

ASAB 7292 May 27 1990 London, Ontario, George Dutka photo, Peter Mumby collection. I at times took slides that I thought Peter would like as traders. This is one of them.

ART 27236 2-48 Don McQueen copy Peter Mumby collection.

March 2026 - Update

 

I picked this book up while at Great Lakes Hobbies and Trains. I had not seen it before although it was released back in 2022.

I have been doing some visiting and traveling the past week. I stopped in at Great Lakes Hobbies and Trains near Warren, Michigan. It has a lot of general hobby supplies but a pretty good train section. It also has a nice selection of paints and used train model kits.

Royal Oak Michigan was one of my stops (I always go to Trader Joe's on Woodward Ave. when I have time). Years ago CN London, Ontario train crews operated over this subdivision to Flint, Michigan. I worked this train a number of times as a brakeman. Royal Oak along with many other communities are along the line we ran which has some very nice homes. I thought I would stop by the old station location which now is a Amtrak shelter since I was close by. 

Also if you follow Marty McGuirk's blog he has a book coming out on autumn scenery that I think will be a nice addition to ones collection especially if you model New England.

On my way home from Michigan I stopped by to visit Jim Sloan. It has been awhile since I last seen his layout and his nicely weathered equipment. Much of what he has running on the layout is new since my last visit.

On Tuesday I visited St. Thomas  to see the proposal they displayed in the old CASO station. I feel it is more of a pipe dream. I asked the price tag for the three phase reconstruction. The total amount floating around at the presentation was 50 million. I don't see that kind of money being available in these times from local and federal governments. Reality might be finding funds for a quick fix to the structure so it can still be used. After a recent inspection it was found to be not safe to enter. There is some very nice pieces of equipment in the Museum.

Next week I will spend some of the week showcasing some of the slide scans I have made of rolling stock. Many of the slides are by Peter Mumby or from his collection...George Dutka

I was staying in Warren Michigan and stopped by Great Lakes Hobbies and Trains. As you can see a large size store.

Marty's new book.

Jim Sloan did a wonderful job weathering this Rapido model. The roof was totally rusted which looks great.

This is the other side of the same car.

Jim Sloan posed for a photo with his layout. We talked about paint by numbers which he is very good at (he has a Beatles view which looks like a photo that he has done) and suggested trying a custom site that one sends in a photo and they make a water coloring for you to work on. I am thinking maybe I might try a view of my layout in watercolors. Jim is working on a summer view of his garden at the moment.

I thought this view of Jim's Athearn auto boxcar looked great. He had done some very nice fading using a wash overspray of an acrylic gray-tan tone. This is airbrushed on.

On the way to the station platform.

Amtrak Royal Oak on the GTW.

March 12, 2026

Elgin County Railway Museum proposals

Three phase restoration planning. They are looking at maybe rental spaces to micro brewery, restaurant and farmers market maybe to help maintain yearly costs. An event area is also maybe included for weddings and so on.

WRD - Milk Train

February 2026 view.

I took this view back in February after our club "the Railroaders" visit to my layout. I had parked the milk train on the White River trestle. I realized how many milk cars I actually have on the layout. Between the cars at the Bellows Falls Creamery, a storage track in BF and this train I have way more than I need. But nice to have...enjoy the view...George Dutka  

Green Mountain Division

Another view Don Janes posted on Facebook that I thought you would enjoy...George Dutka      

Throwback Thursday - GP38 CSXT 2116

by Keith MacCauley  

GP38 CSXT 2116 was delivered from EMD to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in December of 1970 as B&O 4816. Post Chessie duties, the venerable unit would be acquired by Helm Financial and renumbered HLCX 3700. Later on the unit would belong to Savage Corporation, remarked SVGX 8620 and appears to still be active. Note the crew man climbing on; no eye protection or high vis safety vest. Presumably, no hearing protection. Nevertheless, he’s sporting a nice looking pair of heavy duty gloves and safety boots along with a brick like (no doubt heavy) radio on his hip.

Check out the Dodge Aries K car duo on the left; early (1981 – 1984) black with horizontal grill, late (1985 – 1989) blue with crosshair grille. Long credited with saving Chrysler Corporation from extinction, some two million K cars would be produced throughout the 1980’s. Does the Chatham station building still exist? Is the line still in use?

Wordless Wednesday No. 667

 

     

Snapshot - March 2026

A view of the Brattleboro, Vt. engine house as it appeared in 1951. Dwight Smith Photos.

This month's Snapshot is two views I have on file taken by the late Dwight Smith of two engine houses. Dwight was very helpful when I was the editor of the CVRHS Ambassador over 25 years ago, submitting many photos and at times articles...George Dutka  

Proctor, Vermont engine house. 

Soo Line Bulkhead

Overcast Saturday at the CP yard in London, Ont. 

I was by the CP yard on March 7, 2026 and came across this Soo bulkhead flat. White is not a great color for rolling stock other than for us wanting to weather up a model. On the inside wall of the bulkhead loaded with sheets of steel one can see that one end has most of its paint on while the other side has no paint, but lots of rust and graffiti. If you look closely you will note there has been an extra bulk head added in front of the cars end. Something neat to consider when detailing and weathering your models...George Dutka  

Note the rust on this end, but when you look close there is an extra bulkhead added.

NEB&W Locomotive!

Kevin Smith photo

by Kevin Smith 

Photo taken on my layout when I lived in Arizona, early 2000s. 

BM 201 was painted & decaled by friend Dave Barlow of Perkins Road Depot.

(I later added detail parts & weathering).

Backdrop photo from a Vermont Rte. 9 overlook.

Back in the late 80s, while living in Vermont, myself & several employees of the Green Mountain RR were invited to operate on the NEB&W layout.

My Brother in Law, a former GMRC Conductor, had enrolled at RPI & joined the RR club, so we "had an in."

After several subsequent Op Sessions, the club indicated they wanted to sell off their "modern Equipment" to focus on an earlier time frame.

I was lucky enough to purchase loco 602 along with a few freight cars, & still have the original receipt.

Further fortune allowed me to scratchbuild the Garnet Sheds for North Creek.

Great memories...

North Dorset, Vt. - Again!

The North Dorset station that Don Janes built from a Rutland Car Shops kit on his Green Mountain Division layout. Don Janes photo.

Don sent me this photo he took of his model and scene for his North Dorset station. I went back through views I took of his model in my cell phone and came across the view below. It was 2019, and we must have taken the photos the same day as the power is in the same spot. Don also scratch built his version of the motor car house using measurements from my model that is a Rutland Car Shops kit...George Dutka 

My cell phone view of the North Dorset scene. This smaller size station is a great kit that was once offered. It could also be used as a gas station on a layout of later years just like the prototype.

Sylvan Scale Models turns 34!

Inside Sylvans shop.

On Wednesday our WOD/NMRA and my local model railroad group the Railroaders visited Sylvan after a lunch meeting and model display mini clinic in Parkhill, Ont. It was a nice day and a great visit for a group of over 20...George Dutka

As of this week Sylvan Scale Models has been in business for 34 years. We officially started the first week of March 1992 and are still going. Thanks to all our customers many of whom have become friends over the years...Clare Gilbert, Facebook post.

Some of the models on display in the station.

Part of the group remaining are included with the replica station which is Clare's shop.

Clare's workbench in his home.

A boat project in the works.

Throwback Thursday - PROX 73800

by Keith MacCauley

PROX 73800 was built by Procor Oakville in late 1974. To facilitate the transport of commodities such asphalt and heavy fuels, the 23,370 gallon (US), nominal 100-ton capacity tank car was equipped with insulation and heater coils. Originally constructed with UTLX reporting marks, the ‘PROX 73800’ stencil below the ‘PROCOR’ moniker was applied in April of 1984. Further to a federally mandated service rule change, PROX 73800 would be the first Procor Fleet tank car to be ‘Qualified’. Note the so called ‘spreadsheet’ decal on the repainted tank car. Prior to the rule change, fitness for service was confirmed via a hydrostatic tank test. Following some forty-one years of faithful service PROX 73800 would be removed from service and dismantled in early 2016. 

Wordless Wednesday No. 666

 

Don Janes photo and layout.