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.   

General Store

I have been looking for inspiration to build a general store for a friend. I have  yet to come up with the final design. This one seems to be something one might build...George Dutka  

North Dorset, Vt.

The tiny station on the Rutland Ry. at North Dorset was offered as a model by Rutland Car Shops a few decades ago. Don and I both have built this model. Here is my view and the prototype...George Dutka  

May 1, 1988 moved a short distance to Hwy 7 and used as a fuel station. George Dutka photo.

North Dorset 1947, Bob's Photos

In use on the White River Division. 

February - This and That

A good look at the WRJ coal tower still standing in the mid 1960's but not in use anymore.

Some photos and news from around my area and as always I do have to add a New England shot. I am away this weekend so no posts till Monday...George Dutka  

Not sure if you are in this area but might be something interesting to check out.

July 9, 2023 I stopped by Brockville, Ont. on my way to New England. I caught an EB VIA which would head off towards Ottawa following a station stop. The train pulled way down past the station for it's platform stop.

Back when the station was still standing and one could get there without issues to take photos. This is Dundas, Ontario half way up the Niagara escarpment on the Dundas Sub. 1978. Bill Carr photo R. Sanduski collection on Facebook. There are some nice scenic trails from here that would be busy on a weekend.

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I took this photo of 4141 a GP-9 series engine which was once 4241 on Feb 21, 2026 in London, Ont. Note the graffiti on the side of the engine which has worn off along with other paint. Kind of a neat version of this engine to model.

Derailment in Pt. Hope Ontario. No date or information. But one can see a good mess to clean up.

CV402626 is seen at Essex Jct. Vermont January 1992. Alan Irwin photo from Keith MacCauley collection.  At one time Keith and Alan used to swap slides. Note the roof is very clean looking on this car. The end of the other CV car shows some rust on the ribs.

Throw Back Thursday – SW1200RS CN 1265

by Keith MacCauley 

GMD’s diminutive SW1200RS end cab road unit has long been my favourite locomotive. Growing up in Hannon (a suburb of Hamilton above the escarpment) along the former Hamilton and North Western right of way, they were a frequent sighting during the lengthy period of daily service along the line. Seemingly, CN checked all the boxes on the specification accessories list; Flexicoil trucks, front number boards, rear number boards and larger fuel tanks. Not entirely satisfied, additional after market parts were added; full length handrails, winterization hatches, and gnarly looking spark arresters. CN’s SW1200RS’s proved to be incredibly long living; of the one hundred and ninety-two built for the railway at least one is still on the roster; CN 7304, built 8/1960 as CN 1390, still serves the Parkdale steel transfer facility in Hamilton. In addition, numerous retired/sold off sisters continue to toil away for subsequent owners.

SW1200RS CN 1265 was delivered to Canadian National from GMD London in 1957 and serve her master for some thirty-four years, being retired in 1991.

Wordless Wednesday No. 665

 

April 13, 2025  

Dec 20, 2025

CP GP20C-ECO

March 21, 2018

Railfan magazine had a nice article in their June 2023 issue by Marcus W. Stevens on the GP20C-ECO units one sees around South Western Ontario. In 2023 these engines marked a decade since the first was entered into service. The article notes that 25 of these engines are assigned to the Toronto area with a few seen here in London, Ontario.  

Engines assigned to this area are 2250-2257, 2259-2267, 2269, 2279-2282, 2288, 2292, 2307. Since that time other numbers have been seen in London.

The article is interesting and worth a read. Here are a few of the views of these engines that I took...George Dutka    

All views are in London, Ont. Feb 12, 2023

March 21, 2018

March 27, 2019

March 27, 2019

March 27, 2019

 

B&M Yard Office - WRJ

I was recently asked if I had dimensions for the WRJ yard office in the B&M yard. I had measured this structure decades ago and built a model of it for my layout. Here is scanned but maybe reduced a bit copy. The basic overall dimensions are 32' by 17', wall height is 18' in the corners with a peak height of 24'...George Dutka 

No Data

May 15, 1996 G. Dutka

Sept 27, 1992. G. Dutka