This and That - September 2026

An old gas station that might be something to model. I like the sign...could be an abandoned location.

Just a bit of extra's for you to look at...enjoy...George Dutka  

When I was posting about ghost sign's Kevin Smith sent me these to views of Wards Bakery in WRJ. I had forgotten about that location. Not sure if the signs remain. Will have to check the next time there.

The original photo has been on the blog  before but this is an evening view of the photo with smoke and backdrop added via AI. It does add a bit to the view. It took me three tries to get the smoke out of at least near the stack.

A weather beaten CN engine in London yard, Sept 9, 2026.

I asked AI to make a black ink drawing of photo from my layout. I think it did a good job with this one on the first try.

A True Line Trains boxcar I added air hoses, and uncoupling levers to. This side is more heavy weathered than the other side.

An old postcard of the CN Brantford, Ontario station.

This is a different look at the CN Paris, Ontario bridge from below. I have been very close to the bridge but never underneath. Facebook find.

Kip Grant in RMC

Our friend Kip Grant has this great article "Why not a Passenger Train" in the "current" September 2026 RMC...check it out...George Dutka

Throw Back Thursday – CN C-630M (1)

 

by Keith MacCauley

Some views of Canadian National’s burly Montreal Locomotive Works built C-630M’s from Peter Mumby and myself. Constructed in parallel with ongoing Alco production out of Schenectady in 1968, the ‘M’ suffix denoted their Canadian origin and application of a Canadian design truck. Seemingly a railfan favourite, given their checkered reliability, probably not an operating crew favourite.

Wordless Wednesday No. 691

 

Rutland Ry Caboose Views

Just a couple of shots in Bellows Falls of my new addition to the fleet. Still thinking of repaint the caboose...George Dutka   

New Haven Boxcar

NH 32764 a 40' boxcar is seen in Toronto, Ontario in 1956.

This photo came across my screen which is a Jim Parker photo. A nice overhead view when the car was pretty new...George Dutka  

Don Janes New Layout

This is a view from a month or so ago of what Don has done on his feed mill peninsula. All CP power here today. Don Janes photo.

Another view of the new module Don has built in his workshop. This area is almost complete as a peninsula which attaches to a shelf around the room layout. Tracks are beginning to be laid down along one wall...George Dutka

AI Photo Options

This is the photo that AI generated when I asked to change the background to Vermont scene, light the headlight, add smoke and an engineman. For some reason it liked the idea of two headlights so there is one up top also instead of the bell.

I spent a bit of time last Friday playing around with AI. It showed up as a link when I was saving a photo so I thought I would see what it was about. It probably was there for awhile, but I had not noticed it. An interesting option. I did make a couple of photos look different using it but then it stopped working unless I paid a monthly fee. Always a catch to things today. So here is what I got for free...George Dutka

The original photo I took. Quite the change for sure using AI.

Snapshot - September 2026

May 3, 2026 ex-B&M station.

You may have noted Putney was this weeks Wordless Wednesday. This months snapshot are a few views of the Putney, Vermont station as it looked this spring. It is in very good shape and I am not sure if now, but it was an Airbnb, a short term rental not that long ago...George Dutka

Train order signal still there.

There is a flanger in the backyard of the station. I had not noticed this before although it has been a long time between visits.

Looking south.

An old view from B&M days.

Throwback Thursday – Rymal 1 (Canadian National GMD SW1200RS)

by Keith MacCauley

Growing up near the former Hamilton and Northwestern Railway right of way (linking Hamilton with the Lake Erie community of Port Dover) no doubt inspired my early model railway interest. With daily service, knowing the timing of the way freight was easy to sort out. Even better, being within earshot, when the wind was in the right direction, the train would announce itself at the Highway 53 crossing. More than one whistle sequence would indicate some switching activity taking place within the local industry and off I would go. When I first began to venture over (in my teens), motive power was very consistent; CN’s burly appearing SW1200RS’s. The consist would usually be a pair, back to back. On occasion, due to tonnage, a third unit would be added. I only wish I had trundled over more often with my camera.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 690

 

 

Union Station - London Pt. Stanley Ry.

I did finish this small flag stop early in the summer but have just put it together as a post. The model is a simple kit to build from Sylvan Models...George Dutka

June 10 2025 prototype photo.

The roof did not have a good fit at the seam so I added some styrene to fix it and some filler.

Tarpaper roofing is construction paper that has some dark rust Bragdon powder applied.

Some PanPastel Raw Umber shade is used to tone down the spray can grey applied earlier.

Back wall finished model.

 

WRD - Diamond

Part of the trackage is roughly laid in place. I need to hook up the back spur then work on cutting some roadbed from plywood to fit the areas.

Have not done much with the diamond location lately. Weather is too nice for me to be in the basement...George Dutka

The back switch to the spur is set into place, Once the flex track is cut to fit into the scene I will be working on tearing out the scenery and installing some plywood roadbed.

Another angle at were things stand at the moment.

September 2026 - Update

Some of the guys clowning around at the tail end of the PSTR excursion train. Sept 2 2026.

Not much modeling happening but have been out to the lake this week for our local club meeting being held in Port Stanley. We visited Robert's O scale English themed layout after lunch and beer at the legion. We stopped by the Port Stanley Terminal Railroad which was not running. We checked out the equipment...George Dutka  

A BBQ joint in Nebraska that has some interesting lines from add-ons and colors that might inspire you to build something similar.

I have these in my NEB&W collection from years past.

The Peter Mumby photo book is about done. I have a sample proof copy to edit. You can see the proof band around the middle of the book. It needs some work, mainly with the layout. It appears when I upload my work it changes it around mainly with the look of the pages. Even the cover is changed a bit. On another note Broughdale Hobbies here in London has a number of copies of my New England Modeling book for sale at a slightly discounted price then Amazon if you are looking for a copy.

This is a neat view of a milk platform which has a ramp to the creamery in the distance. There is a small railcar that is run on the ramp. The photo is from Facebook the milk train journal. It was explained that a flood plains is between the tracks and creamery causing this sort of operation. Something different to model.

Earlier this summer I was working on the Sylvan Union station. These are some of the paints I used on the model. Lots of hand painting of windows, frames and doors.

Before and After - Brookside

Wish I could find a color photo of the trucks.

I stopped by the site of the old Brookside plant in Bellows Falls while at the RRHS convention. The building from the road looks much like it did in the 40's and 50's...George Dutka  

May 3, 2026 Stacks missing now.