Prototype Corner - Washout!

This washout was photographed by John Blakely on July 26, 2021 at mile 13.8 of Canadian Pacific's Nephton Subdivision.

By Peter Mumby

Photos by John Blakely.

Do you have an unused or abandoned piece of trackage on your layout?  Would you like to consider an easy modelling project that would immediately inform observers as to the cause of this abandonment?  Perhaps a small washout would do the trick!  Disrupt the roadbed as illustrated, model some pooled water on either side of the embankment, and you are almost there.  The reason for said pooling is likely a beaver dam, so a judiciously applied pile of sticks could represent this feature.  The ultimate detail, however, would be a model of the dam's resident.  Check out Bernard Helen's selection of 3D-printed animals in the "Miniprints" line and you will see that he offers beavers (unpainted) in HO, S, and O scales.  You would probably be the first kid on your block to have one of those!  Oh, and now you probably understand why the Algoma Central Railway used to have a gentleman on the payroll who's sole job was to dynamite beaver dams.  Maybe you could model this person too! 

The vigilant crew of the day's northbound train were able to spot this washout in advance and avoid disaster.

The pooled water on either side of the embankment is readily apparent in this photo.

 

ITLA Structure Finished

A few views of my finished Albany Manufacturing Co., a ITLA kit. This is a really nice kit that has a lot of extra details to add. I will be using it on my second back alley scene...George Dutka

Throwback Thursday - SD75I

The conductor is returning to the head end of his train after making a lift at London yard on June 20, 2004.  ONR 2102 is adding a little colour to today's motive power consist.

By Peter Mumby.

The SD75I was a mid-1990s product of GMD/EMD.  Only three railways bought the model.  CN acquired the lion's share with 175 examples, while BNSF rostered 26, followed by Ontario Northland with 6 units.  Today's photo features locomotives from two of these three groups.  CN GF-643c number 5768 was constructed in 1998, while ONR 2102 left the plant in 1999.  The two units are leading a Toronto-bound train out of the London yard on June 20, 2004.

Wordless Wednesday No. 442

 

 

Hindsight 20/20 next month

 

Looks like a good one!

 

N scale Motor Car Shed

I forgot to include this view of my N scale version of the Creative Laser Design shed. Enjoy...George Dutka 

NEB&W

I saw this photo on RMC's Facebook page this week which answers some questions I had about what is happening with the NEB&W.

Some time ago I viewed the photo below of the NEB&W coming down a few years back. I have not heard anything after that other than they have a building to construct the layout. I was about ready to go with this post when I saw RMC post on Facebook about what was up with the group. It appears they have a puzzle to assemble. I don't think it can go together as it once was but who knows, a better concept might transpire...George Dutka 

I was sad to view this shot of the NEB&W coming down on their Facebook page. What will the future bring.

These three views are from my last visit to the NEB&W on Nov. 4, 2018 during the Albany Expo. I believe the layout came down early the following year.

Snapshot - September 2021

The CSX is lined out and a white MEC is added to the left of the cab numbering. Unless you get close up you don't even notice the MEC. Rotterdam Jct. May 30 2019.

Guessing the CSXT might be getting these two back shortly if the sale of PanAm goes through. I came across this power at Rotterdam Jct. back in May 2019. Not my favorite looks for a MEC engine...George Dutka 

On this unit one has to really look to find the black MEC below the numbering. It is so small.

Overall view of the ex-CSX power. Note the first unit is lined out in gray and the trailing unit in black.

A look at the Creative Laser Design shed

A group photo of my two motor car shed. A 1950's and 1970's versions that work well on the WRD.

A couple photos of my two Creative Laser Design motor car sheds. I feel this is a great little laser cut kit that can fit almost anywhere on a layout. It also comes in N and O scale...George Dutka

In disrepair this motor car shed is for my 1970's and 1980's era.

Throwback Thursday - Those Colourful Trains of NS

BNSF 4061 North was operating as NS 328 at mile post 1 of the CN Talbot Subdivision on May 19, 2004.  The trailing unit that day was PRR 3385.

Peter Mumby.

The Norfolk Southern trains I used to observe in the London area were numbers 327 and 328, which operated over CN rails between Buffalo and the St Thomas Ford plant.  Trains consisted largely of auto parts box cars, with a few frame flats and covered hoppers thrown in for good measure.  Default power was a pair of black six axle GE units, but these trains often featured locomotives of the "anything goes" variety.  Featuring a mixture of NS, lease, and run-through power, 327 and 328 were always worth checking out.

Wordless Wednesday No. 441

 

 

CV at Springfield, Ma. - 1930

CV 232 at Springfield, Ma. on Sept. 3, 1930.

A couple of views of CV power at Springfield, Ma. during 1930 from my collection...George Dutka 

Sept. 3, 1930

Newest FOS Build

A quick look at my recently finished FOS kit-of-the-month model. This model was colored using mostly MIG Ammo military products...George Dutka

GMD Recollections - Teething Pains

CP 9017 is last in line at Quebec St yard in London, Ontario on December 06, 1988 as it waits for its chance to revisit the GMD plant.

By Peter Mumby.

GMD assembled 25 SD40-2F units for CP during 1988.  Problems developed very quickly with these new locomotives.  The SDs were returned to GMD once or twice in late 1988/early 1989 until recurring engine problems were properly identified and repaired.  This meant that long lines of the 9000s were often parked in Quebec St yard waiting their turn to be cycled through the plant, as is apparent in today's photo.   

Modeling a Metal Roof

The roofing which is styrene needed two coats of green teal to get that copper metal roof look. I applied a coating prior to adding the seam battens.

On my current FOS build I replaced the tar-paper roof with a metal roof. I also used styrene with strapping made from stripwood instead of the card stock included in the kit. For the coloring I used an acrylic color which has a satin finish. I found there was too much shine so a couple of coats of dulcoat is brushed on....George Dutka 

Once the teal color is applied it is weathered...or should I say aged using Bragdon dark rust. I later applied some tarnish with AK products.

Throwback Thursday - This Could Be an Advertisement for Rapido Trains

Via LRC locomotive number 6905 leads its train of Tempo coaches away from London, Ontario back in 1984.

 By Peter Mumby.

The green bridge visible in this view is the same one that appears in the background of Don McQueen's photo in the May 20/21 post "Hyde Park Revisited."  In today's 1984-vintage shot, progress is being made on the concrete two lane bridge which will replace it.  Since that time, the bridge has been twinned, turning Hyde Park Road in London into a four lane thoroughfare.  CN no longer refers to this location as Hyde Park - it is merely mile four of the Strathroy Subdivision.

It is the equipment, however, that is the real draw in today's photo.  With Via LRC locomotive 6905 pulling a full train of Tempo coaches, the entire consist could be drawn from the pages of a Rapido Trains HO scale catalogue. 

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 440

 

 

Adding Nail Holes

Once the model is completely weathered I go back and add nail holes using this neat little tool. I just line it up and with my pin poke some holes. I do not add these to all the sides if the model is only viewed from two sides. I can always add more holes later. The tool has a block strip on the bottom to keep things square and a ruler at the top for making sure your rows are spaced right.

If you attend the Structures Expo held in New England from time to time, there are some neat little freebies that one receives from the vendors. This one from Atlantic Scale Models is a nice tool that I use a lot. It lines up rows of nailholes for me...George Dutka

Dump it Over There

May 13, 2021 Hyde Park, Ontario

 Peter Mumby and I spent one morning photographing VIA 71 and 72 at Hyde Park and found this sign funny. There is a community walkway and green space along the way to the CN gate taking one into the old station area at Hyde Park. Well I guess someone did not like the trash being dumped along the walkway so it appears they put up a sign suggesting another option...dumping it on CN property. I am sure CN really liked this...George Dutka   

Northeastern Freight Houses

Many of the freight houses in the northeast did not have loading docks, packages were offloaded from the boxcar door right into the house. One had to make sure the doors lined up well when spotting the cars.

There was a bit of chatter on one of the Yahoo groups about freight houses along the B&M, MEC and other northeastern lines. Many of the freight houses are up tight to the track with no loading dock. Why, well I am guessing since there is a lot of bad weather up north and with snow and ice being an issue on platforms it seems easier to load and unload right between the boxcar and frt house.

Some of these structures are found on sidings making loading not a problem once cars are spotted but a freight houses next to the main line is another story. On the main line freight traffic would have to be unloaded from a boxcar or baggage car while on the train...making this job a priority when stopped. At some towns the local could be switching a siding while the local freight car is spotted at the proper door. An interesting operational element to create...George Dutka  

For this view I added an ITLA loading dock kit and is located on a siding. I scratch-built this structure and will cover it shortly.