A NEB&W Boxcar

The NEB&W was a fixture in the hobby for decades. In the modeling world the NEB&W definitely "ran" to the Canadian border and perhaps to Montreal as the D&H did. So a model of this car might work for many modelers that want something different on the layout. 

I came across a post on Facebook this past weekend from James C Jensen. He has modeled a New England, Berkshire & Western boxcar from a C&BT Shops kit. He replaced the grab irons, ladders and stirrups on his model. For weathering James used a photo of a similar looking D&H boxcar from the 1980's as a guide. He has done a wonderful job with the model. I have some NEB&W decals and I feel there is a finished model put away somewhere here that was produced at one time similar if not identical to this model...George Dutka

A visit to Paris Ontario

CN WB at Paris, Ontario on July 19, 2026

Last Sunday I was in Paris to meet up with friends Keith and Peter MacCauley on the rooftop of Stillwaters. I should note that Keith retired near the beginning of this month too...congratulations! We had a nice meetup with a chance to catch three CN trains on the Paris bridge. We talked about the Peter Mumby book I am working on. Keith is being a big help with this project which is moving along quickly. A pleasant afternoon for sure...George Dutka  

From our table on the rooftop patio of Stillwaters, Peter and Keith are ready to catch a train. Seems we forgot about our food.

You can see one needs a telephoto lens as the bridge is off in the distance. A great place to eat and sip on a cold beer.

CN EB at Paris the second container train of the heading east. July 19, 2026

A Visit with Don Janes

Don in his new modern era switching layout space which is coming along well. This is also his work shop room.

I drove down to visit with Don on Wednesday as we had not got together since the Springfield RPM. Time flies for two old retired guys who seem to be busy all the time. Anyhow it was a nice visit and a chance to see Don's new modern era switching layout that is coming along well. We played around with a few buildings on the far wall to see how they best fit. I also got a chance to see his two weathered CP Alcos that arrived at the door just before I left...George Dutka  

Don's new arrival this week seen on the layout for a front end Friday post on Facebook. He had one weathered more than the other. They look great.

Coal Tower - Aylmer, Ontario

The lot is still available. You can have your custom home built in Aylmer, Ont. with a coaling tower out back. Seen on July 17, 2026.

I stopped by the location of the Wabash coaling tower in Almer, Ont. the other day. It is still standing overtop the siding but a new subdivision is being built backing onto the old Cayuga Sub. Interesting enough someone is going to have a coaling tower outside their back window to look at. If your house is coal fired there still might be some coal left in the tower too...George Dutka  

Looking west from the nearest crossing one can see the coal tower on the siding through the Northern Ontario fire smoke. July 17, 2026. 

The tower is starting to crumble in spots and showing its age.

Trucks on the Cheap!

A $4.00 model can be turned into something interesting.

 By Bill Badger  

Miniature Tanks make cheap vehicles for the military gaming crowd and some will work for civilian use too. Autocar Dispatch trucks were built in Russia under license as Zis. Here we see Zis 5 and 6. They are once piece prints that are the very definition of crude, but for $4.05 each!

A bit of paint and detailing changes and you get a cheap Autocar with painted trim or something similar. Chop up the body to get a heavy duty flatbed truck for rock work.

Here is what you get.

This is my version.

A heavy load.

Throwback Thursday - Peter Mumby - Caboose Photos Part 1

by Keith MacCauley  

As previously mentioned, Peter was among the minority of railway photographers who captured more than just the front end of trains and shot both freight cars and cabooses. Of course, in Canada we used to refer to the last car on the train as a ‘van’.

Despite the identical paint scheme, AC 9601 is not a former Canadian National caboose. It was however from the same builder; one of six manufactured by Pointe St. Charles in 1976.

According to online information, both of the blue cabooses were manufactured by International Car Company located in Kenton, Ohio. The original number of B&O 903799 was C-3799 built in 1971. The C&O bay window caboose was a product of Fruit Growers Express of Alexandria, Virginia. Note the blue panel below the bay window with stenciling designating C&O 904121 as an International Service caboose operating between Detroit and Canadian subdivisions.

Wordless Wednesday No. 684

 

Peter Mumby photo 

Rutland Ry. Engine 71

Rutland Ry. # 71 in Burlington, Vermont March 6, 1947 Patterson-George collection my copy.

This is a photo I have that I scanned a few weeks back...George Dutka  

Housatonic Ry buys Canaan Station

Don and I stopped by Canaan Ct. on our way to the Springfield RPM. May 28, 2026.

It was reported that the Housatonic Ry. has purchased the Canaan Ct. station for $800,000 recently. The station was burned back in 2001 and restoration was completed by 2018 for a cost of millions. So this is a great deal for the railroad which is moving their offices to the station. The current tenants will remain there also...George Dutka  

The station looked great on our visit although the museum was not open on May 28, 2026.

If you are into Accordion's there was a lot for sale in the station along with a museum like collection to view.

May 31 2015 Don and I stopped by Canaan to take a look at the railway and the station. This is how it looked back then.

Signs at Georges Trains - Toronto

From the Meaford Sub.

I took a few cell photos of the signs found hanging on the wall in George's Trains. This is a nice store to visit with a mix of new and old...some brass there. I always enjoy wandering around in there and usually find something of interest even though I don't need anything...George Dutka  

Tribute to Peter Mumby - New Book

London 2001 view by Peter Mumby. This book will feature Peter's photos from Southwestern Ontario and Eastern Ontario near his cottage.

I have begun to put together a second book that will be released on Amazon this fall or before Christmas. At the moment it is 60% complete. It will be a collection of my favorite Peter Mumby's photos I have in my collection. It also will have a number of Peter's Throwback Thrusday's that I I think you will like. There will be some additional material prepared by Keith MacCauley from the portion of the Peter Mumby collection he purchased a year ago. Included in the book will be the topics of St. Thomas, OSR, Havelock, London Reclamation yard, rolling stock and cabooses. A Snapshot feature of railfanning his favourite spots will finish it off. So stay tuned for more on this project. I have about 60 pages together out of 100 at this point...George Dutka

CSXT in St. Thomas 1984.

OSR engines.

On display in Havelock Ontario.

Rutland Ry. Milk Car

Think I have everything I need other than what paint to use. I originally used Floquil and I am not sure if I still have any of the colors needed that are still wet.

I have looked through my stuff and found my unbuilt F&C resin Rutland Ry. milk car which I had two sets of decals included in the box. The kit came to me with nice trucks which will be swapped out on the brass model as it has poor trucks and not correct for the model...now to see if I get rid of my distractions and begin the project...George Dutka 

Throwback Thursday - CN Stuart Street Diesel Shop Part 1

by Keith MacCauley

Constructed in the early 1960’s following the demise of steam, the Canadian National Railway’s diesel shop located adjacent to the Stuart Street yard complex in Hamilton Ontario was a pocket sized installation. The running repair facility was a modern, relatively small, heavily windowed structure with two through tracks; both equipped with drop pits. The building was sized to accommodate four switcher units or a pair of longer locomotives as needed. Companion service items positioned on the west side of the shop included fuel storage tanks, a sand tower, and an outdoor inspection station equipped with access platforms and grating/spill containment.

Aside from minor updates; additional exterior lighting, etc., and routine maintenance; new roll up doors and replacement windows for example, the diesel shop remained virtually unchanged for just over half a century.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 683

 

B&M 44 Tonners

North Billerica, Ma. 1971 no other data.

I saw this shot on Facebook of two B&M 44 tonners that I thought you might be interested in. It was linked to the Budd collection I believe...George Dutka  

Rutland Ry. XR-1

 

Rutland Ry. No. 93 on XR-1 at Summit, Vermont May 8, 1952 Patterson-George Collection, my copy. Note the two State of Maine cars on the lead. Wonder were they came from and are going. 

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.