East Deerfield, Ma

Mid morning at East Deerfield May 3, 2026 

I have been to East Deerfield many times but this was the first time I saw someone using the B&M caboose near the bridge. I was watching over the other side of the bridge when I could smell something burning. Guess it was stove oil. When I walked over to the other side I was surprised to see smoke coming out of the chimney. I guess it is someone's getaway location on a cool Sunday morning...George Dutka  

CN Woodchip Cars

My CN operational diorama that I was working on in the late 1980's has an Athearn geep shoving a cut of woodchip cars I kitbashed from Front Range boxcars. The caboose was scratch-built by Al Howlett back then. I believe I purchased it off Bob Hannah. Wish I kept it to compare to the new ones coming out soon.

I took this photo back in 1989 of a 12' diorama I operated on. I recently found the slide again and scanned...George Dutka    

CN856516 Oct 29, 1989 on its way to be cut up in London, Ont. Peter Mumby photo.

CN 858161 Oct. 1984 London, Ont. Peter Mumby photo. This car did not have the rooftop extensions.

CN 455242 woodchip car in 1964. Peter Mumby collection. An outside braced wooden car.

New Haven Depot

I stopped by the New Haven depot which has been moved to Bristol, Vt. a short distance away. It is located next to the library and town office. There is a new base to the structure, stone and concrete. Maybe a basement will be included inside or that is a pad it is on. It seems higher off the ground than it was in New Haven. The roof has been replaced but there is still a lot of work to be done before it can be used...George Dutka  

April 29, 2026

Proto CP Paper Car - Part Two

The finished model with some light weathering on the side. I wanted a clean looking car but used.

A few more views and what the roof looks like...George Dutka 

India ink and alcohol is brushed on the roof.

The roof once it dries. Seen below is some PanPastel raw umber shade brushed on and a light coat of AK railroad wash...very lightly.

The car is lightly weathered using PanPastel Paines grey extra dark along the top and bottom portions of the car and some Bragdon dark rust as highlights on parts that move or get beat up. I also added some chalk marks and a placard board note.

Proto CP Paper Car

The finished model with all the ladder, door hardware and brake wheel attached. I also added hose bags and Kadee couplers to the model. The weathering was kept light on this model.

I finally got around to working on my CP Proto 1000 paper cars. I have two on the go. One is from Peter Mumby while the other I purchased from my friend Chris Wright which unfortunately was missing the ladders, brake wheel and door hardware. I need to dig into my stock for that stuff. Captions tell the story. More on this car tomorrow...George Dutka  

My two Proto cars as they look at the beginning of the project. I had already done the roof on one about a year ago for an RMC article.

The underframe is given a coat of AK railroad wash followed by the rust tone included in the three package while still damp. Some AK light rust is also applied at the end.

The two products used on the models underframe worked out well with little effort. You saw how I did the trucks and wheels in last months This and That.

Throw Back Thursday – RS18u OSR 181

by Keith MacCauley
Ontario Southland Railway No. 181 was constructed by Montreal Locomotive Works for the Canadian Pacific Railway in May of 1958 as RS-18 CP 8777. In 1989 the veteran unit entered CP’s remanufacturing program emerging as RS-18u CP 1861. Cast off in 1998, the unit was acquired by OSR and shortly thereafter decorated in the railway’s attractive maroon and cream scheme. The venerable unit has been out of service since August of 2021 due to electrical issues, and having been sold to the Sartigan Railway, now calls ‘La Belle Province’ home. 

For several years the Elgin County Railway Museum located in St. Thomas held an annual August Open House I believe called ‘Railway Days’. Over the years it was possible for the host to attract visitors to the event as the museum benefitted from a connection to the outside world via CP (since severed). In addition to OSR 181, among other attractions, I recall seeing a Canadian National GMD-1, ETR No. 9, and a brand new Union Pacific SD70M from the nearby GMDD locomotive plant.

Despite several Railway Day visits, I do not recall ever seeing Peter Mumby at the event. However, it seems that Peter and I were both at the Museum on the same day some twenty-seven years ago. Not only were we both there, but we both took almost identical shots of No. 181! While the timing of my view appears to be more high noon, based on the lighting, Peter’s photo was taken later in the day. It does appear that No. 181 has moved a couple of car lengths as well. Small world!

Wordless Wednesday No. 674

 

 

Touring VRS North Walpole NH Roundhouse

The group is seen inside the roundhouse as Aaron Bridge the Superintendent of railcar repairs in North Walpole (blue hat) fills us in on their operations. May 3 2026.

On Sunday the RRHS convention group gathered at the VRS roundhouse across the river from Bellows Falls yard and station. It was an interesting tour as I have never been on the grounds of shop and yard so this was a treat. These days the roundhouse is used to repair rolling stock although I noted a coach being stored in the end bay. 

I thought we could wander over the whole property but we were restricted to inside the roundhouse and around the turntable. The engines were all stationed further down that was off limits. The VRS has a nice display of signs they have saved which was nice to see...George Dutka

The entrance we used.

One of the original signs from Steamtown is seen on the wall. We were told this was found hanging on a locals fence and was salvaged to be saved inside the roundhouse. May 3 2026.

Inside the roundhouse there is a lot of stored stuff and neat artifacts on the wall.

Around the turntable.

Two railcars requiring service.

Stencils hanging on the wall.

A piece of rolling stock seen in the last stall of the roundhouse.

Looing in the main entrance.

Bellows Falls Models

A few more views of Ray Muntz Bellows Falls models. Unfortunately the chain broke on the ball signal he brought but it looked good. I still need to build the signal shanty for my layout. Another project to look into later this year. 

The sand house is a lot bigger than the Rutland Car Shops version I used on my layout. I learned at the convention the sand came from Alburg and was hand loaded into the sand house which would have taken a good amount of time. I think in later days some type of compressed air was used...George Dutka

The Rutland Ry Historical Society Convention

Two thirds of the Bellows Falls convention is over. Today we are going to the B&M roundhouse before I head for home. Friday night was a nice surprise. Most of the group went to diner at the old CV Windsor, Vt. station which is a very nice restaurant. They make their own pasta. Chicken parm. was great although it all looked good to me.  I would recommend dinner here. Back to the Best Western hotel in Springfield for slide night.

After elections Bill Badger gave us an update on membership which is down to about 200 from 400 years ago. He mentioned that today the average age of members is pre-deceased. That got some chuckles. Laz is working hard on getting the Newsliner back on track. An issue should be out shortly.

The days presentation were good. Phil Jordan covered the Bellows Falls switcher, milk business and roundhouse scene. Next up Bill Schultheiss did an overview of 24 hours in Bellows Falls in 1952. He counted on most days 44 trains came into town. I can only imagine railfanning there then. In the morning it seemed there was a train coming or going every 15 minutes with sometimes two there at a time. That is not counting the local switchers or trolley. Bill is modeling Bellows Falls and did a wonderful job researching this location. After lunch Phil covered the trolley scene, then Laz covered the flood of 1927 in town. I left after that as I felt tired and maybe overwhelmed with all I learned. There was only one more clinic left. It was great to see everyone. Some I had not seen in decades...George Dutka

I guess train time at Windsor station is now beer time.

One table full at the Windsor station restaurant. There was three full tables with the last ones arriving sat at the bar.

Ray Muntz Bellows Falls model. An article on this model and plans were in a past Newsliner.

Lots of Rutland papers for sale and books.

Don talking railroading with Bill.

Don had some Rutland brass for sale.

The day began with a short business meeting. Left to right is Phil Jordan, Bill Badger and Laz.

Lunch time break

The Rutland on the Green Mountain Division

I am at the Rutland Ry. Historical Society Convention in Bellows Falls, Vermont today so I thought I would post one of Don's Rutland Ry views. This is a recently posted Facebook view Don Janes took of his Rutland Ry area of his layout. North Bennington, Vt. is modeled well. One could see this portion of his layout in a MR issue recently...George Dutka   

New Book!

Now available through Amazon.

I began this book back in 2000 which was to be just plans and drawings with photos on front and rear cover. It was about half done when I seemed to have got away from it for about 20 years. How time flies.  

About 2024 I saw Lance Mindheim was publishing books through Amazon. I purchased a couple and they looked really good. I contacted Lance for some advice regarding the book I began so long ago. The comments were all positive. I began working on the book once again but with photos and a focus. I still had a lot of content for this "Modeling New England Railroads" book although some had been diverted away to RMC and CARM over the years. 

I had plugged a New England Book to RMC but Otto wanted a more general book which what was then published under my name.

Working on the book again there was a bit of struggles though with scanned drawing and photo sizes. From the scanner to what I saw when test printing the word document saw the scale size change. Even more when loaded to Amazon. It did not want to accept some images at all so about 8 pages had to be removed. The rest of the drawings are either right on for size or close. 

Content includes ball signals  some plans and sketches, structures such as the B&M WRJ yard office, Bellows Falls freight house built by Don Janes and updated and on my layout, B&M style station and a number more. Also three caboose models and a handful of New England freight cars are covered. Milk cars and creameries make up a chapter. Some of my Maine narrow gauge is covered. My ideas of coloring B&M and Rutland structures are included and snapshots of my WRD layout. At the back there is my tips on paints, stains and powders. 96 pages total.

The book is now available through Amazon for $26.00 US. I tried to keep the price as low as possible as I am more about getting the information out than the profit...George Dutka