Milton. Vermont

A stop in Milton, Vermont in mid March while I travelled through New England.

Rolling along the Central Vermont

Re-post from April 2012 

On day two of my road trip I started my day in St. Albans by taking a few photos of the Vermonter before departure. I had also stopped by the roundhouse for a quick look around. Early morning roundhouse photos are right into the sun...later in the day is best. I decided to also catch the Vermonter on the Georgia High Bridge near Milton, Vermont. A location I have not photographed in years. After getting my photos on the bridge, I decided to check out the old CV right of way in Milton, Vermont. I had not been here in a decade or two. It had not changed, everything looked as I remembered it. The ex-freight house is still standing, along with the feed mill to the north. Also the Milton Co-Op creamery still stands but as a shell. The station which was located across from the frt. house is long gone...George Dutka

The old CV frt. house looking north.

Looking at the frt. house north and west walls.

Looking north, the main line is to my left and the old CV boxcar is now used as storage on the feed mill siding. This boxcar has not moved in years.

A track side view.

I took this photo looking north from the main crossing in Milton, Vermont. The station would have been on the left side of the photo across from the freight house.

 

CASE Tractors

A collection of antique tractors in Eagle Bridge, NY

 CASE Tractors

 Re-post from April 2012

This spring on my road trip I stopped by Eagle Bridge, NY to photograph the station and maybe a train if I was lucky. Well the only train was G&J RS-3 #4116 on layover just outside of town with a few cars in tow. As I approached Eagle Bridge on route 67, another U-turn was required . A collection of antique CASE tractors at a welding shop caught my eye. Some are not in the greatest shape but still interesting to see and maybe a little inspiration to build a model of one in the future...enjoy...George Dutka

 

Central Vermont Caboose #4046

Today CV 4046 is on display at Komoka, Ont.

   Central Vermont Steel Caboose #4046 

Komoka Railway Museum, Komoka, Ontario

Re-post from April 2012

  

One New England artifact that resides a few miles from my home in London, Ont. is an ex-CV caboose. Once the CV began cabooseless operations the fleet was transferred to the GTW and this one became GTW 79198. The CV did hold onto one caboose for special assignments. At some point...don't recall the year (at least 15 years ago) the Komoka Railway Museum approached CNR for a display caboose. They already had the station and order board from Komoka plus a CNR baggage car. The CNR did have a group of cabooses in storage in Port Huron, Michigan. From these one was awarded to the museum and to their surprise one arrived at a later day. The caboose received a coat of painted once it arrived. It kept its  same GTW number. One can still see the ridges from the CV numbering and lettering which was applied as a tape decal...maybe at some point it will be re-lettered in its original logo...George Dutka

April 2012 at Komoka, Ont.

Bridge St. - White River Jct.

Bridge St. looking towards the downtown area of WRJ. The station is a short walk to my left.

 Bridge Street Railway Underpass

White River Junction, Vermont

 Re-post from April 2012

If you have been following along on Marty McGuirk's "Central Vermont Railway" blog, a recent post is about the WRJ Bridge St. underpass he is modelling. I photographed that WRJ scene last October on my walk in the area. I had just finished taking some photos of the RR bridge that was damaged after the flooding last summer and thought I would take the following photos on my way back to my car. I was going to send the photos to Marty but I have decided to share them with you also...George Dutka

This photo was taken from the roadway bridge during my Oct. 2011 visit. The white and green building seen off on the right  is the old WRJ fire hall. A early era photo viewing this building is seen below.

The Bridge St. fire hall in White River Junction can be seen during the 1927 flooding. This photo was taken from the CV tracks most likely on the bridge. If you model this scene you might want to add the service station as added interest.

Rutland Ry Milk Train #88 and #87

A Rutland Ry. milk train handles a NYC milk car next to the engine.

  Rutland Ry. Prototype

Milk Train #88 and #87

A re-post from May 2012

  In my post of April 8, 2012 I discussed how I was modelling the Rutland Ry milk train #88 and #87. I thought I best clear up some facts about the prototype trains and what portion I am modelling. My modelled Rutland milk trains is north of Rutland and south of Alburgh, Vermont. The train takes on a different look south of Rutland and beyond Alburgh. Northbound out of New York City the empties are on train #83 which changes number to #87 at North Bennington in most timetables I looked at, although some years the train was #87 all the way or changed from #83 at another station.

 At Rutland train #88 dropped off its coach, baggage car and RPO which continued on as a separate passenger train. A combine was added to the milk train. In early years combine #223 was used, then in later years #253 was the regularly assigned combine. Northbound train #87 arriving at Rutland, Vt. would lift the waiting RPO, baggage and coach which would handle passengers north from Rutland. In both directions an engine change was made at Rutland.

Out of Rutland the milk train was a turn job. It ran south to Chatham, NY were it would hand off the loads to the NYC and after a short wait the empties would arrive and the run north would be made. A Borden's car was normally on the head end to and from Manchester, Vt. for the Bennington County Co-Op Creamery.

A typical consist of a Rutland milk train in 1950 arriving in Rutland, Vt. would look like this...from the engine, Whiting 40 ft. milk car, Rutland 50 ft. milk car, two GPEX 40 ft. milk car, NX 50 ft. detachable milk car, Rutland 50 ft. milk car, Rutland 70 ft. baggage car, Rutland RPO and a Rutland #700 series coach.

In the 1950s the Rutland milk train routing would change via Bellows Falls and onward to Boston but that is another story to tell...George Dutka

Welcome Aboard

I took this photo with my then new Canon digital pocket camera in Dec 2008 while visiting Don Janes Green Mountain Division. The B&M yard office is just across the main line from the shop track which on this day was full...George Dutka photo

 White River Division

 Co-blogger Don Janes

A re-post from May 2012

You will be getting something extra on my blog beginning now. Don Janes has come on board to add some posts when he has time. I visited Don yesterday as we have not seen each other since he left on winter holidays back in Feb-March. I also took a look downstairs at what is left of the old Green Mountain Division. Don is in the process of rebuilding the old portion of his layout with a new concept.

Since I do not have a lot of spare time at the moment Don has offered to do some posting as his time permits. Don is an awesome New England modeller and also takes some really great photos...so onward...George Dutka

One of my favourite scenes on the older portion of the Green Mountain Route is the Roundhouse which reflects the North Conway, NH prototype. Don also did draw some inspiration for this structure from Dick Elwell's shop scene.

In the past White River Junction yard which Don is leaning on was full of rolling stock, today it holds recently removed structures. Many of these building from Don's torn out section will be reused in the rebuild. Note the roundhouse and yard office seen above in the pile.

Thanks for the kind words George.  I really enjoy your BLOG and am looking forward to adding posts of my own now and then.  Here is one of my favourite shots from my old layout.  It won first place in the 2007 MR photo contest.  I hope I can incorporate the mill into my new layout...Don Janes

Penryn Fruit Co.

Penryn Fruits Co. is now completed and ready for us to installed on our dioramas. Peters model is on the right and mine is to the left.

 RailroadKITS - A smaller laser kit

"get your feet wet without spending a lot of modelling money"

Re-Post from April 2012

Once again Peter Mumby and I built another RailroadKITS offering. This time we picked the tiny Penryn Fruit Company Penryn Fruit Co. one of the smaller laser kits offered. The footprint is 3" by 2.5". The kit's web site states " This HO scale structure is small and Simple To Build. If you've never built a wood structure, this is an ideal kit to get your feet wet without spending a lot of money.``

When I opened the package the kit included laser cut walls, paper shingles, strip wood bracing, Tichy windows, and really nice laser printed paper signs. My kit did not provide any card stock roofing but Peter's kit did. As it turned out the roofing was undersized so we cut out some new pieces that suited us better. I did have to download and print the instruction sheets which was handy to have laying in front of us.

The instruction sheets downloaded from RailroadKITS web site plus all the detail parts included. I have already glued the bracing needed to hold the corners together.

The laser wall panels had some embossing applied as nail holes. We then glued all the supports as per instructions and assembled the four walls. We decided to give our buildings a weathered look. The structure was stained with Hunterline original mix. Once dried a wash of Floquil D&RGW yellow was added, then a randomly applied wash of Floquil grime covered selected areas. We then applied some dry brushing of Floquil reefer white followed by dry brush highlights of D&RGW yellow under the overhang and areas that would have seen less weathering.

The windows and doors are painted Floquil SP lettering gray. They are glued in place. The upper window was modelled as opened. At this point the whole structure got some chalk weathering before the window glazing and paper curtains are added from the inside.

We replaced the roofing material that was included with the kit with #3086, BEST 36" rolled tar paper - black. Once applied we made a few cuts as the sheeting would have been applied. Some chalk weathering was added. I went light on mine but Peter poured it on and it actually looks really good. The last step was cutting the signs and using some as paper billboards and others as metal signs. The billboards are sanded thin then well covered in glue. Some weathering is added to the signs but they are well weathered as printed.

I have yet to place my Penryn Fruits on my layout or small diorama...I will do a follow up post once a home is found for this neat little structure. I really like my building and recommend this kit even if you are not a beginner in laser structure modelling...George

The structures are near completion. We made new card stock roof bases as the one included with Peter's kit just did not have enough overhang for our liking. I had already added some roofing to mine when I took this photo. All that is needed to complete this kit are the signs and roofing.

The walls, windows and doors are weathered prior to adding the signs and roofing. We really wanted a more weathered looking siding, so Hunterline original mix was first applied before painting.                   A front view of the completed structure, Peter's building is on the right and mine on the left.                   A front view of the completed structure, Peter's building is on the right and mine on the left.

Some of the signs are seen on the two finished models.

Rutland Ry. Milk Train Modeling

A Rutland Milk train departs Bellows Crossing on the White River Division. Today one finds four milk cars heading south.

Rutland Ry. Milk Run 
Trains #88 and #87

on the White River Division

Re-post from April 8 2012

Over the years I have been working on building a selection of milk related equipment that emulate New England milk trains operations.  I want to be able to model a milk train for each the CV, B&M and Rutland Ry. Included in this post are views of my equipment that is currently completed and in use on the Rutland Ry. milk runs along the White River Division.

The fastest train schedule on the Rutland Ry. in 1953 was the milk train, #88. In the diesel era an RS-3 was the regular power most of the time but on occasion a RS-1 would be used. The last car on the train regularly was a Rutland #700 series steel coach but combines would be seen at times. The passenger car would carry passenger north of Rutland, Vt. only until the strike of 1953 which ended passenger service altogether. South of Rutland, Vt. the coach was used by the crew only.

The make up of milk trains 88 and 87 would include milk cars on the head end, a Rutland RPO, followed by a baggage car, then a coach or combine on the tail end. I have been working on reproducing this consist for my White River Division. I currently have a Rutland Ry. RPO which I have just finished reconstructing and a Rutland 700 series coach I built last year. I still need to find a Rutland Baggage car to complete my train. I also have a Rutland Ry. combine partially completed.

Train #88 southbound with milk loads begins in Ogdensburg as train #8. It would change into train #88 at Alburgh, Vt. Train #8 left Ogdensburg with milk cars, baggage car and a coach. At Alburgh the RPO is added along with area milk cars. The train would run though to New York City via Chatham, NY till the strike of 1953 ended passenger service and this routing. Train #83 northbound with empties ran from New York City to North Bennington,Vt. The train number changed there to #87 to Alburgh. At Alburgh, Vt. #87 became #7 and the RPO was set off  for lifting southbound the next day. There has been many photos published of the coach being cut off the milk train and RPO cut in or out at Alburgh, Vermont.

My friend Warren Dodgson put together a chart of train consists for 88-87 which is helpful in picking an era and making up a Rutland Ry. milk train. A 1953 timetable is also included. This material can all be found in the Rutland Railroad Historical Society's Winter, 1990 Newsliner. At that time Warren and I helped the RRHS as contributing editors. John Nerich was editor during the early years of the RRHS Newsliner and covered a good amount of detailed information about milk operation and creameries. The year 1988 of the Newsliner was dedicated to milk train no. 88.There maybe back issues available if you check their web site...George Dutka

On the tail end of milk train #88 is a Rutland RPO followed by a Rutland steel #700 series coach. The Borden's detachable milk car was built by Warren Dodgson from a F&C kit.

In this 1951-1953 era view a Rutland milk train powered by a Rutland RS-1 heads the daily train from Ogdensburg to New York City as no.88. By this era milk traffic has started to fall off and the trains are shorter. My milk consist is a B&M can car followed by a wooden Whiting milk car. A wooden Borden's milk car is next followed by a Borden's detachable milk car which was a very common sight on most Rutland milk trains. The last two cars are a Rutland RPO and Rutland coach #717.

Rutland Ry. Caboose # 45

 

Rutland Ry. Caboose 

at Center Rutland, Vermont 

Re-post of April 6, 2012

I made a stop by Center Rutland, Vermont to take a look at Rutland Ry. #45. The last time I saw #45 it was in the early 1990's while on a Rutland Railroad Historical Society convention tour of Leicester Jct. At that time it was lettered VTR #3 and owned by a retired VTR conductor who started railroading on the Rutland Ry. Today it is looking tired but there appears to be some effort being made to protect old #45 by the Rutland Railway Association at their museum site.


For the modelers, Bill Badger has done a scale drawing of this caboose for the RRHS back in the late 1980's. There also has been a brass model made that may be found at RR shows or on line.


Rutland Ry. caboose #45 was built in June 1924 as #95 and renumbered as #45 five months later. Rutland #45 saw most of its service on the Ogdensburg Division, the old O&LC. In the early 1950's #45 was assigned to the Alburgh, Vt. to Norwood, NY freight. By 1960 Rutland #45 was assigned to the Alburgh to Rutland freight and could also be seen on the Vergennes, Vermont local.

Rutland Ry. #45 was kept in good repair through the years and was one of the better riding cabooses. In the mid 1960's the VTR had acquired the caboose and repainted and renumbered it VTR #3. In the mid 1970's it was retired with the arrival of newer steel cabooses. If you look in Rails Beyond the Rutland, Carstens Publication you can see #45 in it's last Rutland Ry paint scheme, green and yellow.

On to my next stop...George.

The caboose appears to have been repainted not that long ago. The cupola must be leaking as it is now covered with a tarp. The steps at the cupola end are in bad shape and probably would not hold much weight.

O&LC - Lisbon, NY

The ex-Rutland Ry. station is refurbished and used as a local museum, as seen in this March 2012 photo.

 Refurbished Rutland Ry. Station

Lisbon, NY

Re-post from April 4, 2012

 

On my spring trip I crossed over from Ontario to New York state at Ogdensburg, NY. A location I have never visited on the old Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Ry or I should say the Rutland Ry., Ogdensburg Division. Unfortunately there was not a lot to see in Ogdensburg. The engine is located in a fenced in area and most of the yard is also within the compound.  I continued on and stopped at a few of the old Rutland Ry. station sites which I had not visited before. The first was Lisbon, NY., mile post 112 on the Rutland Ry. The station is in excellent shape and now houses the town museum. You will have to check the town web site for dates and hours open. This station is the towns second, built sometime between 1931-1933.

Today Ogdensburg bound train traffic still passes by the old Lisbon, NY station en route to Norwood, NY and connections with the CSX. The Vermont Railroad now operates the line as The New York and Ogdensburg Railway Co. as seen in the flier.

The photos above views the station from different angles and the trackage in the area. If one did know the trains schedule a really nice action photo could be taken as the area is very accessible.

Also in town was a Sheffield Farms creamery which was still shipping bulk milk in the 1950's. The creamery was west of the main crossing. I could see the switch but did not walk down to see if the structure was still standing. Warren Dodgson did take photos of the creamery in 1995 and at that time it still appeared in good condition then.

On to the next stop...George Dutka

This building once had a single switch siding and was run by C.B. Wright in the 1930's then J.F. Carragher in the last years of the Rutland Ry. which handled feed, coal and other farm related items. At one time coal bins and oil tanks could be found on the property.

This photo is looking towards Ogdensburg, NY from the main highway crossing. The station is to my back. The switch you see off in the distance was to the Sheffield Farms creamery, There also once was an overhead roadway bridge between the switch and the main crossing.