Wordless Wednesday No. 418

 

  

CV Flat - Deck Weathering

This Juneco kit I built back in the 1980's. It is not a copy of a CV flat car but has been a good fill in for the WRD for decades. What I wanted you to see it the decking. I really scored the deck boards breaking a few also. For the coloring I used Floquil driftwood stain with a bit of Floquil black and white dry brushed in. I also blended in a bit of walnut stain into the driftwood while wet. No chalks or powders were used back then. The lettering is CDS dry transfers...George Dutka

 

Snapshot - March 2021

An EB freight that I caught on the Strathroy sub on a Monday run to Sarnia to visit Don Janes. March 8, 2021

The last three Monday mornings I have been out trackside and it appears that is a good time to see what's up on the CN. Two Monday ago Peter, Brian and I saw 6 trains in just less than two hours. This past Monday a visit trackside I came across Don McQueen, Peter and an old friend Brian Baker who's dad was an CN engineman. He ran the engine for the Royal Train many decades ago. Last Monday we saw 6 trains again but in a shorter span of 1 1/2 hours. We are meeting once again today to see what Monday brings...George Dutka 

CN WB at Wanstead waits for a new crew on March 8, 2021

CN EB148 at Komoka on March 15, 2021

CP WB at Firerocks golf course on March 15, 2021. Not the third unit is CN.

CN EB March 22, 2021

I have Peter Mumby in my photo of CN EB 397 at the hot box detector east of Komoka March 22, 2021

We have a Progress Rail engine trailing on 397.

CN 397 had this colorful boxcar included in the consist.

CN EB 402 a new train out of Sarnia which sets off the frame flats in London has 101 cars on this day. March 22, 2021

VIA 72 approaches the Komoka detector. March 22 2021

The tail end of VIA 72 which regularly operates with units on both ends. That is Don McQueen getting his shot.

StJ&LC 1942 - Part Two

Milk shipments along the St J&LC during 1942. Note the placard has been removed from the milk car.

A few more photos from the St J that was published a few years back on the WWII blog. These are related to milk operations in 1942 that I thought you would enjoy. Too bad there was not any details with the photos or who took them...George Dutka

CV Caboose 4017

 

CV 4017 is seen in St. Albans, Vermont during July 1962. I don't recall were I got the photo from and no other information is included but nice to see...George Dutka 

Bellows Crossing

 

This is a Don Janes photo of the Bellows Crossing area of my layout. I think he was trying a new camera out at the time. Anyhow all the structures seen here will be reused in the new scene. The section house is a Rutland Car Shops offering of the B&M at North Walpole...George Dutka 

Throwback Thursday - RLK 4001 on the Goderich-Exeter Railway

RLK 4001, with help from GEXR 4046 and RLK 4095, prepares to make a run up the hill out of Goderich harbour on April 10, 2003.  This is very near to the site of a derailment caused by a runaway train coming down the hill on February 01, 2021.

By Peter Mumby.

Since its inauguration in 1992, the Goderich-Exeter Railway (GEXR) has cycled through a series of three corporate owners.  Created by RailTex, ownership shifted to RailAmerica in 2000.  Current owner Genesee & Wyoming took over in 2012.  Locomotive colour schemes and reporting marks have displayed a lot of variety, with the paintwork of current owners, past owners, other component lines, and leasing companies showing up at various times and in various combinations. 

The lead locomotive in both of today's photos was RLK 4001, a GP9 produced by EMD in 1959 as SP 5872.  It wore a RailAmerica logo on its nose, while the beaver insignia on the side belonged to its previous operator, Lakeland & Waterways Railway.  The small lettering beneath this side logo notes that this is "A RailAmerica Company."  

RLK 4001 is powering a GEXR train west of Sebringville on October 12, 2004.  The consist is fleshed out by RLK 1401 and GEXR 3821.  1401 is wearing a RailAmerica logo on its nose and an Operation Lifesaver decal behind the cab ladder.  Today the 1401 works for the Ontario Southland Railway.

Wordless Wednesday No. 417

 

Alan Irwin Photo

 

Rapido - M420

CN 2544 makes its first run on the WRD recently.

Rapido released a new engine model recently which appears to be selling out quickly. Of course I picked one up. This is an engine I did work on back in the day and was seen running on the CV into St. Albans. They also operated on the GT into Portland, Maine on train #392. I think it will work well with my contemporary era fleet...George Dutka 

I took this low light shot so one can see the step lights which are nice.

Rutland Ry. at Bellows Crossing

A Rutland Ry van hop is passing my newly completed mill.

My scene at Bellows Crossing with the mill just placed in the background. Once I redo the trackage the mill will be set in place permanently...George Dutka

Weathering

 

Two loading docks that is added to the Myers mill is seen with different weathering approaches but look similar.

 

My wood weathering is Hunterline weathering mix followed by a coat of Floquil grime. With Floquil a thing of the past other options are required. I found Hunterline cement used in place of grime gives almost the same effect on wood. The dock in the foreground is done with the Floquil grime and the one at the rear is Hunterline concrete. I also applied a touch of AK wash for wood in the cracks between the boards. I believe Hunterline now has a driftwood stain that might work also...George Dutka 

CV Woodburner Engine

 

CV Salisbury a Hinkley blt. 1851. Looks like a proud crew in this view. From the purchased George Melvin collection. 

South RIver Modelworks - Myers Mill

I finally finished the SRM mill which will be added to the area of Bellows Crossing. More on this mill shortly...George Dutka

Throwback Thursday - INCO Shop

Several INCO electric motors are getting some attention inside the Copper Cliff shop on August 19, 1991.  The railway also used a few internal combustion units.  Lurking in the background is ALCO S-2 locomotive 203, which had originally operated as Western Maryland number 144.

By Peter Mumby

Vale Railway (reporting mark VAEX) is a good-sized private mining and industrial railway operating in the vicinity of Greater Sudbury, Ontario.  Prior to an ownership change, the company was known as the International Nickel Company, and the railway was named INCO Railway with reporting mark INCX.  Between 1926 and 2000  the railway was electrified, and a couple of the company's electric locomotives were present in the Copper Cliff shop on the day when today's photo was exposed in August of 1991.  Units 113 and 116 were both 100 ton locomotives produced by GE in 1938 and 1948, respectively.  Two of INCO's electric motors, specifically 101 and 116, have been preserved at the Northern Ontario Railway Museum in Capreol. 

Wordless Wednesday No. 416

 

CV Steam 0-8-0

CV 502  on 8-13-1930 St Albans, Vermont

A small group of CV switchers from the George Melvin collection I purchased...George Dutka 

CV 505 during 1940 at St Albans, Vermont. Note in the background the raised panel GTW hopper. A good reason to add some of these to your modeling fleet.

Almost the same location as the photo above CV 506 is seen in 1934 at St. Albans, Vt.

CV 475

 

Another group of scans completed during Covid...more views to come shortly. This is CV 475 in a undated photos from my collection.    

New Haven, Vermont - Station

The New Haven station as it looks during March 2012 my last visit to the area.

According to Railpace the brick station in New Haven, Vermont is too close to the tracks and has to come down or moved if Amtrak is to pass by on this route. The station is to be gone by this fall. One might better get pictures there soon...George Dutka

March 19, 2012 trackside view.

N Scale Long Barn

 

My finished model. Tar paper roofing was used on this model.

A few more views of my N scale long barn...George Dutka    

My two models. Note the roof on the HO scale model. It had got a warp in it along the walls. I re-glued and clamped the model and all is well. 

When I finished the weathering it looked too heavy. I gave the structure a wash of Floquil red and thinner. Mostly thinner which blended the powders, PanPastels and Floquil paint. I think it looks a lot better now.

A closer look of the barn with the wash of thinner.

Bellows Crossing

CV 4551 crosses the diamond cleaning out the spur before the trackage changes here.

A new look will be coming to Bellows Crossing shortly. This is the last train over the crossing before it coming out...George Dutka 

Throwback Thursday - Worth a Second Look

This photo showing the B-end of CN 10650 was taken on May 11, 1991, just weeks before the London Reclamation Yard was shut down.

By Peter Mumby.

Back on November 14, 2020, George posted a few views of CN 10650.  This was an express version of CN's once-ubiquitous eight hatch refrigerator cars.  Today's photo shows the other (B) end of the car.  The lower left corner shows some interesting chalk markings, including the "D-453" notation which indicates the car has been cleared for dismantling.  Note, too, that above the "LD. LMT." data appears the notation "No Brakes" stencilled in white paint.  George's photos were exposed in April of 1991 and the reclamation yard looked pretty empty at that time.  This photo was taken a month later, and the plant was shut down in late June of that year, so this refrigerator car must have been one of the yard's final customers.

Wordless Wednesday No. 415

 

  

Rapido - Northern Pacific 40' Boxcar

A Northern Pacific double sheathed boxcar looks pretty shiny at the moment. This version is noted being from the 1951 era.

A new loaded boxcar has arrived on the WRD from across the continent. This Rapido offering is just out of the box and will get some weathering shortly. It is a great looking car with lots of detail. The couplers do appear large, I think they will be replaced...George Dutka

GMD Recollections - Shiny and New, But Will They Last 50 Years?

KCS SD60 locomotives 754 and 754 are sitting at CN London East on April 18, 1991.  The tracks in the foreground are part of the double tracked Dundas Subdivision mainline.  Somewhat behind the units is the  Guelph (previously Thorndale) Subdivision.  To the east (right) this subdivision passed the GMD plant, then continued through Stratford and Kitchener on its way to Toronto.  Slightly to the west this subdivision terminated at London Junction where it intersected with the Dundas Sub.

By Peter Mumby.

GMD products of April 1991, SD60 locomotives KCS 754 and 755 were on delivery at CN London East the day these photographs were exposed.  They had a bright future ahead of them, but how extensive could KCS management expect this future to be?

In one of the pictures the new locomotives are framed by CN GP9 number 4385.  Built as CN 4133, this was a GMD product of 1957.  When CN initiated its program to remanufacture a group of GP9s, it decided to re-use the 4100 number series, and this unit became the 4385.  A year after this photo was taken, 4385 itself was rebuilt to GP9u standards, becoming class GS-418c number 7072.  At this stage the engine was 35 years of age, and it continued in service another 15 years until it was retired in 2007.  Over its 50 year life span, the 4133/4385/7072 had transitioned from main line freighter to branch line power to yard locomotive.  Probably these new SD60s weren't destined for this type of longevity.

CN 4385 frames this view of the new KCS units.  The previously-mentioned Guelph Subdivision lay just beyond the CN box car visible in this photo.

Floquil Grime - Colour Change

Note there is a good difference between the new and old Floquil grime.

I have made up a card to display Floquil grime. As one can see the old square jar and the last offerings in the round jar differ in tone. I have been playing with other paints to see what options I could come up with to make a weathered wood look such as driftwood. My go-to is Hunterline creosote black followed by a coat of grime. I found that Hunterline creosote black followed by a coat of Hunterline concrete is a close match. Another product AK Neutral grey which is a filters product which is more of a wash appears to work well with Hunterline as the base. Although all three tones look different on the card they seem to work well over Hunterline creosote black to give one the weathered wood look...George Dutka