Throwback Thursday - Oh Say Can You RDC?

Amtrak 219 is leading Via train number 181 away from the London, Ontario station on December 11, 1988.  Lots of Via RDC cars were in attendance on that day.

By Peter Mumby.

The final run of the Via/Amtrak "International,"  which operated between Toronto and Chicago, took place on April 23, 2004.  In the early years of this service, Via and Amtrak equipment was used on an alternating basis.  This was followed by a period when mixtures became standard, but finally straight Amtrak equipment became the norm.  There certainly were lots of occasions when these Amtrak train sets rubbed elbows with a variety  of equipment, Via and otherwise, that would not have been encountered south of the border.  Prior to 1990, this would have included lots of F units and RDC cars.  At the time when today's photo was taken, we can see that the station tracks at the London depot were well populated with the RDC cars which were destined to disappear in little more than a year's time. 

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 444

 

 

A bit of Modeling Insperation

I was out for a drive to lake Erie last Friday when I passed this general store not far from Pt. Bruce but not in any town. It looks like it has been refurbished lately. I liked the looks of the building so here are a few views for inspiration...George Dutka

B&M action at WRJ

 

Another view from WRJ taken on my layout back in 2011. The engine is a Broadway Limited engine I detailed as a B&M engine...George Dutka 

South Portland, Maine

A flat opening off one of the side streets in South Portland, Maine gives one a nice view of the shop track and office building. I took this view during a visit on Sept 6, 2016.

Don Janes and I stopped later in the afternoon at South Portland, Maine, the PanAm - MEC Rigby yard on our way to the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Augusta, Maine. Although it was a short visit we did see a good amount of power...George Dutka 

One needs a telephoto lens to get a close look at the power.

It would have been great to have a closer look at the two plows behind the office building.

Don and I headed to the north end of the yard to catch a train departing with three nicely painted PanAm engines. These views are taken from near the old control tower. We are standing on a raised portion of the road next to our vehicle and with a cop car right next to us.

We got distracted taking our photos as the police officer seem to want to ask us some questions regarding what we were up to right when the train was going by. All was good though.

White River Jct. - Changing the Era

I was going through some of my photo files last week and came across a group of photos Peter and I posed 8 years ago on the WRD. I know I have some views Peter took...will have to keep digging and at some point  share those with you.

Peter Mumby and I staged some contemporary scenes on the White River Division using some of Peter's equipment and engines back in the spring of 2013. Since then the layout has had a refit...George Dutka

Hiding the Heritage

New siding being applied in Ft. Edward, NY on November 4, 2018.

Don Janes and I stopped at Ft. Edward, NY at the end of a day visiting layouts and railfanning following the Albany Fine Scale Expo. One stop was along the main throughway in town to photograph a few of the homes we found interesting.

This home was getting new siding still showing some of the original finishes. With a lot of heritage structures being refurbished to their origins someone will get a nice surprise in about 40 years when they peel back this layer of vinyl and find cedar shakes....George Dutka

Wordless Wednesday No. 443

 

 

WOD-NMRA Tailgate Meet

The Saturday Waterloo Central Railway tourist train arrives at the shop area shortly after noon. One could tell an Alco was coming from around the bend even before I could see it. There was a good amount of black smoke. A real show for those waiting at the shop.

On Saturday our area NMRA group had its first in-person get-together in almost two years. I called it a tailgate meet as we all displayed our models and things for sale from our trunks or engine hoods. There was twelve vehicles to visit and we all had our lawn chairs. The location was St Jacobs a popular tourist area that also includes the Waterloo Central Railway which operates on Saturday and the Aberfoyle O scale layout. Our WOD Superintendent selected a really nice park with lots of shade that was just out of the way of the crowds in town...we basically had the park to ourselves.

Once we finished our day at the park which included raffle prizes we headed over to the O scale club to have a private tour of the layout as the layout closes at 3pm. We got to see a lot of areas behind the scenes that most would not see.

I did stop at the Waterloo Central Railway as the tourist train was due prior to our meet. They are great allowing visitors to wander through the yard viewing the equipment. I was told the train would stop by the shop building as it was noon and the crew wants their lunch which the shop staff delivered. I remember the day's when train orders would be hooped up...now days its lunch...George Dutka 

The group sets up for the WOD-NMRA tailgate event.

A good group of water tanks...two are scratch-built.

A view from the train operators window out to the layout. The operators use a large selection of cameras to see the trains they are operating.

The Waterloo Central Railway's shop track.

On my way home I stopped by the CN Stratford, Ontario yard. The GEXR had two engines laying over with no Goderich train this day. CN freight was being handled by a vintage group of four engines.

Help Please!

 

Last years free kit offering.

I was going to build this FOS free kit this past summer and realized that the roof stencil was missing. I contacted FOS if one was available. I did not hear back, I guess he has a lot going on with all the new kits coming up. Can anyone help me out by loaning me the stencil if you have the kit...George Dutka   

ITLA a Second Look

The loading dock area has a lot of detail included such as side-ladder, corrugated metal undersides and a skid that is included which needs building up. I did not realize that the awning also should have corrugated metal till after it was installed. I just scribe panels onto it before coloring.

A close up look at the Albany Manufacturing Co. There are a lot of detail cut into the sides and much more one can add-on...George Dutka

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