Welcome, follow along with George Dutka in his journal which documents the additions and future thoughts for the HO scale White River Division model railroad and to his continuing historical New England railroad research. The White River Division is now in its 17th modeler's season. The "modeler's season" runs from November to April each year. Inspiration comes from the Boston and Maine, Rutland and Central Vermont Railway during the 1950's with additional posts by Don Janes and Peter Mumby.
Tuesday 31 January 2023
Monday 30 January 2023
Back Home!
Otto took a few views of me signing books. Oh he gave me this nice sign to take home...maybe my best find at the show. |
My trip to Springfield was as good if not better than most. Hard to believe it was warm enough I did not wear a coat the whole time away. RMC-White River launched my new book and I spent a couple of hours signing books and talking to friends that stopped by. I did not purchase as much as I normally do but I have a couple of neat things that I will show you once I take a photo of them.
I spent Friday railfanning at Palmer, Springfield Amtrak station and took a look around the old station site in Enfield, Ct. the town I was staying in. I had visited this location a few years back but things are changing. I had done some research into the area and found there was an active gun powder buisness here back in the day and also a huge carpet mill along with many of the regular industries in this type of city. It was an industrial area for sure. I got lucky and caught a short SB freight just as I arrived...George Dutka
Saturday 28 January 2023
Live Steam at Springfield!
CV Larson Green
I was recently asked about who makes CV Larson Green. Unfortunately I could not find anyone that does. I looked up some old articles of CV equipment and engines in that color and the authors did not note the mix they used. I actually asked around to see what other have been using which is a variety of shades.
The photo above shows a freshly painted engine and a well weathered green Geep. I would think that one does not need to worry about the actual tone if weathering is applied. These engines, the green would fade as time passes also. So I would think that any Vermont green tone could do...George Dutka
Friday 27 January 2023
Tiny Railroads - New Location!
At the Woodstock show I learned that Tiny Railroads is moving from the Delhi location to Hamilton in February. The flyer gives one the new address...George Dutka
Wednesday 25 January 2023
Off to Springfield!
An Accurail boxcar is one of the cars found in the weathering chapter in a new RMC book out now. |
Tuesday 24 January 2023
C&O Boxcar - More Views
A few more views of the weathered boxcar. The sides were done lightly with the roof being the focus of the project...George Dutka
Monday 23 January 2023
St Albans Roundhouse - Interior
Inside the St. Albans Roundhouse Oct. 2 2010. |
Last weekend I was working a table at the Woodstock train show when my friend John Hajnosz from the Buffalo, NY area passed by. It has been a long time since we last saw each other. We had a good chat which usually covers New England modeling. John is in the process of building the St. Albans roundhouse. He was interested knowing if there were many pits in the stalls. I told him I had a tour of the roundhouse during a CVRHS convention. I though there were pits in most stall but was not sure without looking at the photos I took. As usual I did not take as many photos as I should have, it was pretty dark in there....George Dutka
The interior of the two stall machine shop also has pits. |
As one can see there are pits in the stalls. |
Sunday 22 January 2023
C&O Boxcar - Yankee Clipper Models
This nicely assembled C&O boxcar came across my workbench for some weathering recently. I gave the roof a bit extra. |
I finished weathering this double door auto boxcar recently and through I would share with you what I did...George Dutka
Saturday 21 January 2023
C&O Double Door Auto Car
Friday 20 January 2023
CP Train Order Signals
I was recently at my local hobby shop and noticed this package of CP train order signals. They probably have been on the pegboard for a long time but never notice them before. These might work well in a CP scene that may become a drop-in for the layout...George Dutka
Thursday 19 January 2023
Throwback Thursday - CN 48'6" Gondolas
CN48681 Sarnia, Ontario January 1989. |
CN90572 at Hamilton, Ontario. April 1989. Many of these cars were painted CN orange while in OCS service. |
Wednesday 18 January 2023
Monday 16 January 2023
January Update 2023
I found this on a blog I follow that views this neat little structure well worth modeling from an earlier era. I kind of like the name of the place too. |
Kevin Smith sent out some photos a few Fridays back which included this neat looking B&M work car that is well worth modeling. |
My Bachmann S-4 CV 8027 heads past the water tank on the WRD. I took this photo a week or so ago after adding some new weathering effects to the engine. I built this one back in 2012. |
I cropped this NH boxcar that I believe F&C has a kit for...I might even have the kit still to build, I will have to check....so much to do. |
My section house in Westboro was built from measurements I took many years ago of the prototype. I built this back in 2014. |
Sunday 15 January 2023
NH 40' Boxcar - Car of Progress
This scan of a slide did not have any details on it but appears to be in use as advertising for a centennial celebration. It also notes that it is the New Haven's car of progress. |
Saturday 14 January 2023
CN Hopper - Rapido Model
The completed model set for service. |
I recently finished weathering one of the newer offering by Rapido. The CN hopper received some chalk marks using Micro Scale Decals 87-1522. There is some neat old time graffiti on the sheet. Wheels are painted acrylic cinnamon brown followed by some Bragdon Powder. The couplers are painted a mix of MIG rust and brown oxide primer. MIG silver on hose bag tips. This car is one of the more lightly weathered cars on the WRD...George Dutka
The model gets some extra Paynes extra dark on the ribs. |
I went light on the weathering inside the hopper although most of the prototype cars were well worn. |
Most of the car was given a light coat of PanPastel raw umber shade. Down the center of the panels I ran a light coat of PanPastel blender to fade the coloring a bit. |
Friday 13 January 2023
St. J 70 Tonners
My two Bachmann 70 tonners that I have detailed to reflect the St. J. They have DCC included but no sound. The base paint is factory applied. |
Thursday 12 January 2023
Adding FOS Fire Alarms
On my Monster Modelworks building flat I added a FOS water driven alarm bell and hydrant attached to the wall. |
All the detail one can add to a structure pays off once set in a scene. |
Wednesday 11 January 2023
Monday 9 January 2023
Hyde Park, Ontario - 1992
CN 5031 leading the way on January 19, 1992. The Exeter Sub switch is hidden behind the lead engine. The corner of the temporary switch tender- operators shanty is seen in the bottom right corner. |
Another of my winter slides that I have scanned. This time a look at Hyde Park, station area years after the structure was removed. I am on the Hyde Park overhead bridge looking down. A nice place to view the passing trains...George Dutka
Sunday 8 January 2023
Busy Day at White River Junction
I took this photo back in 2013 of the CV shop area at the coal tower. I actually had my small camera set on the rails while shooting along the tracks through the coal tower loading area. I thought it turned out well and want to share it with you. I think I have posted similar photos in the past as I took about a dozen different views that day switching equipment around a bit...enjoy...George Dutka
Saturday 7 January 2023
CV Milk Car Green
CV milk car is first up on the B&M train at Lowell, Ma 1950 |
I had some questions directed at me a while ago about the correct green for CV milk cars in the 1950's. Most of the photos I have seen the lighting is what appears to affect how the color looks. In many the color appears to be closer to Pullman green but with a brighter green tone to it. This photo that appeared on RMC's Facebook page some time ago views a B&M train with a CV milk car first up. The milk car appears much brighter green than other views although once I reduce size down to one that fits my blog allocation of size it really does not show well...George Dutka
Friday 6 January 2023
Ship Island - Goderich, Ontario
In this winter view one can see how many ships were in the harbor at one time. The track in the foreground is the CPR interchange and mill tracks. The CN trackage is not seen but just to the right. |
Bruce Douglas passed along these neat views of an island that once could be found in the middle of Goderich, Ontario harbor. I have no knowledge of an island ever being there but it is neat to see and study. I feel there is a lot of inspiration from this island that could make its way onto a layout or diorama...George Dutka
Another view once the ice is gone with views the CNR trackage on the right. Today the CN trackage is used to service the salt mine which was built at the far end of the trackage. |
This overhead view can really inspire someone to model such a scene. |