Snapshot - June 2025

On display near the south end of NECR yard Palmer Mass. on Dublin St. Jan. 23 2025

This months snapshot is my views of Palmer, Ma. this January while visiting the area and the Springfield train show...George Dutka

NECR power in Palmer idling away. Nothing was moving during my visit.

Behind the yard office.

There is a private siding next to Dublin St. which had this equipment stored.

A newer structure is seen at Dublin St. at the south end of the yard. This structure was not there on my last visit.

Don and I stopped by Palmer Hobbies in June 2024 and it was closed which we found odd. I stopped by there once again on January 23, 2025 and found the hobby shop maybe permanently closed. I looked in the window and better than half of the store was cleaned out with what I saw through the window was in disarray. 

Oh I bet you did not know that Palmer has a university. This is near downtown.

Berlin Mills PC&F Boxcars

My Rapido car just out of the box. Will see what I do with them later this summer or fall.

Last week I picked up a couple of the new Rapido PC&F cars in B&M and Berlin Mills logos. I also thought I would show you how Rob Arsenault weathered up a variety pack; a trio of Berlin Mills cars. Thanks Rob for letting me post your great photos...George Dutka 

Rob's cars have different degree of weathering.

Gloucester, Mass. - Geoff Southwood

Gloucester, Mass. mid 1960's Geoff Southwood photos.

Geoff Southwood sent me a nice group of photo with the following comments...enjoy...George Dutka

In the mid sixties mu parents vacationed at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, northeast of Boston. As a teenager, they would rent me a bike and of course all roads led to either Gloucester or Rockport stations. Here are some shots I took back then at Gloucester. Unlike today, the engineer willingly invited me up to ride the cab as he switched the small yard there....Geoff.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 632

 

   

Reduced Posts

My workbench back in January when I was working on the ITLA back alley kit.

With summer around the corner things are getting busy for me. Grandkids sports, being away at the lake and I have a few trips planned that will eat up a good portion of the summer. My sister just retired and we are doing a few things together also. I have not been downstairs working on models in a bit and probably will not do much till the fall other than look at and sort some of Peter's slides. Posts will be down to maybe 3 or 4 times a week for a bit...I also don't use the internet much when at the lake.

The base for the ITLA kit is completed, the mockups are set in place. My CV Accurail boxcar got a weathered roof.

Sorry if I have been slow responding to you also as I don't get on line much when I am out and about. I have some post material sent in by friends to assemble, it could take sometime compared to the past. All will be back to normal once the fall arrives...have a great summer...George Dutka

Central Vermont Views

In CV paint transferred to the DW&P 3610 looks good in Proctor, Minn. 1968 Fred Bayerly photo, Bob Bowes collection. 

A few views by or from Peter Mumby collection. These were prints from his CV photo album that I scanned a couple of months ago. Some have been added to my collection while the rest are going to the CVRHS library on my next trip to Vermont...George Dutka

East Bellville Peter Mumby took this photo on July 12, 2000.

CV 44002 Oct. 16, 1967 at WRJ. Photo by L. Beaudoin from Gord Taylor collection, Peter Mumby copy.

This and That - June 2025

 

Peter Mumby's N scale module that we built that connects with one I have at home is now a display diorama at Otter Valley Hobby Shop at their front counter.

Just a mix of photos that I want to share with you...George Dutka 

Gord Taylor snapped a view of the gang gathered at the Denfield overhead bridge during the June 12, 2002 gathering of the FCRS (Forest City Railway Society).

The smallest Union station I know of is on the old L&PS line now Port Stanley Terminal Ry. in the town of Union. June 10, 2025.

More views of Peter's N scale module at Otter Valley.

Was on my way home from the lake on June 11, 2025 when I saw a CPKC EB headlight at mile 7 just west of London. I pulled over onto Pulham Rd and walked back for view. I do pass both the CN and CP tracks on my way and back to the lake. Sometimes I get lucky.

The EB had two KC units on the lead.

A CN 509 EB at London, Ont. The Walton sign is now gone. 509 is the London to Sarnia turn. Walton was the junction leading down to St. Thomas off the siding running downtown called Walkers . June 3, 2015, Peter Mumby photo.

Peter Mumby's cottage is near Havelock, Ont. and he spent a good amount of time railfanning the area during the summer. Peter was a teacher with summers off but by 2012 he was already retired. This view is of the CP on the Nephton Branch running up to a mine. May 14 2012 Peter Mumby photo.

The leftovers from the ITLA back alley kit. I was given the wall sections assembled but with no details on them to use as a guide during construction. On these mock-ups I added corner trim and will block some of the windows in while the leftover windows will be used in others. The walls will be modeled as cement parging. More on this build shortly. It did turn out pretty good.

MEC Caboose Office

I added a lot of chalk marks on the side. I even added a scratch mark decal over the number of the car.

I showed you this model awhile back (March) but thought I would take you up close...George Dutka  

By gluing on a good amount of details along the bottom and also some scraps on the roof it makes the model more interesting. Some Vallejo rust texture has been added on the roof and sides. Other than that PanPastels are used.

Before and After

I've always been a big fan of 'before' and 'after' scenes and I was inspired by your recent NH South Boston Yard photo post. So on my way to work last week I stopped to take an 'after' photo from the same Bay Street bridge some forty-eight years later.

Much has changed, but the RIP track is still in use!   Keith MacCauley

2025

Wordless Wednesday No. 631

 

Bob Bowes Collection  

Green Mountain Division - Approaching WRJ

 

This view is seen when one enters the layout room of Don Janes Green Mountain Division. This train has a CNR RS-3 leading as it approaches the yard at WRJ, Don Janes photo....George Dutka   

St J Boxcar

All I got was the date off the slide which was 1963. Neat to see though.

Another scanned slide without much information from I think the George Melvin collection I purchased...George Dutka  

Traveling with Peter Mumby

Don Peter and I visited Greg Rich's layout back on June 13, 2016. That is Mark Olstyn a CV modeler in the red shirt. Greg is to the far right.

A selection of scans I made of Peter prints taken on our trips, at home and an old one from the LMRA group clinic night. At some point I will post some of the railfan shots we took while away.

A Celebration of Life for Peter Mumby will take place at the Byron Legion, 1276 Commissioners Road West, London on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 2 to 5 PM...George Dutka.     

Peter and I used to have a workshop on Monday afternoon each week. This is one we had in my basement Dec. 2014. We alternated home visits.

A trip out east to the spring Model Railroad Expo had us stop by East Deerfield on March 30, 2016. Note Peter has only a sweatshirt on as we eat our lunch in the park by the railfan bridge. It was a nice warm day...but three days later we were hit by a snow storm while heading home.

We got lucky and had a lot to see from the railfan bridge this day at East Deerfield.

Taking a look around Utica NY on March 29, 2016.

Peter and I playing around with lights and backgrounds shooting my On30" module back on March 30 2015. The photos we took that day I have just sent into RMC 10 years later.

Peter working away at a local LMRA clinic in the early 1980's

Peter and I visited Don Janes and his wonderful Green Mountain Division on Dec 5 2012 

On our way back to Canada on the Sombra ferry after a visit to Greg Rich's layout 2016.

Peter is into the weeds to get his shot of a VIA train near Komoka Aug 3, 2021. That's the tail end unit of VIA 71.