Dwight Smith

Dwight A. Smith, age 100, of Tilton, N.H., passed away Aug. 8, 2025, at the New Hampshire Veterans Home with his loving family by his side.  

Dwight was employed by the Boston and Maine Railroad from 1947-55 in Boston, then in Concord, N.H. From 1956-59, he served as general manager of the Springfield Terminal Railroad and Cheshire Bridge Corp in Springfield, Vt. He returned to the Boston and Maine Railroad as Regional Sales Manager in Portland, ME from 1960 to 1972.

In 1973, Dwight moved his family to Conway, NH where he co-founded and managed the Conway Scenic Railroad (CSRR) from its inception in 1974 until his retirement in 1990. Steam locomotive number 7470 was formally named Dwight Smith by the CSRR in August of 2019.

Dwight started taking photos of trains in his teenage years and thanks to Bill Willis, his amazing collection lives on in the Dwight Smith Photo Collection on Facebook. In 2020, Dwight moved to the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton, NH.

From the Dwight Smith Facebook page. No other details.

B&M - Rockingham

B&M 1572-1575 cross the diamond on Oct. 25, 1967. It is not often one see the back of the frt. shed. I had modeled the roof a charcoal tone which I see is a lighter grey here in this view. Guess I best pull out my PanPastels again. The freight house was torn down in the mid-2000's.

I want to thank Ted Houghton for allowing me to post his photos of Rockingham. Ted was quite fortunate to catch action on his visits and on one occasion two train at the diamond at the same time. I have visited this location once in 2016 with Don Janes. It does not look anything like what we see in these views.

This location can be easily modeled with kits of both B&M structures available from BEST models. I have already built the freight shed, now to track down the station. I am not sure how I will display them once completed. Maybe a diorama or maybe included on the layout...George Dutka  

Two trains at Rockingham B&M 1572-1575 and B&M 1566 on Oct 25, 1967. Photo by Ted Houghton

C-9 with B&M 1571-1572 Dec 18, 1967 Photo by Ted Houghton.

D-6 with B&M 1566 on Oct, 25, 1967. Ted Houghton photo.

Rapido NH Trailer

My completed trailer with only light weathering applied.

A few months ago I purchased a Rapido NH Trailer. I gave it a coat of flat finish then applied some AK and PanPastels. Think it turned out well...George Dutka   

AK gouache grime an acrylic weathering paste was also used.

The completed trailer in use on the WRD.

I used a light wash of Tamiya panel liner on the side ribs.

Model Hobby Businesses Closing in Canada

This post is directed at our Canadian Modelers. Here in Southwestern Ontario we have two model train business closing. Paris Junction Hobbies at the end of October and Yarmouth Model Works which has already closed. Other Canadian model railroad business such as Otter Valley and ITLA are currently not shipping to the US which will really effect their business. This trade war is a nasty thing that probably will not go away till maybe the next election at best. Our hobby on both sides of the borders are being effected.

I think as a Canadian modeler we best look at supporting our Canadian modeling business so they can stay afloat till better times arrive once again. Maybe buy a laser structure kit for a change and give it a try, or a model car or truck that you always through of building. Maybe a piece of rolling stock and some weathering powders to play with. Don't forget MiniPrints they have a lot of neat 3-D printed goodies that can change the look of your layouts...George Dutka

Paris Junction has been around for 20 years. The owner could not find a buyer and plans to retire. Don and I stopped in there about a month ago and I know he was frustrated with shipping to and from the US. Getting books and magazines over the border adds a lot to the price modelers have to pay on a monthly basis. 

Pierre has shut down his rolling stock kit business which had a very good following in the US.

Wordless Wednesday No. 642

 

     

CN Georgetown, Ontario

The station as it looks on Aug. 17, 2025. It is still used by VIA passengers and in very good shape.

I stopped by Georgetown, Ontario on my way to Muskoka to meet up with one of my kids and family. I had not been to Georgetown since I passed through town when I worked 434-435 almost 20 years ago. A lot has changed since then. The short station track is gone and a three track GO passing tracks and platforms are now in place were the GO trains were once stored. I was there long enough to see a CN wb freight pass by...George Dutka

Looking east towards Toronto and Mac Yard.

This view is looking across from the GO platform north of the station.

Looking west. Not far and just out of the photo is Silver which is the junction with the Guelph Sub. which we called the back way to London. VIA trains through Georgetown uses this route.

The wb is approaching the station. Georgetown is a place were there can be a lot of slack action in the train with a number of dips and grades.

A very clean looking unit was trailing in the consist.

Essex Terminal No. 9

 

May 4 2002 view at St. Thomas South of ETR #9. Peter Mumby Photo

A few more views I scanned of Peter's, these ones of ETR #9...George Dutka     

ETR crossing the trestle at St. Mary's on Sept 26, 2003. Peter Mumby photo.

A posed night view on Aug 20, 2000 at St Thomas. Peter Mumby photo. 

Manchester, Vt. Creamery on the Rutland Ry.

Here is the latest scoop from Bill Badger...George Dutka 

George, since you seem to be in building mode on your blog, here’s my latest project. I like doing mockups to see if a prototype will fit before building it. Manchester had a rather modern (ca. 1921) creamy which survives, but much modified. I left a space for it on my layout, but I had no idea if the space was right, so I counted bricks, drew it and built a mockup from pad of paper backing cardboard. I tend to go a bit overboard on mockups because I want to get a feel for what a finished model will look like and I know mockups tend to live on and on. I also get a good idea how to build the real model and what ready made parts to buy.

In this case the prototype is five bays deep, but I could only fit three. Don’t tell. This the front of the original, on the upper level, now buried under later additions. This is my shortened mockup with a quick and dirty front elevation colored in from my print. I found a plastic straw for a stack.

This and That - August 2025

There was this nice Alouette glass sign for sale at the Ancaster train show this past weekend. I thought about it but was not sure were it could go in my basement. 

Just a bit about what I have been up to lately and railfanning this past weekend. I have not been up to much as I was away with the family to Muskoka to ride the lake boat. The steam lake boat was what we hoped to ride was having work done but the backup is quite nice...George Dutka

I had a ride on the Muskoka lake boats this past week. They are docked in Gravenhurst, Ont.

The steam powered Segwun was fired up for some tests prior to a test sail the next day.

I began working on the Moster Modelworks MEC freight yard office. The bracing should be applied before assembly. The instructions tell one to add after. The other two walls will have them added shortly.

The prototype is located in Bangor, Maine.

At the train show there was a gentleman from eastern Ontario selling some of his craftsman kits he had built. He had done a really nice job.

One of his smaller structures is a FOS offering. That is a good price for that one.

Overall view of the Ancaster train show.

A CN WB passes the Georgetown station during the afternoon on Aug. 17, 2025. The last time I was in Georgetown was while I was working passing the station on a train. That was over 16 years ago. A lot has changed. There is now three GO passing tracks, platforms and parking lots just north of the station. The station is very good shape. Also the short station track the passenger trains once used is gone.

The old CN Brantford freight house and yard office is being renovated for another use. Aug. 17 2025

The CN power that is used locally in Brantford is seen on layover. Aug 17, 2025.

A great catch...CPKC 528 passes the old MC station in downtown Detroit on Aug. 16, 2025 led by a heritage painted unit. Kenneth Borg photo.

Before and After

by Keith MacCauley  

CP 5500 was released from GMD London in July of 1966, reportedly the first Canadian built SD40. Part of a group of some sixty-five CP SD40’s, the builder’s initial sub par traction control caused the railway to switch manufacturers, albeit, temporarily. Subsequent dissatisfaction with GMD/GMDD competitor MLW ended their relationship. Development of the SD40 into the SD40-2 would result in one of the most popular locomotive of all time, and CP would acquire several hundred of the improved model. Remarkably, aside from paint, CP 5500 looks very much as delivered. Fortunately, someone at Canadian Pacific recognised the historical significance of their first six motor London Ontario built product. Following its 2001 retirement, in 2007 CP 5500 was donated to the Revelstoke Railway Museum. Further to building a protective pavilion, the museum is fundraising to perform a cosmetic restoration. For more information on the locomotive and museum go to; https://www.trainweb.us/cprdieselroster/ and Revelstoke Railway Museum WebsiteCPR Diesel SD 550

Wordless Wednesday No.641

  

B&M No. 1505

Billerica shops spring 1971 Douglas Kydd photo.

Thought this view above was interesting. If one has an extra shell this could be a great modeling scrap engine project for your shop track...George Dutka

Douglas also passed along this view of B&M 1505 assembling what will be Steamtown May-June 1959 Wakefield, Ma. Russel F. Moore.

Modeling CP Work Cars

Back in the spring Roger Chrysler was working the WOD-NMRA Craftsman Corner. He had brought along his fleet of Accurail 36' boxcars converted into CP work cars. I found them very interesting to view. Thought I would give you a peek at them too...sorry all views are with my phone...George Dutka