White River Junction, Vermont

An overhead view of CV 4927 from Peter Mumby's collection of CV photos.

A few views I scanned recently of White River Jct. A couple are from the collection of Peter Mumby...George Dutka       

A photo I scanned from I think my George Melvin prints. Dated 1963.

No data for this one but I believe it is a copy from the CVRHS collection. Neat 1950's scene to view at WRJ.

A photo of the B&M from my collection of photos. No information.

Snapshot - November 2025

 

I took this shot in 2000 of what I think was a run from Bellows Falls to Rutland, Vermont. East Wallingford, Vt.

This months snapshot is a couple of views of the section house on the Green Mountain Ry. 25 years ago...George Dutka    

May 2000

MEC Bangor Yard Tower

The back wall got a ladder to the roof a downspout and electrical box. 

Once I was done with the basic construction I went back and added some details to the two walls one does not see as they are pretty plain. I added downspouts leftover from the back alley build ITLA and a ladder to the roof. I could not find one with a cage around it which would have been better, but that can be changed out in the future. I also added a ITLA electrical box and a Mini Prints 3-D printed gas meter. All for now...George Dutka

Downspout, 3-D gas meter, some piping and weeds.

All done for now! 

Throwback Thursday - CN 5507

by Keith MacCauley 

SD60F CN 5507 was delivered to Canadian National from GMDD London in February of 1989. The cowl bodied locomotive would represent the last design development initiated by the then government owned railway. Seeking to improve cold weather performance, CN reached back into EMD’s 1960’s catalogue and specified FP45 style hood geometry, albeit with a twist; the so called behind cab ‘Draper Taper’ rearward visibility notches. In continued pioneering fashion, the perceived enhancement would debut with the BBD (formerly MLW) HR-616 in 1982. (In 1973 MLW had previously launched the CN developed so called ‘Safety’ cab on their M-420). In ‘Monkey See – Monkey Do’ fashion, both GMDD and GE would follow suit with their own cowl version; respectively SD50F/SD60F, and DASH 8-40CM. Despite their ingenuity, none of the ‘Draper Taper’ variants would enjoy extraordinary longevity. First to go would be the HR-616’s, mostly due to previously experienced Alco/MLW woes. In similar fashion, the GMDD SD50F’s would succumb prematurely, with 50 series reliability issues a contributor. While both the SD60F’s and DASH 8-40CM’s were mechanically solid, none were upgraded or otherwise rebuilt. No doubt the cowl induced increased maintenance costs contributed to their eventual, somewhat premature, demise. Although several SD50F/SD60F’s would find employment beyond their original owner, No. 5507 was not among them. Just shy of three decades of service CN 5507 was dismantled in 2018.

Wordless Wednesday No. 654

 

   

Rutland Ry No. 405

 

Rutland Ry No. 405 at Bellows Falls during Oct 1982. I scanned this photo that my friend Chris Martin took and used as a Christmas card some years ago...George Dutka  

On the Layout!

My new Rutland Ry motor car shed is on the layout. Some details still need to be added around the door...George Dutka 

November 2025 - Update

LW 1002 December 19, 1999 in the CP yard London, Ont. Peter Mumby photo.

I am away for a week to the Bahamas beginning Sunday. I am not taking any electronics with me so there will not be any posts the coming week or after this one. Till then try to stay warm...George Dutka  

Some views I took this year around the CPKC yard. In the CPKC yard London, Ont. Aug 21 2025

CPKC yard London, Ont. May 8 2025

An patch job CN boxcar with COER 174007 reporting marks found in the CPKC yard Aug. 21, 2025

CPKC yard London, Ont. Aug 21, 2025 

Two donuts on this one. That would have taken a lot of work and paint. Looking through the fence in the CPKC yard London, Ont. Nov. 2 2025.

CPKC WB Nov 8, 2025 this car is pretty new paint with a lot of graffiti on the side.

CPKC WB in London Nov 8 2025. To a modeler the weathering is kind of neat on this car with faded brown.

ITLA - Alleyscape

  

VIA Siemens Venture Trains

 

 

by Keith MacCauley

Recently I had the opportunity to travel from Toronto to Montreal and back, both ways on VIA’s new Venture Trains. Some observations as follows.

I was fortunate enough to travel in Business Class (VIA 1), which included bar service and a meal. The onboard Wi-Fi was steady with only minimal interruptions. The interior of the premium Venture coach was bright and airy with a mixture of light and dark grey colouring along with simulated wood grain accents. The washroom was basically airliner like in size and appointments. Leg room is plentiful with decently padded seats arranged in a two/aisle/one arrangement. A total of four electrical outlets are available at either seat arrangement. To me the ride is not quite as good as that of LRC coaches and suffers from a more or less constant rocking/oscillating motion. Thinking that this movement attribute is related to push (locomotive at rear of consist) rather than pull operation. Top speed noted on the overhead display console was 160 KPH. Only a couple of pet peeves. Similar to the refurbished LRC VIA 1 coaches, half the seats face forward, while the other half face backward. Guessing that regular coach fare is configured likewise. I understand that turning train sets is costly, however reversible seating (available on Amtrak Amfleet coaches) was invented over a century ago. Surely, a modern-day version could be engineered. Not sure that one can book forward facing as along the way I noted Venture train sets configured both ways; locomotive leading, locomotive trailing. As reference, the seat reversal is between rows eight and nine. Much more annoyingly, the seats do not recline; again, surely a modern-day version (as was included in the VIA 1 LRC upgrade) could have been specified. Overall, to me, a very worthwhile expenditure of hard-earned tax dollars on behalf of VIA. Regrettably, unlike the LRC train sets, not designed or built in Canada (incredibly, the BBD built LRC passenger cars are more than forty years old and well beyond their service design timeframe for an aluminum bodied transportation structure).

Another Detailing Job

My finished version on the left. Not sure if you can see the seam were the two roof sections join.

I picked up this section house at Broughdale's Hobby here in London, Ontario a couple of weeks ago. They have a back area in the store that is second hand stuff and you might find something interesting. If you are an Algoma Central fan you will find lots as there is a whole stack of engines and cars for this road. 

I rebuilt one the same section house models for my Bellows Falls yard some years ago. I thought the structure was a kit-bash as it had a seam in the roof but it appears it must have been a kit offering by someone decades ago. This one is in a lot better shape than the one I started with before. Well we will see how it goes...George Dutka  

It appears there is a bit of difference as the one I just got has a door in both ends where mine has two windows at one end.

My model with the door open makes a more interesting structure to view.

The roof seam as this could be be built as two structures  or combined with an center insert section.

Before I begin taking the structure apart. It is not glued well so should work out well. I will remove the large door and roof and chimney as the roof joint to the walls has a large gap. The window plastic glaze will be removed also and replaced once painted.

Throwback Thursday

By Keith MacCauley

 ARR 4001  

 Alaska Railroad SD70MAC ARR 4001 was built by GMDD London in December of 1999. Something of a pioneering unit, No. 4001 was the first AC unit purchased by the remote state-based railroad and uniquely equipped with HEP to facilitate passenger train assignments. The Alaska RR would acquire a total of twenty-eight SD70MAC’s; ARR 4001 – 4016 (built 1999/2000), ARR 4317 – 4324 (built 2004) and ARR 4325 - 4328 (built 2007).

The six axle SD70MAC was EMD’s first mass production AC locomotive. Following a quartet of SD60MAC testbeds, EMD/GMDD would go on to produce more than a thousand SD70MAC’s between 1993 and 2004. So pleased with their fleet, the Alaska RR would convince GMDD to supply four additional SD70MAC’s in 2007 after the builder had moved on to alternate catalogued SD70 model variants. Burlington Northern, followed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe would receive the Lion’s share of SD70 MAC production with almost eight hundred rostered. Of note, the SD70MAC would represent the last time the builder would advance locomotive development ahead of longtime rival GE. Erie’s landmark ‘AC’ series, introduced shortly thereafter, would go on to dominate the industry, with follow up variants still in command today.

Wordless Wednesday No. 653

 

 

Dannen Feeds - RailroadKITS

As mentioned in an earlier post in Sarnia the NMRA-WOD division had a build of a number of kits. Don Janes was in attendance and built the RailroadKITS Dannen Feeds. The kits the group worked on were basic kits that they could complete by the end of the day. Some did and some did not as they spent time catching up with other members. I had construction paper tarpaper roofing for everyone to try and I also went around and showed how to paint the structure using powders. 

Don works well and fast having his kit done except for signages. Here are some views Don sent of how his kits looks. He did a great job on the build...George Dutka

Westboro

The old B&M Westboro terminal. Sept 12 2025

You saw Danes views yesterday, well here is what there is actually there today. 

The B&M engine terminal remains found in West Lebanon was removed a little while ago. I stopped by there to see for myself. Well the area is cleared out of anything railroad related. Now there is just weeds growing. I had anticipated a park or walkway. There still is trackage to an industry and an unloading site to the east. I did not spend much time there as it was busy at the lumber yard that I was parked in plus construction going on on the roadway. Another visit maybe on a Sunday will happen at some point. I could not see the station but did not wander down that way...George Dutka   

There is still some trackage there to switch the industry just over the bridge.

Heading east there is a unloading facilities on site. 

West Lebanon NH

Here is a small group of photos taken by Dane Malcolm back in the 1960's of West Lebanon B&M engine terminal. Always nice to see photos from there as I model that area. Dane has captured the area well that I thought I would share with you. Thanks Dane for allowing me to post these views...George Dutka