CP - Bachmann S-2

CP's S-2 works it's way along the White River Division during a later era scene.

I purchased a few years back a Bachmann engine with sound that I was planning to repaint into a New England line. I decided since I was going to have a contemporary fleet on display at times I would need a  few engines. Although this particular CP engine was not used in New England it was used in Ontario and is currently on display in downtown Toronto. I have been using it as is but decided to add a bit of weathering and a few simple detail add-ons. Here is what I did to my engine in one afternoon.

Details Added
I added Juneco C-33 rerailers painted Floquil #12 CN yellow, Details West SL-172 step lights, door handle on rear of cab from bent wire, wiper blades from my parts box, Details West FF167 sand filler and Details Associates #1107 Alco lift rings. I only had a couple on hand so more might be added at a later date. I added Walthers ACL labels D679-HO and touched up the paint in areas missing with white, black and red. That's about it. I could have added the front hood grabs and more on the side but I only have a few left and they are needed on a boxcar I am also working on. These days with our local hobby shop not carrying much in the line of detail parts I have to wait to get restocked when traveling and hitting other shops...George Dutka

I added some red chalk to dull down the shine of the red. One can see it has been applied to the cab roof. More red chalk will follow shortly.

My small fleet of B&M beer cars are being taken care of by CP 7020.

Part of the windows are removed to include an engineman. At some point or when I get motivated once again I will paint up a brakeman. He will find his way into the other window.

Some weathering has been added as these Alcos sure looked grimy throughout most of their working years.

A caboose hop heading over the White River. The caboose is a Rapido offering.

On display in Toronto, Ont. Aug 2015.

CP 7020 on display at John St. roundhouse near Rogers Center and Union Station, Toronto, Aug 2015.

CN Glencoe Station

The CN Glencoe station on Aug 20 2016 looks a lot better than it did during the years I worked on the CN. It has been moved back from the tracks a bit and is the center of attention at this park.

Today we took two of our grand-kids blueberry picking at Parks Blueberry farms. On the way we passed through Glencoe the location of a really nicely restored CN station. It has been years since I last was here and have spend many a night waiting for meets out in front of this station. Wish that Tim Horton's donut shop located across the tracks was there back then...George Dutka

A typical  CN style section house and CN caboose are also located on site.

The CN section house is in very good shape. There is a lot of track space behind the caboose if more rolling stock is acquired.

Railfanning With a Twist - Company Service Trucks

This NECR vehicle was just pulling into the Palmer parking lot as we arrived.  March 30, 2016.

Photo Essay by Peter Mumby

Most railfans have their cameras at the ready as the head end of a train approaches, and then just watch dutifully as the rest of the consist passes by.  Some of us also stay vigilant for interesting pieces of rolling stock.  And then there is my friend Luc.  He likes to watch it all, but often limits his photography to company service rolling stock..........and company service trucks!  Recently I have occasionally found myself thinking along these same lines, so what follows are a few examples from our recent excursion to New England.  Many of these photos were taken at Palmer, Mass.

All GW vehicles have a distinct family resemblance.  This one looks a lot like the Huron Central and OVR vehicles Luc and I photographed three years ago in Northern Ontario.

A number of CSX vehicles were congregated in a parking lot at Palmer.

Progress Rail has a facility in Palmer near the NECR yard.

CSX crews were busy in Palmer on Mar. 30/16.

This GMRC truck was parked in nice evening light at Bellows Falls Vt. on Mar. 30, 2016. The impressive Robertson Paper Co. structure in the background has been featured in a number of George's posts.

It was a dull afternoon when we visited Pittsfield, Mass., both from a weather and train-watching standpoint.  This CSX truck was practically the only game in town.  Note the snow on the hood in this Apr. 04/16 photograph.

Re-purposed Boxcar

Palmer Mass. May 2015. An old CV boxcar still in use as an office and shop.

If you seen the Aug 2016 issue of RMC you have seen the re-purposed boxcar feature. One of the photos that did not make it into the feature, which I really liked is a boxcar currently still in use by the NECR in Palmer, Mass. I took this photo last May while railfanning the area with Don. It was still in use this April when Peter and I stopped by. This might be a scene I would like to model as a mini scene...may have to make another stop for a few more detailed views...George Dutka

Wordless Wednesday No. 194

Caboose Hobbies to Close

Just a note...another hobby shop on its way out...George Dutka

Humid Week Cool Down - Remember Winter is Coming

Not sure what the story is behind a GT plow visiting Quebec during March 1983. Gord Taylor collection.

A GT plow in Quebec is one of the slides I have scanned for Peter Mumby from the Gord Taylor collection...enjoy this cool view during another hot spell...George Dutka

Heading Through the Tunnel

A late evening view of my new CP caboose heading through the Bellows Falls tunnel. This Rapido, custom painted offering by George's Trains has operating marker lights.

I picked up this one of a kind CP caboose at George's Trains during Peter's and I visit to Rapido. George's Trains is across the street from Rapido in Toronto. If one is interested they still have a few left and they are currently about half price. Peter and I covered this caboose back last winter...George Dutka

Billerica Ma. Shop

Billerica, Ma. shops January 24, 1975, Bruce Nelson photo

Peter and I stopped by the old shops at North Billerica, Ma. back this spring. Just recently Bruce Nelson was posting some views of the interior of these shop building 41 years before our visit....neat to see how it once looked. Thanks Bruce for allowing me to post these view here...enjoy...George Dutka

Jan. 24, 1975 Bruce Nelson photo

Bruce Nelson photo

Billerica Shop on April 2 2015 George Dutka photo.

This is what Peter and I saw inside the shops on April 2, 2016.

Jan 24 1975 Bruce Nelson photo

Bruce Nelson photo

Wharf Street Layout - Peter Mumby's Views

A local Forney drifts though town.

Since both Peter and I photographed the Wharf Street Layout at Bar Mills I thought I would show you a few of Peter's views here and mine on my Modeling Maine in Narrow Gauge blog. For Peter's views I picked shots that are along the waterline. Art modeled the layout as one is in the bay looking inland...enjoy...George Dutka

Peter's overall view has Art showing me something on his phone. Note how the water is throughout the layouts foreground.

The wharf scene features many boats.

Two more of the boats are well modeled and appear to be floating in the water.

Art has added many details to each scene.

And at the end of the layout is the location for a rail car ferry to arrive. The ferry is not modeled but presumed on its way.

Whats in the Box - No 21

A Bethlehem Car Works kit offered a couple of years ago.

A StJ&LC RPO/coach #113

Here is what one gets in a laser cut Bethlehem Car Works kit. StJ number 113 is an interesting offering if one models Northern Vermont. I am looking forward to get started on this project shortly. Think it will work well with my St.J 70 tonners....George Dutka

A nice looking photo is included with the kit.

The ends and roofing are seen here.

As one can see the cuts are really clean cut making for a good build.

The instruction sheet is well laid out including prototype photos.

The trucks one need to complete this model.

Wordless Wednesday No. 193

A Church Steeple

The Wharf Street S scale layout included just a churches steeple to suggest more structures are nearby.

While visiting Art Fahie's Wharf Street Layout at the Bar Mills shop I noted this neat little way to model a church without having the whole structure. I have wanted to add a church somewhere on the White River Division but have not found a way yet to include one considering the layout is smaller in size...think I now have a better option...George Dutka

Not a hard structure to model...think that might work on the WRD. Check my Narrow Gauge blog later this week for more views of this layout.

An MEC Trailer

Gord Taylor photo, location unknown.

In Gord Taylor collection was this shot taken on Aug 11, 1974. Kind of a weather beaten trailer that we as modelers might want to consider adding to our fleet...I remember seeing a view of a MEC trailer that was still new recently in a magazine...George Dutka

Photocopied Roofing

Northeastern Scale Lumber Co. slate roofing beside a colour copy made this summer. One can see that at $15.49 a sheet and needing more than one sheet at times can run into a good bit of money. For a background building maybe this copy might be good enough.

While visiting with Mark Olstyn and Greg Rich this spring we touched on many interesting modeling ideas Mark and Greg had tried. One really caught my interest...photocopying roofing for use on background buildings. The cost of Northeastern roofing with a low Canadian dollar is getting steep. It seemed worth a try photocopying a sheet of roofing. I made a copy using a colour copier which uses a better quality of paper then the B&W machines. The copy turned out well although not exact. I have included a couple of photos for you to see for yourself. The next step is using it on a background structure...will let you know how I make out in the fall...George Dutka

One can see there is a bit of a difference between the original and the copy.

Snapshot - August 2016

Prior to visiting Bruce Douglas in Stratford, Ont. I stopped by the VIA station. As it turned out VIA #83 westbound was over an hour late and would be arriving shortly. June 21, 2016.

This month's snapshot is a mix of views I took back in June. This is a time I normally don't get out and about track side...I am usually at the lake...enjoy...George

From Stratford I drove to the lake. Since by then it was supper time my friend Brad who lives in Goderich (which is 10 minutes away) mentioned going for wings in town (a Tuesday special). I stopped by the GEXR station and shop for a quick visit and found this engine out in a nice sunny spot. First time I found an engine in town this year and well worth the stop.

The OSR shop on an overcast morning, June 23 2016. Peter and I stopped by to see what was happening on our way to the Rapido open house. Not a lot at the moment but it sure was nice to be able to wander through the shop area and check out all the neat old engines. This was my overall view.

Wordless Wednesday No. 192