Jim Dufour's B&M Cheshire Branch, Part 2....by Don Janes

B&M 2-10-2 #2901 hauls a drag freight through Webb.

One more look at the Cheshire Branch

     After chasing the Cheshire along the Cheshire Branch I thought I would do another post with various scenes around Jim's layout.  Jim's layout depicts typical railroading in New England in the late 1940's.  No glitter or show, just the way it would have looked if we could step back in time and watch the B&M trains that traversed this line.  For me, Jim's work has inspired me to raise the bar on my own layout.  I have looked at photos of Jim's layout many times when planning a scene and tried to adapt some of his techniques in my modelling.  I hope you will able to take something away from these two posts that will help you also.

     I must admit the quality of some of the photos is not that good due to taking them at Jim's open house where lots of people were enjoying the layout. I didn't want to get in their way with a cumbersome tripod so had to shoot hand held with high ISO and aperture wide open. Jim has installed overhead LED lighting balanced for daylight and this makes picture taking a breeze as far as getting a correct white balance.  Jim says they are a little pricey but well worth the investment and I agree.

    So, enjoy the tour.  I am heading to Arizona on Sat. for a couple of months and will be shooting trains on the BNSF (formerly the Santa Fe trans continental route) and the UP on the old Sunset Route through Arizona.  Hopefully I can do a post with some of those trains when I get home. 

Here is a closer look at the Feldspar load-out at Swanzey, NH.

Another view of 2901 at Webb.  The truck in the foreground is an asphalt truck that Jim kitbashed.

2901 holds the main at Troy while 2-8-0 2717 simmers in the siding waiting to follow.

Troy is home to a small oil and coal dealer which is located on the siding next to the freight house. All of the structures are faithfully modeled after the prototype.

Here at Fitzwilliam the 2901 is blowing for the crossing

This is Jim's model of the J.M Parker feed mill located at Fitzwilliam.  There is a very nice assortment of period vehicles parked around the structure.

A view from the other end of the feed mill.  I love Jim's scenery work around the mill, so simple and natural looking.

There are several of these prototypically accurate B&M semaphore signals on the layout. Although not lit Jim says they can be once he takes the time to wire them.  These beautifully detailed signals were built by the late Terry Wegmann

This is a very nicely detailed scene of the portable coal unloading convetor located on the siding at Webb.

Jim Dufour

A Railfan Day on Jim Dufour's B&M Cheshire Branch....by Don Janes

We caught up with the Cheshire at Swanzey, NH. In the background is a Feldspar loadout.

Chasing the Cheshire

     One of the main reasons I decided to make the trip to the Springfield, MA train show was to visit Jim Dufour's B&M Cheshire Branch model railroad.  I was undecided until Jim sent out a notice announcing that he would be having an open house on the Friday before the show.  My mind was made up.  I had visited Jim's layout back in 2009 and was very impressed but I knew from photos that Jim periodically sends out to his mailing list that he had made great progress since then, namely the Troy Ledges scene that he added a few years ago. 

    Jim's layout depicts the B&M's Cheshire Branch (South Ashburnham, Mass. (Fitchburg Div.) to Bellows Falls, Vermont (Conn. River & Rutland RR) in the late 1940's and he models five consecutive towns along the line.   From east to west they are State Line, Fitzwilliam, Troy, Webb and Joslin as well as the Troy Ledges area which is a hallmark scene on the layout. Each town is faithfully modeled using photos Jim has found during his extensive research of the line.  Some of these photos are posted along the layout fascia and you can really appreciate the work that Jim has put into the layout.  Not only are the scenes accurately reproduced, the workmanship is exceptional.  Every aspect of the layout is done to perfection from structures to rolling stock to scenery details. Nothing has been overlooked.  Jim, like Neil Schofield knows when there is just enough detail added to a scene and doesn't overdo it.  When I look at each scene I feel like I am standing down by the tracks on a summer day in the late 1940's. Jim's eye for creating the prototype is exceptional.  Just study the photos and see what I mean.  

       Jim has created some of the best scenery I have seen.  His static grass is very natural looking, his use of real dirt for the ground cover base and real cinders for ballast is cinders look extremely natural and his trees and other foliage bring the scene to life.  Jim says the secret to natural looking dirt and ballast is to keep it very fine.  He sifts all his ground materials through very fine screens to achieve this look.

      Today we are going to chase the Cheshire (renamed from the Flying Yankee while on the Cheshire Branch) along the Cheshire branch and see some of the great scenes Jim has created.  The model was done by Challenger Imports and it has a LOKSOUND decoder installed in it.  The train runs extremely smooth and is a joy to watch.  Lets step back in time and go trackside on the Cheshire Branch

The Cheshire is crossing the stone arch bridge at Webb Depot Road as it overtakes a local passenger train.  Jim scratchbuilt the bridge by carving individual stones and building them up to create the bridge. Unbelievable workmanship.

This photo shows the real bridge as it looks today. Jim worked from  photos to create his model.

At Webb the Cheshire is passing a steam powered local sitting in the clear in the siding. This is a very simple scene but has lots of very interesting detail. 

At the Troy Ledges the Cheshire emerges from a deep rock cut and will cross the river and old abandoned highway. The immense rocks dwarf the train in this scene.

Another shot of the train as it crosses the bridge.  Note how Jim has duplicated the interesting stonework on the bridge abutment.

One more look at the Troy Ledges scene.

After making a station stop at troy the Cheshire is passing a local freight tucked in the siding, ready to follow the passenger out of town.

Here is another stone bridge that Jim has accurately reproduced.  The section shanty is also a model of the shanty that once stood at Troy.

Our final shot of the Cheshire is taken at the stone arch bridge just outside of State Line.  I was fortunate to have gotten a set of these stone casting and have created a similar scene on my own layout.

Wordless Wednesday No. 218

Gord Taylor photo

CP Caboose - N Scale

My new addition to the N scale fleet.

Back in February while helping Peter at the Ancaster train show I came across a pretty nicely built CP plywood caboose kit. As I already have a CP Alco switcher for the N scale diorama I am building I thought this would work out well. The extremely low price made this my find of the day...George Dutka

All I did was clean off the dust and applya bit of soot (Bragdon powder) to the roof so the colouring would be more even.

I am really impressed that in N scale one can model an opening door...this is actually the storm door with the regular door in behind. The CV and CN had screen and storm doors on their wood caboose....humm...something to consider on my HO scale models.

Neil Schofield's CP Rail's Lyndonville & Newport Subdivisions in Vermont, Part 2....by Don Janes

 

A B&M local has taken the siding at Bradford.  Hopefully a through freight will show up.

Chasing a B&M Freight on the Lyndonville and Newport Subs

     After we had chased the two CP trains we stopped in Bradford for lunch.  I knew Marty McGuirk and company would soon be arriving and hoped we could catch another train before we had to leave.  Marty had explained that they had a private viewing with Neil and that we would not be allowed to interfere. As luck would have it a B&M local pulled into the siding at Bradford and stopped.  This was a pretty good indication there might be something else coming.  Not long after we heard the sound of an air horn not to far away.  Looking over my shoulder hoping Marty wouldn't show up, I held my breath hoping to get a few final shots.  Luck was with us and out from under the overpass came a B&M freight led by a trio of blue B&M geeps, two GP-9's and a GP-7.  What a pretty sight watching the blue geeps pass the weather worn maroon GP-7.  Having gotten the shots we wanted we piled into the car and hightailed it to Orleans, always on the lookout for Marty behind us. 

    We beat the train to Orleans, got some shots there and then headed onto the highway along Chrystal Lake for some final shots.  The railfan gods must have been with us because just as I was packing up the camera and tripod who arrived but Marty, Stic and Bernie.  Fortunately for us they had overstayed their welcome at Jason Fontaine's and were late arriving at Neil's place. We exchanged pleasantries then Bill and I headed for home.  We had a great Springfield weekend highlighted by two awesome model railroads.

   One other thing I wanted to mention about Neil's layout.  Neil has a real gift for creating extremely realistic scenes with just the right amount of detail.  He adds the necessary elements but knows when he has enough and doesn't overdo it.  Less is more so to speak.  So many times we want to just keep adding more details and clutter to a scene that really wouldn't be there in real life.  We can all learn many lessons when observing Neil's layout.  Thanks for welcoming us to your miniature Vermont Empire.

Here is another view of the Agway mill at Bradford.

The three blue B&M Geeps made an impressive showing as they passed the local .

We're back at the farm crossing at the steel bridge and were able to get a nice shot of the B&M freight. Again, try to find where the scenery ends and backdrop photo begins.

A view looking up the street as the train passes the Ethan Allen factory.

This closeup shows the detail Neil put into making the raised lettering on the side of the factory which matches the prototype.

One final shot in Orleans looking back down the hill into town.  We had to grab the shot and run if we hoped to get any photos at Chrystal Lake.

This is an overall shot at Orleans to show how Neil has captured the town and various industries, tracks and sidings.

This clearing along the highway provided a nice setting for a shot of the train beside the lake

One final shot along Chrystal Lake.  Neil accurately modeled this scene with the house from photos taken at this spot.

The gang visiting Neil's layout. From left to right Bernie Kempinski, Neil Schofield (tall) Don Janes (short) Stic Harris (former NHL draftee) Marty McGuirk and Bill Moore.

     

Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery - Model

My Bellows Falls Co-Operative creamery is set in place. The shipping section is done but the main portion of the structure is well underway.

My version of the Bellows Falls Co-Operative creamery is a building flat using a loading structure I purchase back in the fall and reworked plus two additional buildings. One is half of a  built kit I cut in half and the other is scratch-built. A second look at the scene will be coming shortly once the scenery is in place. Photos captions tell the rest of this story....George Dutka

The project began when I picked up this building flat at a local show. The block work was similar to what was found on the lower section of the creamery.

I began by pulling out the windows although some were falling out. The walls are painted car gray primer followed by a wash if india ink. The windows are left green. I changed one window to a loading door. I modeled both doors open with a bumper post below. A ladder is added to one opening. Flat finish is painted on window glazing and the back wall is sealed to keep out light. A Brookside sign is added to the structure. Roof details will be shortly applied. A new siding is also being added.

The tall section is cut down from a part finished kit my friend Bob gave me some years ago. Some of the windows are blocked in with styrene. Some of the trim is reinforced also. I believe it is a Walthers offering. I found I had some windows that fit in my parts drawers. The smaller section is scratch-built from wood and styrene.

Neil Schofield's CP Rail's Lyndonville & Newport Subdivisions in Vermont, Part 1....by Don Janes

CP Rail 4233 and B&M 1701 lead a freight past the Ethan Allen Furniture factory in Orleans, Vt.

     An Amazing HO Layout Based on the CP Rail Line in Vermont

     After a 7 year absence form the train show in Springfield, MA. I decided to make the trip with fellow modeller Bill Moore.  I normally would be in Arizona at this time of year but due to my father's health issues I can't go right now so figured I would re-visit the Big E show. The show was great as usual and I went over budget as usual but the highlight of the trip was as a visit to two spectacular HO layouts in the area.  On Friday, Jan. 27 we visited Jim Dufour's incredible B&M layout in Lancaster, MA and on Sunday Jan. 29 we had the privilege of a private viewing of Neil Schofield's 1980's CP Rail layout based in Northern Vermont.  I will start with a tour of Neil's layout and in the near future we will have a look at Jim's layout.

     I have known Neil for quite a few years and have always been inspired by his work on locomotives and rolling stock.  His weathering techniques are second to none and I am happy to say that several pieces of my rolling stock were finished by Neil. Several years ago Neil had a layout in another location but due to work related moves had to dismantle it and relocate.  He did send me photos of that layout and I could tell that whatever he ended up building would be impressive.  Neil started the current layout a couple of years ago and to date says he has about one third of his layout plan completed.

      To date he has three distinct locations completed with scenery and structures, all which have been scratchbuilt to accurately represent the scenes being modeled. These scenes include Orleans, VT. location of the huge Ethan Allen Furniture factory and warehouse, Bradford with it's various industries and huge Agway feed mill and a scene representing the tracks skirting the edge of Chrystal Lake.  All these scenes have beautiful photo backdrops that Neil took at the actual locations and had Mike Confalone work on to match the colours in the photos to the scenery materials Neil was using.  This effort resulted in a seamless transition between the foreground 3D scenery and photo backdrops.  There are spots on the layout where it is virtually impossible to tell where one ends and the other starts.  In certain scenes I truly had the feeling that I was standing in the Vermont countryside and watching a real CP freight passing by.  I could go on and on about this excellent layout but I think the photos will tell the story by themselves.  I can't wait to get back to Charlton, MA in the future and see how Neil has progressed with the layout.

Here is another view of the 4233 passing the Ethan Allen factory in Orleans

After watching the train at Orleans we headed out along Chrystal Lake.  We spotted another CP train with a pair of RS-18'so grabbed a shot by the side of the road then headed back to Orleans.

Back in Orleans we watched the CP freight working its way through town.  This photo shows just how big the Ethan Allen factory is.

The large building in the background is the furniture warehouse connected to the main plant by an elevated runway.  This is a huge structure. The real building still stands today but without rail service.

A little further out of town the train is passing a farm crossing and corn field.  See if you can tell here the 3D scenery ends and the photo backdrop begins.  Very impressive work.

Here we see the caboose coming over the steel bridge.  Neil extensively modified and shortened the Central Valley bridge.

After a short drive we caught up with the train at Bradford. 

The RS-18's are just entering the crossing as we get here.  Note the price of gas back in the 1980"s

This is the large Agway feed mill in Bradford.  Neil scratchbuilt this structure.

    In the next installment we will chase a B&M freight along the same line. Stay tuned.

Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery

An overhead view of the Co-Operative creamery. Not sure of the date, but it looks like the Brookside sign is still there. This was a really large complex at one point. Don't seem to see any tracks.

The Bellows Falls Co-operative Creamery was a big operation shipping 5-10 cars a day. Records indicate 1498 cars shipped in 1956. Milk was processed and bottled in Bellows Falls before shipping in racked, wooden and metal cases. The milk was shipped Monday to Friday to First National Stores in Somerville, Mass. There was more than 200 farmers involved with supplying milk to Bellows Falls. In the late 1950's the milk containers changed from glass to paper waxed cartons creating considerable problems with leaks. The last full year of operations (1963) the creamery shipped 1,593,336 cases of milk in 1857 milk cars. The Finast contract was awarded to Whiting in July 1964 ending production at the plant by 1965. The Whiting shipments went to truck at that time.

The creamery beginning was a two-story wood structure built by the Boston Dairy Company c. 1906. Another portion of the creamery complex was built around 1918 by the Liberty Paper Company. These two structures were acquired by the Bellows Falls Co-operative Creamery in 1921. In 1932 the creamery got a rebuild which included replacing the  original 1906 building. The larger modern structure we see today is only a portion of what it once was.

I have not seen many photos of the creamery in use from my era the 1950's. These are a few views that I have found of what once was...George Dutka

This photo shows the co-operative in the 1952 Manning's Bellows Falls Directory. This photo shows a huge stack which I have not seen in any other photos of Bellows Falls. The Rutland Ry. yard would be in behind the building.

A Brookside truck is at the milk loading platform in Woodstock, Vermont on a winters day. Not sure what colour these trucks were..anyone know?

Here we have a early era view when the structure was small. If you have seen the ex-creamery now you will remember this wooded braced section. At one time it held up two more stories of blocks. The loading platform was located underneath. Today the platform is filled in and the top stories are gone...wonder if the wooden beams did not hold it up well.

How the area of the structure seen above looks today.

Signs on the structure at that time.

Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery - Structure

Looking at the main structure which is still stand today. It appears there was a sign on this wall. I have seen the billboard Brookside Creamery signs used on the structure in early era photos but on the other (truck) side. May 17, 1992 Warren Dodgson photo

In my Bellows Falls scene I am working on building the Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery as a background scene. It actually will be a building flat. I have taken many photos of the structure over the years. Today what remains is a shell of what once was. Some sections have burned while others have been taken down. I really have not actually seen a really good photo of what stood during the 1950's. Anyhow my version will be a kit-bash/scratch-build of what I feel will fit my selected area using kits and pieces I have on had....and without a lot of extra work. If I ever get a good photo from the 1950's there might be a rebuild...George Dutka

I have seen an old photo of this section which is one of the original portions. The upper portion above the wooden beam looked totally different. Will explain later. There once was a Co-Operative Creamery sign above the beam. May 17, 1992 Warren Dodgson photo.

Wordless Wednesday No. 217