Snapshot - July 2025

Oct. 11, 2012

Strasburg Steam!

You may have noticed the past two Wordless Wednesday featured a live steam location. Don and I visited Strasburg back during a Structures Model Show held nearby in Lancaster Pa. during October 2012 and took a lot of steam train photos. That was one of my most memorable trips considering we took in the train show, Strasburg and dinner in the Pennsylvania railroad museum. We also went to Horseshoe Curve on the way home...George Dutka  

We were there early morning to catch the engine being readied for the days run back a the shop, Oct. 11, 2012.

At the station Oct. 11, 2012

Oct 11, 2012

October 13, 2012. Two days later we railfanned the line again but seeing different steam in use.

Bellows Falls

Monster Modelworks offers a laser cut kit of the Robertson Paper Co. which once stood near the station in Bellows Falls. That's a Rutland brass milk car over in the yard.

A few views around my Bellows Falls yard on the White River Division...George Dutka  

I was over visiting Pierre Oliver a couple of weeks ago. His Yarmouth Model Works offers some really nice 3-D printed figures. I have added this one leaning on the barrel. Pierre gave me a couple that he had painted very realistic including this one. There is some nice shadowing. I purchased about half a dozen including an operator with a train order hoop. More on that one shortly. We discussed how to best paint these figures. Will see how mine turn out. The figures are by Modelu.

An overall view of the Bellows Falls station platform. I did not have enough room to model the whole station so I modeled what one sees in photographs around the station. I also needed a station stop in Bellows Falls.

The platform station sign is a copy of the original that I photocopied from a Dwight Smith photo.

Wordless Wednesday No. 636

 

  

Rockport in the Mid-sixties

 

Here three rather weather beaten RDC-1s and an RDC-2 headed by 6117 await their duty.  This gives a view of the platforms as they existed in the mid sixties.

by Geoff Southwood 

In the mid sixties, my 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.  At the end of the line in Rockport, weekends were a particularly bountiful time to find any number of Budd Rail Diesel Cars wiling away their time awaiting the Monday morning call to commuter duty to take passengers to North Station.  By the sixties, the station was gone but the freight house still stood.  In fact the freight house was recently the subject of an excellent craftsman structure designed by Jeff Grove of Carolina Craftsman Kits and produced for Ipswich Models.  The loop track that was used to turn head end power before the RDC era was still in existence and a walk around the loop and its marshy pond was sure to land you more than a few mosquito bites!  The loop track right of way is still visible on Google Earth.

On a typical weekend, RDCs were literally scattered around the trackage and most varieties were on the scene.  Here’s 6154, one of the last deliveries of RDC-1s manufactured in 1957.

By the mid sixties, RDCs with baggage and mail facilities had been relegated to commuter service.  

Here’s an RDC-2, 6211 laying over.

And an RDC-3, 6303, looking surprisingly unweathered for its age.

Even a rather forlorn looking RDC-9, 6929 is parked for the weekend.  Clearly some consist assembly would be required come Monday morning.

Lastly, a single car weekend departure, RDC-1 6114, approaches the Rockport loop track as it starts its journey to North Station.  Here’s a weathering challenge.

UTLX 46213

By Keith MacCauley

UTLX 46213 was built by Procor Oakville in March of 1974; part of a fifty car build. Somewhat noteworthy that this series of tank cars was constructed with nominal one-hundred-ton capacity (36” diameter wheels) for calcium chloride (salt) service. Due to the corrosive nature of the commodity, the interior of the tank was coated. Incredibly, after almost twenty years of service, UTLX 46213 is still wearing the original exterior coat of paint. Note the so called ‘Flying P’ decal, introduced in 1962. (‘Products Tank Line’ became ‘PROCOR’ in 1962) UTLX 46213 would be remarked PROX 46213 in May of 1994 and taken out of service in October of 2007.  

This and That - July 2025

Crosby coal before it was moved back from the main line. I had a question recently asked if anyone knew why there was a small opening up high on both ends of the coal shed. There was some white streaking happening at this location.

A bit of a mix from what I have scanned lately and model photos I have filed away in my White River Division files...George Dutka 

NA Jct. B7A Berkshire Hills, 1963.

I visited the London Model Railroad Group's O scale layout this month. They have a nice collection of prototype stations such as this model of St. Mary's that is 3-D printed.

The O scale version of the CP London, Ont. station.

They have built two 3-D printed versions of the Goderich station. One is original while the other is how it looks today as a restaurant. That version will be donated to the restaurant as they gave the club a copy of the station plans for them to build this model. They have full interior.

A look inside shows a full interior of the restaurant version.

I showed you a few views of this Lobo, Ont. garage that was in the process of coming apart. Well I think they are saving some of it. There are three walls remaining and roof beams. The structure appear to be block with concrete covering. Note the trim paint still showing through. 

Although the outside wall hide the doors and windows that once were there the inside shows the structures history.

That's my friend Chris Martin who I passed the other day railfanning. I was on my way to the lake. I decided to stop and chat and of course we viewed VIA 84 from Sarnia to Toronto. Chris used to work for CN too in the engineering department. He is a hold out still shooting slide film with no intentions of switching to digital. 

A B&M RS-3 handles a milk train through the diamond headed to Bellows Falls. I have a good collection of milk cars now...not sure I need that many but nice to have and change out on occasion. 

Throwback Thursday - Idling Wayfreight

by Keith MacCauley 

On a warm Thursday early evening in July, CN 4107 is shown idling at the head end of a short three car consist. Further to tying down their tiny train, most likely the crew has cabbed it to a nearby restaurant. As shown, their train is made up of an empty center beam flat car, covered hopper car and combination door boxcar. The crew has either dropped off or picked up a car or cars at one of three Rymal sidings; CO-OP, to the south, or Shaw Pipe/Penn Lumber, both located to the north. They may have retrieved the combination door boxcar (CN 557596) from either Shaw Pipe or Penn lumber. The center beam may have also come from the Penn Lumber siding. The covered hopper car is simply along for the ride; there are no local loading/unloading facilities. This would be the last time I would see any traffic on the line. Freight volume, minimal as it was, would continue to decline and the rails would be lifted in 1993. Built in September of 1957 as GP9 CN 4123, CN 4107 would be remanufactured as a GP9RM in 1984 by CN Pointe St. Charles, and retired 2019.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 635

 

  

Chalk Marks on O Scale Boxcar

Prototype photos I had viewed the calk marks mainly to the right of the door.

I used some of the larger sized HO scale chalk mark decals on this Atlas O scale model. They actually worked out very well...George Dutka  

Old Structure - Lobo, Ont.

An old garage that was cladded over looks like it might be getting a face lift. The tire shop next door has been redone recently as a oil undercoat business. 

On my way to the lake I pass through Lobo, Ontario. There is an old gas or car repair structure that has been stripped down recently. I think it is being saved by the looks of things. I guess this could be a Good Bones type of build...George Dutka   

Maybe some inspiration here for us modelers.

July 2025 - Update

The past couple of years I held a BBQ for our train group at Springbank Park first Wednesday of July. There is the Springbank express that runs by where we gather. This year there was 12 of us.

Not a lot to report. No modeling lately...mostly at the lake with no internet connection which is nice break. I might get in some travel and railfanning over the summer but nothing planned yet...George Dutka  

We got the engineer to take our photo by the train. She has been doing this summer job now for four years.

At the Palmer, Ma. library they have a railroad room with a nice collection of books and artifacts. This model under plastic cover is of the Palmer Station.

Plan on the wall of Palmer, Ma. Station.

One wall of the Railroad books collection, They have an almost complete collection of the CVRHS Ambassador.

MEC 20026 Oct 11, 2011

B&M Flag Stop in Use

 

I switched out my flag stop the other day at Inwood. Looks like a busy stop on this day.

I took a few photos of my new BEST flag shelter on the WRD here is one I liked...enjoy...George Dutka    

Wordless Wednesday No. 634

 

Bob Bowes Collection  

Happy Birthday Canada!

June 20 2025

Just a few images from around London the last bit to celebrate the holiday. Have a great day today celebrating Canada Day and also a Happy 4th of July to our friends south of here as they enjoy their holiday too...George Dutka  

VIA 71 departing London WB to Windsor on June 15, 2025. The train is entering the Strathroy Sub.

CPKC crew member at the West end of the London yard June 17, 2025. They were about to depart.

I saw this CN poster on Trackside Treasures blog a couple of days ago. It views two of my favorite passions, sailing and railroad and the railroad I worked for. That was a great post to view Eric!

A B&M advertising the Summer of 1939 traveling in New England. Do you wish you could reset time...Happy 4th of July!
a B&M Facebook post.