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   

CP - VW

 

Found this photo posted in Old Canada Series Facebook views...Neat...George Dutka   

Stillwaters - Paris, Ontario

The view from our table on Stillwaters rooftop dining. Aug 13, 2025

Don Janes and I had planned to get-together on the Stillwater rooftop lounge and eatery in Paris for a few years. Well it happened on Wednesday. We first were at Otter Valley, Don was stocking up on scenery material and a few pieces of rolling stock that he said he was not going to get any of this trip.

We headed to the chip wagon in Ingersoll near the tracks and station when the light came on...why not have a beer and a late lunch or early supper on the rooftop in Paris were we can watch some trains pass. The food is good and their home brewed beer is a favorite of mine so off we went to Stillwaters. 

Three trains passed in a bit over an hour that we were there. A CN EB and a CN WB potash train with a unit pushing on the rear. The last one we saw was an EB VIA which I believe is no. 74. A great afternoon to catch up on things. It had been awhile since we last did anything together...George Dutka

We photographed 5 trains in all this day, three on the bridge, one at Paris West and the last one at Railroad St. Dorchester. That is a lot for an afternoon. Normally I would not see that many that time of day.

ITLA Back Alley Build - Leftovers

The finished structure that I built using two basic structures, leftover pieces and a few photocopied pieces. That is a Dave's decal on the end.   

Here is a better look at how I put together the extra structures for the back alley block...George Dutka

The basic structure has a coat of grey primer applied. I wanted the walls to look like concrete. To achieve that I used PanPastels in the grey and white tones.

One fire escape was added. The windows have some closed with stone and blocks which are the push out pieces from the walls. Some electrical boxes are also added. Both structures are different business run out of the backs of a building.

I used a doorway from an ITLA detailing kit. Some vents and pigeons are added. Some boards and trash is also found up here.

The finished model.

I painted on the curtains in the windows. Two windows are boarded up using Roomette's offerings cut to size. Corner trim was applied to the structure for more detailing.

A closeup look at the door areas. One is an internet find, roll-up door and the other is a Roomette's offering. The coffee cup sign is one I took a photo of during a trip to Trainfest with Don. Napoli Pizza is from a cardstock sign offering. Note the block window closing and fire hose outlets. There are lots of downspouts included in the back alley kit and one was used to hide the seam between the two buildings.

Wordless Wednesday No. 640

 

    

Around the White River Division

The Rutland Ry. is in town. The feed mill in the background is only placed there for the moment. I have to rearrange the trackage then it will be placed in its final position and grounds detailed.

A couple of shots  I took around my layout. This time near the diamond that I am planning on removing
...George Dutka    

My version of the New Haven depot.