Wordless Wednesday No. 36

A Vermont Barn Along Route 5

This scene would look great either in the background of a layout or close to the foreground to hide the trackage heading into another room or scene.

Wordless Wednesday No 25. viewed a barn I came across just south of White River Junction on my way to Windsor, Vermont. It has a lot of character and includes a large garage across the road. This could make a nice modelling project. It is near to the old CV line but not within sight though...George Dutka

This is a road side view of the property. I really like the look of the metal roofing which could be duplicated in model form.

The garage is located across the road from the barn and home. I have run across this a lot throughout New England.

What's in the Box? - No. 2

All the packages and parts are seen along with the plans, photos and instructions.

RailroadKITS
B&M Westboro NH Sand House

One of the scenes I am planning to add to the White River Division during reconstruction  is a small peninsula that will connect to WRJ. It will be a few shop tracks and structures found near the B&M Westboro engine house. Although I will not have space for the roundhouse and turntable I thought of adding the diesel fuel track, sand house that is seen above, sand loading tower, section house, station and the other small structures found near by. Westboro was a compact facilities. I have already measured the station and section house for future construction. Westboro will make a nice spot to display my fleet of B&M-CPR engines when not in use.

The sand house kit is another offering by RailroadKITS that I purchased last fall at the Lancaster Expo. It was originally released by White River Structures of Granville, OH.  They mention in the instructions that the structure was built around 1904 and used into the early 1970's. It appears to still hold a third of its original sand and for some years was used for paint ball practise by weekend warriors. Today it is surrounded by a high fence and well secured.

The kit comes with two great photos that will be helpful, a set of plans (6 pages) including a location page for all the parts full size. The instructions are lengthy, 14 pages. The original kit (or early releases) has laser-cut walls and lumber by Northeastern Scale Lumber, not sure what RailroadKITS are using now. My kit's wood looks great.

The windows appear to be Grandt Line and the other metal parts Alexander Scale Models. Ladders and walks are from Central Valley. A package of sand is also included. The roof material is flimsy and will be changed out with styrene. Also the tar paper roofing will be switched with BEST roofing.

The kit looks like a good build that should not have many problems. I have already figured out all the assembly steps by just using the drawing and part location sheets. I will fill you in this fall with how it went together once I have a  finished model...George Dutka

The Westboro sand house during the fall of 2011. The structure is now secured behind fencing.

Wordless Wednesday No. 35

Colourful Boxcars of the 1950's

One of my NH orange 40' boxcars is seen near the tail end of a CPR train which is nearly all boxcar red.

 There was some discussion last week on Marty McGuirk's SNE Ry. yahoo group regarding the many bright and colourful boxcars found on the New England lines during the 1950's. The range of the conversation was dates these cars first appeared in service to if one should even consider running them on a layout. It was thought that too much colour might distract from the vintage looks of strings of  boxcar-mineral red cars. Someone even mentioned a B&M minuteman blue boxcar behind a steam engine would look out of place. Well it probably would, but the B&M was all diesel by the time this scheme arrived. I do recall seeing one of these B&M boxcar in a WRJ yard photo during that era. The colourful boxcars of the 1950's were not anything new as colourful reefers had been running for sometime. In an earlier era billboard milk cars with big lettering lot of colour was also the norm.

After reading the posts I took a look through my pictures to see how I actually felt about my own group of colourful boxcars that do operate over the White River Division. I think they look right at home along with all my other rolling stock. What do you think...George Dutka

A Kadee model PS-1 B&M blue boxcar is trailing a new CV arrival in the late 1950's.

A NH black boxcar with an orange door and full size herald is seen next to an earlier era wooden caboose on a WRD B&M train.

An older B&M S-2 Alco handles a  Rutland Ry. modern era boxcar in this mid 1950's scene.

A string of colourful reefer are seen awaiting departure in White River Jct.

WRD Tear Down Process

The left portion of this photo views the area that once was the hidden staging. It will become the foreground once completed.

With all the hot and humid weather this week I have been home and in the best place in the house, the basement were it is really cool. I decided this would be a good time to tear out the areas that needed to be removed so I can rebuild the layout as a operating point to point line. The staging yard will become the foreground with this side of the layout narrowed by almost half. Some of the bench work needs to be cut out and re-braced. I did all this surprisingly in one long afternoon. I am at the point that I can now play with some three foot long flex track pieces. I have a few good ideas but they still need tweaking...George Dutka

Looking into White River Jct. yard from the point that once was the duck under. As you can see a lot was removed from this area. The WRJ yard will be built along the rear wall which once was staging.

Green Mountain Division Expansion - Update...by Don Janes

Two freight trains are tucked away in two of the three staging tracks I recently completed. Note the smooth flowing lines of the curved turnouts....photos by Don Janes

Staging Tracks Complete

     Since my last post I have built five turnouts and finished installing the three long staging track along the north wall of the layout.  The two inside tracks will hold a total of twenty cars, including locomotives and caboose and the one along the wall about twenty five cars.  I could also stage two shorter trains in one track. To get the most out of my available space I decided I would need to build curved turnouts leading to and at each end of the staging tracks.  I have been using Fast Tracks products for quite a long time and decided to use their Twist Tie turnout tie sections for all the curved turnouts.  These sections are designed to be flexible and bent to fit your track arrangement.  They have pre-drilled spike holes and laser cut scribed lines where the rails are to be placed making scratch building turnouts a dream.  They come in several different frog angles for both right and left turnouts.  For this project I used two # 8 right hand, one # 8 left hand and one each of # 7 right and left hand tie sections.  The resulting track work is smooth flowing and extremely reliable.  Check out the Fast Tracks web site for their complete product line. http://www.handlaidtrack.com/
     Once all the turnouts and track were installed I added Tortoise switch motors.  The main power bus is #14 solid copper wire.(14-2 house wire)  I dropped down smaller gauge track feeder wires at about four foot intervals to keep a good electrical flow to the track.  For years I have seen articles about using "suitcase connectors" for connecting feeders wires to the main track bus wires but this is the first time I have tried using them.  Let me tell you, they are great.  Fast and clean. No more crawling around under the layout soldering feeders while laying on my back.  I would highly recommend these to anyone doing any track wiring.  I bought mine from Micro Mark but they can be purchased at numerous places including Princess Auto.
     After all the wiring was done I built a temporary control panel for the switch machine switches so I could test run the trains through all the turnouts and staging tracks.  Everything seems to work as planned so now its on to designing the rest of the layout track plan.  

Here is an example of Fast Tracks "Twist Ties"  The lower one shows how they come from Fast Tracks and the upper one shows how the ties can be curved to fit a specific location.  Note also the pre-drilled spike holes and scribed lines where the rails go.  These examples are #6 right and left hand turnout tie sections.

These are the turnouts just after the track enters the new room.  The turnout on the right is for a future spur track and the one on the left leads to the new staging tracks

Here we see the opposite end of the staging tracks with a #8 right hand turnout.

I have started using "suitcase connectors" for my drop down track feeders and Tortiose switch motors.  These make wiring a dream. 

Johnsonville, NY - Tower Model

A few weeks ago the NEW&B Facebook page mentioned a model of the prototype Johnsonville Tower was available. As noted on the kit page "The prototype is located in Johnsonville, New York at the former junction of the Boston and Maine Railroad’s (B & M’s) East-West Mainline and its Troy, New York Branch.  Not only was this junction home to B & M freight and passenger trains making connections to the New York Central Railroad over the Troy Branch, but it was also frequently used by the Delaware and Hudson (D & H) and Rutland Railroads.  Johnsonville Tower was built in 1931 as part of the B & M’s initial investment in Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) and was retired in 1962 when CTC functions were further consolidated into Greenfield, Massachusetts.  This tower was used for storage until the mid-1970's when it was abandoned."

The kit is available from N Scale Architect for just under $80. Link to the kit is below...George Dutka

The N Scale Architect | Quality & Innovation Since 1991

B&M - Johnsonville, NY

A track side view of the station. Note the concrete platform is still in place.

Last spring I stopped by Johnsonville, NY to see what remains of the abandoned tower and if the station still remains. The station is currently used as a home and is in good repair. The tower still stands but in poor shape. I did hang around for a bit...but never saw any trains go by. Would have been nice to have a freight in the background...George Dutka

Looking east at the rear and west wall. It is currently a home.

A look west towards the tower from the station.

The tower is in poor shape.

Wordless Wednesday No. 34

Wells River, Vt. - Section House

The Wells River section house still stands in 2012. It appears a newer steel roof has been applied at some point..

During the fall of 2012 I spent some time taking a look around Wells River, Vermont. I was surprised to see the old section house just north of the Wye and on the east side of the tracks still standing. It is kind of hidden in the brush and seems in fair condition. I did take a few measurements so one can build a model. Width 15'3", Length 18'5", Height eaves 11'4", Height peak 18'8".  The peak height is estimated by counting the boards at 3.5" each.  Check out my detailed group of photos below...George Dutka

Trackside view.

The north end has weathered better than the front of the structure.

The ground slopes back from front to rear. The front portion of the structure rests on the ground. The back half is supported on wooden blocks as seen above.

The south side of the section house.

I took this photo through an opening at the mid-point of the building which views how the structure  looks on it supports. As you can see most of it is off the ground.

As you can see the interior is a mess. I am looking from the front door to the rear wall.

Traveling Art Show

Last week in the Goderich paper "Signal Star" a full page feature covering tags or art put on rolling stock was included. Since they have summer time art festivals in the area they thought they would include the pier and salt mine spur located very near the main beach as destinations to view art. Below is how the article reads...George Dutka

"It is the best travelling art exhibit in Goderich, even if it bends a few rules. Graffiti artists' tags adorn many rail cars that make their way to the Sifto Salt Mine and South Pier's grain elevators, providing some colourful distraction in a long line of dull and rusting cars. The tags range from crude messages, to single-colour slogans to full colour proclamations of the artist's presence - saying, I was here in graphic style. Each day brings new exhibitors to town, and viewing is free for everyone."

Wordless Wednesday No. 33

Snapshot - June 2013

CPR ethanol train awaiting a new crew at Lobo Siding, Ont.

Last month while travelling to and from my sailboat I cross the CPR mainline west of London, Ont. It is a meet location called Lobo Siding. On two occasions I came across a train waiting a re-crew. This gave me a good chance to stop and get a few photos. My favourite photo is the one above that I took with my little Olympus Tough camera. I took the photo from low down. I was able to use the viewing screen on the rear to angle the view.

This train is the westbound CPR ethanol train that many of you may have photographed operating in New England over the VTR. The train needs an idler car while operating in Canada and I believe it stays on for the whole trip...George Dutka

D&H Milk Car Model

A D&H train is re-routed over the White River Division. Just ahead of the caboose is a good looking D&H milk cars.

D&H Milk Car No. 827

The Prototype
The D&H milk car was a typical eastern area car. It was similar to those used on the Rutland Ry and NYC. These D&H milk cars are part of a group built in the company shops in 1906-1907. Plans of a D&H milk car can be found in the February 1986 issue of RMC. I believe that D&H car #848 seen in the drawing is of the car that sat in Tunnel, NY for many years as work car #34226. The same RMC issue also has a photo of  milk car #827 which is a similar car. A photo of the Tunnel, NY ex milk car can be found in the June 1974 RMC.

My model of D&H 827 was one of 67 cars in the D&H fleet which had been numbered 800-866. The cars are not all the same but similar. To model one it is best to use a prototype photo. 848 had a steel underframe near the end of its use but also retained its truss rods. At some point ladders to the roof walk were added.

I am not sure if any D&H milk cars have survived. The last photo I did see was of D&H #30043 at North Creek, NY in 2002.

F&C kit #2001 of a D&H milk car is found in use on the White River Division.

The Model
My D&H milk car model was built many years ago from an F&C ( Funaro & Camerleno) kit. This was one of the early era crude kits that are a solid block which needed a lot of sanding on the bottom to even things out. Many of the details also needed replacing. The line of F&C kits have greatly improved from these 1980s offerings.

I don't recall all I did but roof walks are styrene strips. The original walkway was very thick. I believe I used the end walks from the kit. I used some of the included wire for the hand holds. Kadee pockets and #5's are used.  The end ladders are from my parts box. I bend grab irons for each end and used a passenger car hose set. I don't recall the make of the metal stirrups used, but Tichy makes some nice ones that one could use today. The trucks are Athearn or Roundhouse express reefer trucks taken from an unused kit. I used the included under body details adding a small piece of chain. Most early era photos and plans view low level brake ratchet and no end and side ladders. As I model in the 1950's I updated mine with ladders and a high brake wheel. The brake wheel and brake wheel details I think came from a Details Associate parts package.

The roof, under body and trucks are painted my usual Floquil grimy black. The sides got a coat of Floquil Pullman Green. I don't recall if the decals were included or not. At that time I was using a lot a dry transfer lettering that I found at stationary stores. The milk car got a coat of flat finish and some light air brush weathering.

I am happy with my D&H milk car although it does not get added to my trains all that often. It is though a nice example of a Rutland-NYC alternate...George Dutka

An overhead view of D&H milk car. The roof walks were added along with the ladders for a later" in service" date. When build the roof had small circle vents, and hand holds grabs on the ends and sides, no ladders. The brake ratchet was lower down also.

Numerous NYC, Rutland and D&H style milk cars can be found in this yard photo. They all have a similar appearance.

D&H builders photos shows the row of openings along the bottom while other D&H milk cars had three on each end as seen on the F&C kit model .

D&H milk car plans

June is Dairy Month in Canada

The Moos Facts

I discovered some interesting facts about dairying and cows recently. The local paper out by our marina is based on the rural farm area along the lakeshore. It notes that there are about 322,000 dairy cows in Ontario, averaging 60 cows per farm. Each dairy cow typically produces 30 litres of milk from two milkings per day. Cows give milk for 10 months or 305 days after giving birth to a calf. They stop milk production for 2 months (dry periodl) before giving birth. Once again the 10 month milk cycle begins…get those milk cars ready to roll…George Dutka

Wordless Wednesday No. 32

MEC Low-side Gondola's - Ertl Model

Peter Mumby and I built these two Ertl models back in 2011. I covered these models in one of my very early blog posts.

Here is an interesting tid-bit. A couple of weeks ago on the NEB&W facebook page John Nehrich notes that the Ertl gondola was based on the MEC 9 panel low-side prototype...something I did not know. John also includes a good Bill Brigham photo of the prototype. Bill's photo views the gondola with a white herald and lettering....George Dutka

Green Mountain Division Expansion- by Don Janes

A CPR freight train is rolling along the bank of the White River on its way towards the new layout room.  The two lovers in the row boat don't seem too interested in the train....all photos by Don Janes

A New Beginning

     Since George is on the topic of rebuilding his layout I thought I'd throw in my two cents worth about the progress I have made on my new layout room.  As was mentioned back in the spring, I dismantled my original 12 x 20 foot Green Mountain Division layout which dated back to 1990.  This was my first layout and a great learning experience but after having worked on the new section I started about five years ago I realized I had learned a lot about building a layout.  One big lesson was that less track is more and I felt I had way too much track for the space I had on the old layout. I hope to have more scenery and just enough track on the new layout.  Some improvements I want to incorporate are more staging given the number of cars and locomotives I have accumulated over the years, minimum radius of 36" to 40" on the mainline and   #8 turnouts on the main and #6 on other tracks .  Also, I'm getting to old and stiff to be ducking under bench work so the new layout will feature a reverse loop at each end creating a walk-in layout.  This was not my favorite way to plan the layout but with my basement design it's the only way to avoid a bruised back.   Since I had about 85% of the new section done I figured it was time to rip out the old layout and start anew with ideas and techniques I had learned over the past 23 years.  I'm really looking forward to using all the new information I have learned and great new materials available to create a new improved Green Mountain Division.
     I plan to post updates as I progress around the room.  Right now it's down to the basement to lay down some rail.

With the help of Frank Henophy I installed the Masonite backdrop and painted it blue.  Hopefully I will be able to paint some decent clouds on the backdrop to add some realism.  The room has all new lighting installed also.

The first section of bench work has been installed and you can see where the two tracks will enter the new section.  I was able to salvage the  "L" girder framing from the old layout saving a lot of time and work.

The cork roadbed has been added and location for the turnout leading to the three track hidden staging tracks has been established.  Wide curves with easements keep the track work flowing smoothly.

The BAR boxcar in the distance indicates where the staging tracks will begin.  Hopefully they will have a twenty car capacity including two or three locomotives and a caboose.

The two main tracks coming through the wall along with the turnouts  have had wooden ties installed and stained.  I used Fast Tracks wooden "TwistTie" kits for the turnout ties.  The copper clad ties (see photo above) are used to solder the rails to.  This keeps the rail in gauge.  

The ties and turnouts have been installed for the lead to the three hidden staging tracks.  All the hand laid rail will be code 70 and the track to the left beyond the wooden ties will be code 83 flex track.

In the past week I feel like I have made a good start on the new layout.  At this point I will finish the three staging tracks the start to plan the route for the mainline and where various structures and scenes will be placed.  Right now I don't have a formal plan as I usually just wing it as I go and see what will fit in the available space.  Here I have placed one of my structures to see if it will fit in this area.