ex-Mill - Bennington, Vt.

The Myers mill in 2012 which was the inspiration for the South River Modelworks kit

Here is a look at what the old H W Myers & Sons mill looked like on Sept. 7, 2012. I made a stop on my way to WRJ for Glory Days...George Dutka

Sept. 7, 2012

There has been some additions to the original mill building.

One can see no paint remain on this side of the structure

More Rolling Stock Storage - Tank Cars

NYC Massena, NY, July 9, 1968

Here are two more examples of tank car storage from Ian Stronach. Ian photographed a repurposed tank car at the New York Central installation in Massena, NY in 1968.  Also, a real homemade job on the D&H at Binghamton, NY in 1968...George Dutka  

A tank loaded on a D&H flat car in Binghamton, NY. Oct. 13, 1968

Throwback Thursday - CP High Hoods

CP 5485 was photographed on January 08, 2001 at Quebec St Yard in London, Ontario.  It was part of a 3-unit consist which also included 5863 and 5789.  Since 5485 had only B-unit status, it would have been the trailing unit in the consist.

By Peter Mumby

In 1991 CP leased a group of eleven high hood SD40-2 locomotives from GATX.  They arrived on the property dressed in the black paint of previous owner, Norfolk Southern.  They were purchased in 1992, and operated using their 3200-series numbers until, in 1993, they were renumbered as CP 5475-5485.  CP stripped the cabs, and in most cases, blanked out the windows, so the locomotives operated as B-units.  CP 5485, the subject of today's photo, began service on the railway as GATX 3254 and subsequently operated as CP 3254 before receiving its 5400-series designation.

Wordless Wednesday No. 414

 

 

Danby, Vermont

 

E. C. Crosby coal company in Danby, Vt. is seen on the WRD in Dec. 2011. A siding is seen in the background. The track out front is the mainline...George Dutka

CV 203

 

This photo of CV 203 had no data on it and was part of the George Melvin collection I purchased. It is nice to see a bit of a CV hopper with the old style lettering. The car is numbered 30158 as seen on the end...George Dutka

Weathered Wood

Weathering mix and creosote black are both the same colour. Weathering mix is Hunterlines original formula.

Here is what I do to emulate weathered wood. I begin with Hunterline stain Creosote followed by a coat of Floquil Grime. At one time Floquil made some nice stains and I used driftwood to weather wood. Floquil also had a stain walnut which I would apply after driftwood if a darker finish was required.

Today as a variation after the grime is applied some areas which would require dark weathering some Floquil black is lightly brushed over that area followed by a wash of thinner. If colouring is to be added the colour is added followed by a wash of thinner. I go back and forth between the tones and washes all while the walls are still wet. I sometimes need to add more grime through the process nearing the end...George Dutka

On my long barn a tone of Flquil red is seen in the structure. This is the side that would face the harshest of the weather.

This Branchline model I followed photos I had to get a prototype look.

Finished model

The weathered side of this Northeastern Models barn kit shows hints of red.

Although there is a lot of red on this wall it is applied the same way. This technique is one I used before I began using Bragdon powders and PanPastel. Although the results now are similar with PanPastels I really like this approach of washes much more.

CV 501 WRJ

 

CV 501 is seen at WRJ. This is another George Melvin collection view that I purchased with no data. What I found interesting is the fruit company sign in the background. I cropped and enlarged it below...George Dutka 

H.W. Myers & Son

 A few views I took of the 2013 kit release, South River Modelworks display as it was seen at the Pittsfield, Ma Fine Scale  Expo...George  Dutka 

The overall view of the three structures found in the 2013 kit offering by South River Modelworks.

Throwback Thursday - From the Erie Shores

Lake Erie Steel SW900 #458 is sitting at the top end of the CN London yard on January 20, 2001.

By Peter Mumby.

This short post is designed to complement the offering of September 30, 2020 in which a "Stelco Relic" is described.  The #458 portrayed in today's photo is actually a sister unit to the Stelco locomotive, since Lake Erie Steel is the name of the division of Stelco which is situated at Nanticoke.  This SW900, originally constructed as CN 8547, was a GMD product of January, 1954.  It later appeared as CN 7212, then CANAC 7212.  In addition to the fresh paintwork, the potential modeller should check out a few interesting details, such as the handrails, the end number board, and the cab side window.

Wordless Wednesday No. 413

 

Snapshot - February 2021

My Conductor's time book is seen resting on his journal on train #434.

 For this month's snapshot the photo is ones I took inside the cab of train CN#434 a job I was working regularly with conductor Mark Ellis...George Dutka

In ones time-book you record your times, miles, engines used and work done in-route. The date is seen on the journal as Oct. 5, 2008. I took these photos at Paris Jct. after we finished our lift.

South River Modelworks - Workbench

Bob's new kit for 2013 is seen on his workbench during a layout tour.

During the 2013 Expo in Pittsfield, Ma. a layout tour took place on the Sunday. One of the layouts open was Bob Van Gelder who's layout is built above his shop which houses South River Modelworks. The kit that Don and I purchased at the show we saw the master builds on his workbench...George Dutka

Looks like a lot of extra builds of Myers & Son on Bob's workbench.

CV Trackage - Northfield Falls, Vt.

This is how one scene looked on the WRD in 2011. Not much has changed here although I am working on refreshing some of the foliage.

A Broadway Limited switcher that I lettered for the B&M is seen passing the covered bridge at Northfield Falls. I modeled the covered bridge after this CV location. On the WRD one sees B&M and Rutland Ry. trains pass this location along with the CV fleet. For a period after the station was torn down the station sign was mounted on the bridge. I added an old truck in the bridge and a young lad with his dog herding the ducks down the road from the barn...George Dutka

GMD Recollections - BN "Whiteface" Comfort Cab

The GMD test track, also known as the CP Crumlin Spur, played host to BN SD60M 9206 on January 02/90.  This was one of the first three-window comfort cab units to wear the "whiteface" paint scheme.

By Peter Mumby.

The BN SD60M locomotives in the 9200-9249 number series were the first comfort cab diesels decorated in the "whiteface" scheme.  Here we see the 9206 strutting her stuff on the GMD test track in London, Ontario on January 02, 1990.  Presumably the unit operated according to specifications since it was on delivery at CN London East just three days later. 

FOS Kit-of-the-Month

A look at the other end of the structure. The kit came with tarpaper roofing but I changed it out on the main building with Northeastern corrugated sheeting.

 A few more views of my recent completed kit...George Dutka 

Most of the colouring and weathering was done using PanPastels and powders.

The rear wall is pretty plain.

Throwback Thursday - CN Test Train

CN 5358 is heading up the Test Train at Barrie, Ontario on August 30, 1990.

By Peter Mumby.

On August 30, 1990 CN 5358 South was operating on the Newmarket Subdivision.  When photographed, it was occupying the siding in front of the 1905-built Allandale station in Barrie, Ontario.  Its trip towards Toronto would resume as soon as Ontario Northland 1987 and its train, the Northlander, cleared the south siding switch. 

The short train consisted of two cars belonging to the CN Engineering/Ingenierie Department.  Both cars were relatively recent additions to the roster, having been reconfigured from older equipment in 1988.  Ballasted box car CN 15007 was ex-CN 60 foot box car CNA 794704, while CN 15008 was ex-VIA number 1082.  This latter car had been built in 1954 as CN 1082, "Cape Rosier."   

CN 15007 is a ballasted box car belonging to the CN Engineering Department.

Bringing up the rear on this short train is CN 15008.

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 412

 

         

H.W. Myers & Sons - South River Modelworks

The mill is now set in place on Don Janes Green Mountain Division. I took this trackside photo using my cell phone on my last visit to Don's in late 2019. With covid we have not been able to visit each others layout in a year.

I took some photos over the years of Don Janes version of the H W Myers & Sons. The prototype stands in Bennington, Vt. and a kit by South River Modelworks was available about 10 years ago. Since I am currently building this model it is good to have a lot of reference photos. I will be posting views of SRM display from when the kit was released and some prototype photos shortly...George Dutka 

I took this photo back in 2015 on Don's peninsula when not a lot had been set in place yet.

A closer up view of one end during 2017.

A roadside view of the mill taken with my cell phone.

Hindsight 20/20 - February 20th

 

As one can see from this posting Hindsight 20/20 is happening once again on Saturday. There is a nice lineup of clinics...George Dutka