Our friend Bill Sn3 Scobie is not only a master model builder...he is a master "empire" builder. And, what an empire he has in his sprawling basement in Aylmer, Quebec.The five pictures included in this report are but a few examples of the wonders you see when you enter Bill's basement. The lengthy trestles seen in two images are both exemplary pieces of engineering and the close-up of one of Bill's locomotives gives testimony to his magnificent modelling abilities.
One must take note of Bill's rolling stock...all prime examples of a craftsman's dexterity. Bill often makes these fantastic creations at a table set up during Railfair where the public can learn more about the great things that can be done in this hobby. He is certainly a tremendous ambassador on behalf of us all!Yes, any glorious trestles dot the countryside spanning both canyon and cut. Bill is mulling over the idea of manipulating one or two of his bridges that have stood in place for many a year. Yes, just when you think a scene is complete, your mind plays games with you...and before long you've ripped out months of labour to begin anew! Haven't we all been there?
Indeed, the Friday Night Group was privileged to make a visit to Bill Sn3 Scobie's fabulous Rio Grande Southern RR last evening...and what an evening it was. Bill's mode of operations is developing nicely as the layout stood up to the challenges and rigours of a large operating session. While it takes the better part of 45 minutes to traverse the layout with a passenger train, as Stanley will attest, some of the lads were given the controls of longer freight trains and they had to await meets, conduct "drops and lifts" in various towns along the route and clear the road for passenger trains. 
Some of the boys were out on the road for a full two hours or more! When double headers are required to tackle the grade, a second engineer with a second throttle couples onto the lead locomotve and the two crewmen must work in careful tandem as was done on the real railroad! If this is what Colorado narrow gauge is all about...then count me in!
Chris and I brought along our digital cameras (I wish I had brought a tripod...oh well, next time) and we were feverishly searching out photo locations while keeping ahead of the trains...not unlike true railfans. On many layouts you have to turn a corner to find a new photo shoot...not on Bill's. It seems that every foot or so along the route you discover yet another railfan location...that is if you are prepared to climb the rugged mountainous terrain!Bill, you have a masterpiece here! No other words can describe the layout. It is a brilliant piece of artistry...and a joy to operate. On behalf of the Friday Night Group, I wish to extend our appreciation for allowing the ten of us to visit and run trains in the majestic southwest! ...and thanks for extending an invite for a return visit. I know that the few boys in the group who couldn't make it out for this particular evening were very disappointed, so they'll be excited to hear that we'll be visiting again sometime in the not so far off future.
Please thank David, Doug and Fred for giving up their Friday Night to help welcome us to the Great White North Division of the Rio Grande Southern.
Cheers, Mike
3 comments:
Great layout.
- Anonymous, anywhereville
A visit to Bill's is a definite must during my next visit to Ottawa. He's made tremendous strides since I last saw his layout.
Had a great time at Bill's, Nothing like a ride through the mountains in a tea Kettle. I like the fact that Bill went and got his dirt from Colorado.
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