No "Standing Still Stanley"!

Yes boys, we often tease Stanley about getting that layout of his done so we can finally hold an operating session at his place. No need to worry however...as, when the time comes, Stan's layout will be one of quality as opposed to quantity. You see, Stan has kept his hands busy in the hobby leading up our St. Lawrence Division of the NMRA, but now that his term is up, he has more time to devote to layout building. (Am I putting words in young Stanley's mouth?) Seriously, Stan devotes his time to constructing high end rolling stock, and when these little critters populate his layout, why, the wait will have been worth it!

Yes, Stan has much to smile about because he is a valued member of the Friday Night Group. He is pictured here in his office/railroad room where he is in the process of constructing a double tiered layout with an interesting elevator system to lift trains from one level to the next! (That will be shown after out next visit to Stan's place.

This Otis gondola, a resin kit, is a prime example of Stan's modelling skills. While Stan tells us it requires weathering to be applied, we still are impressed with his talents!

Here's the model from the other end. Stan has constructed this mini module to display rolling stock.

Well, the two Mikes in the group...that would be Hamer and Mueller, never give up in their attempts to convert the unconverted.

Yes, it is the goal of these two lads to have all members of the FNG modelling New England lines before the turn of the next century!Indeed, we'll live that long as I've heard that the act of model rairoading offers anti-oxidant properties to the system!

Mike M. converted two standard Athearn cabeese into these lovely beauties. I really like the transfer caboose on the far end!

The rest of the evening was devoted to an eclectic mix of slides Mike brought along. He took us on a journey from Welsh slate hauling railroads to Edaville to streetcar times in Ottawa as well as an historical perpective of buses over the years around the nation's capital. Thanks to Stan for hosting and to Mike for the great models and slides! (I had more fun pics, but somehow blogger is being a pain!)

An E&N "Two Dog Night!"

Eleven lads descended Jim's basement stairs to partake in a great train ops session on the E&N Railroad depicting rail activity on Vancouver Island. Crews could sign up for a number of jobs which varied greatly. Train #2 began the session, the Nanaimo to Victoria passenger service with stops at Ladysmith and Chemainus. A couple of "Shawnigan Lake Lumber Co." jobs were offered...one being the run up to the mine and the log show, both areas under varying degrees of development. Another assignment was the "Ladysmith Transfer Wharf and Industry Switcher" with a morning shift and a "later in the day" shift. For those who like hauling freight and stopping along the route to exchange traffic, two trains were available, Extra #8008 and #8012, the northbound and southbound E&N freights . Indeed, Jim's handlaid track and turnouts look beautiful and the trains run very well. Jim, you should be a proud layout papa!



Stan and Mike M. are enjoying a story or two as Mike prepares to place some cars he has brought along for the session (which was greatly appreciated by Jim). Note the mountain forms developing in the background behind the lads.

This peninsula serves as both north and south terminal points on the layout...Nanaimo and Victoria. When you leave the yard northbound traffic turns right and southbound traffic proceeds on the straight by staying left. The track to the right in the immediate foreground is a new escape track allowing locomotives to head to the soon to be developed turntable and roundhouse. That's Rick and Jim on the left and John on the right with Joel and Bob far off in the background. Jim tells us he will be extending the peninsula to increase yard capacity here.

Jim is practising his painting techniques thanks to Chris's influence. He did this wall section all on his own. Looks like Jim's developing those necessary painting skills and the rest of the layout should follow suit...although the high hills and mountains won't leave too much of a canvas for this eager Fogg!

Here's the new turntable pit. It is yet to be wired, but we used it manually to turn locomotives byphysically pushing them onto the table...fun just the same!

Jim thinks highly of his visitors and so he places images of what his coal mine area will look like when complete.

I've brought the camera angle back to show you the yard at Chemainus and the Bright Mine. The track in the foreground heads out of the image to the lower right towards the log dump. After the track enters the upper of the two tunnels it continues to climb up to the logging camp.

Speaking of dogs, yes...it was a "Two Dog Night" as Jim and his wife, Pat...had these two train buffs delivered for the session. Their son needed them "dogsat" for a couple of days and the canine couple seemed to enjoyed the company of those weirdos known as the "Friday Nighters!"

The New Kid on the Block!

Yes, it can safely be said that Fred's layout, the Madeleinesburg Subdivision of the CNR is the "New Kid on the Block". Indeed, the Friday Night Group is alive and well with many a layout coming on board and Fred's will be a blast to operate when all is said and done!

Fred had a woodcarving friend create this lovely sign which adorns the valence in the train room. His layout will depict the Southern Ontario landscaope in and around Palmerston and Listowel.

Fred knows how to do things right. He has followed the Chris Lyon approach to a bright basement layout room with lots of flourescents to showcase the layout. A Berber carpet ensures all operators stand in comfortable surroundings to boot!

Not only can the "Man of the House" build a layout...why, he can think up a culinary storm as the lads were well fed throughout the evening. I'm surprised we're all as thin as we are!

You can follow the layout's flow around the room with the crew seating area religated to the center of things. After all, isn't food and drink the center of the universe?

Stanley and Andrew enjoy a chat. Sooner or later, Stan won't be able to place all elbows where they are now...how long will that be, Fred?

Just had to throw in this shot of Fred's first switcher, a CN rarity in the orange scheme. Maybe I'll run this puppy in late October!

Fred is having fun with his first sound acquisition, the CN C-Liner...a beauty of a diesel engine. Well, Fred...we look forward to another visit to the Madeleinesburg sub of the CNR when we'll be surprised by more developments along the right of way! Thanks for hosting the lads!

The Ottawa Central Rules!

A review of our Friday Night train ops session once again covers two separate postings. It seems that I can only place a specific number of photos and then blogger does not allow any more...some technical glitch I presume.

At any rate, the Ottawa Central exists and the railroad is alive and well in Bill's basement judging by the neat and clean appearance of its diesel locomotives in the photo above!

The Friday Night boys certainly know how to enjoy themselves in the crew lounge and Fred is no different. Always carrying a wide smile, Fred helps to liven up any and all sessions. Bob is in the background contemplating just how good life is if you are a Friday Nighter!

Is that a B&M Bulletin Mike M. has his nose in? No, it's the latest edition of Model Railroader magazine. Hey Mike, have you checked out that insert along with the Model Railroad Planning issue yet? If you haven't...then you're missing something!

No...that can't be Fred again! Bill is looking on while Rick's head is in a blur. No wonder The lads are conducting the exchange at Glen Robertson! I might add that the exchange went well on this night!
Check out the graffiti on the boxcar over on the far siding. Nice job, Bill. The L'Orignal train must've arrived town judging by the amount of traffic in the picture!

I never tire of looking at this marvellous farm scene on Bill's layout! Trevor's television antenna certainly adds to the scene as does the stone walkway.

To learn more about our session on this Friday, check out the next posting as well! Cheers, Mike

The OLOR in February

We've just turned the calendar to the second month of the year as we visit Bill's OLOR. For those who do not know, the OLOR stands for the "Ontario L'Orignal Railroad". This is a colourful railroad to railfan and Bill has covered the line in an equally colourful fashion! Coming from someone who models the 1950's with the varience in colour being boxcar red, black and the odd white covered hopper, these modern railroads resemble a rainbow of colour!

In the photograph above we spot the L'Orignal train on the main in Hawksbury sandwiched between cars on the Fib-Pak siding and the IKO siding.

The crew conveniently placed all traffic for the large rolling mill at the tailend of the train. After arriving Hawksbury, they will exchange traffic in the local sidings first before heading the seven kilometres or so westward to the IVACO rolling mill.

In recent weeks we've been discussing gondola loads and Bill's layout offers numerous and varied examples for study. All gons loaded with scrap metal are destined for the plant where the metal will be turned into coil. Note the graffiti on the side of the Conrail gon.

We've managed to spot this gondola sharing track eight with a covered hopper. There's another loaded gon on track nine. Man, this plant is a busy place 24/7!

Much of the traffic destined for Hawksbury and the plant in L'Orignal originates at Coteau, a junction point on the mainline between Toronto and Montreal. Bill staging area in the furnace room simulates the action at Coteau. I can attest that it's a lot of fun making up and breaking down trains here in the furnace room staging area. Five tracks are located here, three stubend jobbies and the two tracks serving as a runaround in the foreground which bend around the far wall where a couple of diesels and a caboose are housed.

Thanks Bill for hosting! All the lads enjoyed a wonderful evening! Mike