Tribute to Ray

This past Saturday, some of the boys of the Friday Night Group were honoured to visit Ray Mathey's layout in a senior citizen's residence out in Kanata. When Ray first went into the residence, he asked members from OVAR if anyone would be interested in assisting with the dismantling of his home layout and resurrecting it in a spare room at the senior's home. Peter and Grant led a number of volunteers in this venture and what we saw today was the result of these caring individuals.

The first image shows CN locomotive 6060 piercing a tunnel portal to find daylight. The layout was obviously designed for such dramatic shots as their are changes in elevation all around the model railroad offering the railfan some very choice locations. The second photograph depicts the train as it begins its roll through the lovely Canadian countryside. You can just make out the double tracks on the lower section to the left.

The crew has reached the rugged mountainous region as evidenced by the grey cliffs that provide a dramatic backdrop for our friendly railfan. Peter equipped this steamer and a CN diesel with decoders and the layout runs with a North Coast Engineering DCC system. Peter and Grant have also ensured that the seniors will enjoy trouble free operations of the layout as a number of model railroad enthusiasts continue to volunteer their time visiting the residence on a frequent basis.

This sawmill was a favourite structure of Ray's, one that he scratchbuilt on a ceiling tile some years before. He really wanted it to hold a place of honour on the layout and Peter and Grant certainly made sure that it does. In fact, it is the showcase scene as your enter the room! A speaker below the layout offers a myriad of sawmill noises and helps set a great ambiance at this end of the room.

We spot Grant conducting some switching moves with Bill looking on from the right. That's Peter continuing to put volunteer efforts into the layout in the distance wearing the red shirt with Stanley looking on. Visitors really gain a feeling of warmth when they enter the room with its blue skies and white fluffy clouds. Sadly, Ray has passed on, but we know his spirit is alive within this most amazing room! Thank you to Grant, Peter and all other volunteers who helped bring Ray's dream alive!