Saturday, March 31, 2007

Friday Night on a Saturday Afternoon!

Indeed, the fellas ran John's NYC layout Friday evening and it was great to see Theo again. Theo moved from Ottawa back to Peterborough last year and he told me that he really misses the boys up this way. Theo also mentioned how he eagerly looks forward each weekend to read the latest edition of the Friday Night News from Ottawa and see how all the layouts are developing or operating. Well, no pics from John's last night, but we did enjoy a fun and rewarding session and we thank John for hosting. It was great seeing all the NYC/CASO regulars too!

I'll keep the faithful entertained with pics from today's rail events in Ottawa...so think of it as "Friday Night on a Saturday Afternoon"! (Sounds like a John Prine lyric)

Today was SLD day in Ottawa. That is, the St. Lawrence Division of the NMRA. Many Friday Night lads are regulars here as well, so it is suitable to consider this a FNG event if we stretch reality a touch! (Big grin)
We visited two layouts, one in a senior's residence and the other at David Steer's place. We'll focus on the senior's residence in this post and look forward to seeing David's at another time.

The first picture shows "yours truly" in front of a large industry on the layout. The layout looks fabulous and runs very well thanks to Peter Nesbitt's and Grant Knowles' input. That's Grant in the second photograph switching out an industry near the beautiful sawmill which was scratchbuilt by our dear friend, the late Ray Mathey.

Bill and Stan are enjoying some camaraderie as they view the action in this bright and comfortable model railroad room. I'll post more images in another posting later on as Blogger is acting up again and won't allow any more photos to download in this section. Cheers, Mike

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

For Old Time's Sake

The Friday Night boys gathered at my place to celebrate Marty's return visit to Ottawa. Marty, along with Trevor, Stan and myself were the inaugural foursome that began operating our trains on the Friday nights. These three lads played key roles in the development of my layout offering solid advice, encouragement and patience.

I decided to pull my bluebirds out of the display cabinet as they were the first two diesel locomotives that plied the rails during those first years even though they replaced the FT's in 1957-58. Because the Bluebirds were created from FT parts over a phase-in period, I am able to run both types of diesels on the layout in my 1958 time frame...an option I still wanted to hold.

The first image captures Bluebirds 1746 and 1701 in tandem hauling a long manifest freight along B&M rails at Haney Gorge. The train is heading onto the New England River Bridge. The rock cut is an effective scenic device that masks the portal to staging at this part of the layout.

Yes, these engines are over ten years old and some of the earliest Proto2000 offerings, but with cleaning (thanks Chris) they still run pretty well! I've always enjoyed the interlaced B&M logo introduced during the McGinnis era.

The train is captured piercing the "viewblock" which separates the Conley Lumber and coal area from the interlocking division point with the Maine Central. That's the Conley spur leading off to the left.

Mere moments after the last photograph, our intrepid railfan captures the B&M crew meeting the MEC crew at the junction. The MEC crew arrived some time ago, but, being the inferior railroad here, had to wait for the meet with the B&M train which has priority into North Dover.

The interlocking tower was a craftsman plaster kit. Always looking for new modelling ideas, I came upon an inspiration right at the time I was about to paint this tower. My daughter Alison was in elementary school at the time and she was colouring a poster with a felt tipped marker. A lightbulb came on inside my tiny head...why don't I spray all the wall sections the morter colour first and then colour the brick with Alison's felt marker...and...it worked. The ink from the felt tip touched only the brick surface and did not run into the mortar lines! Voila...another novel approach to modelling!

I've always liked this particular scene on the railroad. I wanted a curved stone arched bridge on the layout similar to the one at Fellow's Balls...oops, I mean, Bellow's Falls, Vermont! The only problem here was that the bridge would not only have curves in its side, it's location on the layout was on a curve in the track as well! Yikes! What to do now? Simple! Call Stan! Stan is an engineer and he could assist in the making of a jig for my plaster pour. It worked beautifully and I spent hours carving all the necessary little stones.

Our train is spotted departing the state of Maine and entering the state of New Hampshire once across the idyllic Salmon River. You can just make out in the distance beyond the gazebo the base of a covered bridge.

After the B&M train has performed its chores in town, the patient Maine Central crew follow its vanishing markers and arrive the station tracks at a crawl. Their job today will be to exchange tanker traffic. In fact, those are the lifts for the day spotted on the south siding in town (to the left of the locomotive) by the North Dover crew. With the exchange complete, the Maine Central train will enter Meek Tunnel and travel under the main street of North Dover where they will pick up their Maine Central tracks a few miles south of town.
Thanks to the crowd who came out to see Marty again. We missed Trevor on this night as he had to head back to Toronto midweek. One thing is for sure...both these lads have made (and left) a tremendous impact on the model railroading scene here in Ottawa over the recent years!

Monday, March 26, 2007

It's "Back to the Future!"

At the session held during Marty's visit to North Dover, I played a little trick on the lads to see who would notice the anomoly on the layout. Yes, that is a modern looking "Smart Car" in the North Dover station parking lot. The owner was brash enough to park the vehicle somewhat perpendicular to the line of vehicles nearby!

Marty really enjoyed the session, especially the opportunity to meet some of the Friday Night boys who joined since his departure to Vancouver Island.

Jim and Gerry are posing for a picture in the crew lounge. While Marty didn't get the opportunity to visit Jim's layout on this visit, it will be a priority on the next due to the fact that Jim is modelling the E&N RR based on Vancouver Island, Marty's new home! By that time, Jim should have much more scenery developed on the pike. As for Gerry, he is still in the design phase of his N-Scale empire based around trackage near Halifax, Nova Scotia and its environs. Gerry, we don't mind the fact that you're in that "other" scale...the only question is...when can we come over to operate? (big grin)

The lads always seem to keep themselves entertained as they await their crew call. Mike (in the green shirt in the middle) is a fabulous carpenter who refurbished my entire crew lounge. You should've seen the basement before I brought Mike in...divided into three rooms in that 1950's style of architecture with a huge hunkin' bar in the middle of the main room. Mike, you certainly did a fantastic job and I'm forever grateful that you convinced me to keep all that (original floor to ceiling) tongue-in-groove panelling. Your idea to wainscot the room with this resurrected material was a brilliant one!

Peter and Fred share a smile for the camera. Both these lads keep us well entertained with their wonderful sense of humour. Peter's wry British way always keeps us all on the ball and Fred seems to find a new joke to share every five minutes. You can see why we all like to gather so much!

We understand that both these lads' layouts are well underway and ops sessions should be startin' up shortly at both locations...Peter with the B&M Peterboro Branch and Fred with the CN operations around Palmerston, Ontario.

Yes, we had a "Full House" on this evening, fifteen lads and me...almost enough to field two baseball teams for a game!

Looking around the crew lounge you can see the lovely wainscotting Mike Mueller constructed as part of his overall scheme for the lounge. It is most certainly a relaxing area for the crew members...but they all seem to jump when I call a job in the layout room.

It was great having Marty out for the session and seeing Trevor earlier in the week at another layout. We do miss these two (of the four) inaugural members of the group! Until next time!

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Who Needs Scenery?

Our operating session at Don's place showed us that you don't have to wait until all your scenery is in before inviting friends over to operate your layout. If it is designed with operations in mind, then the lads will be suitably entertained with the challenges of train orders and switch lists.


This is the terminal yard at Shadetree, the westernmost point on the layout. Train crews make up their trains in the yard before heading out onto the high iron. Let's follow a train across the branch.



It's a long run before the crew reaches the crossovers at the junction near Scoddy Lumber. Their orders today tell them to drop two cars here and attain a single lift with the aid of the local switcher.


The crew passes the large industrial switching complex at Viewmount...no work for them here. Their westbound counterpart will handle the chores at Viewmount on this day. Viewmount is the centrepiece of the large peninsula that juts out into the center of the layout room.


Reaching the town of Nepean, the crew uses the runaround to help switch out the three facing sidings and the single trailing spur here. They have to take great care with their moves as there is a major crossing just beyond the station tracks. That's Andreas and Bill working the eastbound job. Hey boys...it sure looks funny switching with a large unit like that one!

A low relief image of some of the industries in Nepean...two named after Mike's....Pasch Printing and Hamer Tools. Now, what's this about Hamer's tool?! Hey Stanley...I see a local shop along Main Street in the distance with your name on it! We can't wait to see this urban/industrial scenery develop, Don!

Well, it's not contact lenses the boys are looking for as both Stan and Fred have their glasses on! Must be an attempt to identify the reporting marks on a specific car. That's the later westbound CP train switching the industries in Viewmount. The eastbound we had been following finally made its way to Walkley Yard, a three track staging area along a shelf just noticeable in the distance.
You've gotta love that paint job on the Ottawa Central unit...nicely weathered too! Hey Don, what about dirtying up that CP van a touch? (In time...in time!)

Yes, we've just shown that you don't require much scenery to bring a layout to life...although we are confident Don will have some new things to show by the time we get back to his place again!

Saturday, March 24, 2007

More Pics from Don's Layout

Well, I've been able to successfully upload some more pics from the session at Don's place last evening. We all know the lads in this classic image. That's Howard (the Pope) on the left with Chris in the middle and Don, the man himself on the left.

Don was really excited to have some of the Friday Night lads over to put his layout through the paces of an operating session for the first time. Don asked for a smaller group to attend as he was concerned with the fact that he has no crew lounge in the basement...but the nine in attendance found that room was more than ample!
Judging by all the smiles everyone is having a good time!

Let's learn about Don's layout from his own description.The Shadetree and Nepean branch line was created from the cast-offs of major players in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. It is a Freelance railroad designed to represent several well-established railroads of the past. Both CN and CP Rail originally served this area, but these were taken over by the Ottawa Central Railway during the 1990’s. The Ottawa Central interchanges with CP and the Quebec Gatineau Railway. The QGR interchanges between Montreal and Hull and Ottawa through the Walkley yard.
Major commodities carried by the Ottawa Central include newsprint, linerboard, forest products, pulp, wire rod, billets and scrap.

The second image to the right shows the standard Redwing Milling Co. facility located on the large peninsula which makes up the industrial switching area known as Viewmount.

Don had a friend, Chris Butler, create the large complex which is used to mask the two poles in his basement. This area takes some time to switch even though most industries here are facing in nature. A runaround track with a short lead near the far end of the peninsula certainly aids the crew with their car movements.

You can just make out Stanley off in the distance. He is talking with a couple of the boys near the bookshelves and computer bench. We found a nice comfort level with the nine operators around the room.

What are these two boys grinning about, you ask? Well...to tell you the truth, they had been saying some rather unsavory things about the lad with the camera taking so many pictures...those cursed railroad papparazzi!

Andreas and Bill are busy switching out the town of Nepean with its three trailing sidings and one facing spur. CP power is spotted on their train on this day! Yes, the lads are fowling a road crossing, but seeing as how Don has yet to pave the artery, it's fair game for the railroad employees!

Ian McCord worked for the OCR, aka the Ottawa Central Railway for four years, so he has many a story to tell the boys. Here he is seated at the computer desk showing some of the lads some great rail pics from the net.

Ian lives on the same street as Don. Chris actually purchased two CN vans from Ian off E-Bay without realizing that it was this lad! Small world, indeed.

Thanks to Don for hosting the boys on this night. We all look forward to seeing some scenery shortly!

Don's "Shadetree and Nepean" RR

Last night saw the inaugural session at Don Leger's Shadetree and Nepean RR. Don was awaiting this evening in much the same manner an expectant father awaits the arrival of a new kid! To say the least, Don, your layout stood up to the advanced billing and eight operators plus yourself certainly enjoyed a fun evening of train ops!

As Don told the boys, he has chosen to model railroads that call the greater Ottawa area home and the Quebec Gatineau certainly fits the description. Charls Gendron painted and lettered this beauty for Don.

The Quebec Gatineau unit is resting in Shadetree yard, the westernmost terminus of the line named for the street where Don resides.

For this initial session, the first eastbound train (and westbound too) was pre-staged as Howard wanted to observe the workings of the track along the line. Replacement crews on the second shift "made up" their own trains using yard tracks for assembling. Walkley yard is a smaller, more compact terminal to the east.

Trains departing Shadetree Yard traverse behind the town of Nepean and work their way down to the busy intersection of two lines at the Scoddy Lumber spur. (My empty diet coke can acts as the tower overseeing the operations in this very busy location along the line.

That's Fred working the Scoddy switcher with Bill and Howard in conversation over in the distance. The large industrial switching area known as Viewmount resides on the ridge to the right. Note the clever use of the large building to help mask the two supports.

Thanks Don for allowing the boys to put your railroad through the rigours of a session!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Trevor and Marty Visit Michel

Trevor and Marty visited Ottawa this past week and Michel opened his fabulous Delaware and Hudson layout for our enjoyment! Here are some pics!


The three amigos seem to be having a ton of fun! That's Marty on the left, Michel in the middle and Trevor kibitzing over on the right. We can just make out Chris Lyon's head in the background!


In the background of the previous image, Chris was occupied switching on the tracks in Corinth as this RDC-2 shuffled in to the station.


Michel's layout has lots of beautiful Adirondack scenes and this one is no different. The train is spanning a large chasm with waterfalls which are just of the image to the right.


Thurman Jct. is a busy location witnessing many a train meet during an ops session. It is located near where Trevor was standing in the first image.


Trevor brought along one of his CN diesel switchers to enjoy out at Michel's. Here we see the unit working the classification yard at North Creek. Sorry about the grainy image, but we paparrazi have to "get in" and "get out" real quick!

Marty seems to be enjoying himself working the new area of the layout out in Michel's crew lounge. Michel has effectively doubled the size of his mainline with the addition of this section! To see more pics from the session, visit the next posting in the blog!

More Pictures of Michel's D&H RR

Here are some scenes along Michel's beautiful Delaware and Hudson layout. Michel has chosen to model the Adirondack Branch of the D&H. His layout was the feature story and cover photo for the September 2004 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. By referring to that article, you will be able to locate the photos on his layout plan.

The scene above shows some work equipment housed on a siding nestled in a valley at North River.
This Delaware and Hudson unit train is spotted at the Glen on its approach to North Creek.


Passengers aboard this RDC-2 car have arrived the tiny station at Sanford Lake at the former location of Tehawus. From here, the train will pierce a tunnel in the wall and enter the newest portion of the layout tastefully running along the walls of the crew lounge.


Climbing the grade out of North River, this train is making its way to Sanford Lake with the further destination of Tehawus in mind.
These units are working the far end of North Creek yard as another freight holds the passing siding near the cliff wall.


Sanford Lake is a busy logging area and these two units are kept occupied shunting traffic in and around the facilities located here.


This rock cut is perhaps the landmark location on Michel's layout...an incredible railfan location!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Tommy Hood's Magnificent CNoR

The boys of the Friday Night Group visited their good buddy, Tommy Hood, and his magnificent Canadian Northern RR last evening. I'll let the photos do the talking with short captions added. Tommy is forever the most gracious of hosts welcoming "the more the merrier" into his home. Suffice it to say, sixteen Friday Nighters made arrangements to attend! Check out the images from the session!

Here's a nice shot of a freight passing the station platform on a curve, no less! This makes for a rather dramatic image...and Tommy is a master of imagery, that's for certain!


Tommy's layout is predominately steam driven although you will spot the odd diesel in the line-up. All Tommy's locomotives are equipped with sound!


This shot appears to be a night shot. In fact, this scene is located on the lower section of the portion of his layout which is double decked.


I did mention diesels, didn't I? This "going away" shot of a passenger train showcases the colourful nature of Tommy's railroad.


Here is the same train some time later spotted at a road crossing. It will soon enter the urban area of the layout.


The area around the locomotive facility is always an interesting place to visit. I wonder if you are equally impressed with Tommy "magical and mystical ways" judging by the look of this particular steamer?


The greyness of the engine servicing facility adds to the colour of the railroad!


Tommy tells us that his favourite pastime is classifying and breaking down freight trains that enter the huge yard at the terminus. In fact, he could care less about the railroad outside this area, so he says. Well Tommy, we certainly hold your entire layout in high regard, although it is easy to become captivated with this section of the layout located under your double car garage!



Here is the man himself at the controls of the layout. Your a fabulous ambassador to the hobby, Tommy!