Kamloops comeback

While my layout featured a location representing my favorite town in central British Columbia, the site is little more than a hidden staging area that's only visible to visitors through a closed circuit video feed to a TV in another room. That's no way to treat a great Canadian RR town (kinda hard to beat Field, BC)!
Kamloops features mountains, rivers, and no less than two Canadian Class 1 railroads! Plus, there are other industries and terrain features that call me to model this site to a greater extent. Check out the map to see for yourself!

Desert do-over?

Semi-arid CPR Thompson Sub at sunrise, east of Ashcroft, BC

After years of modeling the Canadian Pacific Rwy. main line from a major coastal city (Vancouver) to massive mountain ranges (The Rockies), I’m now looking to take on desert scenery. What’s that you say? Desert terrain in Canada? Cactus in the land of wheat, coal, moose, Molson, and sub-zero cold? You betcha!

If you can recall your high school geography studies, desert regions are determined by how dry they are, not by temperature. A part of the B.C. Interior receives less than 10 inches of annual precipitation (rain, snow, etc.), so it technically rates as a pocket desert. And yes, Canada’s Okanagan Desert hosts cacti, sagebrush, and even tarantulas!

While CPR tracks don’t route through this part of B.C., the mainline does traverse nearby semi-arid parts, namely through the Thompson River Canyon, and also between Ashcroft, B.C. and Kamloops, B.C. Modeling the upper canyon country was my initial target, but I have to admit I’m starting to see the merit of building up an extensive span of terrain like this – the “other” half of CPR’s Thompson Subdivision is already on my short list!

My View of Vancouver

Here's a quick (and perhaps final) look at the city scene I built to resemble downtown Vancouver, B.C. The details of this completed scene are revealed in the September 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.
While I have enjoyed modeling a contemporary urban scene, it's hard work to keep up with an ever-changing city skyline! New skyscrapers abound since I last photographed (inset) the CPR Waterfront Yard in 2004, so I have to decide if I'm up to the task of revamping this scene again.
Perhaps the best solution is to abandon my quest to keep all things contemporary? Or maybe I'll need to rethink how much of my pike is dedicated to big-city scenery?
Fall is here, so my plans will have to solidify quickly if I want to take full advantage of the prime modeling months this winter. Stay tuned!

Candid Camera

At a recent train show in York, PA, a fellow hi-rail modeler asked me what I thought was the most essential tool in my toolbox. Without hesitation I responded, “A point-and-shoot camera.”

When I’m out and about, regardless if I’m actually railfanning, I rely on my p&S (or iPad camera) to capture quick images of real (1:1 scale) trains and interesting places/people I want to model on my layout. These resulting images are rarely publication-quality, but they’re regularly the most valuable photos I shoot. Valuable? Yep, valuable!

Take for instance the simple image of a Canadian Pacific target signal I shot from a back alley in downtown (Gastown) Vancouver, B.C. Won’t find a single choo-choo in the frame, but the wealth of detail in this one image has fueled my recent efforts to revamp and enhance portions of my completed Waterfront Yard – starting with the signal featuring trimmed targets.

It turns out the real signal was modified to permit West Coast Express bi-level commuter trains to pass without issue. By studying the photo, I saw the MTH no. 30-11025 1-over-1 signal had a very similar appearance, even without altering the targets. Next, I saw the chain link fence resembled O scale fencing sold by Scenic Express or kits produced by Brennan’s Model Railroading Products. Barricades and concrete jersey barriers reminded me of items from Model Tech Studios or Saint Charles Model Works. The more I studied the pix, the more items I found and installed -- as I demonstrated for a forthcoming article in the pages of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

Without my essential tool, it would have taken me countless trips (as of today, a R/T tix between MKE and YVR costs more than $700) to recall a fraction of the details contained in a one free, yet priceless, photo!

Nearly completed Canyon

With the temperature promising to dip into the sub-zero range next week, I figure it's time to retreat into a warm basement and finish up a few loose ends on my Canyon scene. While space is narrow along this section, there was still plenty of room to add detailed rock faces and foreground scenery. For details how I assembled the components in this area, be sure to check out the feature I wrote for the March 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

Dog days of summer

Summer has all but passed me by, and I've hardly got anything new to show on my basement layout. though I could use the excuse that my outdoor Large-scale railway is receiving my attention during this extended dry spell of 2012, I've just been into other family activities lately. That said, I was motivated enough to craft and complete one new mountain scene (based on sights in/around Banff, ALB) on my O gauge pike this summer -- here's a quick clip to prove trains still DO run in my basement!

Dark Canyon action

Even in the midst of scenery construction, CN and CP trains slowly make their way (video captured on my iPad -- thanks Santa!) through my latest effort to build out the Dark Canyon area of my layout. Think I'll be tired of seeing pink insulation board by the time I'm done with this! Gotta say that I'm sure glad the good folks at Woodland Scenics in Linn Creek, Mo., are safe and sound. Also good to know that their Foam Putty and Profile Boards are still in production -- I've gone through 10 or more small tubs of the putty thus far!

Canadian Pacific domed observation car

So now that I’ve acquired a fine set of Lionel no. 34582 Canadian Pacific F units, I wanted to add something exceptional to my executive train. While the obvious choice would be to simply purchase the complementary set of Lionel no. 25600 streamlined passenger cars, I couldn’t justify the expenditure.

Instead, I opted to customize my own low budget Canadian Pacific domed observation car with a bit more detail than a standard issue postwar streamliner. I started with an older Williams observation car that I bought at a swap meet for $15. I found the repro “Canadian Pacific” stripes, a repro vista dome, and K-Line rubber diaphragms at another show. Using a razor saw, Dremel rotary tool, and a file, I was able to cut a perfectly sized opening into the aluminum roof and insert the dome I tinted with Tamiya X-25 Clear Green paint. I finished the car by adding LED bulbs to the interior, wipers to the dome, and O scale metal grab irons and vents along the roof.

As the story goes, the real CPR ordered one or more special Lionel no. 2551 domed obs cars to display in Canadian Pacific resort hotels across Canada. I’ve never seen or heard of any paperwork that confirms this is true, but I’ve seen photos of a no. 2551 custom car/display supposedly made by Lionel.

Maroon, gray, yellow…and brass

Fresh out of the CP Shops at Butler, Wis., my Lionel no. 34582 F3AA pairing is poised to ease Canadian Pacific top brass out for a jaunt along the western rails. Due largely to the adjacent heliport, waterfront, and immediate access to the central city, CP execs prefer embarking on The Executive Train (appropriately designated Train no. 001) from the Vancouver Waterfront Yard.
For precisely the same reasons, several other business trains from foreign roads also made this holdover yard an extended port of call during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Following the Games, my CP yard will continue to extend an open invitation to BNSF and Union Pacific executive specials in an unabashed effort to promote international ventures with either road. Already, visits from UP specials (headed by Lionel no. 11131 “844”) have resulted in a power-pooling plan that pairs Action Red and Armour Yellow locomotives.

Sights in the City

After making a bit of progress on my Vancouver Waterfront Station, I decided to snap a few photos. I really don't like shots of incomplete scenes, so I framed a West Coast Express (custom-painted by Jeff Sohn) K-Line F59PHI and Bombardier bi-level commuter cars in an area adjacent to the subject of my recent modeling efforts.
I was inspired to snap this image after viewing several photos on flickr.com. Some old and some new, but both helped me get a better take on the station's architecture.

New year, new projects

From a partially finished Vancouver Waterfront Station to a North Vancouver lumber mill and wharf to a key junction at the center of the layout, I've got no less than a half-dozen projects to finish in 2011. But for each unfinished project, there’s bound to be another completed area that also requires my attention.

The first such area to come to light in 2011 is this Ross Custom Switches curved 0-72/0-54 turnout on the main line. I’m a fan of RCS products, but I was frustrated to find that the semi-fixed pilot on my Lionel ES44 Hybrid won’t clear the DZ-1000 switch machine that came with the turnout. I’ve got a replacement DZ-2500 motor that I could use, but I’m considering if I’d rather install a slow-motion under layout switch motor. 

Santa's little helper

Thanks to the steady easterly Pacific trade winds from China, Santa was able to make a timely pre-Christmas (FY2010) delivery that’ll help spell my depleted fleet of Canadian Pacific motive power. A new O scale (1:48) Lionel no. 28450 CP Rail 4850TM Trackmobile will pitch in to help shuttle locos about the diesel dead line and freight cars along the waterfront wharf and industries Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The die-cast metal construction of this TMCC command-control road/rail vehicle with ElectroCouplers gives it just enough girth to tow and spot maybe 2 or 3 full-scale cars (2lbs.) on the slight, yet slippery grade along the waterfront. Nevertheless, this is just the type of fresh “new” product that the hi-rail world needs to stay relevant.

Dead line downsizing

Just like the real railroads on the slow track to economic recovery, I too have found it necessary to liquidate certain motive power assets. As more and more inactive locomotives lined my prototypical dead line (a yard track designated for loco storage), the accountants soon advised me to part ways with some idled power.

Weaver SD40-2 on the dead line.
See the November 2010 issue of CTT for details

To raise enough capital to purchase new fuel-sipping workhorses, my operation elected to purge high-mileage Lionel Dash 9 (AC4400) and older surplus SD40-2 units. Railroad leasing businesses in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Canada were the first to secure power on auction, but others are certain to bid in the world's largest "yard" sale. For replacement units, Canadian National has already delivered Lionel SD70M-2s, while Canadian Pacific Rwy. has its sights set on new Lionel ES44 Evolution Hybrid power.

S-P-I-R-I-T Train!

Although the 2010 Winter Olympics concluded last weekend, neither the Olympic spirit nor the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train has left town. In a few weeks, Vancouver will host the Paralympics Winter Games. Accordingly, my version of the CPR Spirit Train will continue to hang loose in the waterfront yard, a location immediately adjacent to a parking area filled with marquee tents featuring Canadian history exhibitions. Weaver Royal Hudson #2860 with TMCC leads MTH ES44AC #8733, plus an MTH CPR flatcar with a custom-decorated container (color copied at 128% for K-Line containers) Lionel Standard O CPR boxcar, Weaver CPR RPO, and a pair of MTH CPR heavyweight passenger cars. On a side note -- can you find all the LEGO parts I used? The forthcoming May 2010 issue of CTT will reveal all!

UPS-date an MTH trailer

My mini-modal terminal has plenty of space to display stacked containers, but absolutely no room to park box trailers. Rather than skip out on this part of the intermodal equation, I added a couple of MTH no. 20-98142 CP Rail flat cars to complement the stack train staged in my layover yard. Trouble is, the CP Rail 40’ trailer riding on each car sports a design that’s decades too old for present day.

To update the trailers, I first used extra-fine sandpaper to etch away the CP multi-mark logo. After separating the trailer from its chassis, I glued on strips of Evergreen styrene to represent rub rails. Next, I cleaned, primed, and then painted the trailer Polly Scale no. F414239 E/L gray with no. F414299 flat aluminum trim. Before re-assembling the trailer, I added Andrea no. 26 false eyelashes to represent anti-spray skirts and used white glue to attach the paper UPS logo that I printed from the UPS Web site. Finally, I added Microscale decals and weathering to the front, roof, and wheels for an in-service look.

Freight car graffiti - art or anarchy?

OK, even I’m not quite sure how I really feel about the graffiti that appears on the rolling stock in nearly every freight train riding the rails. Nevertheless, it’s a part of the modern railroad scene that I’m compelled to model. In this case, I’ve got a friend, who has a friend, who knows an “urban artist.” I’ve asked this artist to create some authentic art on both sides of my MTH no. 20-90046 CP Rail 100-ton cylindrical hopper. Turns out I liked it enough to commission another car. Meanwhile, I’m trying my hand at tagging with a Sharpie marker and applying decals to various dark corners of my layout. Conversely, I’ve already painted over some of the graffiti I added!

Out with the "old"

At 20+ inches long, this Lionel no. 18271 SD90MAC was the largest locomotive on my layout. But in keeping with current CPR practices, I voluntarily idled #9129 in early 2010. I'd come to love this model, but contemporary is my thing - if the real railroad isn't running them, I probably shouldn't either. Typically I'll store retirees on a dead line before I gather the courage to post them for auction. Not always easy to move forward, but the process provides the essential capital to run a railroad and acquire more modern power.