Original BTC Sawmill |
An Ontario Model Railroad in HO Scale
Modeling the ONR/CP in HO Scale
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Origin of the Quay Sawmill
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Modeling a Grain Elevator - Part 1
If you are interested in modeling elevators and related farm structures, check out Tom Johnson's posts on the Model Railroad Hobbyist and the October 2022 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. Tom has a fantastic bedroom sized layout that depicts a one town area within the mid-west. Beautiful scenery and fantastic detail all centered around agriculture. You look at his scenes and can't imagine the amount of color and detail he has fit into a relatively small space. Kalmbach Books also published a very good reference book for the grain industry.
While I used to limit my searches and photos to older, wooden or metal sheathed elevators, I've come to appreciate both the small and concrete behemoths you can find. I think my interest in elevators goes back to my childhood and touring one of the few elevators in Ontario, the now abandoned Shur-Gain elevator in Pontypool, ON.
My layout has a total of 4 elevators of varying shape, size and function. Pontypool was an elevator within an easy drive to our summer cottage, and my first experience with an elevator. I would come to find out it was very typical from a railway perspective, with a single siding built to accommodate 40-ft boxcars and along CP's main line. It also had a store attached to it. I would find out later that what set it apart from western province elevators was it's concrete base. It will come as no surprise that this was the first elevator I built, using a Campbell kit as my base. I was moderately pleased with the results, and learned that casting plaster walls was difficult when it came time to join them together as well as join them to a wooden structure. I also did not have the skill to properly create weather, wooden shingles, so I improvised and used a commercially available roofing shingle product as a substitute. The elevator no longer resides on the layout, since I could not find sufficient detailed photos which would allow to build the adjacent store.
Original construction including the store; date unknown |
Current condition of the Pontypool elevator |
Pontypool Elevator looking east |
My next elevator is part of a Freemo module that I purchased from a gentlemen's estate in Michigan. The module consisted of a gas station, residential house, and small country elevator. A lot of items compressed into a 2ftx4ft area. The elevator was a Walthers Farmers Co-Op elevator kit, which I added details to and changed some of the scenery elements.
I then built a 2ft by 4ft Freemo module to hold the fictional town of Teulonlie, Ontario. The town consists primarily of a small elevator and feed store, as well as a number of small wooden structures that I have built from various kits. It also houses my scratch built train station. The elevator will accommodate two 40-ft boxcars or one modern cylindrical or 4750 cu ft hopper.
Monday, November 21, 2022
OCR Progress Update
As some of you know, I'm lucky enough to be part of the scenery crew for my friend Bram Bailey's Ontario Central Railway. Bram and I share a common interest in Ontario railroading, especially the Ontario Northland Railway. Most of the crew heads to Bram's every Wednesday evening and some Saturdays to work on the layout. However, I live about an hour east, so rather than drive all those miles for each work session I focus on building structures at my work bench. Bram provides me a box of goodies, consisting of kits and other supplies, plus a template of the space available. I have pretty much free choice on what I can do, such as kit bashing, paint colors, weathering, details and creating signage for business or structure. So building usually starts with a few hours of research to see what sort of modifications I feel may be needed and to get an idea of paint schemes based on the prototype. All of which gets documents in my OCR notebook. Then it's off to the work bench. As building progresses, I check each structure against the plan and clarify any questions with the Superintendent of the OCR. Once completed, I return the structure and the scenery crew then creates the final scene down the road. I keep most of the leftover parts in case they are needed for future builds as you never know what may look good on another stock kit
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Working outside the Home Road
Many of us have helped friends build their own layout in some manner or another. It might be the physical construction, adding scenery elements, or creating rolling stock/engines for them. I was challenged (or maybe just asked) by my fellow ONR modeler Bram Bailey to build Stroebel Enterprises Ltd. Bram decided to add some interest to the Elizabeth Bay section of the layout by adding an agricultural industry. It is a grain elevator and potato warehouse owned by the Stroebel family. Bram tossed the challenge out to me see if I wanted to build the structures and I of course said yes. Then the challenge was extended to paint the switch engine which will serve the area.
I'm presently in the process of finishing a Key Alco S-2 that will be the Stroebel Enterprises' industrial switcher. Now that I have some primer back in stock, painting the engine will come in the next few weeks. With Bram's layout shut down and no operating sessions until next spring at the earliest, I have plenty of time to paint the engine. However, Bram has challenged me to design and build the Tryon Lumber complex on his layout. A few months ago I gave him an extra planning mill from my layout. So after a few discussions, I'm going to tackle the design and build. So I've been digging into the spec sheets and working on building configurations. Looks like a good winter project to build all of those structures.
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Monday, March 22, 2021
Yard Building
With the pandemic still in full lockdown mode, I finally got the time to build a small yard and retire a small temporary yard I had built years ago. The new yard is 10 feet long and sits on two modules which are joined together.
As I was planning my new yard, which was to be situated at the end of the layout, I wanted to include some sort of yard office, as well as a freight shed that had been removed from a different part of the layout. Looking at some photos, I realized that I had enough room to make a fairly complete scene by using the Mechanical Building at Englehart as an example. The other side of the track would house my freight shed.
Drone view courtesy Mike Robin |
South side of Bldg; scale house in right foreground |
South side of Bldg |
North and east walls of the Bldg |
The build started with a general Pikestuff building kit, with a few extra side panels added and cut down in height to make a lower roofline. Unfortunately I only had photos of 3 sides of the building, and the pandemic cancelled two trips I had planned to get the info. So the west wall is a complete guess.
One detail that I noticed going back through several years of photos was that the roof and building sides have two different shades of blue, as well as downspout configurations. Perhaps due to a building expansion? Matching the weathering condition and color was a real challenge and although not a true match, the result is pleasing to my eye. Maybe I'll try to alter it at some later date.
One of the challenges was to match the various windows and their position on the wall without any true measurements. Cutting the doors and windows would turn out to be fairly time consuming, as the Pikestuff panels are fairly thick plastic and required a steady hand and many knife blades to cut them all.
The challenge now is to complete the scene in the background by adding all of the details that you see in the upper photo. I just finished building the small building directly behind the main structure, as well as removed the trucks from an old Athearn 40 foot ONR boxcar which has been parked in the weeds.
The gravel type pavement was created by pouring tile grout to the consistency of a slushy and then drawing it relatively flat and level across the area. I plan to weather some of the gravel area with pan pastels to give it more of a well worn look. Now I just have to find or build the suitable ONR service vehicle(s) to park outside of the building.
Monday, January 18, 2021
New Yard
As I discussed in a previous entry, I had decided that the railroad really needed a much larger yard. The old yard was an afterthought and once I started operating from it, I realized its limitations. Therefore, after some review, I opted to build two new modules, which totaled 10 ft in length.
The Yard consists of a
5-track receiving yard using the Micro-Engineering ladder turnout system, a
main line, plus two ready tracks for either building a train or taking one
apart. So a total of 8 lines. The last spur on the ladder will be storage for my vans. Since the yard was planned to connect to an adjacent
two-line module, an extra turnout was added to connect all tracks and make the
yard accessible from two tracks. I don’t have room to make a
ladder on both ends of the yard, which is a limiting factor, but when you’re out
of real estate, you're out of luck until you can move into a different
house. Maybe the next house will allow for about a 20ft yard or larger.
After several weeks of laying cork and track, it was finally time to wire it. Now I don't mind wiring, however, being under the layout night after night can be touch on the body, especially the eye sight. However, I pressed on and wiring was completed late Saturday evening. Tested each track using several different engines and all was good. The final steps would be weathering the track and adding ballast. Started to weather the track at about 0100 Sunday using the paint pens I had purchased years ago. The plan was to avoid spraying all of the track and just apply some rust or grime to the sides via the pen method. All good and I got two tracks done before realizing that it was late and I was running out of energy to complete. Next morning I started to finish the weathering and actually loaded the yard with every caboose or van in Ontario Northland terms that I own, plus about a dozen freight cars. Success!!! Completed the task by installing some ground throws.
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Here we grow again !!!
2020 has been the year of the pandemic, which has seen model railroad show after show cancelled, as well as friends operating sessions put on hold. However, for those in this hobby it has also allowed more time to work on the layout or build some models, as there just wasn't much out-of-doors socializing going on and working from home became the safest way to avoid the virus. I took the opportunity to paint and decal various pieces of rolling stock, work on some general scenery and more.
I kept looking at the layout and wondering how I could build a bigger yard as well as add a few more industries. While I had built a small yard next to my work bench, the optimal word was that it was small and had become a bottleneck for moving traffic. In my mind it came down to two solutions: 1) build a second level above the island which houses the paper mill and lumber mill (via the addition of a helix) or 2) tear out some areas and build some new modules that would allow a larger yard and possibly some industries. Thus began a review and evaluation of what I really wanted the layout to finally look like, as this is realistically the final time I will be able to expand into basement space used for other purposes. During some recent plumbing problems, I heard the message that my hobby has taken up too much of the basement. I will say that the plumber seemed to like my railroad, as on his second trip to the house in 6 months he was heard to remark "oh the house with the model trains. I'd like to see them running".
Adding a second level was problematic for two reasons. The first being that I would have to move my island area outward from its position, so that I could add lateral supports to the 2x4 framing that was used to construct them. While I could move the modules and install another set of vertical supports followed by horizontal supports to lay the upper level on, there was a pesky metal column support for the steel beam which supports the house in the way. The other issue with this modification would be the need to construct of a real estate eating helix. Using a 30-inch radius, I would easily end up with a helix that was close to 6 ft in diameter. Lots of wasted space there and I have already torn out a helix about 5+ years ago due to its wasted space. Definitely not high on my priorities to go through the exercise again, although I had saved all of the hardware from the previous helix..
Building new modules also came with a few problems. First and foremost would be that the space for the Nephton mine complex would have to be changed. Actually it turns out that it would be lost. While hated to lose this industry, especially since I have built a fair number of rolling stock to support it, it simply wouldn't fit. So all buildings have been boxed up for its construction in the next version of the layout.
On the plus side, several months after starting my review process, fellow Freemo modeler Tim Moran got in touch and said he had a couple of 45 deg modules that he would be parting with. A quick email and Tim and I were arranging to meet at the local Walmart parking lot complete with our Covid19 masks in and put them into the back of my car. So parts of a previous 2x4ft module were re-built, becoming a new small rural Ontario town complete with grain elevator business, and this new modules spliced between the two 45's. Although still unnamed and in need of some details, a number of wooden buildings have found a new home of the layout.
Trackage and wiring completed...on to scenery |
One step closer, I still needed to build some modules for a new yard. But wait, nice weather days in November allowed me to do that. Therefore, yard construction will be included in a new blog entry.
Friday, July 24, 2020
Model RR Shows - Let the Buyer Beware
The cab on the left is the cab usually provided from the Walthers kit, one that I had previously started and was just at the final assembly stage. The cab on the right is the solid block of resin I unknowingly purchased, although I do admit that the details of the wipers, air filter, etc are quite good. It's just the space behind the fenders and inside the cab are solid blocks of resin. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo until starting to remove the area beneath the fenders.
Here's the view after most of the fender area has been cleaned out. I drilled a series of small diameter holes along the underside of the fender to start the process and then used a 0.25 in bit to remove the large block of material. Afterwards, I sanded the area smooth and then glued a small block of styrene in the middle to hold the wheel axle. One word of caution. I don't know what type of resin was used but while trying to remove the resin I noticed that I was smelling a very sickly sweet chemical smell and therefore donned my half face respirator to be safe. I think that during the heat from drilling it released the odor and it was annoying enough that I could smell it even after finishing my work. Subsequent sanding was done in the out of doors.
While I thought about trying to remove the solid resin inside the cab, I opted that I could never get the walls thin enough to be realistic, and therefore would try another route. That was to use the separate truck frame and remove the pre-molded seat and dashboard. So it was back to the Dremel tool, sand paper and chisels. I'm never going to be totally satisfied with the way this cab looks, so this truck has been sent to the back of the layout in an area which is heavily treed, and enough shows to depict a log truck coming into the saw mill with a load.
So lesson learned. Next time I fully inspect the packages contents even if the package is sealed with some tape. Who knows when this cab was switched.
Pontypool / Cargill Construction
1977, Kawartha Lakes Public Library |
While no longer in service since the 70's, this elevator has always a fascination for me due to its construction. I hope someday that some group will restore it before the termites find it. Several years ago I decided to scratch build the elevator using the plans from Campbell as a general guide. The hardest part of the build was fabricating molds for each of the cement walls. Some day I'll detail that process. I also need to change the cedar siding as I used a commercial product and was not thrilled with the results. Unfortunately after the structure was built, I really didn't have a good place for it on the layout and it was boxed up. So it has been moved many times and sustained some damage since I didn't pack it well enough.
The former trackage and elevator were fit into the corner and at some point in the future I will paint the track into the backdrop. But for now the modeled area will serve as storage for cars or simply sit empty.
Conveyor partially completed |
Bldg #2 with completed conveyor set in place |
Completed building (sort of). Amazing how the photo shows me a few errors and omissions that I have yet to address |
The Cargill facility is now open for business, as new track has been laid and the building has been set into the scene. While many details still need to be added to the building and the scene, I'm pleased with the outcome and it's time for this part of the layout to start receiving cars.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Revamped Corners
The other corners however were simply scenery, and I wasn't too worried about the background appearance as I didn't expect anyone to be hanging around these areas. However, as I wrote about in the Addressing a Lingering Mistake, I ended up changing the track as it exited the old Eel's Creek module, which was actually the lead in to the curve and the back wall of the layout. In order to accommodate the change in track radius, I needed to rip out most of that corner, although I was able to save the portable rock walls that I was using. However, after the track was fixed and I put some temporary scenery in place, I realized that I was going to need to change the backdrop.
The past several weeks have been spent removing the corner, including my two portable rock walls, in order to complete the scenery. The photo below is what the second corner just a few weeks ago. Boy when I look at now, I really wonder what I was thinking when I built it. Rocks meeting at right angles is just awful and I had intended to draw trees into the background but never got to that part of the project. I probably should have built the original corner with a flexible backdrop, but alas, I didn't and there's little reason to go back and try to alter that part of the layout.
90 deg Corner - still adding some rock castings to make the rock wall |
Removable rock castings set onto Luann plywood backing - actually a good idea as this were removable and simply rest on the frame of the module |
Removed the house in the foreground and opened it up to just scenery |
Still need to add some fencing and possibly a dirt road to support the idea that folks can drive back to the fishing hole. But that's another project in the works.
Static Grass Applicator
So I started to lay some grass on portions of the paper mill, as well as ripping out some previously installed ground foam adjacent to the main line as it approached the paper mill. While I still have much more scenery to go, I'm very pleased with the initial results.
I started the process much the same as any area that I cover with ground foam. A latex paint (green base) was installed and allowed to thoroughly dry before coming back with the status grass. I started the first layer with the short, 2 mm static grass to give a short base coat to all of the area. I typically use some diluted matte medium or 50/50 solution of Elmer's white glue to provide the adhesion. I then followed up with an application of 4 mm high static grass, which was a slightly different color than the base coat. I should add that the base coat was a late summer/fall blend that is available in bulk from Scenic Express. All subsequent layers were also fall grass colors, however, they are sold under the Heki ?? name.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Preventative Maintenance
So one of my winter projects was to drag out all of my tank cars, and start performing PM activities on them. Of course this morphed into adding some weathering efforts and deciding what to do with several of those pesky duplicate tank cars. With a trip to several hobby stores and swap meets in the plans, I ended up with enough new decal sets that I was able to repaint and re-letter all of my duplicates. So I know have six brand new tank cars available for operations.
What about the weathering? Well that work will take a little bit more effort, but I have been weathering wheels, trucks and axles as I can. To date, approximately 1/3 of my 32 available tank cars have had weathering applied this month and I really will try to get the remaining done in the weeks to come.
At the same as I complete the weathering efforts, I have inspected all of the fittings, wheels, trucks, etc and made repair efforts. Again I anticipate having all of these efforts completed in the next 3-4 weeks. Not a bad start, but then I look at all of the remaining 120+ pieces of rolling stock and realize that I really need to start a more periodic and routine PM program.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Adding Wood Chip Gondolas to the Roster
New Additions to the Layout
Woodchips are generated by lumber mills and separate purpose built woodchip mills in many areas of the U.S. and Canada. Most are used in paper or cardboard manufacture. While I have a paper mill on my layout, I chose not to model the wood chip portion due o space constraints. Currently wood chips are received at the mill in the Yard and the loads removed after a set number of days before being returned to the yard as empty's. Wood chips are received from either an off-site source, or from the Muskoka saw mill (on the layout). As I discussed in another blog entry, I currently have four wood chip car resin kits manufactured by Alpine Railway Shops of Kettleby, Ontario, which were marketed as being representative of rolling stock used by CN and BCR for saw mills and paper mills. I have several additional car kits which are modeled after the BNSF cars to also handle chips.
A common variation of CP’s woodchip gondolas rebuilt from a 52′ gondola with extended sides. Bill Grandin photo. |
I recently found myself with three 52' gondola kits which I have tried to sell at several railroad shows, but unfortunately no takers. So rather then seeing them sit for months until the next show, I decided to try my hand at kitbashing these kits to resemble a photo I had seen of a CP rebuilt gondola that was placed into wood chip service. These would become lettered in the ONR, although to the best of my knowledge the ONR never had any cars that even approached this configuration.
From what I have been able to research, in the 1970's, CP Rail began to convert some randomly selected old boxcars to woodchip cars; this was done through the early 1980s. These cars were made by cutting away the old roof and adding an extension. Later cars did not receive the extensions to the sides. They also took an unknown number of 52' gondolas and extended the sides.
The story for my cars is that CP rebuilt these wood chip gondolas with extended sides from a standard gondola. After some years of use in the north, CP parked them on a siding for lack of use. The ONR then purchased them and repainted them to a woodchip only service marks that you see.
Proto 2000 Gondolas getting ready for conversion |
Adding bracing for wall extensions. I didn't like the looks of this so the other two cars were done by adding bar stock |
No matter how carefully you cut, there are always gaps. Next step some sanding followed by painting |
Finished product in chevron scheme |