Lyon Valley Northern

This site is designed to promote the hobby of ferroequinology. It also provides an opportunity to show the development of the "Lyon Valley Northern": an HO railroad featuring CN and BNSF action in the West. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments at cnlyon@sympatico.ca

My Photo
Name:
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Retired

Sunday, October 23, 2011

White River Junction. A hot bed between 11:00 AM and Noon

On the way home Lela and I stopped in New Hampshire to get some tax free scotch then headed west to White River Junction Vermont.  As you can see the leaves were just past their prime and the shy was overcast.  We wanted to get to the station at 11:00 so we could see the Vermonter heading south. 



 Arriving at the station we were quite pleased to see that the Green Mountain Dinner train was at the backside of the station.  they were boarding the leave peepers for the afternoon run,.  The platform was loaded with folks ready to board the Vermonter.
 This is taken from the north end of the platform.  The old B&M steam engine is in good repair under the protective roofing.
 Across the tracks there is this great old clapboard sided industry.  Lots of small town turn of the century character.
 New England Central power was sitting in the siding across from the station.
 I would imagine this is the power that runs from Newport all the way down to Bellows Falls.
 The Southbound AMTRAK Vermonter is at the road crossing approaching the station.
 Just about ready to stop with 2 car lengths to go.
 The train stopped.  The video camera in the window is taking pictures of me taking pictures.  Smile
 Alco RS1 running short hood forward
 I like this shot as the whole dinner train is in view.
 Closeup
Nice to see all this action in that 1 hour time frame.  I asked the station master about the light weathering on the Alco.  He smiled and said ...Yup: done with floquil's and a little bit of Bragdon's mixed with rubbing alcohol:)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fine Scale Model Railroaders Expo: Day 2

I was so busy over the three days of the Expo I did not get much of a chance to use my camera.  I took a few shots of the winning large diorama by Joel Freedman (Canadian from TO area )and a couple of vendors tables. Also a couple of pictures of my clinic taken by forum member Ralph Renzetti.

Joel did an amazing job of integrating three Sierra West Kits, several resin boat kits and Crow River lighthouse into this best in show awarded diorama.  His modeling skills are very evident and he has the nack of creating wonderful water effects.

 The boat passing by the dock creates an incredible sense of motion
 Here you can see the boatworks with all the action of an industry hard at work building a new ship
 From this angle you can see Shelby's across the harbour.  The rigging and wood work is breathtaking.
 There was light and sound to help create the mood.  Here the light house flash was caught on canera and just look at that wave crashing against the shore.  The bouy is angled as if pressed by the wind, waves and current.
 Here is an example ofare example of a dock side fish plant diorama at one of the vendor tables.  He has produced four harbour kits and has a number of boats and doodads that enhance any model railroad scene.  It would appear that the influence of recent modelers has created an interest in seaside landscapes with interesting ports and docks for the model railroad to go through.
 Now here are Dad and Son at they vendor table looking so very happy with the sales of their fine scale kits.  Just look at that coal dock modeled after a true prototype.
 O scale was very popular this year and Sierra West sold almost everything they brought.
Seaport Model Works had a great display for their products (Resin Boats)  The diorama was created by Dave Frary for them.

 The clinics were just so informative.  I had the pleasure of presenting my backdrop painting clinic.
 The demo really got the creative juices flowing in the crowd.
There were lots of pictures taken, notes written and questions.  I had a blast.  Afterwords I gave away three DVDs (Backdrop Painting with Chris Lyon).  And sold out what I had brought in less than 5 minutes.  I am so glad that folks will be able to go home with all this new info and work on their layouts.

More pictures are on the Railroad line forum at this thread.

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34160

 Next will be the trip home through White River Junction.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Fine Scale Model Railroader Expo 2011: Day 1

Lela and I went to the Fine Scale Model Railroader Expo show in Peabody Mass. It was three days of clinics vendors and layout tours and was a great deal of fun. Here are some pictures of the trip.  Day one we crossed the border following the old CP/B&M route south through Saint Johnsbury to Wells River.  My friend Dave Premeau models this area and I wanted to see some of the prototype structures he modeled.  

 This is the trackside view of the Station.  It now is an information center.  The lady says that there is only one train a week that comes roarin' down that line.  Maybe Harry Chapin new something we didn't.
 From left to right, the main, passing siding then yard tracks.  In the distance you can see the bridge over the tracks.  There is also a roadway that goes under the tracks over to the industrial side to the right.
 Closer view of this structure.  It really has lots of character and Dave has it appropriately placed on his layout.  The colours are a perfect match as well.

 On the street side of the station there are two excellent brick structure.  The rounded one on the left used to be the old hotel.  It was burned down and rebuilt some time ago.  The window shapes and brickwork really give this structure some character.
 This map of the old track plan for Saint Johnsbury was really interesting.  It led me to where the old roundhouse was located.  Even the folks at the information centre new nothing about it.  Double click for the blow up.
 Inside the station there were some old railroad artifacts such as the B&M passenger seating in the waiting room.  There were also some old communications gear and desk in the stationmasters ticket and office area.
 The station from the town side.
 The roundhouse was gone but the turntable was intact.  The garden tracks were half covered by gravel and dirt but you could still see where they went to the stalls.  On the other end they put a big fuel tank right on top of them.
 Side view so you can see where it stood relative to the station.
 Dave has this on his layout between Saint Johnsbury and Wells River.  We took number 5 hwy along the tracks and found it.  The lady at the sheep farm was kind enough to let me onto the property to take pictures.
 She has sheepdog puppies.  They were excited to see me.  The mother was laying down probably because of the energy they have was exhausting her..  Dave more pigeons on the copula.
 View from the house.  The barn is built on a slope so determining level must have really been something.
 In this picture you can see the B&M trackage on the right.  The distance is matched very nicely on Dave's layout.
 In Wells River, I found this cool structure.  May have been an important building at one time but now it is home to local shops.
 We crossed over to New Hampshire from Vermont and headed east on HWY 112.
 The leaves were just awesome.

 We had a great picnic lunch
 The colours were great


Ah yes we did see trains in Lincoln.  This Hobo railroad is one of a number of tourist railroads in the White Mountains.  Next I have a few pictures from the Expo.