Welcome to the 2nd Annual - Brantford Model Railroad Club

Welcome to the 9th Annual
Brantford, Simcoe & Port Dover
District Model Railroad Layout Tour
Saturday April 25, 2015
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Please note that this online version of the
Tour Booklet is for information only.
For admission to the Layout Tour you must have a copy
of the printed Tour Booklet with maps. The cost is $5 per person.
Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult.
The printed Tour Booklet can be purchased at the
following ticket locations:
Prior to April 25th (after March 15)
Paris Junction Hobbies
Broughdale Hobby
Credit Valley RR Co.
Dundas Valley Hobby
Modeller’s Choice
Just Train Crazy
The Train Cellar
300 Grand River Street, Paris
1444 Glenora Drive, London
24-2900 Argentia Rd. Mississauga
15 Cootes Drive, Dundas
4-865 Upper James St. Hamilton
5253 King St. Beamsville
130 Main St. N. Mount Forest
On April 25th
Brantford Model RR Club - behind 100 Waterloo St. Brantford
SLN Hobbies - Gord King
- 51 Newport Lane, Port Dover
.
Proceeds to Brant Food for Thought www.brantfoodforthought.ca
For information or to add your layout to the tour
contact Roger Chrysler grandcs@rogers.com
or Ted Black revtedblack@hotmail.com
1. Brantford Model Railroad Club - Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Grand Valley Central
70’s to 90’s Southern Ontario
HO
20’ x 40’
95% track
80% scenery
General Information
Double track mainline with a single track secondary main that run to staging yards
providing for point to point operation. We also have a single track dead end branch line
with a few industries located mainly at the end of the line. There are a total of 15 industries
currently that are served by rail making for plenty of work for the locals that operate during
a run session.
The era and railway is not specific as we allow members to operate any locomotives they
own from steam to the latest diesels from any road name so long as they are DCC equipped.
The layout is operated using the Digitrax System.
Normal operations on Club run nights consist of 12 mainline freights some of which set-off
and lift from the major yard known as “Yates Yard” with a couple also working at the
smaller yard on the layout known as “Weber Yard.” Extras are also run as required. There
are also 4 locals that switch the industries along the main line as well as 1 that operates
down the branch line. We also can operate passenger trains including GO Transit.
As with most layouts, it’s a work in progress with new buildings being added, scenes
being changed or spruced up, trackwork/turnouts added or replaced. Scenery details are
always being worked on or added with areas always under re-construction.
2. Doug Wheaton – Brantford
Scale and Size
HO
7x7
G
7x7
General Information
Newly designed HO table top layout with code 83 flex track. Mainly TH&B, CPR, and
CNR Always a work in progress! The G scale test track is built above the HO layout –
same railroads. Additional garden layout in season.
3. Greg and Gail Whayman- Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
New Layout in New Location
New York and Seven
Late transition
New York, New Haven & Seven
HO
approx 10’ x 20’ in two rooms
General Information
This new point to point multilevel railroad features craftsman structures including Fine
Scale, South River, Sierra West, Best and Bar Mills, complimented with scratch builds.
Hand laid track and turnouts, tortoise switch machines.
Computer controlled with Railroad Company Software 8 Gold with voltage drop detection,
working signals and digitally addressed turn-outs. Dispatcher can program, watch and
dispatch the movement of trains. Telephone communications throughout the layout
between operators and dispatcher.
The previous New York and Seven R.R was featured on Trainmaster TV in December
2013.
4. David Borthwick – Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
New Layout
Winniemucca Eastern Express 2014 (WEE Railroad)
Fall 1957 Nevada, Colorado and Illinois
HO
20’ x 12’
90% track
20% scenery
The highlights of this new layout include:
Two 70’ mainline tracks, two branchlines, semi-hidden staging track storage area
Double diamond crossing with working interchanges
Five industrial switching areas
Buildings are a mixture of prebuilt, plastic, wood kits and kitbashed.
Ceiling tile mountains, Digitrax controls
Read the story behind the layout:
WINNIEMUCCA EASTERN EXPRESS (2014)
HISTORY
In the early 1950’s, a young wealthy immigrant from Scotland, Clive
Borthwick III, settled in the Nevada town of Winniemucca. Clive loved the
mountains, fresh air, and train watching. He spent many hours at the local
station.
February of ’54 was a disaster for Winniemucca because of a huge tunnel cavein on the Southern Pacific line west of town. After months of uncertainty, S.P.
announced the closing of the icing plant, and the branch to Harris Gravel was
to be abandoned. People moved away, businesses closed, and land became
cheap!
Clive heard from an investor friend that Sherwin-Williams Paint was looking
to relocate a plant to a place where land costs were lower. An idea came to
Clive. In early ’55 after a meeting with S.P. management Clive announced his
plan to lease all lands, track and station from the railroad. The Winniemucca
Eastern Express was born. Two GP-9’s in Black Widow paint were purchased
for motive power. Hoppers of gravel from the Harris plant were the first
shipments on the new W.E.E.
News of the paint plant being built brought other industries to town.
In 1956 the W.E.E. purchased a Doodlebug from Union Pacific. This was for
passenger service between Harris Gravel, Winniemucca, and Petersburg.
By track agreements with S.P. in 1957, W.E.E. trains started serving 5
industries in Lovelock. Also a Union Pacific agreement allowed W.E.E. trains
to travel to Fort Collins.
The huge Budweiser plant and other businesses provide many car loads of
work for the W.E.E. New customers, equipment and revenue, continue to
grow, making Clive Borthwick III very happy!
5. Roger Chrysler - Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Lake Erie and Northern Rwy
1953 Brant and Norfolk Counties
HO
11’ x 42’
95% track
70% scenery
General Information
Replicating many prototype scenes between Glen Morris and Port Dover, Ontario.
Highlights are station and yard scenes including Paris, Brantford, Mt Pleasant, Waterford
and Simcoe.
Many scratchbuilt cars and buildings. Handlaid code 70 track. This traction layout is
powered exclusively by overhead wire. Digitrax DCC control. Includes both Lake Erie and
Northern and Grand River Railway equipment.
Handicap accessible
6. Ted Black- Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
CN Brantford
1989 Brantford Yard & Hagersville Sub
HO
15`x 11`
100% track Scenery in early stage of development
General Information
The Brantford Yard is the centre piece of this multi-level layout that fills a 15’x 11’ room.
Two double-track helices lead to the 9 track staging yard below the main level, and two
more helices stacked on the others lead to the two upper level shelves. The first upper shelf
represents the Hagersville Sub in the Cainsville area, and the top shelf features aspects of
the line from Caledonia to Garnet Yard including the bridge across the Grand River. Many
plastic and cardboard structures hint at the scenery that is to be developed.
The layout operates with DC block control and ShipIt! car forwarding. The schedule calls
for 40 trains a day, including 14 passenger trains, intermodal and auto trains, the steel train,
general freight trains and wayfreights. (My earlier version of CN Brantford was built in the
basement of Balfour Street United Church in Brantford and was dismantled in 2011.)
7. Dr. Garry Balsdon –RR4 Brantford
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Canadian National
1920s – 1970s Somewhere in Canada
HO
21’ x 16’ W- shape 90% track
91% scenery
General Information
Model Canadian National through the years
Plenty of power and rolling stock to catch the eye
Too much to remember on your last visit so come again
You are very welcome
Pax Garry
8. Jim Carman – Mt. Pleasant
Scale and Size
HO
12’x 30’
90% track – half ballasted
5% scenery
General Information
The layout features container yard, container hoist, wooden trestle, lift bridge, and large
yard for rolling stock. Various road names from 1970 to present.
Large “folded dogbone” track plan with long connecting track to lower level service yard.
DCC connected to 20+ tortoise switch machines and locos with sound.
9. Steve Armstrong - RR3 Waterford
Weather Permitting!
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Toad, Hollow & Buttercup (TH&B)
Steam and Early Diesel
Lakes and Forests
G
Outdoor 52’ x 36’ 100% track
100% scenery
General Information
Put a smile on your face as you enjoy the CPR trains moving over trestles and bridges,
and through the living scenery (hostas, groundcover etc.) Equipment varies in scale
from 1:20 to 1:29. The layout is run with Aristocraft Revolution Train Control.
10. John Frederick – Port Dover
Era and Location
Scale and Size
1958 north-eastern Ontario – Ottawa valley
HO
8’ x 17’
approx. 225’ track
100% track 90% buildings 50% scenery
General Information
Layout intended to be grandchild friendly and interesting…but not heavy railroad
operations.
All buildings, vehicles, and rolling stock, are consistent with the 1950s time frame.
Rolling stock is a mix of CNR and CP freight and passenger. Locomotives are steam and
diesel, some with sound.
Layout consists of 2 yards on inside loop running through an 8 foot tunnel and mountain
with integrated reverse loop and station sidings. The perimeter trackage is double main line
looping around the entire layout with a double crossover and several industrial sidings
served off the mainline. There is a separate town centre with numerous business and store
locations.
Table top layout with duck- under to centre control pit.
DCC operated with Digitrax Super Chief Extra system.
11. Robert Lawton - Port Dover
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Post War and Modern Various Road Names
O Gauge 25’ x 35’ 90% track
25% scenery
General Information
3 rail Lionel & MTH Trains. Layout situated in a walk-in vault in the basement.
Has various operating structures collected over the years such as dairy milk cans and
cattle pens, crossings and musical cafes. Lots of sounds and smoke. TCC Street Car.
Bob, shows his model train collection in a video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htmyPbxoqCE
12. Dale Davis –Port Dover
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Dale’s Hi-Rail Heaven
1950’s and 60’s In Canada wherever you imagine!
O
31.5’ x 18’ T-shape
90% track
90% scenery
General Information
Control: MTH DCS
Power: Lionel ZW’s (4) American Flyer 18B; and Lionel 1033.
Features 3 levels and four focal points: Canyon Falls and Power Station; Town of East
Bend; Winterland; and Union Station. Over 1500 O gauge people.
13. Gord King –Port Dover
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Silver Lake Northshore (CNR Dundas Sub)
mid ‘50’s CNR Dundas Sub – London to Brantford
HO
30’ x 30’ bi-level with workshop staging yard
100% lower level track 98% upper level track
40% scenery
General Information
When completed the railroad is designed to operated point to point. Trains will originate
from a staging yard representing Toronto and points east, and Windsor/Sarnia and Point
west. Trains traveling west enter the railroad at Brantford, and travel Paris, Woodstock,
Beachville, Ingersoll, exiting the railroad to staging at London West. Trains travelling east
will do the reverse. Eventually the CNR Thorndale sub may be added. There is also some
non-electrified London & Port Stanley trackage in London.
The completed lower level incorporates London as the main centre. London has a large
classification yard which also serves 20+ industries and has a large passenger facility.
London also is home to the main engine service facility which includes a model of the
original coaling dock. The other main centre on the completed lower level is Brantford
which serves 10+ industries, engine service and passenger facilities.
The upper level incorporates 3 centres, Ingersol with half a dozen industries, Woodstock
with 10+ industries, Paris and Paris Junction with several industries.
In each centre a scene or structure will identify to the viewer where they are if they are
familiar with the area. For example visitors will recognize the West St underpass and the
CNR coaling tower in Brantford, the CNR coaling tower in London.
Operation is primarily steam with transition diesel. The control system is Digitrax DCC
Duplex radio control. Eventually operations will use the JMRI Operations computer
programme to generate traffic. Track is primarily code 83, with some code 100.
Eastbound CNR
anifest in 1956 on
the SLN RR
Thought I would share this
16 minute video of a trip
across my model railroad
by Eastbound manifest 492
behind CNR Northern 6232.
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=L765yY
XCUuI&feature=youtu.
be
14. David Hawkes – Port Dover
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
White Pass & Yukon Route
Present Alaska and British Columbia
HO
80 sq ft in an area 10’x16’
100% bench work and track
100% backdrop, 75% structures
70% ground cover, trees and topographical detail
General Information
This present day prototypical W.P.&Y.R. is primarily used as a scenic tourist train for
passengers of cruise ships.
Digitrax DCS50 controls. Trains operate from sea level at Skagway, over White Pass
Summit (elev. ~2800 ft.), to Fraser B.C. with average 3.5% grade. Actual recognizable
landmarks are modeled with artistic licence liberally taken. Terrain includes tunnels,
bridges, trestles and mountains. Steam and Diesel engines as closely as possible resembling
those in actual use are displayed along with authentic rolling stock.
The layout has been expanded to include a maintenance yard and buildings, as well as a
dockyard for ore loading and cruise ships.
15. Paul Kelly – Port Dover
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Canadian National Railway Heritage Division
id to late 1990’s
Northern Ontario
HO
25’ x 37’ (with staging yards in an adjacent room)
90% track 15% scenery
General Information
This under construction model railroad is located in a fully finished basement dedicated to
the railway. The layout is constructed using “L” girders and plywood. All of the bench
work has been completed. The layout uses a Digitrax wireless DCC system along with plug
in jacks. The track is a combination of code 100 and code 83.
The railway is Canadian National Railway based, with an inter-connect to the Canadian
Pacific Railway, using a point to point track scheme. The layout location is not based on
any one part of Northern Ontario, but is based on my imagination and my various
railroading experiences. The track plan encompasses a single track mainline along with a
branch line. The railway is operationally based, and will require a number of operators to
fully operate.
At present, 100% of the mainline and branch line trackage is installed and operating, with
the exception of some of the industrial tracks. Approximately 80% of the main yard
trackage is now installed and operational. I am now working on the track and wiring for
both the steam and diesel engine servicing facilities.
As to scenery, we are in the process of installing and shaping extruded Styrofoam and
plaster screening in preparation for plastering and scenery finishing. We have also started to
paint the railway backdrop and, if I must say so myself, it makes a huge difference in the
look of the layout.
View photos of Paul’s layout on the next page.
Photos of Paul Kelly’s Canadian National Heritage Division
16. Tim Warris (Fast Tracks) – Port Dover
Name
Scale and Size
CNJ Bronx Terminal
HO 6x8 100% Track Scenery
General Information
The Bronx Terminal built in 1906 in the Bronx, New York was a very unique operation.
A victim of limited space, the terminal included a round freight house, 17 track yard with
75 car capacity, car barge and an engine house, all in one acre of land.
To accommodate all this some very complex trackwork had to be built.
The model is a faithful reproduction of the original, scaled down accurately to HO scale
with no compression. Like the prototype the hand built trackwork includes a triple lapped
turnout, quad diamond and 6 #3 three way turnouts.
The layout progress has been documented on Tim’s website at www.bronx-terminal.com
17. Jim Lewis - Simcoe
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Cedar Valley Railroad
1900 Lumber and mining country
HO
12’ x 9’ with workshop staging yard
90% lower level track
75% scenery
General Information
The layout is a lumber and mining operation with a port terminal. The track goes twice
around the room with a hidden return loop.
The railroad services the town of Cedar Falls and the port of Cedar Bay as well as the mine
at Cedar Hill. There are some very interesting scenes, including the ore mine, large and
small sawmills, dock with the lumber schooner, and fishing wharf. There are a variety of
buildings and industries most of which are either scratch built or modified kits. The layout
features early small steam, some with sound. The layout is powered via Digitrax system.
18. Gordon W. Earle – Cheapside
Children under 12 years of age will NOT be admitted to this layout – No exceptions.
Name of Railroad
Era and Location
Scale and Size
Port Union Railway
1928-1932
Fictitious Port Burwell
Port Union
HO
13`x 20`
75% track
25% scenery
General Information
Port Union Railway, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Port Union Steamship Co.
incorporated under the Canada Steamship Act of 1897.
This switching layout features steam, sequential operation, kitbashed and scratchbuilt cars.
DC control.