Hilton and Mears: Middle of June...

Today's blog is another classic Hilton and Mears collaboration where Chris's prose serves to expand on my illustration...

"I still believe the RS18 program made sense. I think it’s part of my instinct to not be wasteful to look at and repair what we can. In some way finding a new future for the RS18’s felt like the same future for the railway. 

The GP7 1701 came up north as part of a collection of American diesels and we brought it to Moncton to look and see what it would be like. My favourite trucks are the General’s so it didn’t hurt to share that feeling in a new cab. We did notice that while it loaded nicely it was a little more slippery on that first stretch out of Gordon Yard. Around the same time Holcim’s car mover had that clutch problem. Middle of June. What luck. We loaned 1701 to them to move cement hoppers around. “Loaned” is a strange word because they really couldn’t run it. We just left it at the bottom of the hill. That summer the Franklin job worked the Beaverbrook spots and left the Holcim hoppers in the siding at the top of the hill. When Holcim needed a switch we just drove over, revved up 1701, and did what needed doing."

Chris and I enjoy sharing our thoughts, modelling and sometimes off beat creative posts. Use the Hilton and Mears 'label' below to find more. Until next time, more soon...