Down on Beaverbrook: Old friend…
A power shortage this week in Moncton led to the unusual sight of U18B 1801 on Beaverbrook street…
Originally acquired from CSX in the 1990s for the Halifax South Western this veteran U boat was transferred to the Dominion Atlantic TerraTransport operation when the HSW was cut back to the outskirts of Halifax and it proved too light footed for the terminal traffic in an out of Halterm to Rockingham. It found a second home running the ‘branch’ trains out to New Minas where it’s light axle loading that was such an asset on the old HSW served well on the tired trackwork beyond Hantsport.
Of course, this is actually just my H0 scale layout but I’ve been enjoying running things again over the holiday. The U18B was one of the first proper models I built for the layout and she still runs and sounds superb, a pleasure to operate. Until next time, more soon…
Hello James,
ReplyDeleteI only recently stumbled on your site – sorry to be late to the party -- and I am simultaneously intrigued, puzzled, inspired and very impressed, particularly with your Canadian project and TerraTransport freelance. The “puzzled” bit comes from why someone in Llangollen would take such a keen interest in mostly-defunct railway lines in Atlantic Canada. That said, personally, you’ve hit a trifecta for me: I grew up across the road from the CN Chester Sub (former HSW); I lived for a while in Windsor, NS and spent a great deal of time puttering around the gypsum trains of the Dominion Atlantic; and, for over 30 years I worked in an office overlooking the CN Dartmouth Yard (which presumably would be the operational centre of TT’s Dartmouth Terminal subsidiary).
While I model more proto than freelance (including the post-HSW CN and the pre-WHRC DAR), I have to say that after getting over the initial mind-bending sight of TT-HSW, TT-DT and TT-DAR liveries, they are utterly brilliant! The GP9RM and SW1500 are gorgeous! The contrast of a thriving TT assuming the operations of former CN subdivisions with the real-world improbability of TT surviving CN’s mission to kill it in the 1980s, again, is brilliant. Very, very, well done, sir!
Greatly looking forward to more chapters in the story.
Thank you Chris, and I’m pleased the TerraTransport story doesn’t sound too unlikely even for someone with such a rich background in the prototype and area. Whilst it doesn’t get quite as much airtime these days, the Canadian project ticks along. Why Canadian? Put that down to Dad and trips over as a child and teenager. Why the Maritimes? Not sure - it was my last trip to Canada aged 21, also cemented by a friendship with Chris Mears, who resides in Dartmouth. Anyhow, enjoy, there is quite the back catalog to read through here - we’re heading towards 2000 posts this year!
DeleteHello James,
ReplyDeleteI only recently stumbled on your site – sorry to be late to the party -- and I am simultaneously intrigued, puzzled, inspired and very impressed, particularly with your Canadian project and TerraTransport freelance. The “puzzled” bit comes from why someone in Llangollen would take such a keen interest in mostly-defunct railway lines in Atlantic Canada. That said, personally, you’ve hit a trifecta for me: I grew up across the road from the CN Chester Sub (former HSW); I lived for a while in Windsor, NS and spent a great deal of time puttering around the gypsum trains of the Dominion Atlantic; and, for over 30 years I worked in an office overlooking the CN Dartmouth Yard (which presumably would be the operational centre of TT’s Dartmouth Terminal subsidiary).
While I model more proto than freelance (including the post-HSW CN and the pre-WHRC DAR), I have to say that after getting over the initial mind-bending sight of TT-HSW, TT-DT and TT-DAR liveries, they are utterly brilliant! The GP9RM and SW1500 are gorgeous! The contrast of a thriving TT assuming the operations of former CN subdivisions against the real-world improbability of TT surviving CN’s mission to kill it in the 1980s, again, is brilliant. Very, very, well done, sir!
Greatly looking forward to more chapters in the story.