Lakes, trees and multimarks…
My first trip to Canada in 1989 is somewhat of a distant memory, recalled more in photos and feelings than distinct cameo. From the endless prairies of Saskatchewan through the foothills near Calgary to the Rockies via Field, and Revelstoke and adventures end, Vancouver…
A happy hour followed rediscovering the route, its idiosyncratic history… there were a number of barge operations by Canadian Pacific in the area but the one on Slocan lake was the last. It was also notable for transferring a complete train from Slocan City to Rosebery, where it then continued to Nakusp by 30 odd miles of more traditional rails. The last train ran as late as 1988, the year before my first visit. The book has a number of colour supplement pages and I was taken back in time and space to that trip - bright red engines, bright yellow caboose, green mountains and blue lakes.
Whilst the memory may be indistinct Canada’s railways left a lasting impression. Mile long trains on the prairies seemed to only accentuate their size - yet the Rockies with snow capped peaks, dark green forests and unfathomably blue lakes dwarfed their scale. CN zebra stripes and CPs bold multimark with brightly coloured grain and box cars set against both natural environments captivated my imagination.
10 Model Power grain cars behind my Bachmann F7 or Dad’s initial lone SD40-2 didn’t really cut it and just over ten years later we build the ‘last great project’ in the double garage…
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| Dad with his CP Rail. |
In recent years my own Canadian modelling has been deliberately in the same HO scale. Beaverbrook weaves threads of my childhood, teenage and adult life together - tying old memories and new friends as one, stretched out over 8 foot of roadside sidings. It continues to be a pleasure to operate, develop and share.
Also stretched along the walls of my workshop and study are rows of books. I like to glance along their spines, remembering the reason they were purchased or the magic they contain. In a chance opportunity I came across the ‘Railways of the West Kootenays - Volume 1’ by Corwin and Gerry Doekson. Upon removing it from the shelf I was instantly captivated by the cover photograph showing the barge operation on Slocan lake…
It is perhaps no coincidence then that a Rapido N scale CP rail caboose arrived… then an action red Microtrains gondola… then a red Atlas S4… and then some Peco long radius Code 55 turnouts… the sketching (top) paralleled physical mock ups, exploring idea and wondering if I could re-capture some of that feeling in just 4ft? Why N? I had instinctively and unconsciously recognised I would not have space to do this in HO…
I have built a four foot long N gauge cameo previously - and that failed. Its limited railway scope and small engines seemed lost within the cameo window. The vertical height of a HO scale letter box too tall for the Gerald Road scheme. Here though, whilst the trains are small in height they are longer and brighter too… rather than a sprawling urban scene with just two or three N scale storeys in vertical height I have the Rockies to consider. Tall lush green forest to wrap around the lake, the barge, the railway, like a comforting blanket. A place to revisit those feelings, that child like excitement. A place too to explore the memories of those bright colours… this is a project light on ‘fresh new ideas’ but heavy on nostalgia.
In a rather wonderful parallel my good friend Chris is also building an N scale layout. He too is using the very same four Peco turnouts. He too is laying it along a thin shelf. Our friendship is one that fuels and renews my energy and enthusiasm for this hobby, this wonderful pastime. It feels special to be working like this, almost as if we’re building this layout, his layout, together. I’m a man of many projects and the pace at which things progress can be a little on/off but there is energy for this, fuel in the tank and a growing collection of enablers. I have the space for ‘one more shelf’, this fits the space and suits the narrow location between than another 00/HO example… we shall see, but for now, until next time, more soon…
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I look forward to this layout developing. As we have discussed it is one of my favourite Canadian scenes. It has certainly given me renewed interest in my own HWRR layout.
ReplyDeleteThanks James, if it was HO we could do interchange with the Hockley and Western. Perhaps the H&W kept barge service open?
DeleteA thought I've been pondering for a few years, after seeing a photo of a yard in New York, it to actually dress the sector plate as a car float, with the trickery hidden by the apron structure .
ReplyDeleteI can't find the photo again, of course, but it was of a GE 70 ton with cut down roof, in a dark hole between , and under, towering warehouses and a modern road bridge witht the actual car float terminal not in the photo.
Mark Dance, of Vancouver, British Columbia, has a large N scale layout that covers the CP lines in southern BC around the city of Nelson. Included is the float operation to Rosebery and the line to Nakusp it served, c 1970. His layout is multi-layered and the float at Slocan City is physically movable. He loads the train on the barge and then physically moves it up to Rosebery to unload. Just the Rosebery to Nakusp line by itself in N would make a fascinating model in a bedroom-sized space (with compression of course), staged by the ferry.
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DeleteAs I look back to my design ideas for the very similar float on the same CP division, I see that I put the barge on a removable "fiddle stick," which would save almost 16 inches of length, and allow me to include the signature slip design used in that area, with the yard taking a smaller 5' space. Adding a fiddle stick to extend the switchback stub at the other end would allow that main cameo length to shrink to 4' with the two removable parts stored away between sessions.
DeleteJames - sounds interesting, definitely let me know if you find the reference!
DeleteDave - familiar with Mark’s work. Whilst his operation is not my sort of thing I do love some of the Nakusp branch character he has recreated. My plan is to use a fiddle stick to occasionally extend the right hand side, but it is operable without…
Really it’s a chance to try and capture the character of the scene rather than be deeply operable.
Yes, don't we all want to capture that character of a scene that drew us in? I may be misreading your final sentence, what you define by deeply operational. This triggered a thought: What exactly is involved in capturing the character of a scene? Clearly it varies wildly amongst modelers. Does character include operations sympathetic to the source inspiration? I realize for me, the answer is yes, especially in a cameo. It’s taken years but this is the place I’m currently at in my model/art journey. Sympathetic operation to the prototype inspiration is part of how I wish to share the story, project the character. So I think a lot about this aspect as I design, about taking a broad or narrow interpretation. The latter interests me, as much as I can achieve it, which helps me fall into the space I’ve created and as a bonus serves in keeping my interest after construction winds down. To define my idea of ideal operation, the sweet spot is a local hauling 2-4 cars, and a spur or two, sympathetic to the business, location and timeframe of the inspiration source location. Leisurely, solo. No deep operation or maybe it actually is? Whatever it is it's my thing, not for everyone.
DeleteI think we’re talking about the same thing from our own perspective. I’m not interested in realistic operation from a railway perspective, more recreating the movements that we witness as rail fans. We might not understand what we see, but we enjoy it. That’s what I try to recreate I guess Dave, a space that feels engaging to me, myself - to tell the story in my voice, as someone who loves trains, loves model trains more… if that at all makes sense!
DeleteHi James
ReplyDeleteThose CP and other barge/rail operations in western Canada are really interesting. A friend of mine started his N-scale north American modelling based on a similar operation on Kootenay Lake.
While these CP operations have closed there are still two or three pulp mills around Vancouver Island that receive all their rail traffic by barge. I remember you did something on them a couple of years ago. I visited two back in 2003/6 ( can't remember if I sent any photos) and they would make a good model as well. Adding even a short a run round siding (as there was in both the mills I visited) would add to operation and the "fiddle stick" could double as the pulp or lumber mill served by the railroad.
I assume you are thinking of the barge that took the loco and van as otherwise it needs idlers to keep the weight off the barge apron.
Look forward to seeing how this develops. Have a good weekend
Any news on the books
Best regards
Alan
Thanks Alan - you have certainly contributed to previous work here about the Vancouver Island and beyond float operations.
DeleteFascinating to find this today on your blog. I've been interested in the Slocan operation for decades but was only able to dive in deeply in the past 10 years and uncovered an amazing amount of information and photographs that have been digitally archived--and visit the area regularly now. The CP line at you show at Rosebery once stretched east to the next lake, Kootenay, and on that lake were several other float operations. Your cameo is actually very reminiscent, almost operationally identical, to the final condition of the Lardeau branch on Kootenay Lake, which once stretched twenty miles west across the wilderness but by 1940 was cut back to just a float slip and a few spurs serving logging, fuel and construction projects. I've long considered an N scale version of that town as a cameo and have collected photos and CP maps to plot it out.
ReplyDeleteFantastic stuff - yes familiar with the prototype, have a great little book on the history which kicked things off… whilst the Kaslo and Lardeau operations peeked my interest as possible parallels to this plan, I think the Rosebery esque setting will work better in my limited space.
DeleteI also follow a YouTube channel called Boomer Diorama / River Railroad, who is building what he calls a shelf layout (but anyone this side of the pond would call just a layout) based on a slightly more urban version of exactly what you're talking about here. He even built the ferry. It is all based on real world locations on the SRY short line in southern british columbia. He is very heavily drawn to "views" like you are.
ReplyDeleteVery familiar with Boomer!
DeleteI saw a picture of the Rosebery slip many years ago and have a wee box with a loco, some boxcars, some girders, a three way point and a tug kit - all 'n' gauge, and waiting for a rainy day. I had mused on one landward siding - just enough to make up the outbound consist. Anyway, I wish you well and look forward to seeing it unfold.
ReplyDeleteThanks David, I would say it sounds a great little plan, I hope you get the chance to build it.
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