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…

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… 

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 live 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…

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 barge operation 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 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. 

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 small railway scope amd 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, brighter too… and 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 running through green forests… 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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