Prairie day dreaming...

There is just something about the Canadian Prairies that I feel compelled to explore in my railway modelling. A curious blend of early first hand memory tempered by HO scale models built and enjoyed with my Dad in my teens. I've traced familiar lines out on paper but have, until now, not tackled this curiosity directly...

Last year I found photos of Carlton and was almost tipped over the edge but somehow held my nerve. I'm not quite sure what was the trigger this time, it doesn't seem very long ago that I shared news that some N scale Intermountain grain cars and a Walthers elevator had arrived here in the workshop - and that an Intermountain F7 was on the way. This arrived earlier in the week and has been a delightful purchase. Smooth and powerful near silent running with that buttery purr I remember from old Bachmann Spectrum models in my teens - a sense of real mass despite the tiny size - and more, a smattering of rather lovely detail - wire handrails, etched grills and wipers and flush glazing... 

Whilst Cwmbach has been down on the bench for ballasting and wiring a 'free' shelf emerged in the workshop and it seemed pertinent to place a few items on this and shuffle them around, test out some of my thoughts and ideas on composition and get a feel for the scale - which is curiously noticeably smaller than British N. I shared a few early photos with Michael (from Chandwell)...

“It’s not even started but already looks like a James Hilton model. Must be the camera angle.”

Encouraged, I dug out my iPad and did some further refinement of an idea I'd had based upon 'the last great project'. This was viewed from the town side of the tracks, but I liked the way the elevator and the storage bin framed a view as if I was stood looking at the town - which had the added advantage of allowing me to do something with the Harris hotel...

The thoughts here are still very fluid - as you can probably sense. I'm full of excitement, but I don't really have a firm home in mind yet so it's difficult to size this all up. The idea of something simple that allows me to play with both the presentation and composition, compact enough to be finished yet still run a train - even if only from side to side - is appealing. I'll leave the final thought to my good friend Chris, who has been on this N scale journey with me since the beginning...

Really fun seeing this come together and to know that a friend is experimenting with a prototype that has spoken so powerful to me.

Until next time, more soon...

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