Ontario Narrow Gauge Show 2027

The date is now set for the 2027 show. It was a nice one this year and is well worth coming out if in the area...George Dutka

Playing with Narrow Gauge Photos and AI

I asked AI to add smoke to the engine some clouds and a fall New England backdrop. It changed the number to a larger number and the lettering on the engine and caboose. I think it looks nice even though and not at all like a model photo.

I recently found out there was a AI attachment to my photo files that I can do a limited amount of work using AI before I have to pay a fee. Here is the view that I used and how it turned out. It changed the lettering and numbering which I could not change before the fees kicked in. Oh and this view was taken on my White River Division HO scale layout...George Dutka

This is the photo I began with taken on my HO scale layout a number of years ago (2013).

I asked AI to tone down the fall scene. An early fall view.

Milk Cans in Maine

A few milk can photos taken in Maine have turned up on Milk Train Journal. The photos are credited to Robert Wallace and the Albion Historical Society Inc. Not sure if anyone makes there type of milk cars but sure could use a few on my On30" modules...George Dutka

WW&F - Milk Traffic

 

I found this interesting today you might want to check it out on Facebook "The Milk Train Journal". The beginning of the article reads below...George Dutka

'Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway Dairy Operations – Turner Centre Dairying Association' (Part One)

By Robert Wallace and the Albion Historical Society, Inc.

During the life of the WW&F narrow gauge railroad, one of the most consistent freight categories was the transport of cream and milk. From 15 pick up points along the line milk was hauled to the Turner Centre Dairy factory located in Wiscasset. This endeavor used dedicated dairy cars (reefers) that ran on both the morning and afternoon trains between Albion and Wiscasset.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum

I saved these photos and the comments below of a Facebook post awhile back that I though I would share with you. It is very good...George Dutka

Check out these stunning historic photos from the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway (today's Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum).

Photographer and early railfan Hugh G. Boutell visited Wiscasset, Maine on August 17, 1925 and captured photos of the activities at the WW&F - including these views of their #7 engine putting together a 9-car mixed train at Wiscasset and awaiting departure northbound.

A close inspection reveals numerous interesting details, the station building at Wiscasset, and attempts by Mr. Boutell to get that "perfect" consist shot - notably by venturing down to the salt flats at Wiscasset and placing himself on the trestle in front of the engine!

These "slice of life" photos from over 100 years ago show a Maine narrow gauge railroad still in its heyday, long before abandonment and subsequent revival efforts.

We are proud to continue the tradition of Maine narrow gauge railroading with our friends from WW&F and other preservationist groups throughout the state!

*Photos by Hugh G. Boutell, part of the Allan Socea Collection, shared in "Two Feet to Tidewater: The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway" by Robert C. Jones and David L. Register.

B&H No. 8

This postcard was a handout at the last narrow gauge show I attended. It is B&H no. 8 in 1940 taken by Ellis Spears.

 

Feed Storage Structure - A Second Look

There is a bit of a stoop added with a ladder at the doorway. A bill box is added which is a HO scale detail. The loose piping is an Otter Valley offering as pipe loads for bulkhead flats but work well in O scale too.

Here are a couple of close up looks at the finished feed storage structure...George Dutka.  

The box on the sacks is a O scale FOS offering that one folds up and applies a label. So ground foam and weeds are also glued to the lower areas. 

Feed Storage

This is my new O scale structure I finished back in early spring. The details are mainly cast plaster. A styrene roof is made with a tarpaper covering. All the signs are from my past build files. Most got a bit of weathering.

I purchased this structure for a couple of bucks in O scale. I am working on a On30" shelf layout that this might work well on. The structure is scratch built in styrene that needed finishing and bracing to the interior. 

I used a number of different stains, powders and acrylics. It is a metal structure that was fun to weather and detail. All the details are glued to the structure making it a drop in scene. I also added a awning over the main doorway. The same door got a ladder added...George Dutka

How it looked when I purchased the structure.

Some signs are applied and weathering is happening.

The paints used to color the doors and windows.

This is the backside which I did not apply any details to.

Berham Jct. - Turntable

Berham Jct 1915. SRRL No. 16 

Another photo purchase from the Springfield train show 2025. This photo is marked from Bob Jones. Maybe used in his book or from his collection. Looks like the balance maybe was off while turning the engine..,George Dutka   

SR&RL - Pulpwood Yard

 

Not sure of the location but a pulpwood loading area on the SR&RL. Photo by Caswell from prints purchased at the Springfield 2025 train show.  

Something New for the module

A metal structure is always a nice way to practice my weathering. It has doors on both sides.

I picked up this part built structure in O scale for a couple of bucks a number of years ago. I spent a bit of time this winter finishing it off, weathering and detailing the sides...more to follow...George Dutka 

Structure Updated!

As the completed structure looked at the Narrow Gauge Show.

I spent sometime before the Ontario Narrow Gauge Meet to update Peter Mumby's O scale structure from his module. I think it looks much better now with a weathered wall, newer signs and a lot of details added that we did not have at the time of the build...more photos to follow...George Dutka

Ontario Narrow Gauge Show

This is what I came away with from the show.

On the weekend I attended my area's narrow gauge show. I had a display of my Maine two-footers in On30" and HOn30". I came away with a bit on Maine two-foot also. Mark Harris is downsizing his collection and there was some neat stuff to pick from...photos tell the story...George Dutka

The structures I picked up all built my Mark Harris.

Mt. Albert had their off cuts for sale which are a good deal. I always pick up a bundle. 

Mark Harris work.

There was a good amount of photos and wall art to choose from.

Mark Harris at his two-foot table of goodies.

Mt Albert had a nice group of offering of detail parts for sale in O scale.

Updated

This structure is off my late friend Peter Mumby's On30" module that I now have. We built our structures together. I thought I would take if further recently by adding some extra weathering to it, newer details, a platform out front and some extra signage. I will have it at the narrow gauge show this weekend. More on it will follow shortly...George Dutka

HOn30" Interchange Yard

Not sure if I showed you these views before...here they are.

A couple of views of my HOn30" interchange diorama built from my models dating back to the 1980's...George Dutka  

SR&RL "Work Days"

 

They have posted this on Facebook for anyone close by.

Wordless Wednesday No. 180

 

A bit of a change for Wordless Wednesday this view is all words I will be displaying there...George Dutka    

Another Look - Flagstop

Here is what I got in this old time kit which builds up into a flag stop. Nothing like todays laser cut kits.

Just a few more views of my flag stop build from a number of years ago...George Dutka

The O Sanders scale kit part way together.

I added a lot of details around the structure. 

Loading Platform

The milk car behind the loading platform I scratch-built back in the 1980's when I first got into modeling. Back then I did not have a lot detail parts available other than what I could find in the Model Railroad magazines of the time. No internet or well stocked hobby shops to help back then,

I was in the process of finishing an article for RMC when I found my shot of a loading platform I built for my HOn30" transfer yard. These could be found throughout New England in milk service and thought it would be nice to include. I actually set it up for all loading but with milk in mind...George Dutka 

Milk loading platform in Woodstock, Vt. in the late 1930's.

Strong, Maine - 1916

 

SR&RL 414 July 8, 1916 Strong, Maine. From my purchases last Springfield Show...George Dutka     

 

Wordless Wednesday No. 179

 

George Melvin Collection-George Dutka copy

A Second Look - W&Q #1

All set to roll with a coat of weathering that it really seemed to need. It looked just to clean painted. lettered and sealed. I also add a hand lantern on the back inside decking.

A second look at how my On30" looks today...George Dutka

I added a coal shove for the coal pile. As mentioned before I added very fine antique light cord wiring to the bell and whistle. 

I did not overdo the weathering I think. I feel it fits my scenes well.

B&SR Sign

The Bridgon & Saco River Ry Historical Society posted this view of the station sign on their Facebook page. I thought it could be reduced to your scale and printed for use on your structures...George Dutka

https://www.facebook.com/BSRRM/

Weathering the Engine!

I used some AK Gouache on this engine. 

I started by weathering the engine first. The photos show you the products I used...George Dutka

Some Bragdon rust and three PanPasels including a coal coarse powder is applied to the coal load. The others are Raw Umber Shade and Neutral Grey.

W&Q is finished. The engine was lettered using Sloan decals from decades ago. They still work well today.

I also added fine wire as the whistle and bell cords.