Train Show Finds


This past weekend the annual Vancouver Train Exposition (VTEX) was held at the PNE Forum in Vancouver.  I attended and had an enjoyable time catching up with people, browsing the sales tables and visiting the various layouts and displays around the show.  

Talking with my friend Al (who happens to also be the chair of the Canadian National Railways Historical Association cnrha.ca ) he mentioned he had some CN ore cars from the late Ron Keith collection - my friend Rene has a nice post about Ron <here>. I only met Ron a few times but his scratchbuilding work was outstanding.

Al pulled a couple of the ore cars from a case and showed me.  They were scratchbuilt models of CN drop bottom gondolas used in ore service.  As usual for Ron's models they were very nicely rendered representatives of the cars, complete with interior details and full underframe brake gear.  Al said he didn't have a use for them and asked if I might have a spot for them hauling ore on my layout.  

I jumped at the opportunity and the cars were soon in my pile of "stuff" from the show.  A quick check of nakina.net showed that the larger 121xxx series cars were in use on CN until 1984 while the 120xxx series cars were off the roster by 1952.  Since my layout is set in the early 1980's the 121xxx cars would fit right in with my ore car fleet, but the smaller 120xxx series cars were off roster by then.  What to do?

I haven't completely decided but I have a couple of options.  The HBM&S often purchased older retired cars from CN and the scrappers so I could add these cars to my smelter fleet without too much of a stretch.  

Alternately the far reaches of the CN system often hid old equipment that had been forgotten about by the far away headquarters, sitting on the end of a disused spur track or siding.  I may have these cars sitting on a siding in the weeds, slowly rusting away.  In a way that is more attractive as it would be an interesting scene, perhaps with some weeds and a small tree growing in the inside of the car from the accumulated dirt and detritus that old equipment seems to accumulate. 

CN renumbered the 121xxx series cars to the 198xxx series in their 1960's equipment renumbering blitz; I won't do this on these cars so as to preserve Ron's excellent craftsmanship.  One of these cars did get some damage along the way so I will need to repair the damage or perhaps integrate the broken rib and side with some judicious weathering to make it look like the car was kept in service despite some major side panel damage.  

Thank you Al for giving me the opportunity to add these beautifully crafted cars to my roster.  It is very much appreciated.  

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