Carleton Railway

SUCCESSFUL OPERATING SESSION

2012-02-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

After a long wait, 13 locals descended into the basement on February 10 to operate the Carleton Railway. The crew did an excellent job of moving scores of freight cars and six passenger trains across the layout. Being the first operating session in nearly two years, it is not surprising that a few glitches were discovered (dirty track, low couplers, etc.) but all in all the layout worked well. Of special note is the fact that the Northampton Local East was the first train ever to pick up freight cars on the newly constructed Grafton spur.

Although the expert crew did an amazing job of delivering freight cars to their proper destinations, management did express some concern that loaded meat reefers from "Buckingham Quality Meats" in Waterville somehow did not make it to their destinations. At the end of the day, six loaded meat reefers were sitting on a yard track in Avondale. Another loaded meat reefer was left all by itself on a yard track in South Newbridge. The railway will ensure that the cars are kept well refrigerated until they leave on the next freight, but customers at grocery stores in Montreal and in Saint John may have to go without their supply of bacon for a day.

The other strange discovery was that although a tank car loaded with potato starch was picked up from the Hatfield Industries plant in Grafton early in the day, to management's surprise the same loaded tank car had been delivered back to the yard in Grafton at the end of the day.

It was great to see the railway in operation after many months of inactivity. Next session: Thursday, March 1.

Rosedale Road spur in service

2012-01-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

With the first operating session approaching, two new lineside industries near the Rosedale Road are now being served by the Carleton Railway. Mill Pond Farms and a bulk fuel dealer will add to the work of the way freights as they make their way between Waterville and Rosedale. In the photo below, a wayfreight led by two RS3s is approaching the Rosedale Road crossing.

9000 Horses

2012-01-12T12:07:00.001-08:00

A photographer captured this shot of a test run of three new Alco C630 units in Rosedale, Carleton County, in the fall of 1965. After no Canadian roads purchased the 2750-hp C628, MLW enticed the Carleton Railway to be a trailblazer by purchasing the first two Canadian C-630s (nos. 3005 and 3006). Other Canadian railways (CPR, CNR, PGE) soon followed. Although these three 3000-hp units are unlikely to be in service together, railfans on the Carleton Railway should have opportunity to see these three units often--the CPR has dedicated C630M #4506 to service on the Fast Freight--the daily priority freight train between Fredericton and Montreal--and the Carleton Railway expects that their two new units will see regular service (click on photo to enlarge). Scheduled operating sessions begin on February 10!

Op Session Prep

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Carleton Railway Management announces the publication of a new Employee Time Table (click to enlarge):Preparing to resume operating sessions on February 10 involves many things, including the development and production of a new Employee Time Table. The addition of a daily commuter train between Avondale and Fredericton, the purchase of three new 3000-horsepower Alco C-630 units, and the new spur to Grafton have resulted in several adjustments to the daily train schedule. Management has also worked hard to alleviate the bottleneck that occurs when too many trains are in South Newbridge at the same time. The result: Employee Time Table #6.

Grafton progress

2011-12-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

The newly constructed "Karnes Kitchen Ltd." bakery is ready for the upcoming operating session on February 10. The track in Grafton is ballasted and scenery is in place. The building in the background on the left is the Mason and Risch piano factory (click on the photo to enlarge).

2012 OPERATING SESSION SCHEDULE

2011-12-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

The Carleton Railway is preparing for the resumption of regularly scheduled operating sessions. A new timetable should result in more efficient movement of trains, and the addition of the Grafton spur adds four major industries. A total of 14 trains (6 passenger, 8 freight) are scheduled to move across the Avondale and Northampton Subdivisions during each 3-hour session.

2012 operating sessions are scheduled on the following evenings (7 p.m.):

Friday, February 10
Thursday, March 1
Friday, May 4
Friday, May 25
Friday, June 15

Both new and experienced crew members are welcome! Email me (mcmulls@nb.sympatico.ca) for details and directions.

November Train Show

2011-11-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

The annual train show of the Saint John Society of Model Railroaders was a great success this year. The Carleton Railway added two more modules (for a total of six) to better depict the busy commercial town of Monticello, Maine -- just across the border from Bloomfield, NB. The photos below show some of the progress:

The agricultural industry is key to the success of Monticello's downtown area. Whether at the MPG garage on Main Street or at the general store just across US Route 1, it is the farming economy that determines whether or not it is a good year. Big potato deals are negotiated and finalized in these sturdy old office buildings on Monticello's Main Street. Both the Carleton Railway and the Bangor and Aroostook will ship thousands of carloads of potatoes through Monticello this year (1965).

Thanks to everyone who attended today's show!

Model Train Show -- Saturday, November 5

2011-11-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Carleton Railway will be participating in the annual Saint John train show on Saturday at the Lion's Club in Quispamsis (behind the Ken-Val Co-op). The railway will be represented by six modules portraying the busy junction between the Carleton Railway and the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad in Monticello, Maine. Two of the modules have been newly constructed this year and will be included in the show for the first time; I have added many details and improvements to the other four modules. Information about the show is available on the club wesite: http://sites.google.com/site/sjfallshow/

I hope to see you on Saturday!

San Luis Central

2011-09-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

A leased San Luis Central reefer loaded with freshly harvested potatoes is shown in a way freight (the Carleton-York Peddler) leaving Avondale, Carleton County en route to the port of Saint John via interchange with the CPR. Throughout the fall season, the scheduled train more than doubles in length as leased reefers make their way from Carleton County to market.

Grafton Track Work Nears Completion

2011-09-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

The track gang is busy getting the new Grafton spur ready for the inauguration of rail service to the community just across the St. John River from Woodstock. Several major new industries in the community will keep the crew of the nightly "Grafton Local" busy. In the photo below, railway employees are hard at work while some locals watch the action from the Hyram T. Myshrall overpass. The photo is framed by Karnes Bakery's modern building on the left, and the Mason and Risch piano factory on the right. That is the nearby community of Pembroke at the top of the grade in the distance (click on the photo to enlarge).

Changing Times

2011-09-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

In its efforts to provide increased efficiency and convenience for its customers, the Carleton Railway continues to upgrade its facilities. The soon-to-be-opened "Mulheron Street" flagstop station will provide convenient passenger access to the commercial centre of South Newbridge, allowing shoppers and retail employees a much shorter commute to the fashionable stores and offices of the bustling downtown area. The photo also shows some additional changes that may be less obvious to those outside of the railway industry. The newly installed concrete telephone booth at Mulheron Street will enable eastbound crews on the Northampton Sub. to call the yardmaster in South Newbridge before entering the yard limits, and the new maintenance shed next to the station will provide equipment storage for the section gang on the branch. But the biggest changes of all--shown in the foreground--are the CTC signals that have recently been installed. In addition to the signals on the Northampton branchline, CTC signals have been installed between Hawkins Corner and Rosedale on the Avondale Subdivision. These really are changing times for the Carleton Railway.

More Horsepower for The Carleton Railway

2011-09-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

Exclusive to the South Newbridge News-Advertiser, August 1965

Monticello, ME: While vacationing this week in Monticello, Maine, the News-Advertiser’s ace reporter Freda Mulheron had just stepped out of the West End Diner when she spotted a gigantic new locomotive being pulled through the Main Street crossing on its way from Montreal to Carleton County. After capturing a few quick shots of the action with her new Instamatic camera, she hurriedly drove back across the Bloomfield, NB border crossing and then to Avondale to interview railway management about this obviously important development for the railway and for the local economy.

Management confirmed that the Carleton Railway has purchased a new Alco C-630 locomotive, indicating that two important factors led to the decision to add a 3000-hp loco to the railway’s fine fleet of powered units. First, the anticipated growth of the railway, the robust Carleton County economy, and the railway’s perennial goal to offer exceptional service to its customers led management to consider how best to improve freight service. Second, when MLW heard that the Carleton Railway was talking to GE about the possible purchase of some “U-Boat” locomotives, they contacted management with an attractive offer. It seems that MLW is very concerned that no Canadian railways purchased the earlier C-628 model, and they are determined to make sure that the same does not happen with the C-630. MLW expressed confidence that once other Canadian railways see the new 3000-hp loco in service on the Carleton Railway, they too will place orders. In fact, management has heard rumours that in light of the Carleton Railway’s recent purchase, CNR, CPR and PGE are all talking with MLW about adding C630s to their rosters (click on photos below to enlarge).

A Carleton Railway C-424 pulls the new locomotive into the yard at Monticello, Maine. The new locomotive is equipped with Sountraxx Tsunami technology--a first for the railway.
Freda had just exited the West End Diner in time to witness the arrival of the new high-hp loco.

This bird`s eye view of downtown Monticello shows how much larger the new locomotive is compared to the C-424, which is currently the most common locomotive on the Carleton Railway.

Salvage Yard Expansion Means More Railway Business

2011-06-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

To the consternation of nearby residents, Vaughn's Salvage has recently completed a major expansion that has nearly doubled its capacity to receive and prepare various scrap items for shipment on the Carleton Railway. Well-known local politician Hyram Myshrall has hailed the expansion as a sign of the growing local economy, while also taking credit for the realignment of the highway that was necessary in order for the expansion to proceed: As can be seen in the above photo, the expanded lot is already filling up with junk cars and scrap auto parts. The H66-24 Trainmaster in the background is on the point of the Carleton-York peddler as it makes its way through Wakefield.

The above view shows the close proximity of nearby homes to the expanded scrapyard.

RR Action in Monticello

2011-05-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

The Carleton Railway's photographer recently recorded some of the busy railway activity in Monticello, ME:Locomotive #2492 pulls a wayfreight through town. In the background, it looks like a busy day at the West End Diner.

The caboose clears the crossing, allowing traffic to resume on Main Street.

The local switcher picks up a box car from one of the local industries.

The switcher moves the loaded box car across the grade crossing and into the yard.

A soon as the car clears the crossing, the crew will run into the diner for a quick snack.

Farmers are clearing out the last of the potato crop from the warehouses.

Just across the border in Aroostook Junction, NB, a string of BLR box cars have just arrived in the yard.

More Grafton Progress

2011-05-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the structures that will provide some of the rail traffic in the community of Grafton. Although these industries never actually were located in Grafton, they do represent Carleton County industries in the 1960s: Karnes Bakery (located in Woodstock in the real world) was an important rail customer for the CNR. Their new bakery building was built in the 1960s. It is now owned by Canada Bread. On my layout, as in the real world, it will receive lots of flour deliveries in covered hoppers.

Hatfield Industries (actually located in Hartland) will be a major rail customer in the HO-scale version of Grafton. I remember going on a tour of the plant when I was a "Wolf Cub"--right around 1965. They made potato chips, but there was also a starch plant. They gave each of us a brown paper bag of warm potato chips--the grease seeped right through the bag!

The Baird Company Ltd. was located along the CNR near my boyhood home in Woodstock, and dealt in patent medicines. The building is now the Knight's of Columbus Hall.

I am still building the other major rail industry in Grafton--the Mason and Risch Piano Factory. It was actually located in Woodstock and opened in the 1960s--I remember attending the grand opening as a child. It had a very large dry kiln and received wood by rail. The CNR timetable warned that the curvature on the siding was very sharp and required reduced speed.

Grafton Progress

2011-04-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Simple flat-top benchwork has been installed where the small but busy community of Grafton, Carleton County, will be located. Several railway customers will be located in the 8' x 2' space. Hopefully I will soon be able to provide a photo from the same perspective that shows a bustling, fully scenicked village. Grafton will be located directly below the Avondale locomotive servicing area and coach yard.

An Unusual Visitor

2011-03-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

It has been several years since the residents of Carleton County have heard the sound of a steam whistle approaching in the distance, but that soothing sound returned as a special "Cabot Cove excursion train" made a visit today under the control of engineer Bruce Bosence. The Carleton Railway hosted the VIP guests on board who had lunch at the Nortondale Resort, toured the South Newbridge station and signed the guest book at the South Newbridge Town Hall, and enjoyed an excursion through the Carleton County scenery. The railway photographer managed to record the event (click photos to enlarge): Folks at the General Store at the east end of South Newbridge watch in amazement as the old 4-4-0 approaches the Route 585 crossing. The slow clanging of the bell and the long whistle of the steam engine are in marked contrast to the sounds of the Carleton Railway's modern fleet of diesel locomotives.

A stop at the South Newbridge station allows local onlookers to have a close look at the locomotive while the VIPs head downtown to do some quick shopping.

The 4-4-0 rounds the curve just west of the station in Wakefield.

In this photo of the old steamer passing a potato farm in Rosedale, it could be 1935 instead of 1965.

The steam loco approaches the Rosedale Road crossing as it passes one of the many potato warehouses along the Carleton Railway.

A Busy Friday in Monticello

2011-02-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

In addition to its customers in Carleton and northern York Counties, the Carleton Railway also serves the agricultural industry in Aroostook County, Maine and interchanges with the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad in Monticello, where the Carleton Railway maintains a small yard. The company photographer recently captured a busy day in Monticello.

The main street in Monticello is especially busy near Anderson's Garage and the popular West End Diner. The three tracks in the foreground are the Carleton Railway's double-track main line and a siding; the track just past the garage is the BAR mainline:
Anderson's garage is a favourite of the locals--notice that they advertise a 7-minute oil change!
Although potato products are the main commodities shipped by the Carleton Railway, other agricultural products are also important. Here two Carleton Railway stock cars are ready for loading at the stock pen:
This bird's-eye-view shot of Monticello shows the Carleton and BAR main lines, the Carleton Railway yard, the passenger station, and one of the local potato warehouses. Passengers on the platform are waiting to board the Nor'easter -- the Carleton Railway's daily passenger train between Fredericton and Boston:

The narrow street through town is a busy spot to navigate with lots of trucks and railway crossings:

Monticello is represented by four modules that are assembled at shows with modules belonging to other members of the Saint John Society of Model Railroaders.

Grafton Work Begins

2011-02-14T16:58:00.001-08:00

Now that the Carleton Railway's big crane has arrived on site and the skillful track gang has begun surveying the work to be done, construction of the Grafton spur should proceed quite rapidly.

The Last Frontier

2011-02-12T09:45:00.001-08:00

Activity at the Grafton Spur!

For the past two years, train crews on the Northampton Subdivision travelling between Northampton and South Newbridge have noticed on the employee timetable that there is a location called "Grafton Spur" and there is indeed a turnout with the label "Grafton" on the nearby lineside sign, but the spur is very short! However, that is about to change.
Recently, a Carleton Railway work train arrived at the site. Townspeople from nearby Pembroke have perched themselves on the Hyram Myshrall overpass to see what will happen.
News-Advertiser reporter Freda Mulheron has learned that management is about to authorize the construction of the line to Grafton, where a major industrial area will provide ample freight traffic in return for the railway's investment. A bakery, a potato chip plant, a wholesale druggist, a piano manufacturer, and several smaller industries have already committed to locating along the line. Construction is expected to get underway soon.

Translation: I brought the plywood and lumber home this morning to begin working on the last unconstructed section of the Carleton Railway. The 9' spur to Grafton will be located directly under the Avondale locomotive servicing facility--and just above the refrigerator. To avoid aisle congestion, my plan is for the Northampton local to spot and pick up cars on the spur but not switch the industries. During an overnight shift (the midnight to 6 a.m. shift not included in the Carleton Railway's operating sessions), a yard switcher will work the Grafton industrial area. In other words, the 9' x 2' town of Grafton will be a challenging switching area that I can work at between operating sessions without throwing the rest of the layout into disarray.

Ready for snow!

2011-01-20T13:55:00.001-08:00

With the big snowstorm forecast for tomorrow, railway management has ordered the plows out on the line to be ready for the first flakes. Even old #10 has been pressed into service, much to the surprise of the seasoned workers at the Avondale shops. A pair of vintage RS3s pull the old plow out onto the main to be ready to keep the line clear between Avondale and Monticello. Over in South Newbridge, the yard switcher spots spreader #14 on the lead, ready to keep the yard clear of snow so freight switching and passenger train movements can continue during the impending storm. As the junction with the Northampton and Newbridge subdivisions, efficient operations at South Newbridge are key to keeping the whole railway on time:

A couple of big Alcos provide lots of power for #16, the wing plow on which the railway depends to keep the main line clear:

(As always, click on the photos to enlarge them).

Rumours in Wakefield

2011-01-16T18:26:00.001-08:00

Daily Passenger Service Returning to Wakefield?

Residents of the rural community of Wakefield, famous for its Drive-In Theatre and its church suppers, are accustomed to watching high-speed passenger trains run through the community without stopping. Ever since Carleton Railway management decided to make Rosedale the passenger hub for central Carleton County, the little station in Wakefield has been idle.

However, residents have noticed carpenters working at the old station and it appears that they are refurbishing the passenger end of the station. Management has been tight-lipped about plans, but rumours abound that in light of the tremendous success of its passenger operations the railway is planning to add a daily high-speed commuter service to and from Fredericton. In fact, several new pieces of passenger equipment have recently been painted and lettered in the Nortondale shops but the stainless steel cars are currently sitting idle in the South Newbridge yard.

The community is abuzz with speculation about the rumoured new passsenger service, but for now the Carleton Railway's two daily passenger trains continue to speed through the communtiy without stopping.

Tooting my own horn

2010-09-07T09:38:00.001-07:00

My first NMRA achievement certificate. Hopefully I can complete a couple more fairly soon.

The ICR arrives in northern York County

2010-09-05T14:29:00.001-07:00

The ICR invades the Carleton Railway??

Carleton Railway management is doing a double take after the recent journey of "Extra 74 West" -- an ICR passenger train -- from the interchange at Millville to the Carleton Railway's recently expanded and upgraded "Nortondale European Resort" in northern York County.

The Carleton Railway recently completed an agreement with the ICR that will facilitate the occasional passenger run from Saint John to Nortondale, bringing with it several well-healed Port City executives looking for a wilderness experience at the friendly railway's famous rural spa. However, Nortondale station agent Huylett Lawson could hardly believe his eyes when the rag-tag train, pulled by two of the ICR's vintage RS-3s, recently arrived at the station. With no baggage car available for the train, the ICR had loaded passenger baggage into two old express reefers quickly commandeered for the purpose. The five decrepit passenger cars in the train--two ancient Osgood-Bradley coaches, a heavyweight pullman, and two smooth-side sleeping cars--look like they are ready for the museum. In fact, upon arrival in Millville, Carleton Railway inspectors insisted on upgrades to the ICR cars to bring the trucks and couplers to Carleton Railway standards before they could continue to Nortondale.

With the new ICR/CR agreement in place, it appears that an ICR passenger train will now appear from time to time on Carleton Railway tracks. In comparison with the Carleton railway's impeccably maintained fleet of streamline passenger cars and FP7 locomotives, the ICR varnish looks like a step into yesteryear. But the Carleton Railway is happy to take in the extra revenue. As railway management commented, an old ICR train pays just as much as a new ICR train. And their wealthy Saint John passengers are providing lots of additional revenue at the Nortondale Resort.

(Translation of the above story: Doug recently culled some old passenger equipment from the ICR--the equipment has now appeared on the Carleton Railway tracks and will from time to time run as an extra to the Nortondale resort. Thanks, Doug!)

Millville's new Union Station

2010-05-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is now the scene in Millville after the construction of the new "Union Station." It is exactly the same place that is shown in my January post below. The massive station hides the entrance to three staging tracks for passenger trains. Freight trains now continue through the Millville yard and enter three staging tracks to the left of the photo (the staging tracks represents the CPR Gibson Subdivision). The new passenger staging made a big difference for the two operating sessions during the "Tracks and Tides 2010" MFMR/NER Convention.

The Race Is On!

2010-01-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

With the realization that the "Tracks and Tides 2010" MFMR/NER Convention in Saint John is just four months away, I am busily trying to work at several projects that I have determined must be completed before the convention guests arrive to operate and tour the railway.
By far the largest project is a re-configuration of the Millville yard and staging tracks. The three current staging tracks will be used for passenger trains only. I have cut a large hole in the backdrop where the new Millville Union Station will be constructed. It will be a "front-wall only" brick structure of freelance design that will be shared by the CPR and the Carleton Railway. Passenger trains will enter the station enroute to staging. New staging tracks will be added (behind the washer and dryer) for freight trains. I am also hoping to add two additional staging tracks in West Avondale.

A much smaller change was the re-construction of the old tennis court at the Nortondale resort. Since the completion of the new court last fall, I've been very dissatisfied with the old version. With the old court now looking much better, the resort now boasts two championship-calibre tenis courts for its prestigious hotel guests (note also the game of horseshoes just beyond the tennis court).

I've added fascia and am currently adding scenery and ballast between Nortondale and Clarkville (the last totally unscenicked part of the layout) and I am also working to upgrade the four "Monticello, Maine" modules that will be part of the SJSMR display in May at the public show at the LBR.

Information about the May 20-23 convention is available at http://www.tracksandtides2010.org/

Passenger Service Upgrade--Car Cards

2010-01-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

There is excitement among the crowd at South Newbridge station as passengers learn that a newly instituted card system will now ensure that first-class trains have sufficient capacity for the passengers at each station who have purchased tickets. Shown below is the conductor's form along with a card listing the number of passengers boarding and disembarking. As the Carleton Railway expands its passenger service, management is initiating a new "car card" system for passenger trains. Designed to put an end to boring passenger runs, crew members will now keep track of train capacity and the number of passengers boarding and disembarking at each station, adding additional coaches as necessary. Card holders have been installed at each of the five passenger stops along the main line (the photo below shows the card holders at Nortondale) in accordance with a recent article in the OPSIG's Dispatcher's Office. Passenger operations on the Carleton Railway will never be the same!

Passenger Service Upgrade

2009-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

New Locomotive Begins Test Runs

In preparation for the introduction of a second daily passenger train, the Carleton Railway has been purchasing new equipment. This newly painted and lettered locomotive was added to the railway's fleet of diesel locomotives during December.

The newest Carleton Railway locomotive, an FP7 complete with QSI sound, pulls a shiny consist of streamline passenger cars as it coasts to a stop alongside the picturesque Nortondale Station. Directly across the tracks from the station is the Carleton Railway's famous "Nortondale European Resort." Railway management authorized the purchase of new equipment in preparation for the introduction of a daily passenger and mail service to Montreal, with the expectation that the new service will do very well in competition with the ICR's Atlantic.

Nortondale Resort Expands, Upgrades Facilities

2009-09-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

After purchasing an adjacent property earlier in the year, the Carleton Railway's "Nortondale Resort" has begun a major expansion. A new tennis court has been built and is already proving popular with the jet-setters who stay at the exclusive property. There are rumours that additional chalets may soon be added to the property (click on photos to expand). Some guests continue to use the original tennis court (pictured below), although it looks quite shabby compared to the newer court. However, guests claim that the air is different at the older courts, reporting that "something in the air" clears their sinuses as they play.

2009-07-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

The potatoes have been planted!

(click on photo to enlarge)

The big potato field in Rosedale has now been completed. It is more than five feet wide (that's 435+ scale feet), and has about 120 rows (each of which required an average of about 10 minutes to install). I also scratchbuilt a small potato house along the edge of the field, added a tool shed, and then included a couple of small cabins to house the "potato pickers" that make the rounds in the fall. The accommodations include all of the conveniences--a hand pump for water, and an outhouse.

I attended the national NMRA convention in Hartford earlier this month, and enjoyed visiting many layouts. I also operated on three layouts--the "Operations Road Show" modular layout at the convention, Al Oneto's "Port Sebago and Southern" in Fairfield, Connecticut, and the North Shore Club in Wakefield, MA.

I have been trying to make sure the Carleton Railway is ready for both operating sessions and the layout tour during the MFMR/NER convention in May 2010: http://www.tracksandtides2010.org/

2009-05-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

New Rosedale-Wakefield Community Centre

A crew from Myshrall Bros. is busy grading the property after a Quonset hut was moved into position on the old foundation of the Rosedale train station, which was recently moved a few hundred feet farther down the line. The building will soon be a new community centre for the rural communities of Rosedale and Wakefield.

The used Quonset hut structure fits almost perfectly on the former site of the train station in Rosedale. The structure used to serve as a car wash in downtown Woodstock, and was recently moved to Rosedale to be used by the community. Beloved local politican Hyram Myshrall is being credited with bringing negotiations with the railway to a successful conclusion.

It has been a long time since my last post--life has been exceedingly busy. Hopefully I will be able to provide more frequent updates in the months ahead. I recently returned from a shopping trip in the U.S., so some changes are ahead as new buildings and other details are added to the layout. I also purchased a fifth H24-66 Trainmaster locomotive with sound. Of course, the Carleton Railway's Monticello yard will be travelling to Summerside next week to be part of the SJSMR's modular setup at the Maritime Convention. I look forward to seeing fellow modellers there, and I will be leading a clinic about operations.

Rosedale work continues

2009-01-08T17:18:00.000-08:00

I've continued to work in Rosedale; in the right foreground, I have planted several rows of potatoes along the edge of the layout. On the right, in the background, you can see where the Rosedale station has ben relocated--I have added a fairly lengthy station platform. And on the left, I have scratchbuilt an additional potato house--that makes five along the siding in Rosedale, along with the Irving bulk plant.

Rosedale upgrade

2008-12-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

A new house in Rosedale provides a hint that there are people living in the community. I put together a "Branchline" house kit and added it to the front of the layout, along with a new "private crossing" that provides road access to the Irving Bulk plant and the string of potato houses.

More Moncton photos

2008-12-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple more photos of the Moncton operating crew on Saturday, December 13. Below, Milne is operating the Carleton-York peddler as it crosses the Rosedale Road between Waterville and Rosedale. Milne was especially adept at the prototypical use of the locomotive's horn at the highway crossings. In the photo below, while yardmaster Mike finishes making up the "Newbridge Turn", Jim waits to take the train out of the Avondale yard.

Thanks guys for an enjoyable day.

Moncton Operators, Northampton Train

2008-12-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

Although operating sessions have been rare lately, a group of five Monctonians operated a busy schedule over the Carleton Railway on Saturday, December 13. One of the highlights of the day was the arrival of #24 (the Northampton mixed train) at the end of the day. The unexpectedly long train, with engineer Milne and brakeman Murray, brought five loads of logs to Patterson's mill, a tank car for the Esso bulk plant, a hopper load of ballast to be used by the track gang, and several empty freight cars for loading at the local industries. At the end of the train was the rejuvenated heavyweight coach Muniac filled with workers for the mill. The above photo shows RSD-15s 2416 and 2417 at the front of the Northampton mixed train as it pulled into the bustling community. Although the yard tracks resemble a switching puzzle, the crew ably spotted the various freight cars at local industries in short order.

Above, John works as yardmaster in South Newbridge. As always, South Newbridge was a very busy spot with a lot of cars to deliver to local industries.

Murray is the engineer on today's Fast Freight West. In the above photo, he is switching cars in the Millville Yard before departing toward Avondale. This was Murray's first visit to the Carleton Railway.

Although there have been few operating sessions this fall, the Carleton Railway has been a busy place: I have been troubleshooting some of the track trouble spots, working to improve the reliability of the freight car fleet, adding more scenic details, and making changes to the timetable. I still have a few projects to complete, so regularly scheduled operating sessions won't begin again until March 2009 (celebrating the third anniversary of operations on the layout).

Parade Marks Opening of Overpass

2008-11-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

The past weekend marked two major milestones for the Carleton Railway. The Carleton Railway took part for the first time in the Saint John club's annual show. Four modules depicting the Carleton Railway's Monticello, Maine freight yard and interchange with the BAR were part of the club's modular layout. An Alco S4 was busy all day switching cars in the yard, while an Alco C424 took its turn on the main line. Even a trio of the railway's vintage Geeps--the only GMD units ever owned by the Carleton Railway--were brought out of retirement for use on the Aroostook subdivision. Then on Saturday evening, at a special operating session manned by an enthusiastic crew from Nova Scotia, the first train operated across the newly completed Northampton subdivision. The train travelled under the "Hiram T. Myshrall Overpass" just after the parade that officially opened the community-saving structure. In the photo below, obtained from the News-Advertiser's ace reporter Freda Mulheron, local politician and community hero Hyram Myshrall waves to the grateful residents of Pembroke as he sits in the first car to cross the new bridge at the front of a giant parade in his honour (click on photo to enlarge).

Module Progress

2008-10-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a very brief update regarding the Carleton Railway's Monticello, Maine freight yard / BAR interchange modules that I have begun constructing. The first photo shows the wiring crew making sure that everything works well electrically. The overview of the four modules in the lower photo shows the track ballasted and some basic ground cover installed. I still have a week to get the module ready to be part of the SJSMRR modular layout. I hope to add a few more scenic details, and I will also install the backdrops. Obviously I will still have lots of work to do in the coming year to make it look complete for the fall 2009 show, but at least it will be in place and operational for this year's show. The gray ballast represents the Carleton Railway's Aroostook subdivision mainline (the far end toward Avondale, and the near end toward Montreal) and freight yard. The brown ballast represents the BAR, which crosses the Carleton Railway at Monticello, Maine (the far end toward Presque Isle [Blake's yet-to be-completed modules] and the near end toward Houlton).

Bob Kane and Bruce Bosence have helped immensely with the project, as did Lou McIntyre earlier in the year. Thanks guys!

Monticello Yard Construction

2008-10-04T08:58:00.001-07:00

The first track has been laid for the Carleton Railway's Aroostook Subdivision, which has to this point existed only as staging in the basement furnace room. With help from Bob Kane and Bruce Bosence, all of the track has been laid on the four modules that will represent the interchange betwen the Carleton Railway (double-track mainline at the front) and the BAR (single track mainline at the rear that crosses the CR mainline in the foreground) in Monticello, Maine. The Carleton Railway will provide a yard crew (an S-4) that will be kept busy with industrial switching and interchange trafic. A small yard between the two railways should provide ample space for sorting freight cars and making up trains. The various tracks can be seen more clearly in the view below; the yard lead is at the far end (just inside the double track mainline). The BAR mainline is located so it can connect at the far end with Blake Wooley's BAR modules at Presque Isle (hurry up and get those done, Blake!), and then Blake's modules will connect to Bob Henry's Aroostook Valley Railway at Caribou, which then connects to Bob Kane's Aroostook River Railway at Washburn Jct. All together, the modules will provide an operating Aroostook County layout that will be more than 40 feet long; the two tracks in the foreground can operate independently of the rest of the modules, so at SJSMRR shows the Aroostook County modules can be operated in a prototypical manner without interfering with the trains that are traversing the mainline.
An additional inner track at the southern end is available in case someone wants to entend the operations-oriented modules (anyone want to model Houlton, Maine?).

The SJSMRR Fall Show will be held on November 8 at the Lion's Club (right behind Ken-Val Co-op) in Quispamsis, and the Carleton Railway will be there!

Branchline Completion!

2008-09-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Northampton Subdivision is now complete--at last. The track crew has completed their work and a test train--2 RSD15s, a few freight cars and a caboose, followed by the heavyweight coach "Muniac", ran from South Newbridge to Northampton and return without incident. The daily Northampton Local may be a "mixed train" with the refurbished coach used to transport farm workers and mill employees to Northampton and to bring shoppers and other travellers to South Newbridge. The photo below shows the branchline heading under the "Hyram Myshrall Overpass" on its way to the community of Northampton. The line to the right will eventualy provide a connection to Grafton. The building in the upper left is in Pembroke.

Pembroke Reconstruction

2008-08-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

Public access to Pembroke restored!

As the "Fiddlehead" local passenger train (RDC) stops at Pembroke, residents are pleased that they will once again have highway acccess to the community. The Carleton Railway has been the lifeline to the small community ever since road access was removed because of construction of the new branchline to Northampton. The photo below shows the new road that has been built (sloping down in the foreground) to provide highway access to Pembroke. An overpass will carry traffic across the Northampton branchline
Progress continues slowly as I work on the new branchline to Northampton. Construction of the branchline necessitated major changes in Pembroke--especially the removal of about half of the real estate in the small rural community. In the photos, you can see that the station has been moved to the east (left), the freight station has been removed, and one of the sidings is gone. Pembroke residents and businesses will still have highway access to the outside world via the crossing by the station and the road that goes down the hill to an overpass across the branchline (not quite completed yet). It has been a very busy (stressful, hectic) summer, so I am pleased to have made some progress on the layout!

2008-07-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Pembroke Reconstruction Underway

The addition of the new branchline (the Northampton Subdivision) between South Newbridge and Northampton resulted in major changes for the small Carleton County community of Pembroke. The two industrial sidings were removed, and replaced by a single track directly behind the passenger station. A new road will link the station with the community of Grafton, just downriver. An short overpass will facilitate vehicular traffic over the branchline.

More Alco Power for the Railway

A new Alco C420, #2072, freshly painted in Nortondale and on its way to final lettering and handrail installation at the loco shops in Avondale, waits in the siding in Wakefield along with C420 #2010. The new loco is equipped with QSI sound.

Details!

2008-07-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Preparing for a Photo Shoot

Bob Boudreau spent most of this morning taking photos of several scenes along the Carleton Railway. Preparing for the photo shoot was a reminder of the importance of details. For example, the Newbridge Drug Store had no interior, just big frosted windows, which made it look abandoned in photos. The photos below (obviously taken by me, not by Bob) show the result of adding some simple interior details to the storefront. The billiard parlour already had an interior. The top photo shows the importance of having the traffic signal turned on for a realistic photo (compare the dead signal in the top photo with the ooperating traffic signal in the lower photo).

The problem with the scene along the Little Presqu'Isle stream was that the "water" had been cleaned so many times that the surface had become noticeably scratched, and needed a new thin coat of WS "Realistic Water" to look good in the photos.

I also had to clean up stray ballast along the right-of-way and REALLY dust and vacuum the layout. Once Bob lit his 600-watt spot lights, every piece of dust or tiny cobweb showed clearly in the photos!

Thanks Bob for your time, effort, and skill--I'm looking forward to seeing the results. The photo shoot not only produced photos of far better quality than these ones that I have taken, but it improved the detail and the cleanliness of the layout in the process!

Northampton Subdivision

2008-06-30T12:22:00.001-07:00

Considerable progress has been made on the Northampton Subdivision. Scenery and ballast has been applied to all but the last three feet of the branch line, which will soon be supplying the sawmill and other industries in the bustling community of Northampton.
In the photo below, the Northampton Local waits to enter the South Newbridge yard. The change in the track configuration is evident: the yard lead is now on the left, leading to the Willett Fruit warehouse. The Northampton Subdivision (now using the former yard lead) is on the right. The change has also provided an additional siding behind Willett Fruit.

Local business and community leaders have been pressuring the railway to install a small passenger station in the heart of the downtown area now that the new Northampton Subdivision passes right through the business district. They envision shoppers travelling to South Newbridge by train to spend the day in the local shops. A small parcel of land on Mulheron Street adjacent to the railway has been offered by the town for the purpose, but railway management has made no commitment.

Northampton Subdivision Construction

2008-06-10T17:23:00.001-07:00

Northampton Subdivision nears Completion

My project this week is the long-awaited completion of the Northampton Subdivision. The line will run between South Newbridge and Northampton (in the furnace room)--right at the bottom of the stairs to the basement. I did not want to make the layout any wider at such a busy spot, so I trimmed two-three inches from the mid-level benchwork that carries the mainline up the grade toward Pembroke. There will be a very steep cliff down from the mainline to the new branchline; I haven't decided for sure whether it will be a rock cut, a retaining wall, or lots of ground foam vegitation. I am leaning toward the latter--I think it will make the two tracks seem farther apart. Below is a view of the scene right now. The branchline will follow the very narrow shelf at the base of the plaster/screen wire cliff:
The community of Pembroke poses a problem: I cut away part of the town (all of the structures have been removed), and the only road into the community is now a sudden drop off. That would be fine at the edge of the benchwork, but it is not the edge--it is at the top of a steep cliff above the bracnchline.
The Northampton branchline should add some unstressful operation to the layout. One local a day will switch Northampton (a sawmill, an apple shipper, and an oil dealer); passenger service may consist of a coach tacked onto the rear of the local.

New Foliage added

2008-05-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

The landscape artist is so captivated by the beauty of the Nackawic Stream that he hardly breaks his concentration as a train load of potato reefers rumbles across the route 585 crossing near Nortondale, York County. I have finally done some landscaping along the Nackawic stream, adding lots of foliage along the banks, some fir trees on each side of the valley, and even some beekeepers next to the woods. Since it is one of the first scenes people see as they descend the stairs into the basement, it makes quite a difference in one's initial imprssion of the railway.

New Steam Generator Unit

2008-04-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Railway Upgrades Local Passenger Service

With scores of university students heading home to Carleton County this weekend, the railway has added a new steam generator unit (a refurbished F7B) for use on the daily Fiddlehead local passenger train. The photo below shows the unit stopped at the Nortondale station during a recent test run. Although the weather is getting warmer, the nights are still chilly and the steam unit will assure a cosy ride for students heading home. I picked up the inexpensive Athearn dummy at the train show in Sanford, Maine last week. A steam generator unit will provide more flexibility as I assign locomotives for the passenger trains.

Increasing Competition

2008-04-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

Carleton Railway management has been increasingly concerned about competition from other New Brunswick (model) railways. The railway recently decided to begin competing more aggressively with the ICR, but this week management noticed that a Fundy Northern Railway boxcar had been delivered to the Green Cross dealer in Wakefield.

Meanwhile, management just returned from a railway meeting in Sanford, Maine with prospects that the new Monticello yard will result in considerable interchange traffic for the Carleton Railway.

(Translation: On the way home from Boston this week, I stopped at the Model Train show in Sanford, Maine and bought a number of BAR freight cars for use on the Monticello modules. I also found a used FNR boxcar on the bargains table!)

The Arrival of Spring

2008-04-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

From the cool waters rushing under the bridge in Nortondale to the carloads of beef cattle arriving at the BQM packing plant after the "spring show and sale," it is obvious that the long winter has finally come to a close. Not only is one of York County's most famous artists in his shirtsleeves while being inspired to put brush to canvass by the scenic valley of the Nackawic Stream, but the heated swimming pool at Nortondale's luxurious resort is attracting the rich and famous from near and far. Spring really is here (click on photos to enlarge): All the artist needs to make the day even more inspiring is to feel the vibration of a train approaching along the Carleton Railway's mainline.

A parking lot filled with Cadillacs, Porsches, Shelbys, and Jaguars suggests something about the class status of the guests at the posh resort. Of course, the guests from the Boston area who seek the ultimate in luxury arrive at the resort not by car but via the Carleton Railway's daily Nor'easter limited.

Some of these healthy-looking beef cattle may think they have found their own resort vacation as they feast on last summer's hay while awaiting their turn to enter the BQM packing plant. Alas, the catttle seem not to exit the building in the same condition as when they entered. The BQM plant is the single busiest generator of railway traffic on the layout. Every day, numerous stock cars and reefers are spotted at the plant (along with boxcars of supplies and occasional tank cars of fuel or chemicals). In the above photo, several stock cars (left) have just unloaded, while a long string of meat reefers (right) is being loaded for shipment. Barbeque season will soon be here!

Geeps on the Carleton Railway??

2008-03-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

As plans continue for the Carleton Railway's new yard in Monticello, management is considering ways to provide the necessary motive power to meet the needs of the growing railway while also meeting the DC electrical requirements for interfacing the Monticello modules with the Saint John club's other modules. Management has recently taken three long-idle GP-7's (#1752, #1756, #1759) out of retirment as consideration is given to putting them back in service on the Aroostook subdivision. It looks like they will need some clean-up work after sitting on the shelf for 11 years. Actually, the now 25+ year-old GP7 units may simply serve as background scenery on the new modules. They have a long and distinguished history on the Carleton Railway, having been the railway's main motive power on the 9' x 16' layout located in our basement in Waterville (1980-1988). During our nine years in Woodstock (1988-1997), two of the GP7's served as yard switchers (the layout was contemporary, so GP7's were no longer used on the mainline) and the third unit was donated to the Rosedale railway museum for static display (next to the Rosedale Station which had become the museum). The Woodstock layout was predominently powered by SD40-2's and GP38-2's. How things changed when I backdated the layout to 1965 and the EMD units all disappeared from the railway in favour of Alco and F-M units.

Locomotive Facility Upgrade

2008-03-21T13:25:00.003-07:00

With more "big Alcos" recently joining the Carleton Railway's fleet of high-horsepower locomotives, management has acted to increase fuel storage capacity at the Avondale locomotive servicing facility (click on photos to enlarge): The railway`s 200-ton crane had just lowered the new fuel tank (a retired railway tank car) into its permanent position on blocks in the Avondale yard. Meanwhile, maintenance crew members inspect a broken hose on a nearby water line.

The new fuel tank will soon be filled and ready to assure an ample and uninterrupted fuel supply for Carleton Railway locomotives.

The ICR on the CRL

2008-03-20T17:46:00.001-07:00

The Long History of the ICR on the Carleton Railway

At least as far back as 1965, as these photos prove, the Island Central has been shipping products to and from Carleton County on CRL rails. After more than 40 years of the ICR diverting revenue from the Carleton Railway, it is high time that the Carleton Railway begins to compete for ICR traffic (click on photos to enlarge). An ICR mechanical reefer has just been unloaded at the White Road Produce warehouse in Avondale and wil soon be routed back to Saint John as an empty.

Two ICR pulpwood flatcars have just been loaded in East Newbridge and will head for the Irving mill on the next eastbound train.

Generating New Business in 2008

2008-03-19T19:38:00.001-07:00

2008 Carleton Railway Generates Revenue on the ICR

(click on photos to enlarge)

Not content to depend on past performance, the progressive and hard-working management of the Carleton Railway (ca. 2008) continues a long tradition of pursuing new opportunities to increase revenue and ensure customer satisfaction. Management has been especially interested in generating business in the Saint John area amid the talk of several new industrial projects in the works in the port city. The latest operating session on the ICR illustrated the success of management's latest initiatives.

Seen above is CRL box #3826 in the ICR's McAdam yard. It will soon head onto the Shogomoc subdivision on its way back to Avondale for another load.

Another CRL freight car, #6757, arrives in McAdam with a load destined for Saint John.

Another loaded car #6758 passes through Fredericton Jct. on the ICR fast freight with a priority shipment for one of the railway's new customers in Saint John.

A shot of the same ICR train (including CRL #6757) on the main in Grand Bay. It was about this time that ICR management began to realize that there had been an invasion of several CRL freight cars on the ICR. Some concerns were expressed about the syphoning of traffic from the ICR.

CRL car #6759 at its destination in the ICR's Mill Street yard. Carleton Railway management sent an agent (with camera) to observe the delivery of the freight cars and provide the necessary 'research' to enable the Carleton Railway to make prudent decisions about future shipments. Although there was a considerable delay in the scheduled departure of the ICR's fast freight from McAdam, as well as a recurring mechanical problem along the way, the ICR train arrived in Saint John in time for the promised "next day delivery" for the Carleton Railway's new customer. The CRL's friendly management will carefully consider the results of this first opportunity to use the ICR as a major connection to Saint John. Of course, it remains to be seen how ICR management will respond to this increased competition for business.

Time Machine -- Fast Forward to 2008

2008-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Railway Prosperity Continues In Distant Future

(Click on photo for closer view)

Although the era of the Carleton Railway is 1965, management decided it would be good to see if the success of the railway will continue into the future. They engaged the services of a photographer who claimed to have a time machine and requested information about the fate of the railway in some distant future time -- say -- 2008. The result was this unusual photograph from the future, showing a string of well-maintained modern CRL 50' freight cars being loaded at the busy McCain plant in Avondale in 2008. Railway management is relieved and pleased to know that the railway will not only survive but will prosper in the competitive transportation market of the future (however management is concerned to notice that there are no roof walks on the freight cars. Will such a thing be allowed in "the future"?). The photographer has not yet provided additional details about the future of the railway. Stay tuned...

New Motive Power

2008-03-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

New Alco Power Readied for Service

Three new Alco units pose next to the Avondale station

With the expectation that good economic times are ahead, the Carleton Railway recently added three new Alco units to the roster. The 2000 hp C420 #2010 (the railway's first C420 unit) with its distinctive Alco sound has already entered regular service on the main line but management anticipates that in the near future it may find more consistent duty as business expands on the Northampton subdivision. C424 #2492 will be based in the Aroostook County town of Monticello where the railway is in the process of constructing a major classification yard for marshalling potato and lumber traffic. The reconditioned 1000-hp S4 #1097 will also be assigned to Monticello where it will be kept busy in the yard. The railway currently has six additional C424's in service, along with 2 S4 locos that are assigned to the Avondale and South Newbridge yards.

Over the next year, the Monticello yard will be contructed on four modules that will be added to the Saint John club's modular layout. The modules have been assembled and are awaiting track and scenery. Several adjoining club modules (Blake, Bob H., and Bob K.) also represent railroading in Aroostook County; joined together they should provide lots of operating possibilities. Unlike the rest of the railway's roster of locomotives, the S4 and the C424 will remain as DC units for use on the club modules (unless the club converts to DCC).

Nova Scotian Invasion

2008-03-01T18:00:00.001-08:00

For the second weekend in a row, the Carleton Railway was operated by a crew of extra-provincial visitors. Following today's annual Saint John train show, a crew of five Nova Scotians along with the ICR's Doug Devine provided the expertise and labour to run a full operating session. Undeterred by the blizzard outside, the dedicated and enthusaistic crew skillfully operated the railway. Although unfamiliar with the layout, the crew did a fine job of acquainting themselves with the car forwarding system.

Being the first full day of the March break, there was considerably more passenger traffic than usual so the Carleton Railway added extra cars to its passenger trains to accommodate the Carleton County students who were travelling home for the week. There was a near disaster when the crew of #12 (the Nor'Easter--under the control of Doug D.) nearly ran head-on into #15 (the Fiddlehead) near Pembroke. An investigation led to the conclusion that the crew of one of the aforementioned trains neglected to read their train orders. However, a "near miss" is a miss, and no repercussions are expected.

With the expectation of warmer weather soon, the boys working in the Carleton County woods have been busy moving lots of pulpwood out to the siding in East Newbridge. South Newbridge yardmaster Ron was busy adding loaded pulpwood cars to both eastward and westward trains.

All in all it was an excellent operating session. Thanks Bruce, Doug W., Ray, Ron, Don, and Doug D.

As Ray concludes the run of the Carleton-York peddler, he switches cars in the Millville yard.

Don consults with South Newbridge yardmaster Ron as he prepares to take the Newbridge turn back to Avondale.

Avondale yardmaster Bruce ably sorts cars in the Avondale yard.

Saint John Show March 1

2008-02-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

This will be a great weekend with the Saint John model train show at St. Malachy's High School on Saturday. It also looks like a crew from Nova Scotia will be arriving in my basement to bring the railway to life on Saturday evening.

With the hope of being minimally ready for the show, and with help from Lou McIntyre, I have been constructing four modules that will serve as the Carleton Railway's Monticello yard and interchange with the BAR. Construction of the wooden frames is complete but installation of the trackwork and scenery have not yet begun. Although I won't be ready to include them with the club's modules at this year's show, with a full year to work at the modules I should have a very complete scene for the show next year.

Inter-provincial Operations

2008-02-23T18:02:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, February 23, a group of six crew members from Prince Edward Island took control of the railway for an entire operating session (with a little help from Bob Kane and the railway president). The visiting crew did a great job! The entire schedule of 12 trains across the Avondale Subdivision was run (8 freight and 4 passenger). This was a repeat visit for some from PEI. Of course, after one visit to the Carleton Railway you are considered an expert! Thanks Scott, Tom, Derwin, Mark, Brian, and Greg! Mark is the crew for today's "Carleton-York Peddler" as he prepares to switch the Nortondale industries.

Scott serves as Avondale Hostler and Assistant Yardmaster as he works with Derwin (the yardmaster) to organize the very busy yard.

Brian is today's South Newbridge Yardmaster. The midpoint yard is a very busy spot and he managed the traffic very well.

Greg serves as engineer of the Newbridge Turn as he switches the Buckingham Quality Meats plant in Waterville.

The Flood of '08

2008-01-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

The mess following the flood of 2008 is cleaned up and operations are resuming.

The Carleton Railway's old 44-Tonner (Painted for the "Avondale Terminal Railway"--now wholly owned by the Carleton Railway) backs the work train across the Little Presqu'Isle Stream bridge just east of Waterville. The gang has lots of work to do!

Railway management prepares to leave the resort in Nortondale to inspect the damage. The railway's newest locomotive, Alco C420 #2010, is providing the power for the "Island Park" business car.

2007-12-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

2007-12-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

The Fast Freight

2007-12-14T08:38:00.001-08:00

New Motive Power

2007-12-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

Carleton Railway adds additional motive power:

F-M Trainmaster #2435, freshly painted after recently being acquired used from the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, makes its way from the Avondale shops to the mainline. The additional 2400 hp. locomotive will help Carleton Railway crews handle the heavy traffic over the line. Management is also preparing to add a brand new (sound-equipped) Alco C420 to the roster, expecting that a 2000 hp. unit will work well on the Northampton Subdivision. The next scheduled operating session on the Carleton Railway will be on Friday, January 18.

Northampton Mill progress

2007-11-30T14:03:00.001-08:00

New sawmill complex on the Northampton subdivision.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Patterson's mill in Northampton is almost ready to commence operations--as soon as the Carleton Railway completes the Northampton Subdivision trackage from South Newbridge. The millyard is piled high with logs (the woods around Northampton have been picked clean) but the mill will rely on the railway to access logs from western N.B. and northern Maine, and to ship finished lumber products to market. The small Carleton County community of Northampton has never been served by rail before, and promises to provide a steady source of traffic for the business-savvy railway.

November 23 operating session

2007-11-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

November 23 Operating Session on the Carleton Railway

(click photos to enlarge)

The Fast Freight East rumbles past on the main while the Extra 2416 (the Waterville Switcher) keeps busy switching the meat packing plant in Waterville. East Newbridge can be glimpsed below on the lower level.

Engineer Henry switches the siding in Rosedale on the layout's upper deck. The posh "European Resort" in Nortondale is visible below on the lower level. In the background, engineer Devine with arms folded takes a break while the Nor'Easter pauses to pick up passengers in Waterville.

With two levels, the aisles can get crowded with hard-working crew members. They were designed to be plenty wide and with no duck-unders.

South Newbridge Yardmaster Kane sorts freight cars during a busy operating session.

At Avondale yard, Engineer Sabean prepares to take the Fast Freight East onto the main.

WIth a capable crew of ten people, the Carleton Railway moved passengers and freight in its usual efficient and friendly manner this evening. The extra express cars on both the Nor'easter and the Fiddlehead made it obvious that the time of Christmas merchandise and parcels is drawing near. South Newbridge was an especially busy location, with longer than usual trains meeting at the shortest passing siding on the Avondale Subdivision, but the crews communicated and cooperated in exemplary fashion and all trains resumed their runs with little delay.

Thanks for a great operating session!

Steve McMullin

2007-11-15T06:27:00.000-08:00

The photo not only shows a Carleton Railway crew hard at work, it also shows the two levels of the layout, the 6:1 fast clock, and some of the paperwork (car cards and waybills). The view shows South Newbridge (below) and the outskirts of Avondale (above).

Welcome to the Carleton Railway!

2007-11-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Carleton Railway is an HO scale, double deck, 1960's-era layout that is designed for operations. Operating sessions are held about once a month; an ideal-sized crew is 10-12 crew people, although the layout has operated with as few as 7 and as many as 19! The setting is Carleton County, New Brunswick; for motive power, the railway uses F-M Trainmasters and a variety of Alco power (S4, C420, C-424, C425, RS3, RS18). The mainline is 260' long, not including staging tracks at both ends. The layout fills a 22' x 28' basement. Wayfreights deliver and pick up primarily agricultural goods from a variety of shippers in Carleton County and Northern York County.