Monday, October 31, 2016

39th Annual Truro Model Train Show

On October 15, 2016, the 39th annual model train show was held in Truro, NS.  Since I haven't attended since my senior year in high school, I figured it was time to make a return!

I began planning the day a few weeks in advance to maximize railfanning opportunities as they came my way en route to the show.  Of course, as always, I did catch a few trains, but the sun DID NOT cooperate for many of the shots and I had to settle for mediocre overcast run-of-the-mill photos.

At any rate, I arrived at the show around 1045, almost two hours after the show and started, and knowing that there was no VIA 15, this meant that no more trains would be around until 1630 or so in the afternoon...or so I thought.

At the show, I met a lot of model railroaders that I have been friends with on Facebook for quite some time now, and it was nice to meet so many of you in person! (You know who you are if you're reading this ;) )  I actually ended up talking to way more people than taking many photos which is a first for me, but not a bad thing at all, as I gleaned a great amount of information from many experienced modellers, and even some who are at the same level as me currently, its all a continuous learning process :)

Onto the photos though, the first order of business was to capture a couple shots of Ronald Grandmaison's Restigouche Pulp & Paper module.  I had seen this particular module of Ronald's before, but not since the lighting was added, which added another whole atmosphere of realism.

Restigouche Pulp & Paper, take one.
Restigouche Pulp & Paper, take two.

After taking in the UMG's setup, I decided to meander around and "shop" a bit.  At the end of the day, I left the show with four items; an SD40, (which is currently receiving an alcohol bath), a plastic pellets covered hopper, a CGTX tanker, and an Atlas Code 83 right hand switch.

I decided to take in a few more layouts too, as the end of the day drew closer and I realized how few photos I had taken so I snapped Tim Hayman's excellently weathered GP40-2W.

Tim Hayman's CN GP40-2W.
And then here are a few shots of general operations plus a glimpse of what the show looked like.
CN 3210 idles in the siding.
Seeing double CP on the UMG's layout.
A unique looking GT locomotive poses for a photo before continuing on.
Nearing the end of the day at the NSCC.

That about wraps it up.  I headed to Stewiacke to shoot VIA 14, but due to CN A407 going into emergency just west of Truro, that delayed 14 for a few hours, and long story short, the train didn't even arrive in Truro until dusk.  With that thought far behind me, I headed for home!  Below is the photo of what I left the show with, displayed on my home module, (switch not pictured).

SD40, CGTX tanker, MLLX covered hopper.
- Caleb