On Friday morning, July 20th, David McCurdy (Ottawa, Ontario) hosted a “run what you brung” session on his Rio Grande Southern Railway. This is large railway with lots of open space and huge rocks for scenic effect.
We will start our tour at the Ridgeway engine service facility. It is built on a raised and enclosed deck for ease of operation.
This is another view of Ridgeway with its impressive seven-stall roundhouse and passenger station. These are just two of the many fine structures that Dave has scratch built for his railway.
Bob McCown (Littleton, Massachusetts) admiring this huge JigStones building that Dave assembled.
Roger Caiazza (Syracuse, New York) switches the freight yard at Ridgeway while Bob DeForge (Brookfield, Vermont) looks on. The two tunnel portals behind Bob provide access to Montrose in Dave’s basement train room.
A K-27 locomotive is hauling a string of gondolas through the yard.
Andy Clarke’s GP-40 hauls a tankcar train past the Ridgeway stock yard.
Not to far from Ridgeway the K27 squeezes through a short tunnel at Jays.
Dave’s grandson DJ McCurdy pilots a train through Valley View.
After Dallas Divide the track meanders into the distance.
A 4-6-0 steam locomotive hauls a train of cattle cars through Brown.
A boxcab is entering the Placerville stock yard.
Our host is loading cattle.
Barry Birkett (Ottawa, Ontario) and Bruce Chandler (Burke, Virginia) sorting out a meet at the north end of Placerville.
Bob McCown (Littleton, Massachusetts) and Ken Brunt (West Grove, Pennsylvania) with their
K27s at the freight station in Placerville.
DJ McCurdy (Ottawa, Ontario) watching a K27 haul a passenger train through Wilson.
Bob McCown (Littleton, Massachusetts) hauling a train through Vanadium with his K27. As you can tell by the smile on his face, he is enjoying his trip north.
A 4-6-0 steam locomotive, lettered for the EBT, hauls a freight train through Vance Junction.
Connor Henrichs (Syracuse, New York) switching cars at the coal dump in Vance Junction.
Ralph Renzetti (Toronto, Ontario) switching the hydro spur at Illium, while Doug Mallon rolls by with the varnish.
A K27 locomotive hauling a passenger train at Ames.
Andy Clarke’s GP-40 diesel winding up the track from Butterfly headed for Ophir.
Roger Caiazza (Syracuse, New York) with a train of flat cars and log cars approaching Ophir Depot.
Andy and Jane Clarke (Nashville, Illinois) waiting for a meet at Ophir Siding.
Up the line from Ophir is the Bernardo Mill and Matterhorn Lumber.
A Canadian National Railways E8 hauling a freight train up the line towards Trout Lake.
Sown are the dramatic rock formations at the entrance to Trout Lake.
A Canadian Pacific Railways Royal Pacific approaching the Trout Lake tunnel.
It is a shot like this that make the Trout Lake tunnel a favourite of local rail fans.
Around the bend and heading for the wye at Lizard Head.
Today the wye at Lizard Head is a busy place.
A K-27 locomotive hauling the varnish by the Coke Ovens.
A couple of the neighbouring children have their own shaded viewing stand to watch the action.
Ralph Renzetti (Toronto, Ontario) gently backs up his Canadian Pacific Railway S-4 switcher past the water tower to pick up a string of cars in the yard at Rico.
A closer look at the fine station that Dave has scratch built for Rico.
That completes the tour of Dave’s Rio Grande Southern Railway.
Many thanks to Andy Clarke, Ken Brunt, Barry Birkett, Bruce Chandler, Chris Lyon, David McCurdy, and Maurice Cote for providing the pictures.
To view the afternoon of Day 2 of the 2012 American Invasion of Ottawa, click on the following link.
2012 American Invasion of Ottawa Day 2, Afternoon