CN F-M H16-44s on the Central Vermont

 In case you wanted to justify adding one (or more) of the new Rapido Canadian National F-Ms to your CV layout - here's an assortment of H16-44s of various types on the Central Vermont that I dug out of my slide collection. NOTE: Not all of these are the exact prototypes for the Rapido model, which is based on the phase of the H16-44 that was introduced in early 1957.

As always, thanks to the photographers (most of whom have left us) for having the foresight to point their lenses at these machines and for their willingness to share the images with the rest of us. 

If you want to learn more about H16-44s, and get a close up look at the Rapido model, I suggest checking out Hunter Hughson's Hindsight RPM clinic, which you can find on YouTube at: 

https://youtu.be/k-Wz4YXf8pc?si=9O3f2QgWTqFAk9Hy

CN H16-44 1856 and 1853. R Decker photo. Date Unknown. 

CN 2211 is the same group as the new Rapido model. R. Decker photo, 4-1957.

An interesting trio of CN diesels on the Central Vermont. D. Nelson photo. St. Albans, Vt. area. Date unknown.

A pair of CN H16-44s, led by no. 1851, cross the Connecticut River near Brattleboro, Vt. Dave Sweetland photo, August 1955. 

In case you thought the H16-44s didn't make it to the Southern Division, here CN 1851 leads a train out of East New London, Conn. Bob Decker photo, 5/22/1955

CV RS-11 3611 - Before and After

 Here's an Alan Irwin view of Central Vermont Alco RS-11 #3611 in 1981 in St. Albans, Vt. Showing off her Larsen Green colors:

Back in the mid-1990s I told Alan that I would be traveling to an NMRA meet in southwestern Virginia - and on the way home we planned to do some railfanning in western Virginia. 

"That's perfect!" he exclaimed - "can you stop by the Winchester and Western and see if you can find one of the CV RS-11s that ended up there." 

I did, and took some photos and sent them to Alan. We'd heard the engine was "a little rough" from some of the local guys. They weren't kidding! the overcast, gray day (in April, not unlike the weather in Virginia this week!) provided the appropriate somber background. 

Wondering if anyone wants to chop up a Rapido RS-11 to look like this!

Factory painted Southern New England power (sort of ...)

 As I've mentioned in the past, I've been pleased that model locomotive manufacturers (Atlas, Rapido, and Athearn) have all introduced factory painted models of Central Vermont diesels. (Although I wish one of them would do something in the post-1963 tapeworm scheme - on both the Battle Creek Blue and Red and Black variations!). 

But I never thought I'd see anyone do a locomotive factory painted in my prototype freelance Southern New England Railway. 

Let me clarify - this isn't some sort of freelanced roadname deal like Homeshops is doing. 

These are legit prototype locomotives that run on the Battinkill Railroad in New York. Here's a picture of SNEX 5012 - the D&H paint scheme heritage is pretty obvious:

You can find the story of the Battinkill Railroad, as well as more photos, in the October 2022 issue of Railfan and Railroad

But the plot thickens. 

Way back when I was still working on SNE #1 (see Model Railroad Planning 2000) I got lots of requests from various folks who modeled a more current era than I did regarding what a SNE diesel paint scheme may look like in the late 1990s. I came up with two possibilities that never made it past the sketch stage - 

One of these two was based on reversing the Maine Central's paint scheme, the other on the D&H scheme - although I changed the main color from Avon Blue to SNE Green. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but perhaps someone over in New York stumbled across my blog and thought "Hey, that's neat!"

To round all this out, Atlas is taking pre-orders for two SNEX painted locomotives - I may have to get them for the display case if nothing else!  

Canadian Pacific E8 in St. Albans

 Here's something you don't see everyday:

CP E8 at St. Albans, photographer/date unknown

A Canadian Pacific locomotive sitting in the St. Albans trainshed. 

I had the pleasure of catching up with Ian Stronach at the recently concluded New England RPM. Somehow we got on the subject of CP E8 locomotives, and he mentioned the photo above. 

Just what was a CP E8 1801, in its original paint and lettering, doing heading a passenger train in St. Albans on the Central Vermont? 

The reason for this detour remains a mystery.  The most likely would have been because the CPR was blocked between Wells River and Newport. It is a shame we cannot see the switch stand to determine if the turnout under the lead truck is lined for the Richford Branch.  Since the train is facing north we can surmise it either arrived from somewhere south on the CV or it arrived from the north and has been turned at St. Albans to return north. The former is far more likely. 

We can assume two possibilities of where the train is heading:

1. Up the Richford Branch to Richford and then onto the CPR Newport Sub.  

2. Over the CV and then CN to St. Jean, Quebec and then onto the CPR.

One thing that may eliminate possibility #1 from consideration: 

The 1955 ETT states the following for the Richford Sub.:

RESTRICTIONS, ENGINE

Engines heavier than the 460 class must not operate. EXCEPTI0N 600 class may be used in helper or special service on main track and sidings only. So, is an E-8 heavier on the drivers than a 460 or 600 class?

In the meantime, the first possibility offers me a chance to run that beautiful CP E8 over my version of the Richford sub! 

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G. Dimond Photo, Millers Falls, MA, circa 1961

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                           Sheldon Springs, Vt. - Ian Stronach photo

 

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Ian Stronach photo

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Ian Stronach photo

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Photo by George Corey

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Best approach for a CV (ex-GTW) SW1200?

CV 1509 and CV 1510 will likely take the Richford local out of St. Albans in this early to mid 1970s view. 

One thing I've toyed with over the last couple of years is an era change. I've long modeled "1954" since it represented the point when the CV's RS-3s were delivered. 
But modeling the Richford Branch eliminates the RS-3s, and many other road units, such as the Canadian National C-Liners, FAs, etc... from "accurately" appearing on the layout. (If you promise not to tell anyone, I will still run those inaccurate locomotives for fun when, you know, nobody is looking.) 
That leads us back to the potential era shift. 
Moving backwards in time is still a possibility - but for now let's talk about moving forward on the timeline to the year...????
Moving too far forward on the timeline and the traffic on the Richford branch begins to seriously tail off - moving forward to "today" and I'll be modeling a bike path....
So I can't go too far forward. 
Power on the Richford Branch for several years after the railroad dieselized was a single GP9. In later years several (four, if I remember correctly) SW1200s were transferred from the GTW to the CV. After that, power on the Richford local was typically a pair of SW1200s like the ones shown here. 

Which leads to a question for all the diesel modelers out there (of which I'm not one). What's the best approach to a good-running, good looking SW1200 that best matches the GTW/CV prototypes? 

Thanks in advance!

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J. McFarland photo, Essex Junction, Vt. 

SNE Wiggle Worm

Over the years I've had folks who model a later era that I've never really modeled ask what the lettering for my Southern New England would have looked like post-1961. 

A few months back, Bernie Kempinski and Otto Vondrak worked with me to develop the initial concepts for a “new image” SNE “wiggly worm” logo. The graphic challenge was how does one “link” the letters “S,” “N”, and “E” - try it - it’s not as easy as linking two letters like “CN” or even “CV.”
The answer lay in the approach the DWP took - the graphic designers for CN way back in 1961 obviously had the same issue linking the letters together. The solution was to not even bother trying!
I have to give Mike C credit for suggesting the DWP possibility - and all the credit (or blame if you don’t like it) for the logo goes to Otto. 
Thanks to all, here, for the first time, is a poor color rendering of what this scheme might look like on one of the SNE’s GP9s after repainting in the North Providence shops in 1965….

Appreciate any and all thoughts - 

Here's a version of the lettering scheme in the later green/yellow:

What If?

With all the neat new stuff coming out in what one friend of mine described once as "designer plastic" - especially in HO scale - it's easy to feel like a kid in a candy store.

Impulse buying is not necessarily a bad thing - after all this is a hobby and as long as you're not taking food away from the table for indulges like model railroading no harm no foul.

One of my favorite prototype locomotives because they're just cool is the Union Pacific's turbines. Besides, what railroad other than the UP could get away with calling a locomotive the "Big Blow." (I actually prefer the N&W's "Jawn Henry" - but come on, no one will EVER make that in plastic, will they???).

Enter the Scale Trains Union Pacific Turbine. I saw these announced a few months ago and immediately passed since well, you know they aren't really a "fit" for the Central Vermont.  

What if, just maybe, my prototype freelanced subsidiary of the CV, the Southern New England, acquired a few turbine sets???? I mean, someone made GG-1's painted for the SP Daylight and I've even seen an RGS Galloping Goose painted in a Santa Fe Warbonnet!
Imagine if you will a set of Big Blows painted green and yellow ... what a wonderful sight they would make winding (and screaming!) their way through my depiction of the tranquil New England countryside.

There might be some, uh, "operational challenges" to overcome. Consider the wood overpasses and covered bridge over the tracks just south of Everett....the equivalent of jet exhaust might take it's toll on the century+ old wood?  

On second thought, maybe not. Perhaps Bernie should get a set to switch the LAPT?

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