More History From Paul Norton

Paul Norton's Views From the Invasion of 2005

Yessirree...it's about time we dig back into the files to check out the happenings in Fred's backyard from nineteen years ago!

Paul's photo files keep digging up great surprises for us!

Thanks, Paul, for taking the time to record history - and to preserve it!

We spot two "invaders" working Nelson Yard which had far fewer tracks back then.

Bruce walks with his train orders near the old interchange tracks to the west of Bell.  

His train and he are on a heading up to Firgrove.

Paul tells us this is the renovated freight shed at Ironwood. 

My, how different Ironwood is today!

Paul captioned this is as "The Blockhouse at Blue Mountain".

We see Doug's handiwork at the still unfinished station at Craig Leigh.

Tom, Dave, Ric & Bruce are way out past the western outskirts of Ottawa visiting Dave McCurdy's large scale layout.

Dave, Bruce Tom & Ric hold a "meeting on the mound"!

This train is northbound on Dave's RGS railroad.

Laura McCurdy, Jane Bowdler & Jan Golding are found relaxing while "the boys" run their trains.

The RGS train is nearing the end of the line.

Back at Fred's place we find Ric's modified 44-tonner in the yard.

Engine #2 holds court in Craig Leigh.

Another eager beaver is ready to roam the line.

The 2005 Invasion Group Photo.

The lads and lasses take a wee break from running trains to await their luncheon feast!

That's Ken Brunt in the background with Stuart Moxley (Stuart Yard) in the checkered shirt while Bruce (right) engages Bob McCowan in conversation.  Bob is from the Boston area and is the owner of the web forum known as Large Scale Central! 

 Thanks to Doug Matheson for assistance in the identification of some of the lads seeing as I was not involved in large scale way back then!

A double view of the two previously seen locomotives.

Paul offers assistance as he chats up Ric before the session gets underway.  During the invasion weekend ops, our regular crew members often observe in order to have our visitors get the opportunity to run the trains and if there is space available they can help crew on a train.

Stuart works Ralph Yard up in Firgrove - a much different looking location today!  Check out the yard on a slant off the main line!

Looks like a live steamer is about to run!

And it does!  Doug Matheson tells me that the locomotive belongs to him...and that the operator is Roger Caiazza from the Finger Lakes Live Steamer's group.  Thanks for the info, Doug!

Roger will get underway east out from Bell in short order.  

A blurry image at Nelson Yard...but historical nonetheless!

We thank Paul for preserving history for us all!

On another note, this coming OVAR meeting's display theme is structures.  

I will  be bringing out a few from Fred's collection for him, including this great looking outhouse.

I believe the late Doug McKenzie built this elegant puppy...if ever an outhouse can be considered "elegant"!

Here is a cool looking shed built from scratch by our very own talented tool maker George Wellington.

She's a beauty, George!

This rather hefty structure will come along to OVAR with me as well.

Doug McKenzie built this wonderful water tower from...

...an old paint can!

Hey...this is a structure too!  The only thing is someone placed it on wheels!  Now that's a relic if I ever saw one!

Is appears that Father Fred may be escaping the environs of Ottawa for a wee jaunt aboard an outbound train?

The car was built by Ray Irving and we love his Dogpatch, West Pork Chop Railroad boxcar #1.

Thanks for checking in on this latest historical update!

All the best, Paul, Fred, our invaders and all the clan of the OVGRS

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Mike Pays Terry a Visit in Casselman, Ontario

Running Trains in Casselman, Ontario

Lisa and I gave our new Hybrid RAV4 a nice spin out on the highway today as we drove the half-hour distance to Casselman, Ontario located east of Ottawa.

OVGRS member Terry Rowsell resides there where he has built a wonderful indoor large scale layout which is fully into train operations.

Terry lives just three blocks from the train station in Casselman and I am sure he visits there often to railfan the passing trains!

Terry has built his model railroad within the confines of his garage.

We check out the staging area first.

The wayfreight train is staged on the left track as you enter the garage.

The end of that track.

Terry shows me his OO scale modeling efforts.

A look near the duckunder bridge.

Terry busily explains the various details along the line to Lisa and me.

The town of New New Rutabaga!  Yes, there are two "New"s in the town name!

The goods shed houses two reefers while Team Track 2 holds the flatcar.

Love the ornamental license plate!

A fuzzy image of the warehouse/team track 1 and refinery tracks.

Terry has many collectable items on the walls and some hanging below the fascia.

Birdhouses are used for the three homes on the left on this side of the track.  The yellow home is that of the Rowsells.

Another view from the bridge.

The military are quite active in this area of the railroad where a team track allows for the loading and unloading of military vehicles.

A Welsh locomotive.

Terry's new electric locomotive which can now run thanks to the overhead power that was recently installed in the middle of the night while Terry was sleeping.  (Long story!)

Love this decorative gem!

Terry's old plate from BC.

His plate from his province of birth.

Very interesting!

Another glance at this puppy!

The far rails serve the team track and the warehouse which may end up being a Furniture Factory.  The near track serves the refinery.

Another glance at that Welsh engine.

The goods shed.

Terry's live steam locomotive...and yes, Terry operates this gem on the railroad when he is able to open the garage door in warmer weather!  In the foreground is another working steam engine.

Terry's diminutive diesel loco.

Looking down the tracks nearby the military setup.

The recent overhead wiring that actually powers the electric engine.

A horse grazes nearby the large tanks.  Terry tells us that he made the two tanks from Canadian Tire buckets costing some 10-12 dollars in total for the two - rather than spend nearly 600 dollars in total for two real large scale tanks!

A friend of Terry's plays the guitar so a Fender Stratocaster along with a six-string acoustic guitar hang out in front of his friend's home.  Terry's actual friend lives overseas.

Here's Terry!

Love the name!

Yet another working steam engine.

I love Terry's slanted wafer emblem for his Pencross Railway.

Love the stationary engine.

Check out the vehicle too!

Hatches are open awaiting more ice.

Morant's Bear!  Yes, Nicholas Morant was once chased by a bear while photographing the CPR!

Look up...way up!

Lovely!

That Welsh engine is named Casselman after Terry's new home town.

The friar and his dog follow the action as Terry and I operate the railroad.

Terry named the bridge using an amalgam of two of his close friends in the hobby.

Aha!  These two gnomes are the culprits who were the "After Midnight" workers who strung the overhead wiring while Terry slept soundly!

Two more of Terry's many close friends in the hobby.

Our conductor friend keeps a close eye on the railroad.

So does the little puppy dog.

Terry's latest acquisition.

More military views.

Remote control boats!

They reside on the lake named for Terry's son.

I had fun operating this pair as well!  

Indeed, Terry had a rather unique remote control device that moved the vessels through the water!  I was blown away with his creativity especially on this first day of April!  😎

Love the Buddha!

A meeting is held to discuss the latest news along the railway line.

Love the sleeping kitty cat!

Another look at the guitars...and...

...the rutabagas!

Marty Moose makes an appearance and wonders just who the new interloper is - its me!

A look down the sidings.

The station is named for Terry's family.

This car was on the move in our operations today.

As were the two reefers.

I just have to check out that steam engine and the wonderful truck once more.

Cool!

Henry & Marge with their friends!

A wedding takes place over the Easter weekend.

The electrical board is masked with a blanket.

Another look at the various memorabilia.

Love the aircraft.

They zoom along as we operate the trains down below.

Cool!

These are made of Lego!

Awesome!

Love the flight angles.

The Rowsell depot.

More friends at the Pencross goods shed.

I'd like one of these in 1:1 scale please!

Gorgeous caboose labelled for the PCR as well.

The passenger run reaches New New Rutabaga!

The crew holds in front of the road crossing.

We are back in staging.

Some of Terry's numerous large scale cars.

3527 is lettered in Terry's PCR (Pencross Railway).

A colourful specimen.

Terry recently relocated from British Columbia...thus a bevy of Northwestern US lines exist in his collection.

A British model!

This is a scratchbuilt car.

Under different lighting.

Woof Woof!

The raccoons are on the loose.

This "Fob" operates one of Terry's trains.

Terry shows me the inner workings of the live steam locomotive.

On another visit we'll get to operate this puppy.

As we leave the layout room I turn and snap a few more images.

Terry started the layout last August!

He has come a long way in a very short amount of time!

Knowing I am a guitarist, Terry had to show me some of his axes...including this Fender Bass.

Beautiful Terry!

It fits Terry well!

Check out this blue Gibson "Robo" Les Paul!

Striking!

She's a real looker, Terry!

Terry's father's instrument of choice!  Love it!

Terry showed me some of his sewing machines.

Yes, we model railroaders are collectors of many things!

I will finish off with a few videos from the day.

Video #1.

Switching out the industries.

Video #2.

Along the Welsh line.

Video #3.

Hauling passengers out from staging.

Video #4.

Arriving the outskirts of town.

Video #5.

Running light.

Video #6

Final views and final thoughts.  

Terry tells us there is still more scenery to be done.  Terry's operating scheme is realistic, challenging and truly enjoyable.  Because of space restrictions, the main line "loop" acts as the runaround track itself!  Clever that!

Video #7.

Thanks, Terry, for a most enjoyable afternoon learning the history of the Pencross Railway and operating the line in a most realistic fashion.  Camaraderie abounds along the rails of the PCR.

Terry is always welcoming visitors so should you wish the make the short jaunt out to Casselman it can be easily arranged!

All the best, Terry, Mike and the entire OVGRS crew on this first day of April, 2024

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada