Tom Hood's CNoR RR
Recently I shared with you some images from a different blog I have...pictures from Tommy Hood's layout which I had taken well over a decade ago.
I mentioned that at our recent OVAR dinner meeting with some 86 folks in attendance we were treated to a wonderful presentation of Tom Hood's remarkable Canadian Northern model railroad.
Operating sessions consisted of at least some 20 folks for each session.
While I never had the time to be a regular, I would visit every once and a while with camera in hand.
This blog entry showcases the fine work Tom and his operators have accomplished throughout the last twenty years.
I would like to thank Brian Earl and Grant Knowles for the effort they both put forth in assembling and delivering the presentation to our OVAR members.
Tom's layout will be dismantled shortly so he held a final operation.
Some of these images and videos will be from that final session while some pictures you may have already seen in my other blog.
You can enlarge images by clicking on them and you can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside them.
You will be surprised to know that Tom's engine servicing area and yard at Hochelaga takes up pretty much the entire basement area located beneath his original garage.
And to think...this area is but a mere fraction of the entire size of the layout.
Yes, when his home was being built, the contractors were surprised when Tom asked that his basement area should continue beneath his garage!
In the above image we see Stan studying his paperwork while Barry, Bob & Jim stand in the distant aisleway located between Hochelaga and Danforth.
A favourite location to many on the railroad is this swamp area located above the sump pump in Tom's floor!
Fitting that is!
Carl Swail created the swamp which was built out over the aisle seeing as the sump pump was an impediment to movement in the aisle anyway.
Thus the layout eventually widened here and the aisleway narrowed to a degree.
The foreground scenery combined with the incredible backdrops painted by Chris Lyon add depth to the scene.
Many images will be snippets from their upcoming videos so their clarity will not be the same as a regular photograph.
This freight tiptoes onto the Brian Earl Trestle.
Railfans abound at this spot as Rob Kazakoff and Ray Farand hiked into the mountainous terrain to catch a glimpse of a train crossing the trestle.
Video footage of the train's movement through the countryside.
To engage the video click on the white arrow in the center of the image slowly two times.
The train has reached Swail Swamp!
For the railroad builders working in this environment, the mosquitoes must have been brutal!
Thar she goes!
The train is heading east toward Grenville and other locations before arriving at its destination of Hochelaga.
The conductor and brakeman in the van make sure all doors and windows are closed as they reach the swamplands.
Here is a swampland video from a railfan who has donned a meshed veil standing in three feet of swamp water to snag the passage of the train!
Oh no! The train has come to a halt alongside the mosquito infested swamp!
Could this be the unit grain train?
Perhaps.
More video fun in the Ontario wilderness!
We catch a glimpse of that gorgeous wooden curved trestle that greets us when we descend the stairs into the train room.
I'm told that Tom's good friend, Ed Schwartz, built the trestle.
Ed was one of the instrumental contributors in the building of the entire layout.
This steamer has climbed in elevation and will continue to tackle a 2% grade on its journey west as captured in this video.
Lower down in the gorge behind the trestle is the lower track section which you can glimpse if you look closely!
This grainy image showcases the change in elevation for trains heading west past Bytown Junction.
The lower track is the Kawartha Sub which delivers westbound trains to Tichborne and Prince Edward.
The upper track on the trestle takes crews along the Algonquin Sub to Bonnechere, French River and Alderdale.
Westward trains starting their journey in the east at Hochelaga take the Rideau Sub past Lachine, through Danforth and out into the countryside locations of Ellenburgh, Grenville (junction with the EOR - Eastern Ontario Railroad), Hammond and on into Bytown Junction where the split of subdivisions mentioned above takes place.
Doug is monitoring the movement of eight trains out on the line at the moment.
We interview Doug in this video effort.
The operations are run by Time Table & Train Orders.
Doug will tell you that Time Table and Train Order (TT&TO) operation was the system used to manage train movements before the advent of radio communications and signaling.
The time table lists the schedule of regular trains and lets railroad employees know of the train classifications (priority/superiority/inferiority).
It defines stations, mileposts and scheduled (arrival/departure) times for trains to be in specific locations as well as listing general operating rules.
In essence, it provides the basic authority for scheduled trains to operate.
My research tells me that train orders give crews authority for movements that do not appear on the timetable and allows them to react to changing conditions out on the line to prevent collisions.
A variety of specific instructions are covered in TO's such as orders for two trains to meet, the creation of extra trains, changing schedules or the annulment of train sections.
The train order is dictated by the dispatcher (DS) to a station operator who relays the order to the train crews...or directly by radio today.
"31" orders required a signature due to the critical nature of the instructions while "19" orders did not.
The order remains in effect until it is fulfilled, superseded or annulled.
The Time Table and the Train Orders work together.
The timetable sets the stage with scheduled trains and their rights.
When a situation requires deviation from the Time Table, the dispatcher issues train orders to manage the conflict...for example when a slow freight delays a passenger train.
The time table defines which train is "superior" and has the 'right of way' but orders can override this with the dispatcher assigning super rights to an inferior train for a specific move.
All crews must carry and understand both documents (TT & TO), stopping at signals to receive orders and clearances, ensuring they have the latest instructions before proceeding.
I spot an eastbound train on approach to Danforth leaning into a curve nearby a wrecker's facility.
The rural nature of the line morphs into an urban environment here at Danforth.
We view the passenger train on video.
Scenes such as the Brian Earl Trestle act as magnets to this railfan!
Brian Earl built this gorgeous bridge span and kept it elevated (basically hanging in air) in order to build the scenery for the valley base up to the trestle legs.
Chris Lyon painted all the backdrops around Tom's layout.
Some of these images appeared in my earlier blog which I shared with you.
This is the same location with the earlier version of the backdrops Tom had done.
They are superbly crafted as well!
This gorgeous steam locomotive lettered for the Canadian Northern has left the Rideau Sub back at Bytown Jct. and is now riding the rails along the Algonquin Sub.
I'd better showcase the man himself near the top of this blog entry!
Y'er looking good there Tommy!
Over 95% of all trains are pulled by steam power, so it is rare to capture a first generation diesel locomotive plying the rails of Tom's layout.
Thus the surprised look on Stan's face!
The rockwork on the layout is outstanding in its realism.
Here I am during a session with the late Mike Rozeboom, a dear friend of ours who recently passed away.
Mike had asked me to build some structures for his developing layout which I thoroughly enjoyed doing.
No words need be written here...simply take in the view!
Suffice it to say that pretty much each stall of the roundhouse here at Hochelaga held a glorious steam locomotive!
Here's Tom at the main yard with Paul.
Brian has found himself at his customary spot working the yard at Tichborne.
We spot Bill having snitched the stool away from Brian.
Brian doesn't mind as his purpose right now is to hold the house up with the pole support! 😎
Now there's a better shot of the two handsome lads!
Peter is on the left, Barry is in the middle with Bill on the right and Tom peering over Barry's shoulder.
They are following the proceedings at the massive engine facility in this shot taken in February of 2006.
I sent along a vast number of images to Grant and Brian for the presentation to add to others they had and this one was the most fun!
And...no, it was not 'I' who caused this little mishap as I acted as chief photographer that evening.
Rumour has it that there was an earthquake in Ottawa on this night.
At any rate, that's Fred in the upper left corner with me in the upper right; Tom went along with the gag (Tom of 'Tom'-Foolery); Stan in red with Bob and finally Bill & Jim (in miniature) between Tom & me.
In fact, there was a runaway train on the departure track that had sideswiped a switcher working in Hochelaga.
Normand is prepped and ready to take a train out on the line with time table and train orders in hand.
Livestock is on the move at the headend of this train.
Carl is in his sweet spot working the engine servicing facility.
At the same time Doug is switching out the industries at Danforth.
Check out the existing urban backdrop in concert with Chris Lyon's painting prowess.
Cars a-plenty exist in the coach yard!
Brian follows Paul's passenger train on the upper level.
The train is riding east along the Algonquin Subdivision.
A video in pursuit of passenger operations!
The train leans into the curve leading into Bonnechere.
The train breezes past what appears to be a gravel industry.
Continued progress of the passenger consist as witnessed on video.
The parade continues with this duo of a diesel nature hauling a manifest freight out from Alderdale and French River in pursuit of that previously seen passenger train.
Video evidence of the parade.
Indeed, it takes lots of operators to run each session.
There's Doug in Danforth.
Well, I'll bring this blog entry to a close as Ottawa is getting bombarded with a winter blast of snow.
So...it's to the great outdoors I go once more to shovel all that 'white stuff'!
This final image is of my good friend, Pete Conroy, from Wolfville, Nova Scotia who came up to Ottawa and Tom graciously opened his home and the layout just for the two of us to pay a visit.
Thanks once again, Tom, for welcoming so many into your home throughout the years.
indeed, Tom is one of the greatest ambassadors to this fine hobby of ours!
Look for yet another blog entry showcasing Tom's incredible layout in the days to come!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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