Photos along the line

 Ready to head out of Victoria after we pick up the caboose on the rear track

 Heading north.  The northbound trip had just the single unit, with the southbound return running 3 units

 Crossing Dave's scratchbuilt Arbutus Canyon Bridge.  Beautifully modelled, it will look even better when the scenery is complete.  

 Blowing the 14L for the crossing

 Some of Dave's kitbashed CP work cars passing the MacMillan Bloedel Baldwin in Ladysmith

 Another example of Dave's kitbashing skills on a 2-6-2 tank engine.  

 Another kitbashed work service car

 The return trip featured 3 C630 working back to Victoria.  The lead unit is running long hood forward because I set up the consist incorrectly and the lead unit was running backwards relative to the other two units.  I told anyone who asked that it was a Norfolk and Western Engineer running the train...

 Heading south across the Arbutus Canyon bridge.

 Heading to the shops after finishing the run and dropping the caboose on the caboose track.  All the equipment on the tracks in front of the C630 are accurate for equipment that operated on the E&N, great stuff to see in person.

 Some well used Baldwins at the roundhouse.

 Dave's accurately modelled Victoria roundhouse and turntable.  

Many thanks to Dave for giving me the chance to visit his layout.  I look forward to seeing it again next time I'm through Calgary.

Marc Simpson

layout era and location?

Quite a few years ago I stayed at the U-Vic dorm for a week long train convention. I love to walkabout, so one of the free days I walked over to and through the Esquimalt yard. Very nice depiction of it on your layout! Just shows that one never knows when something will trigger happy memories, eh? On another fine day a bunch of us took the RDC chasing up-island layouts. A good time! I hope they finally rebuild the trestle and get it going again. John Colley, Sonoma, CA

E&N in 1974

John, Dave is modelling the E&N in 1974 with a little wiggle room around that year for some things.  

Marc Simpson

PS

I remember that on one end of the turntable was a control valve stand and an airhose to connect to the engine. An airmotor drove the turntable in either direction. It would be a neat addition to show that detail. John Colley, Sonoma, CA ( ex Vic and Sooke resident, I remember the trains at Dallas  Road, Ogden Point, and near downtown)

E&N in '74

I agree...

I had a similar wonderful experience running on Dave's layout last Friday at a SuperTrains session which included n scale E&N modeller, Steve Stark.

It was a great experience.  The layout is fun ot operate, works well and Dave and his home road crew are excellent hosts.  The model of the Chemainus station scene and the street trackage in Victoria were modelling highlights for me.

thanks Dave!

md

That brings back memories

I grew up in Oak Bay and boy, does that bring back memories.  The layout of the engine facilities, roundhouse and shops is right bang on (according to memory).  I don't however remember the spur on the south side (front) of the yard.  You can just see a bit of it in the pictures showing the main yard.  Do you remember what that industry was supposed to be represented Marc?

Thanks for the pics, I've always thought that Victoria would make a good freemo section and this gives me a better idea of what it may look like.

Kent

Beautiful layout!

This is really my kind of layout.  Thanks for sharing your pics Marc!  Very inspiring.

Team track

I just asked Dave via text message and he says "it was a team of sorts where mostly cord wood and wood chips were off loaded for Chinese customers for heating.".  A somewhat unusual team track.  

Marc Simpson

Thanks Marc, That's something

Thanks Marc,

That's something I don't remember but I was just a teenager back then.  Always something new to learn < G> .

See you at the meet,

Kent

Nice

I've had the opportunity to operate on Dave's layout, it is a fantastic layout!  

Amazing layout

I'm a fan of the E&N and it's amazing to see such accurate and beautifully realized models! The M&B 2-6-2 is fantastic, as are shops in Victoria West. Those are inspirational photos for me!