tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post7085863527594760480..comments2024-03-26T22:06:26.337-04:00Comments on Trackside Treasure: Portage la Prairie Layout PlanningErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-81007107369818816262013-05-26T17:13:51.662-04:002013-05-26T17:13:51.662-04:00Thanks for adding those Portage memories, Brian. A...Thanks for adding those Portage memories, Brian. Amazing how it would take 30 years for our 1980's Portage railfanning to form a nexus.<br /><br />I share all those memories (save McCain which was just a-building at the time). Watch for the upcoming plans plus another post on structures and operations currently percolating.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-77955101555562721542013-05-26T17:09:58.660-04:002013-05-26T17:09:58.660-04:00Dear Eric...From the I-Spy world I can report that...Dear Eric...From the I-Spy world I can report that the 1980s in Portage area are a treat for those of us who were there. The bulk ESSO agri bulk seed and chemical south of the CP was still standing until the mid 1990s. West of that was a CP express concrete dock, removed late 80s. CP 6569 was my favorite goat and with the KIPP hot-start plug in post and stand at the north of the tracks location. Strings of insul boxes and mech reefers for McCain and Campbell Soup made for M-F yard job. With a following for passenger 1st gen and the last of the CP MLWs Portage was a great place. In the eighties CP had Robot and slaves on the Minnedosa Sub with the Robots both exFM and Boxes 1018-2- with CP 5800s for radio set-up. As always Eric, I look forward to more Portage images from you and my collection, shuould you choose. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-46616915958712481612013-05-25T16:15:43.488-04:002013-05-25T16:15:43.488-04:00Thanks for your comments, Chris. Indeed a track-pl...Thanks for your comments, Chris. Indeed a track-planning challenge, but I'm designing a couple of railwa-specific smaller layouts beside the mammoth-sized ones.<br /><br />I can't see why a road switcher couldn't be employed and kept busy on either CN or CP, even if no road trains are passing by...<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-52730735170553019732013-05-25T13:22:25.148-04:002013-05-25T13:22:25.148-04:00I enjoyed the Portage layout planning article. We&...I enjoyed the Portage layout planning article. We've been really blessed with so many articles lately across the 'net and into print featuring small layout designing that it's nice to follow along with an interpretation of such a large scene.<br /><br />I agree with your comments on the challenge of representing the vastness of the area and how difficult it might be to do.<br /><br />I can say GMD1's. Now that the first prototype model photos are starting to appear across the internet the temptation to invest in at least one is becoming almost too great to handle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-86586502308154652472013-05-24T19:07:20.781-04:002013-05-24T19:07:20.781-04:00I'm looking forward to it to, Ben. I've p...I'm looking forward to it to, Ben. I've put a lot of pressure on myself, eh? No problem, I've been drawing lots of track plans: 3x24, L-shaped 3x24, CN only, CP only etc. If I get really energetic (!) I'd like to mock them up with actual track pieces.<br /><br />Can you say Rapido G-M-D-1?? Oh yeah!<br /><br />I'm biased admittedly, but I believe Portage to be the quintessentially Canadian layout location for many reasons!<br /><br />Thanks for your comments and confidence!<br /><br />Eric<br /><br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-2798846278332853482013-05-24T11:18:25.233-04:002013-05-24T11:18:25.233-04:00Really looking forward to seeing your interpretati...Really looking forward to seeing your interpretation of Portage la Prairie in 1:87. What a perfect time to begin this project with all the model manufacturers turning their focus to Canadian specific prototypes over the last couple years. Keep us posted! <br /><br />Ben,<br />BArailsystemBArailsystemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12089849871577081083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-84658500502296901112013-05-23T18:18:32.774-04:002013-05-23T18:18:32.774-04:00Hi Chris,
Can you clarify which track you're ...Hi Chris,<br /><br />Can you clarify which track you're thinking of...CP-CN interchange or the CN-CP connecting track at West Tower, or perhaps another line?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-85293326376373838022013-05-23T00:51:27.045-04:002013-05-23T00:51:27.045-04:00Do you know when the CP line that went south from ...Do you know when the CP line that went south from Portage (off the CN main near the yard) was pulled?GP9Rm4108https://www.blogger.com/profile/15089025192333706088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-90523191507827548022013-05-22T19:16:04.589-04:002013-05-22T19:16:04.589-04:00Elijah, Bryan, Ian and train50ca:
Thanks for you...Elijah, Bryan, Ian and train50ca: <br /><br />Thanks for your quick and supportive comments. I've been wracking my brain to get something together...Portage is unique due to the interplay of CN and CP, and it's something I want to include in this plan.<br /><br />It won't be the be-all and end-all, and I know I'll add things later, but I want to get something on paper (and Trackside Treasure) that we can throw darts at and improve.<br /><br />I'm definitely thinking of an operating layout rather than a 'diorama' concept. We gotta have trains rolling on this layout!<br /><br />Bryan, that yellow pickup has likely been a target more than once. Another highlight at the Trenton airshow was a HIGH-SPEED pass by a German Air Force Tornado. Definitely a wow factor!<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-60517597580913430952013-05-22T14:10:10.037-04:002013-05-22T14:10:10.037-04:00For those of us modelling the prairies, a very ins...For those of us modelling the prairies, a very inspiring article. Looking forward to seeing how you put this all together in part two.train50canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-81876284956881680122013-05-22T12:37:05.133-04:002013-05-22T12:37:05.133-04:00Awesome stuff Eric! That sure does get the juices ...Awesome stuff Eric! That sure does get the juices flowing...<br /><br />I may just have to do a double deck layout with PLaP on the top deck. <br /><br />Can't wait for part 2, especially with that teaser shot in CanModelTrains!!Lord Darth McIanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618993277348770756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-34001878737507488122013-05-22T06:05:43.174-04:002013-05-22T06:05:43.174-04:00Any chance he turned around and opened fire on tha...Any chance he turned around and opened fire on that yellow "Follow Me" pickup? :)Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-34296269612831926002013-05-22T01:04:31.711-04:002013-05-22T01:04:31.711-04:00Yay, lots of Black Widows, and even a "Great ...Yay, lots of Black Widows, and even a "Great canadian brace" at the very top! Your photos are always a treat, Mr. Gagnon.<br /><br />This is also a nice collection of schematics you have done up, too. Sometimes I toy around in the Atlas 'RightTrack' program; maybe I should try out Portage in there. I've been working on plans for Prince Albert and Drumheller area layouts myself.Zartok-35https://www.blogger.com/profile/00449976580118722879noreply@blogger.com