tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post5370681537510910935..comments2024-03-26T22:06:26.337-04:00Comments on Trackside Treasure: Trackside Modelling Portage la Prairie 1984Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-25080278120174991512011-03-07T13:03:25.640-05:002011-03-07T13:03:25.640-05:00Hi Manny, thanks for your kind comments. I didn&#...Hi Manny, thanks for your kind comments. I didn't see those lines of CP vans at Portage, as it likely would have been 1990+ and therefore after my last visit to Portage. I would also like to have seen the movements of 40+ vans heading west through Portage for scrapping at Ipsco in Regina. Sad, but an awesome sight just the same.<br /><br />I know you've seen this page, but I'll post the link again anyway:<br /><br />http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2010/05/cp-angus-shops-vans.html<br /><br />Based on the plethora of comments received, you bet I'll keep the Portage retro railfan reports coming. It's what Trackside Treasure's readers want, so I'm more than happy to share.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-81117838367859226152011-03-07T12:41:57.455-05:002011-03-07T12:41:57.455-05:00Hi Eric, I LOVE this writeup. All that beautiful C...Hi Eric, I LOVE this writeup. All that beautiful CP SD40-2 action and those nice old grain elevators. In the '80s I believe they were parking lines of cabooses underneath the overpass. Did you get photos of this? It would be nice to see some roof shots of those vans or any caboose action shots from Manitoba? Do you have any material like this for a possible future post? What a great website! You have lots of great content, thank you for sharing!Mannynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-73254740298203380532011-03-05T15:33:18.552-05:002011-03-05T15:33:18.552-05:00OK Steve, I've got lots more grist for the ...OK Steve, I've got lots more grist for the 'modelling Portage' mill. Watch for an upcoming post about VIA transcons through Portage in the 80's. Then there are the Churchill trains too...<br /><br />http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2008/11/cn-and-vias-winnipeg-to-churchill.html<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-60999257063239511152011-03-05T15:15:48.239-05:002011-03-05T15:15:48.239-05:00Thanks Eric, I look forward to hearing more about ...Thanks Eric, I look forward to hearing more about Portage. I'm still drawing my track plans for my new layout and doing research on how Portage was, thirty years ago.Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-36735650709744384302011-03-05T11:03:24.930-05:002011-03-05T11:03:24.930-05:00Hi David,
Thanks for your comments. That would b...Hi David,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments. That would be CN's Oakland Sub, with its stations: Alpha to Delta, and yes, the Van Horne car is another notable feature. <br /><br />Stay tuned for a post I'm preparing on the Oakland Sub and the close of its grain business.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-65333950227912565222011-03-04T20:57:11.846-05:002011-03-04T20:57:11.846-05:00Hi: out of the past I know there was a rail line f...Hi: out of the past I know there was a rail line from Portage out to Delta and was used for grain and special trips such as Prince Edward out to the marsh for Duck Hunting and to the lodge west side of the diversion enterance into the lake. There were stories of a Van Horn coach left out in the marsh ??<br /><br />DavidDavid Munronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-68959627527836391322011-03-01T18:41:58.620-05:002011-03-01T18:41:58.620-05:00Yes I do Steve. I'll scan it for an upcoming ...Yes I do Steve. I'll scan it for an upcoming post covering CN's switching of Portage industries. I need to find out more about why CN combination-door boxcars kept ending up at the North American Can of Canada Ltd warehouse, which was across from the CP station.<br /><br />Tyler asked about detail shots of the CP station's windows prior to replacement. I don't have much to add, other than that each window had many small panes in it. It seems that the front of CN and CP stations were usually in the shade.<br /><br />I do have quite a few photos of both railways' operators hooping up train orders, sometimes just in the nick of time as the train bore down on the station.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-76691499644851835432011-03-01T14:35:49.799-05:002011-03-01T14:35:49.799-05:00Yes, that's a good idea, do a power swap. Sinc...Yes, that's a good idea, do a power swap. Since I'm going DCC I will have a power shortage for a while until I get decoders installed...<br /><br />Do you happen to have a CN car control manual covering Portage? I have one for the Winnipeg Terminals circa 1990 but not for Portage. I find car control manuals to be great references for modeling.Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-81135252924861626622011-02-24T23:11:33.635-05:002011-02-24T23:11:33.635-05:00I appreciate your comments, Steve. This post has ...I appreciate your comments, Steve. This post has generated more comments than any other I've done; there's lots of interest in Portage modelling for sure.<br /><br />Volume of traffic? Sure, could be an issue. One suggestion for you: change the motive power on a grain or potash train, and run it back the other way out of staging. <br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-82179220039031287052011-02-24T15:15:09.269-05:002011-02-24T15:15:09.269-05:00Very timely post, Eric, as I am working on a track...Very timely post, Eric, as I am working on a track plan for my new layout. I have considered Portage and your track plan will come in handy if I go that way.<br /><br />My main concern about modeling Portage is the volume of traffic! Much staging would be required. I agree with you and the others that some selective compression would be required too.Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-56032779328285569112011-02-22T19:47:22.396-05:002011-02-22T19:47:22.396-05:00Thanks for your kind comments, and glad to hear th...Thanks for your kind comments, and glad to hear the diagram is useful. I was really surprised as I recalled the odd arrangement of the CP main lines at Eighth St. Nothing looked better than a fast-moving CP hotshot with ditch lights burning swinging through the curve to the diamond. Power!<br /><br />I never thought to ask for a ride on 6569, but I was happy to see a photo of the plant being switched in Bill Linley's Morning Sun book Canadian Pacific in Color Vol 2 - Western Lines, a book I would highly recommend. I'll get to work on the Portage switching post.<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-41034926803001316612011-02-22T13:58:51.789-05:002011-02-22T13:58:51.789-05:00This is a fantastic post Eric! Thanks for the trac...This is a fantastic post Eric! Thanks for the track layout diagram. I almost planned double track on the CP line through the diamond!!<br /><br />I can't wait to see more, especially on the CP switcher(s). It was either the 6709 or 6710 that I spent the day on back in my youth thanks to a wonderful hogger.Ian Lisakowskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-6510593266419865842011-02-18T22:22:28.543-05:002011-02-18T22:22:28.543-05:00Yes, not too many modellable towns in Canada where...Yes, not too many modellable towns in Canada where CN and CP stations are so close, Tyler.<br /><br />I'll look through my CP station photos. Pool 'B' can generate traffic for both railways.<br /><br />It would be nice to see updates on the layout, when you have them.<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-10116712665288021702011-02-18T16:54:58.587-05:002011-02-18T16:54:58.587-05:00Yes, 3rd Street is the gateway to staging on the p...Yes, 3rd Street is the gateway to staging on the plan. I would use the Skyline bridge to conveniently help make the tracks disappear but unfortunately both of the depots are between the overpass and 3rd Street and they are an essential component to the scene.<br /><br />Speaking of the depot, if you have an older pictures of the CP depot they would be appreciated. I have some photos from the early 90s when it was still being used by CP crews but most of my detail shots are from several years later after many of the windows and doors were swapped for standard models or simply covered over.<br /><br />It is very tempting, after seeing your photos, to model Portage as if Pool B had never suffered the fire, even though it was never around for my teenage railfan days in town (that I hope to recapture with the layout).Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277724015328862338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-60376379396126113612011-02-17T11:40:23.538-05:002011-02-17T11:40:23.538-05:00Hi Tyler,
Yes, more space plus fewer elevators to ...Hi Tyler,<br />Yes, more space plus fewer elevators to build.<br /><br />Is it possible to have the area east of Third St as visible or non-visible staging? Also, that is the source of interchange between CN and CP, which, while not huge, was a steady source of cars for both railways. Road power could disappear there for a while and bring forth a few cars at a time.<br /><br />6569 and brethren snoozed under the trees in the former station park. Watch for an upcoming post.<br /><br />Engro received a wide variety of CN, CP and leased cars, yes cylindrical but other types too. Likely dependent on the source of the fertilizer being unloaded. I have some further photos of the unloading conveyor that I'll dig out.<br /><br />Can-Oat and McCain's definitely worth modelling in later eras, including larger capacity cars. The soil around Portage is definitely conducive to growing a wide variety of crops. Good for a growing layout!<br /><br />Thanks for your comments and questions,<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-31560620109650142522011-02-17T11:18:42.310-05:002011-02-17T11:18:42.310-05:00By the time of my era, only the two UGG elevators ...By the time of my era, only the two UGG elevators remained, which opens up more "empty space" and makes compression a bit easier. Concentrating on the area from 3rd Street to the west also helps things.<br /><br />I do recall the CP S-3 either buzzing around Portage or being tied-up across from the station during the early 90s.<br /><br />I never saw any cars spotted at the Esso/Engro fertilizer shed, so I am still not sure what types of covered hoppers were spotted there. The black CP cylindricals perhaps?<br /><br />The Can-Oat facility on the CP west of town was another interesting industry served by the railroads in Portage and later the large McCain plant north of town became an interesting source of traffic.Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277724015328862338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-20955814910114545942011-02-15T20:17:22.877-05:002011-02-15T20:17:22.877-05:00Good question. Yes it did, Elijah. How about a CP...Good question. Yes it did, Elijah. How about a CP S-3 hauling CN 86-foot high-cube boxcars past grain elevators? Soup, frozen food and other prepared food for western Canada. Toured the plant in August, 1978. Closed now, but watch for an upcoming post with consist information.<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-24037050092467000842011-02-14T21:01:03.504-05:002011-02-14T21:01:03.504-05:00A question, if you don't mind:
I notice on the...A question, if you don't mind:<br />I notice on the schematic that there is a spur to the north that goes to a Campbells soup plant. Did this generate any interesting or noteworthy traffic?Zartok-35https://www.blogger.com/profile/00449976580118722879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-49422913313574507862011-02-14T18:59:08.478-05:002011-02-14T18:59:08.478-05:00Thanks for your comments,Tyler and Elijah. Portag...Thanks for your comments,Tyler and Elijah. Portage definitely needs some selective compression...it is a lo-o-o-o-ng yard. Even without prototype track lengths or even number of tracks, a lot can be done with getting details in structures, rolling stock and vehicles right to get the "feel" of Portage. Of course, that also means lots of trains.<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-84413345691279537122011-02-14T18:47:17.598-05:002011-02-14T18:47:17.598-05:00This should prove a very useful resource in modell...This should prove a very useful resource in modelling a rural setting...which, to be honest, is something I am working on right now.<br /><br />I look forward to the upcoming mentions of F-units and the 6569!Zartok-35https://www.blogger.com/profile/00449976580118722879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-51610589091693997762011-02-14T11:12:17.092-05:002011-02-14T11:12:17.092-05:00Thanks for the great post Eric! I've finally ...Thanks for the great post Eric! I've finally started construction of my layout that will feature Portage and your track schematic has helped confirm my own research. I've had to simplify the track plan to reduce the number of spurs and yard tracks but the overall feel should still be there. I'll pass along soem pictures once it is all spiked down!Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277724015328862338noreply@blogger.com