Model Layouts
There will be a considerable number of layouts available for you to visit in the Port Hope, Cobourg, Peterborough areas. Here is a sampling of some of the many layouts which will be open. Information about the times and days for viewing will be add to the schedule when available.
EAST TOUR
Brighton & Presquile Railway Association (HO)
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The Brighton & Presquile Railway Association was formed in the early 1980s and for many years had a wandering existence. For the past year or so the club has assembled their Free-Mo modules in a 30 by 40 foot space at 58 Prince Edward Street. There are seven outdoor steps to the second storey layout room. The general theme is the transition era loosely based on the geographical features of Presqu'ile in central Ontario. The layout is DCC and operates from a point to a loop to point return. There are some club locomotives and rolling stock but members generally provide their own motive power, generally CN or CP, which also operate. The club is currently ensuring sound operations with landscaping the upcoming focus of their work.
Memory Junction/Brighton Ontario Railway Museum
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Memory Junction is the child of Ralph Bangay. In 1995 he purchased the 1857 brick built GTR station which was patterned after many of that company's cut stone stations. The station remained opened for passengers until the 1960s then was used for express and maintenance. The station is home for a large variety or railroading history from paper to implements to tools. On the grounds are various pieces of 1:1 rail artifacts including CNR locomotive #2534, a class N-4-a built by MLW in 1906, an ex CNR wooden caboose painted in Memory Junction scheme, an outside braced Fowler type box car, and a steel CPR van. Memory Junction is a great place for train watching. Admission is free and donations for ongoing restoration are always welcome.
Al Heard (N)
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The fictitious Don Valley & Eastern Railway recalls the area in which Al Heard grew up in Toronto. His basement n-scale layout is not based on this locale but the 12 by 20 foot layout with a 1 by 10 foot extension features the transition era in various regions of Ontario. The fully landscaped model uses MR Prodigy DCC control for up to three operators who must move trains through six reversing loops. As of this writing only one locomotive has DCC sound but all engines operate smoothly throughout the entire rail empire. Card operations are featured. Be mindful of the low head room of this basement layout.
Keith Hansen (O)
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Keith Hansen as well as being an author and inveterate photographer/videographer also finds time to work on his extensive O gauge layout. Much of the layout is under construction but trains do operate on a DCC system. He also hosts other O scale modelers who use his tracks to operate their locomotives on a large home layout. A highlight of Keith's layout is the background imagery reflecting his interest and ability in painting. Currently a major reconstruction is well along and the intent is to have it completed by show time!
Tony Adam (HO) Sunday Only
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Sunday Only for visitor's to Tony Adam and his fabulous Swiss Alpine railway featuring aspects of the Berne-Lotchberg-Simplon north south line to the Italian border. This basement layout is exquisitely landscaped with towering multi-level glimpses of mountain railroading that features 1960s era railroading that traverses multiple grades and numerous bridges constructed of various materials. Complex catenary is strung for viewing purposes but DC power through the rails provides electrical current for the single main line on which operates a variety of Fleischmann, Roco and other locomotives for both passenger and goods trains. Self explanatory of his modelling prowess is the fact that Tony's basement railway is featured in the May, 2013, Continental Modeller issue. And you can ask him how a transplanted Englishman living in Canada got hooked on Swiss Railroading!
WEST TOUR
Brian Ottaway (O)
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Brian Ottaway's O Scale basement layout is exquisitely in its details. The layout is a simple layout but there is nothing simple about the fictional Osprey Lake & Northern. Rail aficionados will remark regarding the rivet counter fidelity to detail in all aspects of the OS&LR locomotives and rolling stock. Landscape lovers will witness scenes that replicate Mother Nature's kaleidoscope texture and hues. Structure erectors will admire the fine techniques replicating standard building techniques. Story tellers will marvel at the narratives associated with a myriad of people scenes displayed in the landscape. This is a layout you will not want to miss!
Wally Lebret (HO)
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The Durham & Southern Railway, the fictitious HO model railway of Wally Lebret, occupies an 11 by 28 foot segment of his basement. Although there is a duck under to gain access to the centre of the layout, it is entirely in view from an adjoining seating area so don't be deterred from a visit here. The around the 'room' layout is supported by wall brackets eliminating the need for floor supports. There are many structures both kit bashed and scratch built and lit with interiors. Lights illuminate people and vehicles on busy streets. A host of scenery vignettes enhance a viewer's interest. The D&SR is fully operational based from three panels. Wally uses the MRC DCC sound control system to enhance the railway. CN and CP trains predominate on the layout which is set in the late transition era and features both late steam and first generation diesels.
Jim Sargent (HO)
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Jim Sargent started his model railway about twenty years ago and today his basement HO layout occupies a 19 by 19 foot area. It is an around the wall concept, point to point, with a centre peninsula. This latter has track arranged so that he can operate a small loop for breaking in locomotives and rolling stock. The layout is fully landscaped and scenicked. Normally six operators use Digitrax DCC for locomotive control. Freight cars are forwarded and retrieved on the layout by the 'Ship-It' computer program. A regular session generally lasts about three hours. Observers to the railway will witness CN, CP, VIA and GO trains pass their point of view.
Clayton Morgan (N) Sunday Only
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The fictitious Port Hately Branch of the CNR in Clayton Morgan's basement runs from Lake Ontario through Central Ontario's Mariposa Junction country to Port Hately on Georgian Bay. This 20 by 13 foot n scale basement layout is marvelously 'completed' although Clayton is always enhancing the layout with greater details. His latest addition includes two scratch built vessels that are moored in the Georgian Bay harbour port. Operation is DC block control; turnouts are either Atlas electric or Caboose Hobbies manual. Observers will witness transition era trains of CNR along the Port Hately Branch Railway as well as streetcar operation in one of the more settled communities.
Soper Valley Model Railroaders (HO)
Following a recent move, the Soper Valley Model Railroad modelers are actively constructing their model HO railway into a two tier system. Bottom level main line track and some sidings are currently operating as is the helix that gains the second level where construction work is in progress. If you are a modeler seeking layout construction ideas and tips then a visit to the SVMR is well advised. The members are friendly and willing to share their knowledge and experience in discussion with you.
Newcastle-Port Hope Railfan Tour
This tour, particularly at the western half, will take you near and along side a segment of CPR and CNR parallel tracks that are only metres apart in may places. This section of track witness, arguably, the busiest rail traffic in Canada east of Toronto. Follow Mill Street South at the Newcastle exit off 401. Mill Street South eventually becomes Lakeshore Road all the way into Port Hope. Near the western end of Lakeshore Road, at Stephenson Road and Lakeshore Road, is an interesting locale. Lakeshore Road crosses the CNR double track on a wooden bridge and crosses the CPR at grade level. West of this point the two lines diverge as they head west to Toronto. The CPR crossing includes their main and passing track at Lovekin. East of this point both lines are parallel. Farther east Lakeshore Road, now on the north side of the tracks will recross both sets of tracks east of Jayne's Road. All tracks are tangent at this location. Between Newtonville Road and Willow Beach Road all roads north from Lakeshore Road cross both sets of tracks either at grade or on a bridge. Any of these will afford a vantage point for viewing trains. As you near Port Hope the original 1850s GTR berm is occasionally visible towards the lake, virtually on the shore line. Due to washouts caused by winter storms, the GTR in the 1870s moved their line north away from the shore to its current, CNR, location.
COBOURG TOUR
Dean Smith (HO)
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Dean Smith's basement layout is flat, a reflection of his spending his adult years in the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan. His large footprint generic railway features sound DCC operation with his double track mainline forming a J shaped configuration. More than 40 locomotives and 464 pieces of rolling stock roll past towns and industries replicating those found on the Prairie: a potash mine, an oil refinery, an IPSCO pipe factory and of course a variety of grain elevators including single wooden structures to massive concrete inland grain terminals. Vehicles, people, lights all denote action on 'Grandpa's' railway designed so his grandchildren enjoy a sense of their western heritage. Running, rather than switching, is the key to this layout with the guiding principle, "Its my railway and I run it the way I like!"
Neil Battie (HO)
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Neil Battie's basement model railway depicts examples of CN, CP & TH&B locomotives set in the 1960's era. First and second generation diesels roam this around the wall layout configuration using DC control with a block operating system. Scenery construction is about half completed with much detail to enhance the kit built structures. Passenger trains include a representative CP Canadian and a CN Transcontinental in grey and black scheme. Freight rolling stock is largely from Athearn and Roundhouse. The layout is a basement around the wall format in a 22 by 12 foot space with a large completed yard extension off one segment of the oval.
Ted Rafuse (HO) Friday Night Only
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The 19th century defunct Cobourg & Peterboro railway survives in an HO version in Ted Rafuse's 11 by 27 foot basement train room. A centre peninsula is surrounded by an around the wall walk in layout design. The model replicates the mid 20th century power transition era as though the C&P might have continued to function to that date. Small steam engines and first generation diesels operate on a die (dice) created time card using Aristocraft DC throttles and multiple electrical blocks. The layout is completely landscaped and detailed and witnesses a variety of small railway, industrial and street structures including out of the box, kit bashed, scratch built, in both wood and plastic material.
Terry Ashcroft (HO) Friday Night Only
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Terry Ashcroft's basement version of the Key Valley Railway is an On30 line with hand laid code 100 rail on wooden ties. Buildings are a mix of kits, modified kits and scratch built. Scenery is a combination of Woodland Scenics materials, dyed sawdust and a variety of commercial and 'found' materials. The layout is not fully landscaped but trains operate in electrical blocks over the full layout using Tech II and Aristocraft throttles for control. The Key Valley Railway was constructed to haul lumber from a mill at Lost Channel sixteen miles west to a junction with the CPR at Pakesley on the Toronto-Sudbury line. Although it was short lived 1919-1933, traffic flourished. During the hunting season special trains hauled more than 1,000 hunters inland to steam ships that carried them onwards to camps along the Pickerel River. By the early 1930s the white pine was gone and the railway shut down. All that remains today are some cabins at Pakesley and a few foundations and the Lost Channel Inn at Lost Channel.
George Parker (G)
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This G scale version of the 1850s Cobourg & Peterborough Railway is George Parker's astounding contribution to the Cobourg Museum Foundation. The layout is outdoors at the museum and at some point in the future he will be donating it to the CFM. Meanwhile this visit will astound you with George's modelling structures of the almost 3 mile trestle bridge combination that crossed Rice Lake at the time. George has modelled the original pattern of the trestle work that approached his conception of the operating swing bridge. Several locomotives operate on the DC single track line and all switch machines are electrically controlled from a central operations panel. He has taken, with permission, some Kanamodels HO kit plans and worked the plans into G scale structures. This is a remarkable layout on permanent public display. You may also wish to visit the inside of the museum where there is a panel display outlining the history of railways in Cobourg. There is no charge to visit this large museum layout but a small donation might be appropriate.
Rick Kelly (HO)
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Rick Kelly's HO Dominion Atlantic Railway focuses his modelling activity with childhood memories of growing up in the Annapolis Valley. Local Nova Scotia communities conjure reminiscences but Rick is not attempting to model each town's railway plan as it was in the transition/early steam era. Annapolis Valley rail associated and paired customers include a dairy farm and creamery, a cattle farm and abattoir, and an orchard and a juice cannery. DCC operations are featured and landscaping is in the continuing stage. The layout occupies a basement area of approximately 22 x 24 feet.
Doug Clark (HO)
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Doug Clark's HO scale layout does not have an identity but it does have several themes. In 16 by 32 feet he runs triple track loops of several Canadian railways: CN, CP and TH&B. This DCC equipped railway is landscaped and for most of the figures found on the layout there is a story, generally humorous, that you have to hear from the operator himself. The transition era of the mid to late 1950's is portrayed with the railway rolling stock. Many structures are named for grandchildren and friends.
PORT HOPE TOUR
Carl Trolley (HO)
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Carl Trolley's mainline runs the length of his basement walls to create an HO scale out and back run of 173 feet. The DCC sound equipped railway is freelanced but he is partial to Canadian Pacific steam locomotives. Operating sessions are governed by a self-developed card system and can keep a number of operators busy shunting cars at several towns. Track is code 100, turnouts are manual Atlas, distant turnouts are push-pull knobs with piano wire and wooden wheel operation. Carl's railway is fully scenicked and complete, but he is always adding or altering, so be sure to inquire of his latest model project.
Bill Enscott (HO)
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Bill Enscott is a remarkable model railroader especially so as he entered the hobby at age 87 and now at age 91 is reworking his HO basement railway. Bill is also legally blind so his railway has been built with the help of several friends. Digitrax DCC enables him to operate his railway on his own by using a dedicated throttle with the locomotive number visible on the throttle paired with a large paper number inserted on the deck between the handrails and the hood. Bill lives within sight of the CPR/VIA/CNR mainlines and operates freight locomotives on his layout. Industries are all colour coded cars to allow him to switch his layout unaided. There is a duck under entry but navigating this minor obstacle it will be a treat to visit this remarkable man and his remarkable adapted railway.
Bill Capener (HO)
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Bill Capener's HO Orangeville, Wingham and Teeswater Railway avoids the prototype limits of replicating a segment of the CPR's spider web of lines leaving Orangeville, Ontario. This sound enhanced Digitrax DCC enhanced model railway replicates many late steam era aspects of CPR practice. Locomotives are primarily Spectrum models. All model vans are reworked to closely replicate CPR prototype vans. The hallmark of Bill's modelling concentrates on his love of scratch building as evidenced in the 32 scratch built structures that adorn his completely landscaped basement layout. A walk to his basement is a must.
Paul Miner (G,O)
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Paul Miner's indecision as to which scale to model in his basement resulted in his constructing two railways, one in #1 scale (1/32") and the second in 3/8" to 1 foot. These two gauges coexist on the same layout with the gauge 1 on a lower level than the O gauge. The o gauge mainline run is approcimately165 feet long two sidings with sidings which suits Paul's purpose in having trains run continuously through several rooms in a serpentine obscure oval design. Motive power includes steam through contemporary diesel because he likes the variety of locomotives. Multiple unit trains of 25-40 cars are usual with passing tracks of 60 car lengths to allow for manifold movements on the mainline.
PORT HOPE PERIPHERY TOUR
Steve Benko (G)
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Steve Benko's rural front yard view overlooking Lake Ontario is quite wonderful but his backyard G scale double track 150 foot mainline is even more spectacular to model railway fans. Steve models contemporary battery controlled CN/BCRail/BNSF diesels and 24 to 30 freight car train lengths. You may even see some unusual US road names and passenger cars on the rails. With bells and whistles and smoke emanating from the powerful locomotives the railway draws kids from next door when it operates and you too will be enthralled with the sounds of the railway and the landscape through which it runs. Steve is still developing structures but there are models of his house and of the former barn on the property to provide a home sense setting. Expansion of the rails may well be under way when you arrive in August (The real trains run just to the north of his house).
Cleve Pendock (G)
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Cleve Pendock is a novice to the model railway fraternity but his enthusiasm is unbounded as he develops his G Scale outdoor layout. The trains ramble through the natural landscape of trees, shrubs, flowers, mosses, taking advantage of what is there. Surveying, ballast spreading, laying track, all replicate the real activity as Cleve has learned. Cleve's railway is identified as the CPR, the Cleve Pendock Railway. It is a large freelanced railway with a variety of manufacturers' locomotives, steam and diesel, and features a number of vignettes along the right of way. An official opening last year observed local politicians being present as Cleve and wife Dianne held open house for a local charity fund raising.
Kevin and Tim Jensen (HO & N)
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Kevin Jansen is a young modeler with a large HO layout that occupies 40' by 60' in his basement. The theme is contemporary CN modelling set in a mythical Northern Ontario landscape replete with rock facings and evergreens. Wireless Digitrax controls a variety of currently operating CN locomotives as well as the occasional 'foreign' representative. The double track main line witnesses multiple unit trains of thirty or more pieces of rolling stock. The layout observes a freight only mandate with a switching focus. Because he wanted to, there is even a museum roundhouse featuring several steam locomotives (which do not normally operate on the layout)!
Tim Jenson's 4' by 8' travelling N scale layout is located at the same location for this tour. Both brothers have the same idea when it comes to modelling a modern, yet fictitious northern Ontario complete with rock faces smothered by evergreen trees. In this basement, the longer the train, the better. Tim's layout is a double track mainline that uses as much space possible on his 4' by 8' table. The main loops around twice before covering the same track again with an over under. There is a switching section with industries in the middle including a trucking dispatch and an oil refinery.
Alan Robinson (HO)
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Your eyes will expand in amazement when you observe this incredible layout. Set in a 12 by 18 foot area of Alan's basement is a flourish of model railroading based on several decades of experience with previous layouts. While the 'home' road is a free lanced named Upper Canada Railroad there is no locomotive or rolling stock that does not replicate transition era railroading. And there is an example of virtually every type of locomotive, passenger car and freight car of that era. CNR, CPR, ONR and NYC appear from time to time as well as any Canadian named era passenger train will appear at least occasionally on the rails. The singularly spectacular aspect of the UCR is the multitude of vignettes that appear literally everywhere. Considerable time, even enjoyable effort, must be expended to absorb the multiplicity of life replicating details. DC electrical blocks allow up to five trains to operate simultaneously on track arranged in three circuits and two point to point patterns replete with shunting opportunities. This is an outstandingly landscaped railway including layout to floor scenery.
PETERBOROUGH TOUR
Jim Burchell (G, On30)
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Jim Burchell is renowned for his imagination in railway modelling. He is currently constructing a new basement layout but that is not a deterrent from visiting his home. "Poolville", a 6 by 50 ft 1:24 Garden railway with a 1960's theme exists, no surprise, along one side of his backyard swimming pool. The mainline is 140 ft of G-scale track with 2 sidings, one to a mine the other to a logging mill. A mixed freight is pulled by a Climax, Little Critter or kit-bashed Mack. From time to time a kit-bashed articulated gas electric or self-propelled crane and work train travel the dog-bone loop. 20 buildings, 20 vehicles, and 30 people complete this layout. Additional model rail appeal can be witnessed in several award winning modules that Jim will have on display: "Burchell's Directional Fluid Factory," a 2 by 4 ft Gn15 scratch-built operating layout. This award winning styrofoam layout has kit-bashed On30 engines running on HO track. Flashing lights in the factory indicate that the process of training glow worms to flash yellow and red for use in automobile directional signals is proceeding well. Two engines, a gas mechanical and a porter, pull 2 or 3 loaded flatcars in a loop past multiple mini scenes on this layout. "Gobblers Knob Maple Sugar Mine," 3 by 3 ft , 1:24 , operating and illuminated, scratch built lay-out, depicting the "mining of maple sugar from the roots of old maple trees." Two engines operate on this award winning diorama including a single cylinder Shay. All rolling stock and structures are scratch built. "Experimental Steam Works" is an 18 by 18 inch, 1:24 operating, one rail scratch built layout. The operating and illuminated and sound functioning locomotive also has one wheel and one cylinder. This Rube Goldberg innovation is a must see in modelling ingenuity.
Dave Goslin (HO)
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Dave Goslin's 23 by 17 foot basement layout is a freelanced version of the Canadian Pacific Railway set in the late summer of 1957. It consists of the main city of Peterston, with its thriving downtown, and adjacent industrial area, the town of Westport located on the coast, and the village of Kindale located closer to the mountains. The layout has 75% of the scenery completed with a mixture of kit built (30%), kit bashed (40%) and scratch built (30%) structures representative of the era. This HO Scale, Standard gauge layout is operated by a Digitrax DCC system. The motive power is a mixture of mainly Atlas, some Athearn and Life-Like locomotives with mainly Athearn, and Roundhouse rolling stock.
Conrad Hill (HO)
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The HO Ashburnham Southern Railway is a fictional rail company set in the Peterboro area. Conrad Hill operates his 12 by 12 foot HO railway in a dedicated basement room. The layout is fully landscaped and 'finished.' Further details and slight modifications are of course always a consideration but what is there now presents a remarkable modelling vista. DCC sound equipped locomotives involve many switching tasks including loading and unloading a scratch built two track rail car ferry. Many scratch built and kit altered structures provide a unique background as trains work their way around the layout shunting as demanded by a card forwarding system.
Ron Hiscox (HO)
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Ron Hiscox removed his original layout several years ago pending a move which subsequently did not happen. His new and revitalized 28 by 11 foot basement HO layout is a walk in and around the wall with a centre peninsula plan. First generation CNR diesel locomotives pound the iron during Digitrax DCC sound operations. Trains travel from town to town amidst a fully landscaped presentation in which details abound as in a series of continuous dioramas. Buildings are scratch built or kit modified to suit particular layout sites or to replicate and represent specific structures in Peterboro. Of particular note is his model of the CNR Peterborough station.
Dave Mehew (O)
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Dave Mehew has recently converted his Cold Creek On30 layout to O scale two rail employing the Maine Central's defunct Cobbassee Branch as inspiration. In so doing he has been able to retain buildings and people from the former layout. However the construction gangs have widened curves in the landscape and prepared road berms and laid ties and spiked track for an entirely new presentation of his basement railway realm. Steam no longer operates but DCC sound equipped first generation New England diesels ply the basement 28 by 12 foot model domain amidst renewed scenic landscapes and a variety of kit, kit bashed and scratch built structures all of which receive Dave's life mirroring details.
Ron Scott (S, Sn3)
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Ron Scott has two S scale layouts available for viewing. His portable Sn3 layout depicting a logging company will, weather permitting, be set up in his garage. In his basement 18 by 11 foot room his TH&B themed layout will be operating. This fully landscaped layout features DCC operation for both running and switching operation all on hand laid track and turnouts ensuring reliable running of trains. Operation is by radio control with 3 operator's cabs. Multiple detailed mini scenes appear on this 1960s era layout.