The Never Done Railway

I DID IT !!!! WOW

2009-08-30T15:19:00.002-03:00

I did it all by myself!!!! Wow look at me!!! Ok so it might be that big a deal to you, but for me its way cool!!!! I DID IT! I made a link to my New NDR2, It's just a beginning, but is a start.

Ok, a computer guy I'm not!!!!

2009-08-29T14:28:00.002-03:00

I'm sure it's very easy to add a link to this blog to show you that i have started a new blog. However I have no idea how to set it up. Since most of you are at railfest and I'm here wishing I was, you know I'll have to wait till Scott gets home to tell me how to do this stuff.
My new Blog is called NDR2 ..................someday there will be alink or something else to get you there from here.

HUMMMMM................

2009-08-23T17:43:00.001-03:00

I wonder could this mess be rearranged to make enough space for a small yard (old one) and maybe two industries to operate. Hummmmm.....

Evening #3 of the tear down.

2009-07-14T22:14:00.002-03:00

Well you can see the duct work for the furnace, which means more of the layout is going fast.

The land in the fore ground is where the bridge joined the rest of the world, the world is now gone.

The Bridge is gone....

2009-07-12T17:35:00.003-03:00

Well the bridge is no longer. Actually the bridge is safe but the scene is gone. Another 16 feet of the NDR is gone. The fascia will be the last part to go, the lighting is good to work with.

The clean up is getting done as I go, but there will be the final cleaning when all is done.

Where once there was an Island

2009-07-12T15:38:00.003-03:00

Where once there was an Island......well you would never know it now. The two pipes for the oil tank and the gauge were part of Mousehead Breweries. The freezer was under What's it Called. Now to dismantle yard and move it to Ken MacQuarrie's for storage with the rest of the UMG stuff. The yard might in the Railfest this year, or possible the show in Truro. BAck to work on the tearing down...........got some new ideas for the next Never Done Railway..........really going to need an apt with a basement!!

Time for track to go...............

2009-06-19T23:05:00.005-03:00

Well it's time to remove some track tomorrow, going to save all I can. Some of my track has been on all of my past layouts. So some of it is 15 years old and pulled up more than once! It still works fine as long as your careful pulling it up. I have used a lot of different track as well and it all seems to work fine for me. Not very often does a derail happens due to the track. Most of the time its the installers problem not the track. I have my share of derailment issues same as most I guess, but I can't say too often it was because the track was out of gauge. Most of the time it was because i was trying to turn to sharp or not checking it for flatness.
I think in my module this fall I will try and do some extra good track work and see if i can make it look and work like new. Well I want it to appear old of course. I will be posting shot of the module once I decide on what I want to make.

Where to start............

2009-06-13T17:49:00.004-03:00

Well I guess it's started, the bridge was the first to be removed. It will be saved of course and reused on the next NDR. I decided to take some shots of the tearing it a part. And the packing up. Seems a little strange taking pictures as I packed things up. There is a lot of work to be done.
So far today is day one and I have spent 4 hours to get just the bench work and track to be the only remaining things to do. This is going to take some time!

HUMMM..........something seems missing.

2009-06-13T17:47:00.001-03:00

Only the rails to save now and then the tear down of the bench work begins.

Where once there was a city......

2009-06-13T17:46:00.000-03:00

Details

2009-06-13T17:43:00.000-03:00

I packed all the details parts for my module., in an old parts container that was being thrown out from my work. Great way to keep it all together.

UMG gets packed.

2009-06-13T17:41:00.001-03:00

I packed the buildings and detail parts for my UMG module separately a great idea so i can find those pieces when i need them for shows.

Car Packing.

2009-06-13T17:39:00.000-03:00

I moved all the cars to one central spot and checked them off on my list.

The Engines.

2009-06-13T17:36:00.001-03:00

Packed away till they have new work on another railway. I kept my four engines out that i enjoy the most for operating during rail fest and the fall show.

Some final thoughts.....

2009-06-07T22:09:00.003-03:00

It has been roughly 17 years since I started my first railroad. It has always been HO scale, for me it was and still is the best scale for my eyes to work with!! I really have enjoy this hobby much more than I ever would have thought way back in the beginning. To anyone reading this let me say I have meet some very nice people over the years and will continue to do so I'm sure. One of the greatest parts of this hobby for me is the people involved in it. I have never been in a hobby before where there is no secrets. Everyone I've meet has always been free with advise on how to do most anything train related. In some hobbies that is unheard of. It seems to me that in this hobby everyone wants to see you do better, not worrying if theirs will be as good as yours or better. So to me it's one of the truly great hobbies to be in.

Brian Chappell
Never Done Railway.

The Island Trains...........

2009-06-07T22:01:00.001-03:00

The cars are gone and the shops are closed. There isn't much left on the Island now with final load arriving by barge. A crowd has gather to see the final load coming from the Island.

Heading out...........

2009-06-07T21:54:00.002-03:00

2914 heading back to Farside and the final run on The Never Done Railway.
As owner- operator of the NDR

I would like to thank all those who made it fun to own and operate.
Scott, Derwin, Greg, Ken, and Dave, as well as guests over the past few years. It was a blast and I will miss it.
Brian Chappell.

2914 arriving.

2009-06-07T21:48:00.003-03:00

2914 arrives at MacGreggor Yard on its final trip to the yard. This is a leased engine from the Canadisle Rail. Derwin Cole owner/ operator brings in the last load from Farside.

The Final Run On the NDR.

2009-06-07T11:24:00.002-03:00

Tonight will be the last operating session on the Never Done Railway. There will be posting of the session to follow and also some tear down shots as well. I think this is a good idea since we always post building of the railroad, it only seems right to show it coming a part.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:51:00.000-03:00

A random shot of the show.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:46:00.002-03:00

Andy operating during the show, Derwin and Ryan take a look . A great layout in On30.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:44:00.001-03:00

A shot of our corner. We are the brown curtain bunch, other wise known as UMG.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:38:00.002-03:00

A shot from the Truro group. My favorite spot on there layout. A great mind at work here!!! Not your every day scene, I think the one standing might have work at Andrea's Place on my layout!! Good she can keep herself employed.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:35:00.001-03:00

Now there is something you don't see every day!!! This layout came to our show all the way from Rhode Island.

Convention 2009

2009-05-31T12:33:00.001-03:00

I can't believe I've taken photos of Steam!!! These are beautiful running and sounding models. ON30.

random shots from the show.

2009-05-31T12:30:00.000-03:00

The storage shelves. One of many rooms. Model by Dave Gunn.

Some shots of the show

2009-05-31T12:25:00.002-03:00

A picture of some of Dave Gunn's work. Beautiful work, detail above and beyond.

Beautiful

2009-05-24T16:41:00.003-03:00

Beautiful says it all for me.
I believe when my eyes just can't do "ho" scale anymore, on30 is going to be for me!! First time I have ever liked the larger scales much, and STEAM to boot!!!

The Conferation Show, my thanks to all.

2009-05-24T13:55:00.005-03:00

The MFMR show is complete. A great success as far as I 'm concerned. The show had a larger attendance than I expected. Just over 500 people paid to see our show. I would have guessed maybe 200-250 tops. Terrific!
I would like to thank all those who came to make the show a success. It's time consuming and not to mention expensive to travel these days, So my thanks to all.
I will be joining the Federation in Oct. As I would like to see the models and photo contests. There are some awesome modelers around the Maritimes and now I know of two in Rhode Island as well.
I will be posting some shots for my blog here in the next few days.
Thanks to all those for came to see the show as well as those who participated.
Brian Chappell
The Never Done Railway.

Back side of 5street Corner

2009-05-19T22:24:00.002-03:00

The back side of 5th Street Corner gets some grass and weeds, still have paving to paint and trees to plant!! The show is close now, only 4 days away. I hope things go well tomorrow tonight!, last night I can work on module.

5th Street Corner

2009-05-16T14:23:00.002-03:00

This scene is coming along nicely. Some building details and time to turn it around to work on back side. Pretty much where I wanted to be. The show is only 1 week away!!!!

Andrea's Place out back.

2009-05-14T20:25:00.002-03:00

Well I guess the cat is out of the bag, Andrea's Place needed a little extra cash flow so...................

Andrea's Place............

2009-05-14T20:20:00.004-03:00

Well things are a little rough when you have a business near the tracks, Andrea's Place was looking for a little extra income.......... Well this will always draw a crowd!!

Street side...........

2009-05-10T17:49:00.003-03:00

5th Street Corner's main street is coming along nicely( to me anyway). Soon time to start detail and do the decal work on Andrea's Place.

Starting to dry decal.....

2009-05-10T15:59:00.002-03:00

Getting ready to dry decal some on the side of Andrea's Place.

Still picking away.........

2009-05-10T15:37:00.002-03:00

The curve heading into 5th Street, with the freight warehouse to the left.

5th Street Corner is starting to take shape.

2009-05-10T13:17:00.003-03:00

Things are starting to come together. I hope to have the the basic scenery done today and start detailing the structures some over the next week.
I'm planning on painting the streets this afternoon. I also hope to get the color and grasses done on the road coming into the Freight house.

The ally work begins.

2009-05-09T09:32:00.002-03:00

Some ballast and some dirt begin to give the back ally of 5th Street Corner some shape. The black line at the far end some where the module end and my home layout begins.

Andrea's Place

2009-05-08T20:28:00.001-03:00

Adding some grass and bushes to behind Andrea's Place. Looks like that guy is looking in the window...........what ever for???

This is fun!!!

2009-05-07T20:06:00.001-03:00

I think I enjoy this part of the hobby as much or more than operating during the winter months. I enjoy seeing what's in my head come to be as work progresses.

Behind 5th Street Corner

2009-05-07T19:59:00.002-03:00

Everything is dry so it's time to start painting and adding some grass, dirt and weeds.

5th Street Corner- street side.

2009-05-04T21:04:00.001-03:00

This is street side on 5th street below is a shot of alley behind 5th Street Corner. Much to do in the next 18 days!!!

5th Street Corner.

2009-05-04T20:57:00.003-03:00

This picture is dark , but it shows the track work for my module. This module will be connected to the 5th street series. The area in the fore ground will be connected to 5th street using the the curved track heading to the right. more to come as work progresses. This week should make a big change to it. Since the show is only 18 days away!!

soon...........the work will begin.

2009-03-22T14:52:00.001-03:00

Getting some ideas together for this building. A lot of detail to do yet but it's coming along.

The shed

2009-03-22T14:50:00.001-03:00

Playing around with some ideas for the area around the shed and what will be in the scene.

More work on the Transfer shed.....

2009-03-22T14:33:00.003-03:00

Put the second coat of paint on the building today, I have been working on this slowly over the past few weeks and it is slowly coming together.

Working at MacGregor Yard.

2009-02-09T13:36:00.002-04:00

Double Bridges

2009-01-28T22:05:00.002-04:00

The following shots were taken on Bruce Bell's layout in Kensington P.E.I. Bruce has been into trains since boyhood and now has started this own model railroad at home. There will be more pictures to follow as work progresses.

East Bound Freight

2009-01-28T22:00:00.002-04:00

East bound mixed freight under darkening skies.

Heading east.

2009-01-28T21:58:00.001-04:00

East bound auto racks.

The Yard.

2009-01-28T21:55:00.001-04:00

Looking eastward from the engine shop area, some early back drop painting by Donna.

Something new.

2009-01-04T13:05:00.002-04:00

This the new trans loading building I'm working on. This is the rear or track side which is the plan as of now at least. Much left to do, but I'm in no rush for a change. I want to make it look good enough and detailed enough for our modular layout as well as my home layout..... time will tell.

A start....

2009-01-04T13:02:00.001-04:00

This end of the building is open to the weather so there will not be much in the form of storage here. But I hope to come up with a suitable scene at this end. There are no doors at this end.

An over all shot

2009-01-04T12:57:00.003-04:00

An over all view of my trans loading dock. Nothing is attached yet a little more sanding and I'm ready for paint. All the side doors will be closed except for two, those I hope to have forklifts and materials in side to show the working area.

Maybe just Maybe................

2009-01-03T17:47:00.002-04:00

Can it be that Derwin is working!!!! No it can't be!!! Must be a mistake. Derwin is our resident fall guy, always the one to blame for most anything. (usually because it is his fault .lol )On the BS&T blog you will see where Derwin received an award for being so good it!! Today were helping out a friend and fellow member of our train group Ken MacQuarrie build his layout.

Under ground Railway.........

2009-01-03T17:38:00.002-04:00

Scott Jay is working hard under the tables at Ken's this afternoon as we help out . Funny how one of the tallest guys in our groups get the job in the least amount of space, oh well better than me!!

Working on the Railroad......

2009-01-03T17:29:00.003-04:00

Spent a few hours this afternoon visiting, helping out the building of Ken Mac Quarries layout. Ken is building a model railroad on free standing tables as apposed to modules around the outside walls.
Foreground shows the engine house and turntable. A switching district is to the right of this area. Hiding in the back ground is Derwin Cole of Canadisle Railway Blog, I thinks he's working but it can be hard to tell at times.

Something new.

2009-01-02T11:29:00.005-04:00

Well this is my replacement for the Blackgold Mining Company. Something different for me for a change. It's small, but I hope to detail it to best I'm able and see if I can make it really stand out like some of the other buildings I see on other blogs.We'll see I guess.

Waiting for work..........

2008-12-23T19:01:00.002-04:00

TH&B 55, sits awaiting some orders. I grew up in Hamilton and watch many of these guys make there way along the Niagara Escarpment. We lived three houses away from the tracks on East Ave at the base of the mountain.

55 HAS ARRIVED !!!!

2008-12-23T18:51:00.004-04:00

Finally after far to long my TH&B unit is running and will begin earning it's keep. Sunday evening will be the first working run on the NDR for 55.
Thanks to my friend Derwin Cole for his time, nibble fingers and far more patients than I will ever have. My last attempt at installing a decoder in one of these Proto's I let the smoke out of the decoder!!! Won't be doing that again!!
Derwin is the owner of the Canadilse Railway.

Moving on to Kenville

2008-12-22T18:26:00.002-04:00

Leaving Derwin's Drop 5415 is heading down the grade to Kenville , Climbing this grade later proved to be a challenge!!

Heading to Derwin's Drop

2008-12-22T18:23:00.001-04:00

Moving on to Derwin's Drop, 5415 is running smooth.

Stevenville........

2008-12-22T18:09:00.002-04:00

Arriving in Stevenville, 5415 has made the first leg of its run to Wholinthall.

5415 Arives at the BS&T

2008-12-21T22:26:00.002-04:00

5415 Traveling along the route from Bayside heading west toward Wholinthall.

5415 A NEW DAY

2008-12-21T15:19:00.002-04:00

All the check lists are done and the sun will be up soon. Time to get this show on the rails!!

Waiting for permission to leave.......

2008-12-21T15:10:00.003-04:00

Leaving the MacGreggor Yard on it maiden run 5415 will be running on the BS&T tonight!! Assuming the yard master there will allow it. Scott is pretty heavy into CP Rail. Time will tell, there will be photos to post if all goes well.

Heading west.

2008-12-21T15:02:00.001-04:00

5415, Is ready to leave the yard. This is my Heniz 57, It's a Athern shell on a Bachman chassis, with NRC decoder.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

2008-11-22T15:39:00.002-04:00

This is the end of the line, Black Gold Mining is officially gone. Northern Light & Power are already wondering where there going to gather enough coal to keep the power on. Good job it's still summer here on the NDR.
Time to start thinking about what to do now.............

THE NEW END OF EARTH..........

2008-11-22T15:36:00.002-04:00

Well the tracks are gone, the land is gone. So I guess this means it's time to start thinking about the new end of earth.

END OF LINE............for now.

2008-11-22T13:29:00.002-04:00

The tracks are being torn up now. Soon the earth will be hauled and the mountain blasted out of the way. Who know what might happen then..........could be new line work or maybe just a dead end siding. Too soon to tell right now. But next week will be decision making time. For now all that can be done is the removal work.

IT"S BEGUN..........

2008-11-22T13:20:00.003-04:00

Well it's still snowing here. So today seems like a good day to start tearing up the line into Black Gold Mining. Due to unavoidable change Black Gold Mining is no more the building and the land has been leveled. Next the track are to go.................

The last load...........

2008-11-18T20:46:00.001-04:00

#110 makes final delivery to Blackgold Mining. The shuts will be close as of this week. The coal will have to be shiped in my boat from here on to Caven Coal as well as Northern Light & Power.

LAST COAL TRAIN................

2008-11-18T20:42:00.001-04:00

This is the last train to deliver to Blackgold Mining.

Some last shots......

2008-11-18T20:38:00.003-04:00

This is how it all is going to end, Black Gold mining is about to be no more......due to a Furnace relocate about to take place this end of the NDR is about to change and begone for good.

Caught in the act!

2008-11-18T20:36:00.001-04:00

This man just got caught in the act, trying to use his cell phone while at work!!! Good job I didn't report him this time!

Heading West

2008-11-16T10:57:00.002-04:00

Heading west towards Headache Corner running light to pick up some cars for yard work.

my trip to St Catherine's

2008-11-05T19:26:00.003-04:00

I took this video clip at a hobie shop in St Catherine's This is a beautiful module.

NICE DETAIL........

2008-11-04T19:57:00.002-04:00

This shot was taken in a Hobie shop in St Catherine's Ontario. I just got home from a visit to the area and had taken some shot of local work. This diorama is beautiful.I would guess it to be about 7 feet long and 30 inches deep. I've been to see this diorama three times now and i find more to like each time I see it.

THE DAY BEGINS.........

2008-10-13T20:38:00.002-03:00

WORKING THE BARGE ,MAINLAND SIDE

2008-10-13T11:48:00.003-03:00

Ed works the barge from the yard side of things moving rolling stock to and from the island. In the background you can see the dock for the barge across from The River of Door. The difference in high of the two levels required a barge to make the grade so to speak.

CANADISLE RAIL

2008-10-13T00:22:00.002-03:00

Derwin's loco moving some rolling stock behind North River Fisheries.

LOADING THE BARGE

2008-10-13T00:06:00.001-03:00

CN #7824 loads the waiting cars for trip to the mainland.

WHAT TO DO???

2008-10-12T23:59:00.004-03:00

Ed in the for ground works with Scott trying make you in the yard as train begin to arrive. Tom, Derwin and Steve look on as the confusion begins!

WORKING THE FARSIDE

2008-10-12T23:39:00.001-03:00

Steve now working as engineer, with Derwin as brakeman begin gathering cars at Farside for the trip to MacGreggor Yard.

TOM WORKS THE ISLAND

2008-10-12T23:31:00.000-03:00

Tom is bring out the barge engine to begin loading cars for the mainland.

FIRST TRAIN ARRIVES.

2008-10-12T23:28:00.001-03:00

The first train of the fall arrives at the NDR. Derwin Cole is in the cab with Stevie Dickie as brakeman.

CLEANING OUT FOR SUNDAY.

2008-10-08T21:15:00.003-03:00

The last of the boxes being stored in train room. Trying to get ready for Sunday night ops the at The Never Done Railway. This is my first Sunday back since spring!! I have listed my house on the market for sale. So the packing begins, slowly. Have to do a start positions sheet to be ready, that should be done tomorrow night if all goes well!

WHOS JOB IS IT!!!

2008-05-29T18:08:00.002-03:00

Tom and Curtis working on the Island Tom ran the Barge for the evening and did a fine job I must say,there might be others who wouldn't say that !!Curtis was switching the Island after Coffee break.

WORKING

2008-05-29T18:05:00.002-03:00

Greg spent some time in Farside as well Sunday night, although Greg might have been doing some local moves from Headache Corner.

THE NEW GUY.

2008-05-29T18:01:00.003-03:00

Curtis is working Farside, this was Curtis's first time running on my layout. He has been operating on Scott Bayside & Tidewater for some time now.

Working the yard.

2008-05-29T17:56:00.002-03:00

Scott and Tom working in the yard this past Sunday night. I hope there talking about something in Toms new Trainroom!

THE FALL GUY........

2008-05-29T17:52:00.002-03:00

This would be Derwin Cole. I guess it's best to say he's our resident fall guy!! If it goes wrong " He did it". Every group has one..............he is ours.
Thanks Derwin.

Night shift at MacGregor Yard

2008-05-25T22:18:00.002-03:00

I took this photo of Greg's engine in the fore ground and Derwin's in the back ground. I guess the engine to the far left in photo is also Gregs come to think of it. This was the beginning of our Sunday night ops sesion , more photos to follow tomorrow.

The Moncton Show

2008-04-15T19:55:00.003-03:00

An over shot of the Moncton show, us Halfnut guys are located to the far left of the photo. All the brown curtains represent us guys.

At John S's

2008-04-15T19:45:00.004-03:00

In the photo Greg, in the for ground followed by Scott, Ryan (of the Nelson fame) and owner operator John Straton. We all enjoyed our visiting with John and working the rails there.

John Puzzling over how he fix this mess before regular operations begin again. While we all were willing not all really knew what they were doing(meaning me of course), me and car cards just don't seem to click. The new face in the photo is Allan.

Chez Nelson

2008-04-15T19:38:00.003-03:00

As Scott mentioned on this web sight I too would recommend The Nelson. In the photo Ryan is preparing bacon for the breakfast meal, As with last year The Nelson did a fine job.

Scott lends a hand in the kitchen as The Crew begins to sit down. Did Scott mention something about dropping eggs? They appear to have hit the pan this year.

THE THIRD SECTION.

2008-04-13T22:13:00.003-03:00

This is the third module, how ever only the first two feet are shown. I wasn't thinking about posting these shots when I took them. The upper tracks are the main line, while the lower area is the new switching area of the modules.

A NEW BEGINNING.

2008-04-13T22:05:00.003-03:00

This is the beginning of the new modules we are working on for our train shows. This was taken at the Moncton show this past weekend. more to come as time permits. Shown here is the first two.

Some New Arrivals

2008-03-29T21:53:00.004-03:00

Some new arrivals on the NDR . This truck and the Ford Mustang this side of it came up here from Florida. Susan's sister Betty sent them to me while staying there this past winter. Also the car in the lower picture as well.

Starting to take some shape!

2008-03-02T15:14:00.004-04:00

Well the paving is complete. The rear area will remain dirt as the enviro dudes we told to never come back, or they would never get any oil in these parts again!! Now for some detail stuff..... but the snow has finally stopped today so I guess I better dig myself out now. There might be an ops session here tonight yet!!!
there has been a few changes since back in Feburary.