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 Emperor Wang
    
Location: On an island, in a river
Fetish? What fetish?
 |  | Model Trains This Weekend
< on 10/27/2006 4:09 PM >
|  | | | From today's Gazette:
They'll be working on the railroad all weekend long
STEVEN HOWELL, Freelance
Published: Friday, October 27, 2006
The Montreal Railroad Modelers Association have been working on the railroad - except their version is the biggest set of small trains you will probably ever see.
The association invites the public to their annual open house this weekend.
The impressive layout measures 44 metres long by 14 metres wide. It includes some 500 switches, 12 bridges, eight tunnels, and three kilometres of track.
"Everything here is to HO scale," said publicity director Bill Ruta. "That's 1/87th of the actual size - the trains, the trees, the houses, the people."
He forgot the ducks. Yes, mini ducks.
There are fishing villages and ferries, tiny towns and cities, lumberyards, refineries, and breweries, too. The dam is quite remarkable.
"We try to keep it as realistic as possible," Ruta said.
How realistic? Derailments sometimes wreak havoc on the tracks while car accidents make a mess of model city streets. One small building, with mini grey tufts of cotton shooting from the windows, appears to be on fire.
"It's been burning for 30 years," member Larry Wells quipped. Funny, I think Ruta was about to tell the same joke.
The club, which goes by the name Canada Central, began in the 1950s and has called the St. Paul St. address home since 1973. It's located in the best possible place, too - under the CN railway viaduct. The space vibrates every time a train passes by.
Today, it counts 45 members - 44 men, one woman. They are all as easygoing as you can get. The ages range from 25 to 86 years. You have to be at least 18 to join.
While Ruta has never worked for the railroad, his father worked for CP Rail at Angus Shops. Ruta first rode the rails as a 4-year-old when his dad brought him to work one day.
"I'll never forget it," Ruta said. "It's still fresh in my memory."
Ruta says that to join the club, you simply must show an interest in the trains. Carpentry or electrical skills always come in handy. Fees are $165 a year or $15 a month. You must purchase your own engine and five cars. Ruta says the engine - a hobby-shop model, not one bought at any old discount retail store - will cost $200 to $500. The cars cost about $35 each. A hand-held computer, which powers your engine, will cost another $200.
Ruta expects up to 2,000 visitors for the weekend. His one request: children must be supervised - it is just too tempting for tots to touch the layout. He adds the best vantage point for the youngest fans is atop their parents' shoulders.
The open house takes place tomorrow and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $6 for adults, free for children age 13 and younger (but they must be accompanied by an adult). The weekend also features a flea market of about 50 vendors selling model railroad supplies and train memorabilia. It's held outside, under the viaduct - rain or shine.
Visits are also available when the club meets every Wednesday evening (except the second Wednesday of the month), but the trains don't always operate. The best night is the last Wednesday of the month when the trains are always in operation. These visits cost $5.
Located at 891 St. Paul St. W. under the CN Railway viaduct on the western side of the Bonaventure Autoroute. Call 514-861-6185 or visit the website at www.canadacentral.org
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006 |
It's great to be alive! |
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nostra-YOUPPI!
Umpire
Location: Shahre:'on Kaybec
Bonsoir et cest partie
| | Re: Model Trains This Weekend
<Reply # 1 on 10/27/2006 5:23 PM >
| | | | its agreat sight to see, been a couple of years since ive been, and hey you get to visit the former CN signaling department/CNCP telegraph office
Montreal Expos 1969-2004 Forever Proud Lets Keep The Dream Alive |
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Blawkowski
Location: Montréal-Uni, Québec Libre
Gender: Male
Vas-y, fais le pour toi!
| | Re: Model Trains This Weekend
<Reply # 2 on 10/28/2006 5:17 PM >
| | | | Posted by nostra-YOUPPI!
its agreat sight to see, been a couple of years since ive been, and hey you get to visit the former CN signaling department/CNCP telegraph office
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An even more if you want to...
http://uem.miniman...laneous/cnviaduct/
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