The CPR Celebrates Canada's 150th Anniversary with Special Train

In 2013, in a post about the Confederation Train, I wondered if any railway would step up with a special train to commemorate Canada’s 150^th anniversary.

The answer is yes. The CPR will mark the occasion this summer with a cross-country trip by its iconic Heritage Train.

The train, which begins its trip July 28 in Port Moody, B.C. will finish its run on August 13 in Montreal.

The train will be led by F-units 1401 (built in 1958) and will include 10 Royal Canadian Pacific heritage cars.

It will also feature the Spirit of Tomorrow car. Children will be invited to write their hopes for the Canada of tomorrow on a commemorative card; each card will be affixed the the car as it makes its way across Canada.

The train will also include a stage car for performances along the way.

The train will be in Winnipeg August 4.

This is the second time a special train has crossed Canada like this in the past 50 years.

In 1967 the Confederation Train visited 60 communities on the cross-country run to mark Canada’s centennial as a nation.

And in 1978-80 the Discovery Train, sponsored by the National Museum of Canada, traveled across the country as a mobile museum.

Also this year, VIA Rail has decorated some locomotives and cars in a special 150^th anniversary scheme.

The Ottertail Canyon: A Great Canadian Model Railroad in Australia

So here’s a great Canadian model railroad: The Ottertail Canyon.

I don’t know much about it, except that it was created by Steve Pettit of Australia.

Steve is best known for his interest in narrow gauge, a scale in which he is a consummate craftsman (craftsperson?) as can be seen from his model of an engine shed and of a sawmill.

The Ottertail Canyon is a portable layout he built on the side. I wish I had the same kind of skills for a side project like this,  or any project.

I attempted to contact Steve for more information, but didn’t hear back.(So Steve, if you read this, send me a note!)

So I’ll just present photos of this amazing layout so you, like me, can say: Wow!

For other Great Canadian Model Railroads "down under" in Australia, check out the Thompson River Canyon and Andreas Keller's unique three-level CN Fergus Sub.

Update: Via the Canadian Railway Modellers Facebook page, I heard from a modeler in Australia about the Ottertail Canyon.

Said the modeler: “This was an exhibition layout in Sydney. It was exhibited quite a few years ago. I complimented the owner in his modelling as I told him it certainly captured the feel of the area between Golden and Field.

“Considering there was very little true Canadian prototype at the time (no Bowser SD40-2s and no Rapido), he did very well to represent an area I was familiar with. I saw the layout around 2000 and it was available for sale. I do not know what became of it since.”

When it Comes to Building a Layout, Do the Math

A math professor came by to see my layout today.

The professor, who is 65, has been collecting track, locos, cars and other model railroad stuff for years for that “someday” layout.

I wished him well, and said I hoped he could realize his dream.

But I also said, appropriately for someone who teaches mathematics: “Do the math. It took me 20 years to build my layout. Where will you be in 20 years?”

Of course, if he retires, he may have more time to build that dream layout—it might not take him that long.

But still: Life is unpredictable. We can’t take our health for granted. We hope to be capable, able and independent in our 80s, but there are no guarantees.

There are many people like that math professor who plan to build that layout one of these days.

Buy like I have said before on this blog, the best time to build a layout is just like the best time to plant a tree: 20 years ago, or now.

Or to put it another way: Do the math.