Christopher
Balestri has always been interested in the 1970s and 80s, so it’s no wonder the
Etobicoke Central Railways is set in that timeframe.
“I’ve
always had such a fascination with that timeframe ever since I was a kid,” says
Christopher. “Studying slides and photographs [from that era] is a fascination
of mine.”
Christopher traces his interest in trains back to his dad.
It was
enhanced by the large amount of railway activity in west end Toronto, where he
was born and raised—places like Lambton Yard, the Junction, the Stock Yards,
Kipling and the Obico spur.
“Modelling
snippets of those locations truly keeps those memories alive for me,” he says.
Situated
in a 16 by 33-foot room, the single-level “protolanced” layout is set in
Toronto, mostly from the west end of the city.
“There
are portions that are prototypically accurate but are combined with fictional
aspects,” says Christopher, explaining the protolance idea.
“The
look and style however is consistent and reflective of 1970s-80s Toronto.”
Christopher
started construction on the layout in 2013. It’s about 35% complete, “with a
long ways to go,” he says.
Railways
on the ECR include CN, CP Rail, GO Transit and VIA, with a bit of TH&B as
well.
Christopher
uses Digitrax Zephyr DCC to operate the trains.
There is also a PR3-Xtra
computer control unit which ties into the Zephyr command station, allowing operation
of the layout through JMRI software.
Layout
operations are carried out primarily through order cards and occupation lists.
The order cards are typed up on an actual typewriter (in keeping with the timeframe) and put into slots near
the yard or roundhouse.
Trains are made
up in large yard next to the roundhouse, and locomotives then assigned to the
various trains.
He
has started experimenting with consist scripts in JMRI recently, which would
make organizing trains rosters easier when in relation to detection points.
The time
being modelled is late summer-early autumn. Christopher uses commercial
products for the majority of his scenery, but also mixes in real materials such
as sand and soil to the base layers.
One
of the techniques he’s used is sifting and drying real earth in a conventional
oven. After baking, the soil is completely dried out, looking similar to sand.
Most
buildings on the layout are kits from DPM, Walthers and Atlas. They are slightly
modified, with many featuring detailed interior scenes with lighting and
figures.
Each building also has custom signage or markings that are
prototypical to Toronto buildings.
Main
line track is code 100 code, while secondary routes are code 83. The yard is a
combination of code 83 and code 70.
The
benchwork is made up of 4 x 4 table frames bolted together. By using bolts and
screws, the layout can easily be disassembled and moved, Christopher say, yet it
is very stable.
Locomotives
are from Athearn, Atlas, and Rapido. There are about 80 of them, and about
300 pieces of rolling stock.
As
for the future, Christopher added a new expansion a year ago; he is planning to
add an entirely new city section and large passenger terminal.
“I’m
excited for the continued expansion plans,” he says, adding “I hope to have the
new section fully operational in the next few months.”
You
can see more of the Etobicoke Central Railways on YouTube, Instagram or in Off The Tracks, December, 2018 issue.
Watch
a video of the layout, and read more, on MetroLinx News.
