Monday, August 26, 2019

Great Canadian Model Railroad: Christopher Balestri’s Etobicoke Central Railway




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.























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