Thinking Small (Part 3)

Underhill Flats, Vermont as it looked in the late 20's and 30s. I selected this spot along the Burlington and Lamoille branch of the Central Vermont because it had the most operational potential in a small space. You can see with 5 trackside industries, a depot, and the off track creamery, there's a ton of potential customers in a really tight space.

Operating would loosely simulate the westbound train from Cambridge Jct. to Essex Jct. The train would enter from the lower left, and stop at the depot to unload passengers and LCL. The locomotive would then set out any cars from the St.J&LC destined for Underhill and pick up any traffic bound for Essex Jct. with possible connections there with the Rutland.

Combined with a larger layout you could simulate both east and westbound trains. As it fits in the shelfspace above my desk at work, this would provide enough operating potential for a train-fix on a mid-day lunch break.

I'll continue in part 4 with my actual thoughts and insights that I alluded to in my first post of "Thinking Small."

Thinking Small (Part 2)

Jerry Fox collection, Cloverdale, VT, June 16, 1938. 


CV 455 pulls the last eastbound train from Essex Jct. to Cambridge, Jct. along the Burlington & Lamoille.


Really need some help in locating pictures or a mechanical diagram of the combine on the end.

Thinking Small (Part 1)

A Central Vermont Railway class M-3-a Consolidation #455 near completion. A number of things have transpired over the past week that have made me rethink my approach to the hobby. All positive, and starting with this image. I'll detail more thoughts on it with a future post.

In the meantime, this is a nice running engine that makes up for the failure of my first go at a consolidation. Pulls great, decent speed, moderately durable. I think I want an Elesco version as well.

Centennial 1951

"Mrs. Harmon, wife of the Norwich President, lowers a floral curtain to christen the Central Vermont Railway Locomotive No. 700 as 'Norwich University.'  With Mrs. Harmon is Maynard A. Metcalf, Vice President, Central Vermont-Canadian National Railways, who presented the locomotive to Mrs. Harmon for christening.  It is the first time in U.S. railroad history that a steam locomotive has carried the name of an institution of higher learning."


 --Norwich Record, November 2, 1951, p28.

Mountain WIP