Southern Alberta Rail

My first decent video on the new generation of the layout shot back in 2020. As I am working at restoring damaged scenery in the area it will look somewhat different once the work wraps up, specifically the scenery at the end with the Helpers passing through the cut. Thought a look at what it was might be in order.....

CP Loaded Westbound Grain Train with Manned Mid-train Helpers and Tail End DPU A Canadian Pacific Grain Train bound for Portland Oregon gets a helping hand up Southern Alberta Rail's 1.85% grade on the Crowsnest Subdivision. The Pusher...

After a summer of outdoor construction projects followed by a major kitchen and hallway renovation I'm finally turning my attention back to the layout. I'm going to first tackle the damage caused by the dishwasher leak... If you're interested in following along step by step during the restoration process I am doing a multi part video series for my YouTube channel members. If that doesn't blow your kilt up keep tuning in for updates as I progress over the next few weeks.

Had a dishwasher incident that caused some damage to the layout. Have a peek at the extent of the "rainfall" and see what plans are going forward.

Dishwasher vs. Layout - May/June '23 Update The dishwasher water inlet valve packed it in and led to some chaos on the layout...... Have a peek at the damage and plans going forward..Join this channel...

Hey Gang been a while since I posted anything. Had a dishwasher leak that wrecked the kitchen floor so been busy with that. Water ended up on the layout causing some damage that will have to be addressed once the real work gets taken care of.

I will be a guest on the Second Section Podcast the 30th of May if you feel like tuning in and learning a little more about the layout and my modelling philosophy....... Kickoff at 19:00 MDT.

Second Section Podcast Regular Guys Talking Model Railroading

My Family and I rode the Canadian west last month and got caught behind a derailment outside of Edmonton which allowed for a daylight run down the Thompson and Fraser Canyon's... Come along for the ride....

Derailment Delays VIA's Canadian... Daylight Running Through the Thompson and Fraser Canyons Every time I ride the westbound Canadian I hope for a delay so I can see the Thompson and Fraser Canyons in daylight. A freight derailment caused the train ...

End of the line. Went from 17 hours late departing Saskatoon to arriving in Vancouver just 8 hours back. Great run down the Thompson and Fraser Canyons in daylight… areas normally travelled at night. Video trip report to come once I get back home.

Depart Kamloops 06:45…. Will be a great day in the Canyon!

Highball Saskatoon. 17 hours off the published….

On the westbound Canadian heading from Winnipeg to Vancouver. Due to a derailment west of Saskatoon this is as far as we got. Looking like a 18 hour delay. Might get some daylight Fraser Canyon action!! Fingers crossed…

A day railfanning at Crowsnest...

Railfanning on the BC/Alberta Border - Scanner Chatter included! Watch four trains cross the Continental Divide on Southern Alberta Rail's Crowsnest Subdivision.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube....

Point meets Park....

https://youtu.be/QZBcqg_Dam8

VIA's Canadian Across Crowsnest Pass Chasing a detouring Via #1 across Southern Alberta Rail's Crowsnest Subdivision.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx...

My good friend Jeff from Prairie Shadows showed up with samples of his latest truck offerings. 80's Canadian trucking at it's finest!! Jeff, the samples and myself will be at the Saskatoon train show this weekend, Feb 25 - 26. Stop by the Prairie Shadows booth to have a closer look.

Just took this picture for the thumbnail on my latest YouTube channel members how to video. Thought everyone might like a peek.

Rubber and rail squeeze together for the crossing of the Continental Divide at Crowsnest. UP 5727 is in charge of potash empties heading east as a 379 pete does the same on Highway 3.

A busy morning at Crowsnest! After being down for nearly 2 months due to construction my son and I dusted off the throttles and ran some trains. UP 5727 West takes the siding as a eastbound empty grain train waits patiently on the main behind 3 SD40-2's and the last remaining active F45.

Latest layout update ready to go. Highway 3 is open to traffic!

Jan/Feb '23 Layout Update - A 20 month project nears completion. Heavy progress at Crowsnest as Highway 3 opens to traffic. Join me on my trip south of the border to operate on several friends layouts in the Portland area...

With the Crowsnest area nearing completion I thought a look back at what it used to look like might be in order.

Some might think it crazy to replace this scene with a highway but it was done with the intent of being more proto-specific. Not to worry though... Crowsnest Lake will be modelled in a much better location that will do it far more justice.

Trains along Crowsnest Lake - Southern Alberta Rail A quick railfanning trip between MP 63.6 and Tunnel 7, MP 65.05 before demolition and reconstruction begins. See the Crowsnest Realignment video for more in...

Did a little work today on Highway 3 above Crowsnest. Need to hit the K Barriers with some paint and weather them up. A bunch more work to go but getting closer.... Full update vid coming this week.

Union Pacific 5727 leads a manifest east through Crowsnest.

Union Pacific 5727 Eastbound Through Crowsnest Pass Union Pacific are no strangers to the Crowsnest Sub. UP 5727 leads a colourful consist east across the Continental Divide.For more N scale action visit... @...

Just about finished the backdrop work at Crowsnest. Looking forward to "paving" Highway 3.

Thought I would take a minute to share the progress on the backdrop at Crowsnest. Still several layers to go but it's starting to feel right. This is a multi part series I'm doing for my channel members on YouTube.

2023 Layout Sneak Peek - Crowsnest Area Progress A quick Van Hop through the Crowsnest work zone.Want detailed instructions on backdrop theory and execution??Join this channel to get access to perks:https:/...

CP Coal Loads for Thunder Bay is having some trouble cresting the Continent.......

CP Coal Train Stalls Cresting the Continent A loaded CP coal train, bound for Thunder Bay Ontario, has stalled approaching the Continental Divide. Watch as the RTC and the crew from another train come...

More backdrop shenanigans today...

Started splashing paint on the backdrop between Crowsnest and Summit Lime. Distant mountains in place with several foreground layers to go Pushing hard so I can kick off the scenery...

Something a little different....

Rainbow Era Amtrak An early Amtrak Kaleidoscope Consist lead by a pair of new SDP40F's glides west through Burmis.More N scale action here...

Some oversized load action at the lower crossing of Michel Creek...

Wide Load through Michel Creek Narrows sar SD40-2 419, an ex CP Rail unit, leads a Borgon Accumulator up through the Michel Creek Narrows.Check out the channel for more N scale action ...

30 seconds of GE's pulling hard...

Potash to Portland @SouthernAlbertaRail Cp AC4400's lead Potash loads west on the Crowsnest Sub.Check out the channel for more N scale action...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Steam on the sar - UP 844 Crosses the Crow UP 844 leads a business special westbound over Southern Alberta Rail's Crowsnest Subdivision.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com...

Let's try this again.... Southern Alberta Rail's Queen of the fleet, F45 101, has eastbound tonnage on the drawbar as it heads into Tunnel 6 on sar's Crowsnest Sub.

EMD’s Last F Unit - Still Turning Revenue Miles In Canada’s Southern Rockies

https://youtube.com/shorts/XipenEda6WY

Terror at Tunnel 7

A little Railfanning action as traffic works through new construction on the layout.

Railfanning and Remodelling - November/December '22 Layout Update Check out the progress along Island Lake and watch traffic dealing with the work window.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/chan...

After spending the summer on other projects I've gotten back at it. Have a peek at what's going on.

Long Overdue Layout Update - Summer/Fall '22 See what I got up to over the summer as well as upcoming plans for the winter modelling season.Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.c...

Summer usually shoves layout work to the back burner. In my case I've been busy in the front yard building textured forms for a retaining wall project. Today I finally got concrete into the forms after weeks of delays due to weather and material demand. While everything cures up I'm hoping to get some time in the basement. I've got a track re-alignment project I want to get done in the next few weeks in time for an operations group dropping by the end of September.

A crazy schedule the last few months has taken me away from the layout but I managed a little progress on the motive power roster. Have a peek.

https://youtu.be/5LDUD3FCBaI

Spring '22 Layout Update - SD90/43mac's Make their Debut It's been a hectic couple of months and I didn't get as much modelling done as I would have liked since the February update. See what I did manage to get ac...