Friday, December 16, 2011 Lethbridge

6:50 am

The temperature is 0° C, with a high predicted of 0° C. From the Environment Canada website: Today Mainly cloudy. Clearing near noon. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. High zero. Tonight Clear. Wind west 40 km/h gusting to 60. Temperature rising to plus 4 by morning. Normals Max: 0°C Min: -12°

11:30 am Model Trains

I visited a model train store in Calgary this morning. I was able to buy 3 more magazines (2 CN Lines and 1 Railfan Canada).

But more importantly I talked to a fellow who did a lot of weathering and he introduced me to a new type of weathering powder and explained why it was so much better than the previous approach of using pastel paints. I am ready to begin trying it out. I also bought a few more "wheel stops" that need to be painted bright yellow and then placed on the layout to prevent cars from running off the end of dead-end spur lines.

The first step is to review some color photos of weathered rolling stock. I have some good books for this.

Another project that makes sense is to apply ballast on some sections of track to make the layout look more realistic. A good place to begin would be the mainline track.

There is a large article in one of the CN Lines magazines about Jasper and the CN trains during the 1950's and '60's when the railway moved from steam to diesel. Lots of old photographs showing the various structures and locomotives. I am really lucky to have grown up in such an important rail junction, and national park, where there is so much history that reaches the public.

The following is a new feature that I am testing.