Surprisingly, particularly since I used to organize one, I’m not generally excited by model train shows. Because my railway interests are so esoteric, there is rarely anything to buy. So, I usually take a quick spin around to see what’s there, and talk to some old friends. I watch the tail-chasing modular layouts for a minute, and then I’m pretty much done.
However, today I went up to the Sea to Sky Model Train and Hobby Show for the first time since they started holding it at the Railway Museum of British Columbia. To be honest, I had an ulterior motive at the museum itself, which I sadly was not able to fulfill as it was largely buttoned down. I had decided, however, to keep my eyes peeled for a baggage and mail car to stand in until I’m able to build a Canada Atlantic one for number 51/52.
Within minutes, my eyes found this lovely little kitbash by none other than Dick Sutcliffe. Now Dick was on my committee back when I ran the train show in the 90’s. He was recently retired then from his career teaching high school shop, and may have been superintendent of the local NMRA division at the time. Certainly he filled that role for a number of years, and he was a fixture at train shows for decades with the NMRA display. I helped him a few times back in those years, usually minding the booth and building models while answering questions from the public.
We were always friendly, but with him in Maple Ridge and me in North Van, we drifted apart due mostly to distance. Like so many in the model railway community, I enjoyed reconnecting with him when I saw him at shows and meets a couple of times a year.
Dick passed in September 2023, and his friends have been duly moving his huge collection to their next owners. Being a shop teacher, he had the skills to make a nice model, and this baggage car is no exception. He lettered the car for his Bradley, Roger and Tidewater, which he named for his sons, as I recall. I’m tickled to own it and add it to my collection to remember a dear old friend.
Pembroke:87 