I blame Jack Burgess.
Back in the 80’s, when I was an impressionable teenager, Jack started writing about his Yosemite Valley Railroad. It wasn’t just that he was a prototype railroader who took his modeling to an extreme. More than that, to me, the Yosemite Valley was synonymous with Jack Burgess. It was his railroad.
At the time, I was modeling the contemporary CN. I still love the look of those big diesels with the fetching black and grey stripes and the red cabs. However, the CN was never going to be my railroad, and so, I started casting about for other Canadian roads that could be mine.
I flirted briefly with the Algoma Central, and thought for a spell about the Quebec, North Shore and Labrador. If I’d heard of the Pacific Great Eastern, who knows what might have happened? However, these were the days before email, let alone the Internet, and research on these distant lines was difficult.
At this time Niall MacKay’s book, Over the Hills to Georgian Bay, was a frequent library loan, and I guess I thought of it as inspiration for my contemporary CN modeling. However, I was also hanging out with a bunch of narrow gauge modellers – Dave Steer, Bill Scobie and friends – and those little late 19th Century trains have a lot of narrow gauge charm about them.
The more I learned about the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound and the Canada Atlantic, the more I found it interesting. Certainly, if I took up modeling it, it would be my railroad; to this day, I’ve heard of others freelancing from it, or modeling one of the later eras, but those of us modelling the CAR itself could hold our annual convention in a broom closet.
Now, the CAR was an extremely busy railroad. In 1904 and 1905, it carried more than half the Canadian grain harvest, with trains running every fifteen minutes. Given that there is nothing available for modeling it, everything is scratch built, which means it will take a long time to amass enough equipment to model the mainline.
So, I have chosen to model the branchline to Pembroke. Even this backwater was busier than many contemporary lines. It boasted six scheduled trains per day in 1905, and it’s conceivable that an extra train could have been called occasionally.
The way I’m going, I might never even finish Pembroke. But – as with everything railroad – it’s the journey not the destination that matters.
Pembroke:87 
This is a bold choice but a rewarding one. The way you are actually doing things is excellent to me and from your pictures, it isn’t hard to tell you nailed perfectly that early 1900s small town vibe. Very inspiring and great to see CAR back on track again!
Small town? Ahem! In 1905, Pembroke was Canada’s newest city!
Thanks very much, Matthieu. It’s a long road, but an interesting one.
I’m modelling the portion of the line from Madawaska to Depot Harbour around 1905. I’m an O Gauge Hi-railer, so the scale not’s perfect, but it is fun.
Cool!!! About twenty years ago, I saw an O scale model of a Canada Atlantic passenger train at Larkspur Line. I wonder if it still exists?
I was there a couple of weeks ago but didn’t see it. I ask next time I’m there. On another subject, the only photo i have ever seen of a Canada Atlantic Caboose was in Over the Hills to Georgian Bay. Are there any others around?
That’s the best one I’ve found. Fortunately, many appear to have been on the same design. Here is a Flickr album on the subject: https://flickr.com/photos/17646159@N00/sets/72157594578385390
Thank you. Actually I was hoping for some variety so that I could have a mixed bag with some justification. However, reality intrudes.
I have a redecorated a MTH O Gauge product. Not a full match, but close, but I don’t know how to attache a photo here.
I don’t believe you can attach photos to comments. Why don’t you email me: rene at proto87.org
I have been modelling the OAPS for about 10 years, as well inspired by the two books previously mentioned. My line covers Ottawa to Algonquin Park. Madawaska, Whitney, logging and the McCauley Central highlighted with a little Santa Claus mythology added for fun. Dated 1895 to 1899. Moved about 3 years ago and have started the layout all over. Was looking for (funny enough) caboose details when I happened across pictures of your #2 and ended up in your blog.
Peter
Awesome! Now there are three of us, Peter! Do you have a blog or photos of your efforts you could share? Also, check my Flickr stream for caboose details.
Renee, I have photos and will send them somehow. The layout is primarily shelf in design with a peninsula. The entire support system is steel stud with styrofoam bed. Rolling stock is being kitbashed from Juneco, Taylor and JV Models wood kits. Others are modified plastic models. Locomotives from all over and I will remark them for Canada Atlantic and O A P S.
Saw your caboose photos, great job.
Peter
Cool! If you like, you can send me some photos and I’ll post them here as I did with Richard Guitar’s. Rene at proto87.org is my email address.
Rene, sent pictures by email more than a week ago. Did you receive them?