Before I came across the
New England Berkshire & Western, I was just a typical model railroader. While there's certainly nothing wrong with creating your own fictional world and operating a fictional railroad within it, the NEB&W was my first exposure to prototype modeling. While the NEB&W is technically "proto-freelancing" (it never actually existed IRL, but it's easy to forget that), this was the first place I saw actual real-life scenes being replicated in model form and operated just like the prototype.
So whenever I get a chance to visit - and especially to operate - this railroad, I jump on it. It's one of the surest-fire ways to recharge my motivation and inspire my own proto-layout project. Here are a few pics from the past weekend's ops session. Whether you model New England railroads or not, I bet you'll see something that will get your modeling juices going....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpQYFgtjpsnnoSeyIEZGTuklvVNsVaXQuK_1Uw3PBELE-jhJ4Q0sIB3fopRiok8g0ZoiQYZcKm9lv8jnd5b9oiO7Q2bNZGiHt7_fEnLK0akLeTzJmz-35GkH9VfO3iXxFfOCMg_q_zm0/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+018.JPG) |
Here's a good example of what they're doing - a nice bridge scene on the model... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8ORHEINJo4-wbupKQbnkZw8lb0Se7kijrbziWVHA3SDJeET4SWgI1HohulhE2B33cqy3xqBEic0m0amb3soU74VblZdFMjXqw_cjU5xIP87SCWleOkqfVv1ke0MA0IPFjy_rt_LChZY/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+019.JPG) |
And right below it, on the fascia, is a picture of the prototype scene (unfortunately, I forgot to note the location). I used this same idea on my railroad. Even - or especially - when you don't have scenery, it helps show visitors what you're planning. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7OteT8xpz3szWKbWAHFU4Zj3CuBDXYkwX0KqzDvNd1OwghEzb52-kFhcDpdZvR1bPlz7Uio3fKYiw2akHtG0q5sjGo8ClBa-ZKcRO0Mjozbpavd3ttoPRhQtRuWVwZy4hiVm6o6OFV8/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+003.JPG) |
While the NEB&W has been around since at least the 1970s, they're always up to something new. Here's the start of their latest - a model of the Rutland's Addison Branch. This is where the famous covered bridge will go. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNWzIaixU13JIQ8-d9eZug7znW_QGl_pcXQWBaX-iE3gZVl0LvmbkyHhIwps7MOjHM6rrAFjdANoimW0sHeDPZwAxStqI4INX8daGDLVZd2RIIr-ZwVYs-QKKjyGnbUh-oodo5PLI1gc/s400/cover.gif) |
The famous East Shoreham covered bridge - image taken from a great website dedicated to the Addison Branch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IlUsbFOGOxYpmW1csJOmBNscBwnebgdi6dXOm92ruwajqmjwLoRCVGayF_47wH5T5rCATy2ejHaSSnYwIO-NzFxv0UuiVi8CbP_0ZOyRDu06xl_ROcRwX0P_C3UCdmnFOvMVCaZx0mY/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+002.JPG) |
Another under-construction scene on the new Addison Branch. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQbDIKOxl2oen1aOiavuV97yvXt67Zr6MvZbYvU2rp5aYwZXXEFPSaJcsynGwTWwPzNfPy3KEP-D3W9iyUMfM0BHhoQbv0oVMemr-LalygYBkwb-K3OFCgu-GrpIkd5hMUXQTvlSjjJ0/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+004.JPG) |
When you enter the layout room(s), this is the first scene that you see on the right. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm7O_0y4-2todJ2dmnwetIZ_J6kFvSgPEB2Gb5BZNd2FCKuax-0Hcx_Dm25UkdHRTTBv-jB1V9PpBr5XjSrukr4rE5Nuay_7coWZqzxWtfFV8lM6zb_uHdPdghS1_WCz0pvDhDsOuqyI/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+007.JPG) |
A little further down the line from the previous scene. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnPY9j3vN9N9J78gb7KZyxurIinsJOYmVRjQkYyjl1_6iQRNgudXuELeULB0uUPqFLIPG64joRs9ZeZM7R-qfEVGY-V_PH4CYSAXZQzFpEu5DYw56w7PK7sg99eK_1wdXhWDF0X8GtoA/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+009.JPG) |
Looking back up the line. I'm only about 15 feet into the room at this point and already hitting modeling-inspiration-overload. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQvIMQ30fk2dLOJeoprzXufBsdXqIN2FTNyZflcx46xhtPIcBVwHNc66eQmRGa_DaFE_hg1PAgEslLW1nSY2JT3tdrrwRaVSZ7Zl9soXLdSVQMRuBvvhvhi6ka7qif6tGzFU4uFwZV4Q/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+011.JPG) |
Chateauguay - the northern-most big city & yard on the railroad. The "Oldensburn & Lake Richilieu" comes from the north and interchanges here. Running the O&LR transfer job was my first task of the day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbVMHiaZ9N0YbmZPUZLyRRNhx5KALM6U8yMbnFGrCHPxZre6lVMr7rRrqgk1oiCBnhCFO3LjD4V8BRN7R462tI7hMxEHkz9pw8ela3HeMvKUgE-AGBIARKd4SWXzZ6vjEtV6Zu7gCXiU/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+014.JPG) |
Another view of Chateauguay - the O&LR track curves in front of Arendt Lumber. The rest of the track is NEB&W territory. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_juP1IMxpuCMgZoaunUlDlYPPCXRvt8l3-PvZSxMX7RupOkOZ983NGUj_MLmehT9G55R2hTMRVCR3pkEzeKiGGdwoI8QN4LfJXNqtiuGsTt_l0SVav5xWeW_X-JoTGjcNPZ7w1vxO2TU/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+021.JPG) |
Forgot the name of this town, but love the scene since it looks very similar to the CT River Valley area I'm modeling. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmJ5BA4G0t_Tm7sqVvbq3XynYICtwpAtOKV6adBJhInrH_EaPMB6HfVy_XAeQ15Zhw-dByWVx9AJe3NrI2s5HXYYb6yBujuOD_lPQX_VEpT9gzY30M9kb5SnXnSv6DUgb86JXpYSPepA/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+030.JPG) |
North Bennington, VT. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjdLIuZJD9aqpwa_gXN4TpKYpI5J7kExYBhW-3b20jlg-9N_0Z-M8WXZeWTuSvvdq8s3_aLy_A-05MeKs7r-BljnbNYeOtSufCiHQMXUmeLr4a8x5dQAnKFRJ2cysjasmDshmpv-ZLfY/s400/North-Bennington-VT.jpg) |
Prototype photo for comparison (taken from here) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMLOZEHu4ZeIbs-CPodq8tl5NpJD4NpPlUXA4mm8YnbWxy4w-ACpx_mevJwDgaYyvlsnBrhtqASQGusNWXXWfaYeVbwCerzpp4wcUoh5JtIQS77cgjOSTc5FEqcmSchBxsdYjP3R0HrM/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+034.JPG) |
Bartonsville - The (prototype) covered bridge in this scene was washed away in 2012, but recently rebuilt. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-otOURX0YxcfHmPiZjIriXrVrpeFqMowEhmVHdW2BK7g8VmKAHseimleEiCxyfJ3yIYOIIiNH1s2BIj2-EhxLnNGOiWX3hlh3YstmO9OXTQNjJxtxmPkAKm1zknxht5nGQ8-At3Ku5s/s400/bartonsville.jpg) |
Comparison prototype photo, taken from the NEB&W Facebook Fanpage (which, if you're into prototype modeling, I highly recommend - you'll see lots of side-by-side comparisons between the prototype and what they're modeling. Very inspirational!) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qETYS0_tfsULB55yjHKJ_HqdgPsUx5A4_MgxQdWSBwMaoFxRIZcijWMyqCgmuTayCN4PsQ0JFPYAfShQV9mKOSwQ0a4Yia4q5jqZx_4dDnxoD845TTczP4Na4IQVMSWuCOg_kii_7v4/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+039.JPG) |
Rutland Yard |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwTF_0WnXGlIjC7CKC4ss5td1WfEk6Fl8cPZ9EmBXVEmBTs3rhQTZEVnwO0aNMPC73YCLl345AhM76uG0TH8DxKgWaouJ7tE3EDsjpVc0tjCU045kWHNeKvJgkIwANM0zNlBFHfyWKRQ/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+059.JPG) |
Scene inspired by the prototype Delaware & Hudson's line along Lake Champlain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vBgjYEby5-PbN16MqxotqpAwE8CwpMawxtnpq-Vf-fudMRLEsgZD6OU1AQjMBQ9wIo9XDK8ERoz-e8rSsLl_CnePkYr2_Q5XVFtcVMvr-FONlpOzUlOM5V77Bpb8Cou_RZ2tbm531A4/s400/NEBW+Ops+Session+068.JPG) |
Some fantastic bridge modeling in Green Isle |
It was a long but fun-filled day. We got through an entire 24hr operating day with, literally, dozens of trains, all run on a schedule governed by a 4:1 fastclock.
Randy deserves kudos for doing such a great job as dispatcher and it was great getting to spend some time with
Bill, Pete, new-friend George and other old friends.
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