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PO Box 220, Grimsley, Tennessee 38565-0220
(931) 863-5286

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Vermont Rail System-VRS
(2 Rail "O" Scale and ON3)
  

    The time is late September-early October, the year is the present year (or past year if not fall yet), the place-Vermont. The leaves are changing, snow is on the horizon and the tourists are filling all the available rooms. The economy is good and it is a particularly profitable time for the Vermont Rail System (VRS). Equipment is well maintained and there are even passenger trains between New York, Boston and Canada with riders on Amtrak's "Vermonter". The Denver & Rio Grande "Ski" train is on loan carrying skiers and "Fall Color" tourists throughout the region.
    The Vermont Rail System has survived hard times. With the purchase and merging of various rail lines by the State Of Vermont, the VRS has been established and is growing financially and no longer needs subsidies. Bridge traffic and local industries are signing on and the future is ever brighter. Motive power is an eclectic mixture of previous rail lines-many still in their original and newest liveries. Central Vermont, Boston & Maine, Vermont Railroad and Rutland are the main work horses but equipment from Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, PRR/Conrail, Grand Trunk, Soo and even CSX, Susie Q and Norfolk Southern can be seen plying the rails. Milk and REA cars are operated to fill the need for local freight and the operating creameries on the line. Ben & Jerry have to get their raw materials and ship their products somewhere.
    The VRS consists of 3 railroad divisions. Division #1-The Canadian Division-Montreal to Burlington, Vt. (Essex Junction). Division #2-Southern Division-Burlington south to Rutland Junction (Headquarters) with connections west into New York State and south into Massachusetts to New York City (Both by CSX/NS). At Essex Junction (Burlington) the line heads east through Division #3-The Barre River Division to White River Junction using trackage rights over the New England Railroad where the division terminates in a yard at White River Junction having connections to Maine, New Hampshire and Boston, Mass. by the Springfield Terminal and New England Central (Guilford System). A possible 4th Division (Eastern Division) may run from Rutland Junction to Bellows Falls, Vt. as indicated on the map. Offline staging of coal trains to Pennsylvania and a coal mine are also planned.
    Located between White River Junction, Vt. and Graniteville (Barre), Vt. is one of the oldest operating railroad museums. It includes 3 foot gauge track and equipment and even an operating 3 foot gauge lumber mill. Tourist trains intermingle with the freight trains on the narrow gauge line to help cover museum expenses.
    The railroad is located in a 30 x 50 heated/air conditioned building (check progress below) expressly built for this O, ON3 empire. So....Sit back, relax, kick up your feet and enjoy the tour.

 Building Construction
October 27, 2008 to the present.

October 27,2008- One of my engineers heading toward the building, which at this time is in 'stealth' mode.

The building will be toward the rear. It is October 22, 2008.

Yippee-April 30, 2009. It has finally stopped raining, the septic tank has been moved and the old partially inoperable system has been removed. The Layout Building will be behind the pile of dirt where the lighter color dirt is located.

It is raining again but the foundation has been poured, the drains hooked up to the septic tank and the water line is set. It is now May 27, 2009 - a full 7 months after the plans were drawn. Nothing happens quickly on the plateau. With a bit of luck the walls will start rising tomorrow.

June 3, 2009 - The metal roof has been installed just in time for the monsoon season to hit. No progress will be made until June 8th at the earliest. Need siding delivered.

August 8, 2009-September 11, 2009. The power is on and the outside of the building is completed The ac/heat and air exchanger are installed. The ac/heating compressor is now to the right of the building. Garage flooring (1/2" thick garage tiles-charcoal in color) has arrived but will have to wait for the foam insulation to be installed. Projected start date for insulation is Mid October. I'm installing the interior lighting over the next few weeks.

February 15, 2010. I finally had a contractor come out and give me prices on variations of installing insulation. If it ever quits snowing (have snow on the ground since Mid December), we have 6" of the stuff on the ground and 18"+ in front of the door from where it slid off the roof. I plan to finish the wiring over the next few weeks so the building can be insulated and I can finally work out there in decent temperatures. Lights have to wait until ceiling is insulated. Then hang lights, build the rain room and bathroom walls, put up sheetrock, install floor, install bathroom and benchwork starts. Maybe by May?

Told you we had some snow. February 16, 2010.

Everyone Welcome - - But Watch Your Head!!

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October 27,2008- One of my engineers heading toward the building, which at this time is in 'stealth' mode.

For your enjoyment, these Pictures were taken on December 31, 1999 (Note: No Snow) and January 1, 2000 (2 feet of snow between New Years Eve and January 1st-when I returned to Durango on the train - 2 more feet January 2 when I left Durango).

December 31, 1999 - the eve of the millenium and the planes will fall from the sky. No snow but it will start before we head for supper and some celebrating in Durango before returning to the B&B.

January 1, 2000 - no plane crashes around but the snow has been falling and is now starting in earnest. Taken from our snug coach window.

January 1, 2000 - as we work our way up grade above the Animas River.

This is the Animas River far below us.

At the summit where we disembark as the train turns on the wye to head back toward Durango. Snow is light right now but check the next picture.

January 1, 2000 - told you it was snowing. Note: no car tracks as folks headed indoors when we returned to Durango about 5 PM. We are heading for a great New Years Day steak meal.

Traveling toward Georgetown Loop I spotted a D&RGW train running next to the interstate. Exited just in time to catch it coming around the bend.

Note the switcher adding its muscle in the pull.

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December 31, 1999 - the eve of the millenium and the planes will fall from the sky. No snow but it will start before we head for supper and some celebrating in Durango before returning to the B&B.

 

Come back often as I will attempt to update these pages frequently.