The Richelieu Valley has two beautiful windows!

What? We are in a basement and we have two windows? May seem strange at first sight!

It happens to be two windows between our layout and the station café, our wonderful area were many a dinner have taken place and a lot of discussion most of the time peaceful. Really, we are not that crazy most of the time. In a previous entry we let it slip that we were up to something, now is the time to tell you what we are going to do with the openings. Part of the layout will reach the south wall and the openings. There will even be some extension of the layout through the windows for a real birds eye view truly spectacular.

From the larger of the two windows, visitors along with those operating will benefit from a unique perspective of the layout. From the windows, the whole layout will be visible. You have to imagine yourself watching the trains roll by while enjoying a great cup of coffee.

On top of it all this part of the layout can be identified easily by a majority of our guests and will bring back many pleasant memories for many. In future segments we will reveal more details about the layout so please stay tuned

Members of the club (1)

Louis
I’m the latest member, I have no major experience in train, but on the plus I am a modeller I have built airplanes, cars and plastic figurines since I was a teen. When it comes to trains, my experience is with good old Lionel, what great memories!

I consider myself an apprentice at this point a go for it type, do what needs to be done. One of my goals is to better my time with the club Timesaver.

Claude

My story begins at Christmas when I was just nine years old. I received a 4x8 Lionel layout with a 44 ton GE Locomotive, and at 12 years old, I got a great big box of railway cars along with a 2-6-2 Steam Locomotive. I enjoyed this set for along time and kept me and my friend entertained for many hours, until in my teen years when I finally put it in storage so I could finally play sports, go dancing with the pretty young ladies, do some studying, get married and start a family. The dream of trains never really went away and came back in the form of HO Railroading.

I was invited by my Father in Law to go down to the Pine valley railroad layout on Gordon Street in Montreal to take some pictures of the layout. At that time I was fortunate enough to meet some members of the local chapter of the NMRA, Allouete division and was soon called upon to head up the Divisions official journal “The Signal” for 3 years.

Shortly after, I became a member of the Pine Valley Railroad Club. At one point, I was the president of the club and finally just a member until we decided to form the Richelieu Valley.

Jean-Claude

Since childhood, I have been crazy about trains of all kinds. I was lucky enough one Christmas to get a CN passenger set. When I bought my Home and before the kids began arriving, I started on my first layout before I could realise my dream, my life changed in a big way I had two kids and a fulfilling career.

Retirement was coming up, my interest with Trains was rekindled and where I had left off, I started back up. I was at it again in clinics but mainly with a group of railway modellers that were looking for new members. Well two years have gone by and here I am in a new club ready to start new adventures with The Richelieu Valley Railway. Looking forward to meeting all are blog readers.

Recap of our open House

Wow what a weekend! We had the privilege to welcome some 300 visitors. Young and old, big and small, everyone really appreciated the Richelieu Valley facilities. All our members, where present and accounted for, ready and willing to answer all questions. A real stimulating and encouraging environment for all.

A beautiful mural made by Luc impressed everyone. All where impressed by the projected layout.
We had our first locomotives in the paint scheme of the club running on our sister layout the Vermont& Essex, giving us a taste of what is to come. By the way, what do you think of the colors?
We would like to thank all who attended for their support, and just wait to see what is planned for next year, November 2010 to be exact.

Benchwork concept of the Richelieu Valley

With such a large and almost rectangular space (roughly 42’x40’), will give us a great possibility to have a layout where a long mainline is important.
In the image below, you can have a good idea of the area we have to work with.

The left side of the space runs along 43rd Street, the back runs along Bélanger Street. The entrance is in the foreground, we will also have a small workshop in the right hand corner. On the left, we have covered a stairwell that leads to a commercial space on the main floor.

Some of the constraints we have to deal with:

Our entrance leads directly into the coffee area that must remain relatively clear.

Lighting is done with neon fixtures from the back of the room to the front following three large columns, there will be other fixtures put in to simulate various conditions.

Because of the layout of the room gives us the impression that there is a lot of space up and down. There were many layouts proposed but the consensus came out that Benchwork will run from the back to the front in general. Please see the pictures below to have a greater understanding of the layout.

As for the final look of the space will let you know in upcoming blogs.

Nicolas

How I arrived at the Richelieu Valley

Today, I am a member of the Richelieu Valley Railroad. Really, I am one of the new recruits, just as the adventure begins. What a lucky break just as the club is coming into existence, with sympathetic members and great atmosphere. Now at 33 years old I am now realising a dream, building a layout from scratch and then operate like the real thing.

My story is not original, it seems to me a lot have of people have the same ideas, I am going to tell you how I went from dreaming about modelling to actually becoming active in modelling a great project from a passive fellow sitting on my stoop with Model Railroader in my hands and hoping for more.

Since I was little, I have been fascinated by all that ran on rail. Be it close to home or rolling down the highway, spotting a rail line had me watching out for trains that might appear at any moment. Sometimes we would be in the country I learned to spot old train stations, maybe an old rail line and dreamed of all the trains that were there in the past.

Being lucky enough to have parents that listened and understood me, I acquired an oval track, complete with extra switches, track, and locomotives and wagons of all sorts. My parents even conceded to me and old table made of plywood. However, my great layout never amounted to more then Plywood Valley, but the dream of the great layout always was in the back of my mind.

As time went on like everyone else, I had other interests, I had forgotten about model trains, but remained fascinated by trains that I took often or discovered on my travels.

Then one faithful autumn morning in 2005 to be precise, I spotted an advertisement for an open house at The AMFM train club. My eyes were opened when I saw the layout, my childhood dreams just rushed back; I wanted to experience those feelings once again, but time and money constraints put a hold on those plans. Since then I have purchased many magazines to help keep the feelings alive, that one day I would have the layout I have always wanted. However daily living put a hold on my dream once again.

Finally, this summer I happened upon a link that sent me to the Richelieu Valley blog. I got in contact in touch with some of the members who suggested I join in a great adventure… And was I glad I did, the atmosphere and friendliness of the group is just what I’ve wanted since I first dreamed of the great layout… I Found it.

Nicolas.

Exporail in St-Constant

The modelling get together at the train museum in Delson is now a thing of the past. Judging by the size of the crowd it was a rousing success. We would like to thank all those who stopped by the display. It’s true we were at the entrance to the museum, but it was great to see the people head right for our display.

We had 4 people manning our booth, Nathalie, Luc, Jean-Claude, and Sylvain, we warmly thank them for there time.

Youngsters were lined up to get a hold of the controls, and manipulate a train in Pine Station. We did notice that a lot of children young and old alike jumped at the chance to use the controls while Moms and Dads stood back and marvelled at the sight of the kids manipulating the enormous control or perhaps they were just a little overwhelmed by all the buttons. But there is no denying that children today are not intimidated by electronic gadgets. The way they were handling the controls you would swear they where born with a controller in there hands.

Many people were interested in the materials used in the construction of the layout, while others were fascinated by how the layout was decorated wondering how they can use the ideas on there own layouts. It was a real pleasure getting good wishes and exchanging ideas on different construction methods.

The next chance to greet the public will be on November 28 & 29 at 5356 Belanger at the home of the Richelieu Valley Railroad and the Vermont & Essex. We look forward to seeing you and exchanging more great ideas.

Origin of the Richelieu Valley (part 1)

28th of February, 2009 what a memorable day. In hindsight, no one could have predicted that the Pine Valley and Vermont and Essex club would become partners in a joint project.

On this Saturday morning, six Pine Valley members went on to visit the beautiful “Café de la Gare” at the invitation of the Vermont & Essex train club. While strolling through the premises with our hosts, an excellent cappucino in hand, we ended up in an unoccupied room adjacent to the “Café de la Gare”. Questions, comments and answers started to fuse. The conversation became more focused; eventually a clear and precise proposal emerged ; why not move the Pine Valley Club to this room? The project is enthralling, and full of enthusiasm, we undertake to go back to the members of the Pine Valley Club to present them this superb proposal.

However, the project will be the subject to long discussions throughout the following months. Eventually, half of the membership elects to decline the offer and to remain on the rue Angers premises. The other half, curiously the six members that had visited le “Café de la Gare” in February, accept the proposal of the Vermont & Essex Train Club and enter into a lease agreement for the vacant Bélanger premises. Vermont & Essex, ten year in existence, will thus host a new railway modelist group : The Richelieu Valley Club. Since then, three new members have joined the founding group.

This union presents several advantages: sharing of expenses, regrouping of passionate modelists, improved efficiency in the organization of promotional activities, but most importantly, the reunion of enthusiastic modelists happy to meet one another and chat about their passion: the railways of North-East America.

As to the day-to-day operations, the two groups agreed that each club will keep its own identity and remain two well-distinct clubs. Of course, there will discussions and exchanges of good will, and state-of –the art modeling technologies, but each club will remain autonomous and free to decide where and how to operate its railway grid. Each will develop its geographic territory and will develop it at it sees fit. At the same time, the experience and expertise of the Vermont & Essex Club is already rubbing off on the members of the Richelieu Valley. First, the designation Richelieu Valley designation as new name is not a hazard. Although we wished to center our core activities on Quebec railroads that we have been modeling for many years, we eventually wanted a liaison with the Vermont & Essex grid. Vermont & Essex is modeling the Bellows Falls –St-Alban line. Thus the Richelieu region became interesting to our eyes. Swiftly, we modeled a railway line between Montreal and Halifax, with a junction at St-Jean along the Richelieu, meeting with Vermont & Essex at St-Alban. Already, this link allows for passenger trains to circulate between Washingthon and Montreal.