Flash-backs from the past in Kentville

[Viva]

As a new member, I would like to share a few stories about the DAR and how I, as a young boy, spent many hours hanging out around the Yard in Kentville and a few of the experiences that have remained with me over the years.
When I was 11 years old, I used to deliver the newspaper to the Paint Shop, the Machine Shop, and the Roundhouse. I pretty much had free reign to enter and hang around the Shops and the Roundhouse and watch for new engines that might be arriving in the Kentville Yard, or watch in despair if one of the old engines was doomed to be scrapped. All in all, it was a pretty exciting place to spend my time, but you did have to be careful about where you were walking and unexpected blasts of steam from the engines.
One of the most exciting thing that could happen to you, while hanging around the Roundhouse, was to get a privileged invite up into the cab of the engines by one of the Shop workers. This happened only if they took a liking to you, so we were always on our best behaviour in the hopes of getting the big invitation.
That's it for tonight. Will share more memories again soon.
Brian

[stem]

Encore!

[Dan Conlin]

Fine evocative memories! Look forward to hearing some more glimpses. I am modelling the Kentville roundhouse and terminal area - maybe I should add a figure of a newspaper boy between the shop tracks.
Did you have a favourite locomotive?

Dan Conlin

[fergusontea]

Yes, I believe we would all love to sit and listen, for hours and hours, to people recounting their experiences.

The most I remember is hearing the horns throughout the day, from where I grew up in Sheffield Mills, and a ride on the Dayliner from Wolfville to Kentville when I was in Grade 1. My parents were farmers and we didn't spend a lot of time in town.

-mike

[Viva]

Hi Dan!

That's a big job you've undertaken to model the old Kentville Roundhouse and terminal yard!!!

I was on hand for the sad demolition and it was like losing a part of my heritage as I grew up right across the street from the Roundhouse. The Shops and Yard were as familiar to me as my own backyard. Good luck with your model work!!

As to your question of whether I had a favourite locomotive, I would say that each locomotive had their own special appeal ( No. 2500 was a big favourite).

By the way, where are you writing from??

Brian

[stem]

I just can't resist putting on this link to Dan's photos of his layout. Dan's done a right fine job of modelling the Kingsport branch and I can hardly wait to see some progress photos once he gets a section completed.

See Dan's train here:
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... nlin_Photo

[Dan Conlin]

I live in Halifax, grew up in Welsford near Berwick, long after the steam locomotives had vanished. How I envy your memories. As you can see from the images in the link that Steve posted, I have had to selectively compress the Kentville yards. (Four stall roundhouse instead of ten and a little tiny machine shop etc.) However I am trying to get a feel for the main elements. I am aiming for 1937 so I can have some little 4-4-0s chugging around. However I keep messing with track plans - wonder if I will ever get to scenery.
Dan