Modeling Toronto's Don Valley?

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I've just read a very interesting article on the railway history of Toronto's Don Valley in a CPR heritage magazine (http://forum.zealot.com/t119961/).

This got me thinking that it would be really neat to create a layout depicting the Don Valley in the 1930s or '40s. It would be fun to recreate the valley, showing the Don River & various historical landmarks such as the old Don Station & Don Valley Brick Works, various bridges, etc.

Does anyone know if this has been modelled before? To me, it seems like an ideal region to model. You could even show the bit of land on the edge of the Valley where my house would eventually be built in the late-1940s! :mrgreen:

Cheers,
Rob
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Sounds like a cool project - and why not be the first...! ;)

It may have been modelled "virtually" by the Trainz simulator group. One component included in the game is the "Toronto Rail Lands" circa 1950. This group did a fantastic job putting together all the trackage and many of the trains that ran along Toronto's waterfront through Union Station. So much so that it is included in the game whne you buy it.

Good luck with your project! ;) :D

Andrew

PS - You might check with the Toronto model railroad club and other local groups to see if they or their members have done anything on it. The Toronto railway history group would be a good source of info.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Sounds like a cool project - and why not be the first...! ;)
It may have been modelled "virtually" by the Trainz simulator group. One component included in the game is the "Toronto Rail Lands" circa 1950. This group did a fantastic job putting together all the trackage and many of the trains that ran along Toronto's waterfront through Union Station. So much so that it is included in the game whne you buy it.
Good luck with your project! ;) :D
Andrew
PS - You might check with the Toronto model railroad club and other local groups to see if they or their members have done anything on it. The Toronto railway history group would be a good source of info.

Thanks, Andrew -- that train simulator sounds good too!

Yes, I'd really like to model this region but probably not right away. Usual "time & money" reasons -- not enough of each! Right now, I will have to make do with my British layout which often has to "double" for my CN/CP stock!

Maybe I could do something either next winter or the following winter. I sure wouldn't have to go far if I needed to view the site for detail! :mrgreen:

Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
You could always adopt the modular approach (Welcome to the HOTRAK website) and build modules that "selectively compress" your favourite features of the valley - station, brickworks, bridge crossings, etc, etc.

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew. That sounds like a good idea -- I just quickly looked at that website and it looks good. It sounds like that is the approach you're using for your Algonquin layout as well.

It would be very difficult to capture the entire Don Valley on one layout and keep everything to scale, so the modular approach would be a good solution.

Cheers, Rob
 
Top