(jeb@oscalemag.com). - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

THE OSPREY LAKES& NORTHERN RAILWAYBy Brian Ottaway Photographs by David MehewOL&N passenger train The Osprey streaks across Dog River trestle on its way to the town of Kirby.My O Scale Osprey Lakes & Northern Railway is a singletrackshortline located in a hybrid area that is a cross betweenNorthern Ontario and the foothills of Alberta, Canada. Thetimeframe of this railway consists of those wondrous yearsbetween the mid-50s and the early ‘60s, encompassing lingeringsteam power and first generation Diesels with a spatteringof second generation Diesels, in my case an EMD GP30 andan Alco RS32. As well as OL&N power, this line offers trackagerights for the Osprey Lakes Lumber Co., a subsidiary of theOL&N, as well as occasional Canadian National, CanadianPacific and Great Northern activity.My pike calls a recreation room home, at 34’ long, 11’ at itswidest, and 9’ at its narrowest. It is an around-the-wall designwith a maximum radius of 58” and a minimum radius of 50”.Its width ranges from 24 to 42”. The widest portion is located atThis long deserted house has a reputation with the locals of being haunted.One day each year the ghost of the “Lady in White" can be seen in the upperwindow anxiously waiting for her fiancé who failed to show for their weddingday many years ago.O.L.L.Co. combine caboose #290 passes over a millpond that a pair ofindustrious beavers have chosen to call home.the future town of Kirby. The benchwork was made using boxframingwith roadbed consisting of 1/2” plywood mounted onrisers attached to the frame. The frame is constructed in sectionsso that the layout can be disassembled for moving if required,and is supported by a combination of cantilevers and legs. Thetrackwork consists of cork roadbed, prefabricated weatheredtrack by House of Duddy, and switches by Right O’ Way. Therail is 57” above the floor, as I like to view my trains at eye level.I utilized some S Scale buildings, figures, and vehicles in variousbackground areas to force the perspective of these scenes.Viewed with the normal O Scale items at the front, this helpsgive the impression of great distances.Locomotives and rolling stock are a combination of brass • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr ’07