Giant Model Railroad Layout Tour - CN Branchline Operations in Midwestern Ontario in 1977

This is a tour of a 1500 square foot basement empire that I was fortunate to collect some footage from before it was torn down, moved and rebuilt. With the help of the owner, this video covers operations as they existed in and around 1977, including the placement of many prototype photos to compliment the tour. The layout to near completion, took almost 30 years to build, and has hosted many operating sessions over this time. The handlaid track is a faithul representation of how the trackage and traffic was at the time. The scenery really gives that rural mid-western Ontario feel. The focus of the layout is Stratford, Ontario, and the CN branchlines that fed out from there until their abandoment. The Goderich Subdivision (now Genesse and Wyoming's Goderich Exeter Railway), Guelph, and Fergus subdivisions are all thats left in 2024.
Take a step back in time, and enjoy this masterpiece.
* Used with permission of the owner.
#branchline #modelrailroad #canadiannational #ontario #hoscale #stratford

[@robinroberts3335]

Fantastic tour and Very good Layout 👍🏻😎

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thank you. I really felt it was an impossible task to do it justice!

[@NorthernOhioRailroadAction]

Excellent video really enjoyed it keep up the great work it was nice to meet you looking forward to seeing you guys again soon thanks again and have a wonderful safe weekend

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thank you! Nice to meet you as well!!

[@CNR-pw1rj]

All I can say is WOW...What a great layout.I live in this area and glad to see the history come to life once again ,nice job thanks

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thank you! It certainly fills a void for those local to the rail history of the area!

[@jasonweir6345]

That's an impressive layout!

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

100%. I couldn’t agree more.

[@sernajrlouis]

Awesome layout

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thanks. Very happy to share this!

[@gregferrin9104]

Incredible layout and really well explained voiceover tour! Love the protype photos embedded also! A++

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thank you @Gregferrin9104. Nice to be able to watch the premier with you!

[@rjl110919581]

thank you for detail video
from australia

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Thank you for watching from across the world. So cool!

[@1Nanerz]

Holy cow! I can’t believe I’ve never seen or heard of this layout before! Absolutely stunning. Is it on any of the layout tours?

[@jasonbrunault7902]

If only stratford was still the main yard. Now is mostly a storage yard and interchange for the GEXR

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

For sure. The good old days . Stratford was quite a busy place even into the 1990’s

[@SilverCreekSub]

Is this layout local? I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, but I’m excited!

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

Hey W, it was just south of Listowel, but has since moved to Eastern Ontario

[@SilverCreekSub]

@@atsfslatonsub6257 aww that’s to bad, that would have been cool to see in person to compare to running on the prototype

[@atsfslatonsub6257]

For sure. You’d recognize a lot of it. Just so much more traffic on the Guelph right into the 1990’s.

[@thomasrankin8506]

@ATFSSlatonSub how did you spend it your Ho scale layout I have a Question for you I do have a Ho scale layout with Two Santa Fe engines and one BN engine and a CN engine that runs on my Ho scale layout I have a BN boxcar and a lot of other cars for my Ho scale layout