Swandale
Here is the plan for Phil's Swandale model.
As has been his practice, Phil has used his considerable skills in creating sketches of the Swandale Sawmill and the Store and Feed Storage building to guide him in the construction of his models. Compare these to the drawings of the buildings created by David Marquis.
Phil has done a spectacular job of recreating Swandale on his layout, as these photos attest. I'd say he has set the bar VERY high for anyone trying to model this wonderful 'sawmill town' in HO! The photos, taken by Phil, speak for themselves!
This aerial panorama shows all the major structures in Swandale. The Community building is in the foreground, then a row of company houses with the top of the Company Store and the Engine House visible in the background. The sawmill with the three stacks is to the right of the tracks. Notice how well this scence compares to the prototype photo above!
I particularly like the variation in the color of the trees on the hills in the background.
To the left is same scene taken after sunset. There must be activities at both the Community Building and in the meeting room on the second floor of the Company Store. The moon is full on a beautiful night in the mountains!
In these two views of the Community Building some of the detail Phil has packed into his modeling can be seen. Notice to the left that it must be wash day. Also clearly visible is one of the coal houses with the chute through which coal was loaded from the horsedrawn wagon. In both photos the steam pipe from the sawmill that provided heat to the Community Building can be seen.
In this panaorama looking west Shay #19 has returned from the woods with a string of logs and the bobber caboose. Coming into town is #14 enroute to Dundon with loaded hoppers. Climax #3 is just visible in the engine house and a couple of workman are carrying crates from the feedhouse.
Below, a young Patsy Baughman is seen playing on the steam pipe, maybe walking on her way to school.
Action is heavy on the dock at the sawmill. Three guys are taking a break, the forklift operator is stacking some lumber and the boss is checking in from behind.
Finishing off Swandale as you head out of town to the east is the water plug and outdoor enginehouse. Phil has modeled the house as it appeared before being enclosed in the late 1950's. Phil has beautifully weathered Climax #3.
Phil has beautifully captured the backwoods feel of the BC&G in the classic photo taken behind the Swandale feed storage building. Here's what Phil says about the image:
"The 1950 Ford station wagon is waiting for some goods being unloaded from the B&O boxcar. And the kid with the '29 Ford hot rod must be in the feed house checking on a shipment. I bet he has a ball with the hot rod tearing up the dirt roads in the area. He's got the hot setup...'29 Ford body on a '32 Ford frame with a 59A Merc flat head!"
The MAGIC OF MODEL RAILROADING
"I was wandering through the hills above Swandale with my new camera, and as looked down into the town I saw a scene that needed to be photographed. There was Motor "A", with Kenneth Brady driving, just getting ready to leave the Company store. At the same time #13 was coming through with a string of loaded hoppers for the interchange at Dundon and Shay #19, fresh from the woods, was dropping off a load of logs at the mill. I could even see the boss waiting for some fellows on the store porch. An opportunity for a photo like this just doesn't happen that often!"
Phil Bonzon
circa 1958
Phil has modeled beautifully the ERC&L coal wagon that delivered the precious fuel to the coal chutes of the houses in Swandale. The driver, according to Patsy Baughman, was Marion Asbury, seen here at the reins.
