The Chemin de Fer Lanaudière Interchange

Prototype Monday 3

I love researching and delving into my prototype. The amazing thing about doing internet research is that I can find out some amazing real things to incorporate into my model railroad world.

I recently discovered a short, short, shortline that connects with the QGRY and serves an industry that I hope/plan to model. Crossing the Lanaudière region over a distance of 17 kms between Joliette and Saint-Félix-de-Valois, the Chemin de Fer Lanaudiere (CFL) is owned by Bell-Gaz – a large independent distributor of propane gas in the Lanaudière region.

Google maps gives me a pretty good view of the facility and gives me an idea of both the track arrangements and the number of car spots. While I will need to employ extreme selective compression with a copious serving of artistic license, I am excited by the operating potential of the following scenario:

  1. CPR or CNR trains carry tank cars containing propane gas from Alberta to Montreal.
  2. At Montreal, these Chemin de Fer Lanaudière propane tank cars are transferred to QGRY trains bound for Trois-Rivières and the QGRY Lanoraie Turn coming from Trois-Rivières to drop off CFL tank cars at the QGRY/CFL interchange at Notre-Dame-des-Prairies.
  3. CFL trains take these propane tanks cars from the interchange track up to Saint-Felix-de-Valois where the Bell Gas propane gas terminal is located.

CFL owns only two engines. Some great pics can be found on RailPictures.net…

A RS18-3a #3000, which is an ex-CP RS18 8734 built in 1957 by MLW. And the engine that I plan to model will be CFL #114  – an old Alco S13m. As an added bonus I can now buy that WalthersProto Russell Snowplow that I wanted ’cause they have one of those as well! Thank you CFL!

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