Powell River resident George Doubt has been spending a lot of his free time creating an impressive outdoor model train display at his home in Wildwood. Doubt, who moved to Powell River in 2014 after retiring from a 41-year career with BC Tel, has always had a fondness for trains.
“I’ve been interested in railroads and trains all my life, particularly logging railroads, with Powell River history and the fact that there was a logging railway that went right through here around 1900 to 1908,” said Doubt.
His children went searching on the internet for his birthday this year and found a logging locomotive for sale. That led to the construction of a garden railway in his yard that began in June.
A lot of people put tracks on the ground but Doubt wanted to raise it up so it was easier to work on. He was initially thinking of a concrete wall and that’s when he contacted Mike Harburn at Tectonic Concrete.
“I said: ‘Have you ever built one of these before?’” said Doubt. “And he said: ‘No but I’d like to.’”
Harburn had done some of his own N-scale train sets out of plaster and had built a track for his dad on his back fence, but this was a first.
“I’ve never done anything like this, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Harburn.
Doubt had initially drawn a sketch and had a basic plan.
“[Mike] did it sort of like the sketch but way better,” said Doubt. “He really added a lot of creativity to the rocks and the shape of the whole thing.”
It took Harburn a month to complete the 15- by 32-foot structure, which includes steel, rebar and concrete. Doubt recently finished the wooden bridge, which included mortar footings and a lot of patience.
“I did research online on how to build a logging trestle that looked like a real logging trestle and all I could find on the internet was ‘good luck, it can’t be done.’” said Doubt. “I think it’s strong enough that I could walk on it right now.”
It took him almost two weeks to complete working eight hours a day. He made six at a time and then had to wait for the glue to dry before carrying on. The project has included a lot of firsts and everything has been experimental.
“I’ve learned a lot from this, just remember, I don’t know how to do this,” joked Doubt. “When you start you always do more than you think you’re going to. That’s why I wanted to keep it enclosed to a certain space, because I’m the kind of person who would end up with trains running all over the whole front yard, and then it would be a full-time job taking care of it. This one is manageable.”
Doubt’s wife Lesley is anticipating when the track will be complete so she can begin planting flowers in the topsoil. He still has no idea where the project will end up and how much he will add. For now it’s a source of enjoyment for many.
“The kids love it,” said Doubt. “The grandkids come over and like to chase the train around and the neighbour kids have been stopping over to see how it’s going.”
The wait is now on for a few days of sunny weather before putting the finishing touches on the track. To celebrate its completion, Doubt said he is going to buy a bottle of champagne and have a golden spike ceremony.
“It’s been quite the journey,” he added.
