Branch Line Railways Co.

14/10/2026

Our subsidiary rail equipment shop RDK Railcar has been set up with its own Page.
👉🏻 Please give it a Like & Follow to stay up to date on rebuilds, refurbishments, assorted paint/patches, and special projects.

Happy railfanning!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HZspHHftd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/10/2026

OK so with Rapido Trains Inc.'s recent announcement of potentially producing the very much uniquely canadian SWEEP rebuilds by CN in the mid 80s, we have our own announcement to make...

'IF' this production becomes a real thing, we plan to acquire one of the generic orange painted ones to assign as another dedicated MoW Dept unit as #72 in BL Rail Services. This will compliment the recently dedicated GP15-2m #71 recently rebuilt in a cooperative effort between RDK Railcar & BLR Angus Shop in 2025.

Shown is a conceptual artwork (original base image
copyright Rapido) showing how our BLRS scheme would be applied in modified form to this unit if acquired. One of two options will be chosen based upon fitment of lettering and/or impact assessment studies.
Our Followers can place their personal votes here by posting in the comments.

10/10/2026

Finally!!!
Great news for 1980s CN fans.

We are excited to announce the famous (and most requested!) Sweep SW1200RSm Locomotive in HO Scale!

In the mid-1980s, Canadian National was looking for ways to update its SW1200RS fleet for continued service. The first program was somewhat radical and resulted in a locomotive that was unofficially dubbed a “Sweep.” This term came from combining the cab of an SW1200RS (SW) and the long hood of a GP9 (GEEP). The official designation was GS-413a and GS-413b, respectively. All rebuilding work took place at CN's famous Pointe St. Charles Shops in Montreal.

As mentioned, the rebuild project used the frame and cab from the SW1200RS series while the hoods came off of retired GP9s. New air-intake filters were added to the (now) inoperative dynamic-brake blister section. The 12-cylinder 567C engine was upgraded with 645C power assemblies. The added addition of the larger GP9 radiators improved the cooling capacities, which in turn created an added benefit: an increase in horsepower, from 1200HP to 1300HP. The cabs were completely overhauled and received modified end windows (two smaller top windows in place of the as-built single design), improved insulation and heating and a Canadian tradition: the hot plate and refrigerator. The rear door was also modified so that it swung outwards, providing better protection in a collision.

Despite the initial success of the rebuild program, the Pointe St. Charles Shops only produced eight of these neat road switchers, between 1986 and 1987. After life on CN, some of these Sweeps found their way to CANAC and eventually Savage Rail Services. But wait, there's more! We're also offering these in FOUR industrial color schemes to "roll your own". The possibilities are endless.

The HO Scale SW1200RSm "Sweep" Locomotives Feature:
- Authentic SW1200RMs rebuilt cab!
- Cannon and Company licensed fan designs
- All-weather windows
- Winterization hatch
- Nose-mounted bell
- Highly detailed cab interior
- Lit control stand
- Semi scale metal couplers
- Full LED lighting, including: operating beacons/flashing lights where appropriate
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound) options
- Mo-Power capacitor system for uninterrupted operation in DCC power
- Suggested minimum radius: 18"

Please note, this is a conditional announcement! Preorder yours today by December 15th, 2026!

US Orders: https://buff.ly/dWift58
CA Orders: https://buff.ly/klws5S9

09/10/2026

So yesterday a WBL mixed was operating through Tumblweed when the train split and left a section behind after negotiating a grade crossing.
Two local RCMP cruisers chatting on the road heading east were completely oblivious to the occurrence as the tail end of the train sat motionless at the crossing. The rest of the train didn't get far before stopping to inspect the situation.

Upon investigation by the train crew and local MoW personnel, it was discovered that the coupler & box had let go from the car and dropped on the crossing planks causing the car to jump the track.
In HO model railway speak - the trip pin caught the crossing planks and threw the car off the rails while breaking itself off the car body. Oh goody!!!

A RIP team was dispatched to the scene to see what they could do. The crossing was obstructed for several hours while the crew protected the train and waited for the service truck to arrive. Once on site it was determined that repair was not possible at this location and the rear of the train would have to be pulled back into town to separate the car out to the RDK shop.

The remains were torched off the car and a rerailer used to set it back on the track. A yard switcher then brought it home minus a coupler and box. The whole time the GRCs were otherwise occupied with whatever they were discussing before one eventually peeled off to the east while the other parked at the church and probably surfed Facebook. ;-)

06/10/2026

What's in a name?

Ever wonder why the modeler chose certain names for his towns or sidings? Or what the various location names refer to or mean on someone's layout?

Well, lets start with ours.

Mile 0 = Essentially the beginning of our layout. The miles have to start somewhere and ours start at the edge of the layout just outside our first town.

Goldfield = The name comes from the golden looking fields on the prairies during harvest. Back in the late 70s we thought this would be a suitable name for our main model railway town. It predates the BLR by about 2 years.

Winser = Named after my ex grandfather-in-law who served 41 years on the KVR out of Penticton BC. We spent many hours talking about those days and his stories of railroading the Kettle.

Tumbleweed (The Hamlet of) = Named after the dried brush of the same name that rolled across the ground in the interior of BC - Cariboo country. And the cat I had as a pre-teen while living in Cache Creek during that time.

Desque = It's a play on words so-to-speak. This location - a 4 elevator row - sits above my desk, but desk itself seemed too plain. So I got creative ;-)

Tatanka = The native word for bison / buffalo. This small whistle stop is the only representation of the implied Burnt Prairie First Nation. The plan for this piece of the layout is to somehow model an area burnt by a grass fire but in which the station shack is saved and still in use by occasional weekend passengers to/from Goldfield on the "Out 'n Back" RDC service we still maintain Fridays & Sundays.

East Wye = Self explanatory for most, but clarified as the Eastern Wye track used to turn trains or send them off to the Palliser Grains & Legumes Terminal located near by.

Palliser = Self explanatory again but clarified as the Palliser Grains & Legumes Terminal and present End of Track. The plan for this yet unbuilt section of layout is a modern loop track to run complete grain trains through loading or unloading at the large inland facility. Trains will be brought in by BLR and then moved by PG&L crews using a leased PVLX locomotive.

And that explains our layout location names.
We would love to hear about yours.
👉Post 'em in the comments. 🙂

04/10/2026

Not a fancy job but nonetheless a job needed doing.
As acquired (top) and as of today (bottom).
RDK pulls a quick change on a slow Saturday.

23/09/2026

CN leaving their junk in our yard again. Must remember to call their Operators Superintendent. 🤦🏻‍♂️

23/09/2026

An awesome Otter Valley Railroad package arrived today with our latest Rapido Trains Inc. cabooses.
The yellow undec is actually for our sister line, Western Branch Line Railway "Route of the Squatch".

13/09/2026

So, a little update on an earlier shared post...
BLR Acquisitions Dept has struck a deal to purchase this car. It will be arriving in Manitoba late Oct after it makes the rounds on social media and a live train show as a sample display piece for the fine works of Madame Teal's Dirty Trains. Watch for it on our line over the fall as grain is moved outbound to the West coast and Thunder Bay.

12/09/2026

It's a bit quiet at the shop today as our NRE 3GS21B #92 is blue flagged for some minor maintenance.