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Line Communiqué.

Are you a new beginner to Trainz, or an old timer who just wants a laugh when you remember when....
Read about my blunders and my finds as I build my Trainz layout.

Welcome To The White Pebble Rapids RR!

The White Pebble Rapids RR was located in the mountains of Muskoka Lakes, in south eastern Canada. It operated on a portion of the old Quebec and Lake St.John Railway, a narrow gauge [3ft between the rails] logging railroad developed from Parry Sound to Squamish city, Canada. The railroad carried the products of the lumbering industry from the forests of the area but also other merchandise, silver ore, gold and mining equipment and passengers.

The development of the Disappearing Propeller boat, known as 'dippies' with it's propeller being able to be lifted into a boxed space in the bottom of the hull, when needed to navigate over shallows and the fishing industry greatly contributed to the development of this remote area of Canada.

The White Pebble Rapids RR was founded by a group of businessmen from Parry Sound, who where interested in the resources of the Canada Muskoka Lakes and had just established the Canada Lumber Company in Perry Sound. The president of the White Pebble Rapids RR was David McGreggor, a self made man of Scottish origin.

He bought a few pieces of rolling stock and some track equipment second-hand from the Utah & Northern, a company that was rebuilding its mainline to standard gauge at that time. The construction started immediately from Bracebridge City where the Canada Lumber Company had just built a large sawmill, toward Muskoka Lakes and its surrounding forests.

First mention of Muskoka in any records is in 1615 and the territory was occupied by Indians, mainly consisting of the Algonquin and Huron tribes. Early explorers to the region like Samuel De Champlain came to the area next followed by Missionaries. The name Muskoka is thought to come from the name of a Chippawa tribe chief named Mesqua Ukee which means "not easily turned back in the day of battle". It was Mesqua Ukee who signed the treaties made between the Indians and Province of Canada which sold about 250,000 acres [1,010 km²] of land in the area to the Province.

The White Pebble Rapids RR Started life as the first module
[ 930 mm X 1230 mm baseboard ] of a small 1920's 'N' Gauge logging layout.

After fourteen years of life happening, family, job [teaching computers] the layout was not even operational [ power had never been connected ], track had been checked before mountains had been added, but that is where life in this community came to a stand still.

Fast forward to now [ 2008 ] and a Christmas present in 2007 of a Trainz bundle brought us into a new era of virtual Railroading.

Now I can join both my hobbies [model trains and computers] together and I will try in my humble style to let you know how I go in doing so.