Invasion of Friends Weekend 2014 Standard Gauge Operations

The Great Invasion

Each year, a summer weekend is put aside for an "Invasion of Friends" weekend.  People travel from near and far (From Ottawa and other Ontario locations to many places throughout the United States, even the odd visitor or two from Sweden!) to run trains on the garden layout.

If you wish to look at the photos in larger format, simply click on the photo.  To return to the blog page, simply click outside the enlarged photograph.  Also, if you wish to see other pics from the other day of the invasion in Ottawa, simply search it out in the blog archive to the right of this page.  To see images from the earlier session at Barry's place in Belleville, you'll have to search in the month of August as that is the time I posted those pics.

Here is the group shot with some of the participants during the Friday Standard Gauge Operations session. There were even more people present than pictured here as the day progressed. Judging by the smiles on everyone's face, the whole day was a huge success with train running, camaraderie and friendship.
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In the real world of railroading, safety is of the utmost importance.  In the world of model train operations where a multitude of individuals gather in one location, we also stress safety concerns should a medical emergency ever arise.  While we hope such an event never happens, it is important to be prepared so that each person knows their role within the context of the situation.  Folks are listening intensely while Colin (green shirt to the right) outlines the protocol in the event of a medical emergency.

Let the train ops begin.  We see Colin busy working Nelson Yard blocking traffic and setting up trains for eager crews.  Don and Paul are eastbound with their Canadian National Geep. They have work to do at Blockhouse.  Lawrence, in the background to the left, is readying his road switcher before he gets on a westbound train out of the yard at Glen Hammond.

Here's Lawrence's gorgeous Baltimore and Ohio road switcher spotted later in the day at Peter's Pond with his B&O car tucked in behind the locomotive.  Such an elegant paint scheme for this hard-working unit.

Springfield Terminal #681, an SD45, is switching out the Windmill Spur at Ironwood.  Bob, who lives outside of Boston, brought this beautifully weathered diesel with him to run on the layout.

Here's Bob with Andy and they are awaiting clearance into Ironwood after finishing their work at St. Helens. While they have been sitting a little while, there's no steam coming out of their ears as its diesel day! Hee Hee!

Jane is doing a fabulous job of dispatching the layout during the Standard Gauge operating session. Here we've caught her out of the dispatch booth teasing skipper Andy just outside of St. Helens.

That's Passenger Train #1 at St. Helens after its earlier departure out of Craig Leigh.  This westbound beauty will arrive Firgrove later in the day.  The locomotive will be turned at Firgrove and the train will become eastbound Passenger Train #2.  Whoever crews this train traverses the entire property.

Meanwhile, Roger and Gord share a story or two while an RP&M train works near the interlocking tower which protects the crossing between the IPP&W and the RP&M.

Bruce is all smiles as he works the sidings at Peter's Pond where the orders can keep a crew busy for some time.  That's St. Helens in the distance where Paul and Don are working.

Bruce was running this little locomotive he created.  You've got to really appreciate the creativity of these lads.  Bruce's engine must be a brute as she was hauling quite a bit of traffic at times!

A little while later, we spot Passenger Train #2 on its Eastbound journey making a station stop at Peter's Pond.  Note the lush foliage to the right.  The pond is just behind the ferns.

Roger and Paul share a smile.  Who wouldn't have a smile on their face given the fact that you are running trains in the great outdoors on a sunny July morning!

Andy and Doug discuss the joys that can be had when you participate in train operations that help bring a garden railroad to life.  They are standing near Douglas Yard at Craig Leigh.

The men in white!  Here are Trevor, Joe, Bill and Don.  Yessirree...these are the boys of summer!

A look out over the peninsula where the town of Spruce is located.  Hmmm...I wonder what the significance of the dragon is?

You can always count on Rick to bring out some very unusual and creative looking equipment!  Here he is in Ralph Yard at Firgrove with this little beauty.

You've got to love and appreciate the creativity of this charming little puppy!  She's brightly coloured with lots of detail...but whatever could have been the genesis for this project?

Look closely.  Can you tell? That's right...it started life out as a steam locomotive tender!  Way to go Rick! Fabulous modelling!

What's this? Where'd he come from?  That rascally rooster has made his appearance again!  Crafty little critter!

Now look what he's up to!  Holding up the progress of westbound Train #302 at Spruce.  Where's the road superintendent when you need him!

Okay.  Maybe, just maybe...perhaps he'll take a drink or two from the Sludge Works factory and that should be the end of him, we hope.

Ah rats!  Foiled again.  We spot him later on in a gondola behind the SD45 at Mercer siding.  If we're lucky, maybe he'll jump off when we hold the siding.

No such luck at all.  I guess he thinks that he's the "King of the Iron Road!"  He had better watch out or he may just be dinner for the train group later in the evening!

Later on, we catch Bruce and Jean at Blockhouse spotting some traffic.  It's nice to see couples operating together!

A dome car from the home road.  You're riding in class when you're aboard this sweet looking passenger car!

The yard at Firgrove looks quite busy near the beginning of the session.  The appearance of the yard evolves as the session rolls along.

In fact, this is what the western terminus of the layout looked like when I arrived early in the morning to help set out cars across the layout.

This shot was taken before the operating session got underway.  The engine facility is off in the distance in the far corner.

Activity in the area during the session.  We see Bill, Lawrence and Henk working in the west end.

Another of Rick's beautiful looking center cabs.  I like the added detail the shovel offers.

Jane keeping control of all train movements in the dispatchers shed.  You did a super job, Jane. Greatly appreciated!

Joe and his lovely wife, Kathleen, drove all the way up to Ottawa from their home in Pennsylvania.

Lawrence and Paul entertaining Diane who is heavily engaged in her knitting.  The main gathering place is protected from the sun and rain by a covered canopy arrangement.

Yes, the weather couldn't have been any nicer on this day allowing for great camaraderie within the group.

You've gotta appreciate the green and gold of this CN livery.  This locomotive had sound in it as well.

Trevor is staging the ore cars for the afternoon session.  A loaded ore train and an empty ore train will traverse the layout before the day is out.

Here's our illustrious proprietor, Fred, showcasing his skills at the BBQ...or grill as our American friends call it.  That's Jan to the right and Doug to the left with Henk in the middle in the black shirt. Fred must be wearing the orange hat in honour of Henk who is Dutch.

Stu, in the blue shirt, is relaxing as Ed, Joe and Kathleen enjoy the shade the large pines offer over lunchtime.

While Colin enjoys a wee little drink to quench his thirst.

Trevor also finds respite in the shade after working the yard at Craig Leigh.

More camaraderie under the shade near the noon hour.

What is Paul up to reading a newspaper during our lunch break?  What could be so fascinating?

Aha!  There's a full page article which covers the operating session at Barry's new layout held the day before at his home in Belleville.  Kudos to you, Barry!  You're a great ambassador to the hobby.

Another Canadian National locomotive hauling the pool train as it rounds the curve between Ironwood and Spruce.

Another "People" shot showing the layout off nicely.  Looks like the railroad is quite busy at this juncture in time.

The Bluestone Southern is Andy's home road from his home down in Illinois.

Barry is happy with that throttle in his hand standing under the pines at St. Helens.  Looks like a lot of action is taking place at this location at the moment.

The Canadian Pacific also has a handsome looking paint scheme as evidenced in this shot taken in the early afternoon.

The pool train is in care of a Canadian National crew on this day as the train traverses Rat Portage trackage.

Stu, John and Barry in conversation while a crew switches out St. Helens.

Who says you can't run steam during a standard gauge operations.  Ken has brought out his lovely weathered steamer as it works along the Rat Portage and Mattawa.

Tom was kind enough to snap some pictures and get over to me to post on the blog.  The following images are from the same day as viewed through the lens of Tom's camera.  Thanks for the additional photographs, Tom!  The image above shows the actual pond know as Peter's Pond.

Here's a shot of my backside as I "lean into" a photograph I am taking of an eastbound freight that is destined for Blockhouse, Spruce, Iron Wood, St. Helens and Craig Leigh.  Bill is the good-looking lad wearing the hat.

Gord is carrying his great looking tandem while Colin works at Nelson Yard.

Another overall shot of a portion of the layout.  Doug's scratching his head.  Andy must've told him something very funny!  Bob and Bruce enjoy the shade of the canopy in the distance.

Ken is busy working his train.  Love the locomotive and the caboose as well!

Lawrence has his train in the hole at Ironwood awaiting another train to complete its work at Spruce.

Andy and I check out his train that has arrived Spruce later in the day.  The umbrellas help cast some shade on the situation.

Doug and Jane are deep in conversation while Andy keeps an eye on the lads working the big yard at Nelson.

Alas, there should be no concern as they yard duties are entrusted to the able hands of Colin.

Bruce relaxes his legs as his train is about to depart eastbound out of Nelson.  Judging by the number of folks encircling the yard, it must be quite the hive of activity!

A look across the patio area between the main information/lunch table area and the pond.

Cars located at some of the industries along the Rat Portage and Mattawa line.

An RP&M diesel rounding the curve near the main classification yards.

An RP&M 44-tonner with a ton of brute force hauls a cut of cars around the curve near the yard.

Another look at Bob's Guilford locomotive as it hauls a boxcar out of the Windmill siding at Ironwood.

Passenger train #2 heading eastbound out of Spruce with its next station stop at Ironwood before heading on to St. Helens and the end of the line at Craig Leigh.

The patio umbrellas sure are a Godsend in the heat of the day.  Yes, we do reside north of the border, but Ottawa can become quite hot, and (worse) humid at times.  We live in a river valley after all.

This CP diesel in red certainly caught this photographer's eye as it heads out of Craig Leigh.

Gord, Ken, Bob, Bruce and Colin enjoy the operations fully as this incredible layout comes to life yet once again with visitors and regulars alike.  

Here I am (in the striped shirt) with my good friend, Pete, who came up to Ottawa from his home in Wolfville, Nova Scotia for a session last year.  It's an  amazing testament to Fred's Garden Railroad given the fact people travel from great distances to enjoy the operations such a finely designed layout offers.

I would like to thank Tom  again for the addition photos...and thanks to all who participated in and organized the Invasion for another successful year!
Thanks for taking the time to check in!  Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

To see images from the Narrow Gauge Operations which took place the following day, simply scroll to the top of this page and click on the link to the right in the blog archive.  Well that's all for now.  I hope you have enjoyed my account of the train ops during the Standard Gauge day at Fred's incredible layout.  
Have a great day, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada