Ontario Northland Power Visits the IPP&W

Ontario Northland Diesels Impress Us

A gentleman named Peter paid a visit to the IPP&W. 

He brought with him these lovely diesel specimens.
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The locomotive on the left is GP40-2 #2201 and the diesel to the right is GP38-2 # 1809.

A front and rear shot.

It's also nice to see the two different lettering styles. Peter tells me that the 2201 was painted by John Burden from Winona Garden who is a good friend of his.

Peter painted 1809.  Thanks go to David McCurdy for snapping these images and sharing them with me.  Thanks for visiting Ottawa, Peter.  We'd love you to come back anytime!

Here's a great shot Peter shared with me of the two units crossing the bridge to the east of Nelson Yard.  Indeed, a great pairing they make!
Have a great day in the train yard!  Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Steam Sessions

Steam Serves Us Well

At Fred's layout, the team alternates between running steam one Saturday and running diesel the next.

  This post will showcase some of the steam locomotives you see on the IPP&W and RP&M.
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This Rio Grande Southern steamer is on the track beside the engine house at Craig Leigh.

IPP&W #11 awaiting its next duty.

This Pennsylvania locomotive is a visitor to the layout.

The Nelson Yard switch engine for the Rat Portage and Mattawa.

A nice White Pass steamer.

  

The #11 working at Ironwood.

The RP&M #1 switching Nelson Yard.

A meet at Spruce.

A pass at Spruce.

What a lovely locomotive this specimen is!

She's big too!

Rounding the curve out of Ironwood westbound to Spruce.

The ore train is arriving Spruce.

Can't beat the look of this pool train.

On the turntable at Firgrove.

A "Hat Trick"!

This engine never tires and works throughout the entire session.

Another pool train in care of Pat's lovely Canadian Pacific locomotive.

On the mainline eastbound into Ironwood. 

Ken brought this lovely locomotive up with him from his home in the states during the invasion weekend.

On the shelf...what a tremendous display!

Rick likes to lighten things up.  Man, this is a gorgeous model! 

Westbound between St. Helens and Ironwood.

The Director's Special traverses the railroad spotted at Spruce.

What a sight to behold!

Back with this little beauty rounding the bend into Spruce..

My 4-6-0 nicely weathered by my friend, Chris, awaits its next run, an eastbound out of Firgrove.

Love the green and black on this gem making a light engine move at Craig Leigh.

A passenger train departing Craig Leigh.

Another meet of brethren.

One very colourful steam locomotive.

Passing through Rat Portage.

Awaiting its next run.

Switching out Spruce with Cedar Rock in the distance.

Near the engine house at Craig Leigh.

This puppy will have to be turned before its next run westbound.

A really good looker!

Aha!  Found some shade!

Gord's beautiful RP&M tandem brighten any day!

 At Glen Hammond awaiting permission to begin its run.

Rounding the bend into the yard at Nelson.

Indeed, a steam locomotive is a living, breathing entity!

Have a great day!  Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Diesel Days

Diesel Days Do Us Good!

At Fred's garden railway, we operate diesels on one Saturday, then steam locomotives the next.  This is the sequence we follow throughout the season and the operators enjoy this alternating schedule between standard gauge and narrow gauge.

  The picture above shows my latest acquisition, a Canadian National RS3 custom painted and lettered by Bill, a local model railroader.
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Gord often brings out this beautiful D&H locomotive he purchased from Ralph's estate after Ralph passed away.  The diesel is named for this fine gentleman.  I appreciate when Gord operates this locomotive as he knows that I love the paint scheme!

Lawrence brings out his B&O road switcher to most operations.

The beautiful maroon and grey of the Canadian Pacific is often seen on standard gauge Saturdays.  This geep has been granted permission to traverse the crossing at Bellamy.

This modern CN in the North American scheme is bringing a freight across the bridge to the east of Nelson Yard.  It will arrive Blockhouse shortly after rounding the bend.

Same diesel found in the yard at Craig Leigh.

Conrail pays a visit to the IPP&W spotted here at Craig Leigh.

This rare CN scheme looks handsome on this little switcher.

You've gotta love the look of black engines and this D&H unit does not disappoint.

Rick brought this "one of a kind" he made.  He traveled up from the States for a special "Invasion of Friends" weekend.  This little puppy sure draws a great deal of attention.

A B&O switcher plying the rails.

This CP road switcher is drilling the interchange track at Bell.

Another visitor from the States brought this lovely Southern road switcher seen on the main at Spruce.

A CP geep is climbing the grade at Blockhouse and will arrive Nelson Yard shortly.

A CN Alco PA and a small center cab enjoying the shade at Nelson Yard.

On another day, the CN PA is spotted eastbound out of Spruce on its approach to Ironwood.

Colin usually crews this handsome RP&M 44-tonner.

Now Bob, that's the coolest carrying case I have ever seen!

The CN crew has arrived track three eastbound at Bell.

Nice to see a rail diesel car in action.

Doug's AB F pairing is a treat to behold.  The train is on its approach into Peter's Pond.

Bob's Santa Fe beauty.

The RP&M switcher in Nelson Yard.

Rick's center cab.

And another one of Rick's gems.

Andy's unit from his home road down in the States.

A CP in modern colours.

Love the olive green and gold of this CN geep.

The wet noodle makes an appearance.

Doug's AB pairing sure looks nice at St. Helens.

A B&O switcher at St. Helens.

The D&H at Spruce.

The New York Central looks handsome with the lightning stripes.

A great looking CP GP30.

The CN performing switching duties.

My good friend, Chris, owns this little CP switcher.

The RP&M toiling away at Nelson.

The Rio Grande pays a visit into Canada.

The B&O servicing the industries at Ironwood.

A CN PA at Spruce.

The RP&M has its own diesel livery.

The Algonquin and Ottawa on the engine tracks at Craig Leigh.

As is this Canadian Pacific geep.

Chris's CP switcher hard at work climbing the grade into Spruce.

Conrail working the lumber area at Nelson crossing that gorgeous trestle.

Another look at the A&O.

The Santa Fe Warbonnet scheme fits Bob's locomotive beautifully.
Thanks for taking the time to visit!
Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada