American Invasion of Friends - Fred's Layout - Narrow Gauge

Invasion Day Two - Narrow Gauge Operations

Friday Standard Gauge operations were followed by Narrow Gauge fun on Saturday.

Here we see Jan's special business train inspecting the line as first train out.
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Meanwhile, a couple of steamers await their assignments at Craig Leigh.

A Colorado & Southern locomotive.

A bumble bee and caboose.

The 455 also at Craig Leigh.

The newspaper article on Barry's operations down in Belleville which were a great success.

Steve, Bruce, Paul, Jim and Lawrence listening to the safety talk by Colin.

Rick, Grant, Pat, Barry and Steve in the background with Jean and Bruce sitting.

Chris is all smiles as he is about to video the operations.

Ken takes the yard operator assignment at Firgrove, also know as Ralph after the late Ralph Dipple.

Gary and I are in command of Train 302, an eastbound freight that will traverse the entire Dominion.

Colin controls the turnouts while Henk holds the throttle.

Doug's steamer  that has been weathered so handsomely by Chris.

The ore train passes the station at Bell.

Gary and I are up in Cedar Rock, a branch which veers from the mainline at Peter's Pond.

These two little pups belong to Gary...and I've gotta say - they're strong brutes!

Here's Gary from Ohio!

We've protected our train as we knew more traffic would be arriving.

The passenger train passes us at Peter's Pond.

Ken's locomotive using the mainline as a yard lead outside of Ralph.

Lots of action at Bellamy.

Nicole and Gaetan make a great crew!

Our train earlier had traversed the trestle to the east of Nelson Yard.

We are now Train 312.

Rounding the bend at Lily.

The foliage here is very nice.

At Spruce, we catch Jim running the helper engines.

That Jim's a smart lad.  As he states, "With helper service, there's no need to run around trains in each town!"

Steve is hauling passengers behind his locomotive as he approaches Mount St. Helens.

He's proud of that little engine that could!

Looking back at Nelson Yard.  It's a hive of activity for sure.

Gary and I hold the siding at Spruce awaiting clearance into Ironwood.

Spruce has two trailing sidings and one facing one if you are heading eastbound.

Pat, Jean and Paul outside Ironwood.

Nicole and Gaetan at Cedar Rock.

The industry Bruce built.

The ore train gets an assist from Bruce and Jean.

Let's make that the empty ore train!

You've gotta love how a unit train look as it snakes around the layout!

The power on the ore train.

Number 6 in the siding at Mercer.

Rounding the bend from Ironwood into Spruce.

Steve's locomotive appears regal at Craig Leigh.

Rick's cool looking unit.

Now that is a real beauty!

A passenger train departing Spruce for Ironwood.

Gaetan and Nicole discussing their moves with dispatch.

Jean gives dispatch an interesting look as Bruce determines the next move at Ironwood.

That's Bob in the distance with the ore train.

Gary is hailing 312 out of Ironwood and up the grade to Mount St. Helens.

A great looking locomotive arrives Spruce.

An earlier shot of 312 passing the sign indicating Ironwood.

A passenger train at Ironwood.

Chris is busy as the videographer.

Another shot of the 312 on the grade into Mount. St. Helens.

Doing our work at Mount St. Helen's.

Grant observes as Gary drives.

Chris, Jan, Rick and Gary at Craig Leigh.

Bill "Sn3" Scobie makes an appearance.

Always great to see you, Bill!

Craig Leigh offers a great backdrop for any locomotive.

Looks like a museum special is in the offing soon.

Rick is the yardmaster at Craig Leigh.

This little brute can handle any load!

Running around the train at Ironwood.

Johnny "Chuff Chuff" railfanning Mount St. Helens.

Rounding the bend into Spruce in a westward direction.

Exiting the trestle westward into Glen Hammond.

Arriving the station at Glen Hammond.

Number 22 at Ralph.

The classification yard at Ralph.

The Bumble Bee at Ralph.

Number 6 at Ralph.

Number 5 at Ralph.

The engine house at the end of the line at Ralph.

A cool load at Rat Portage.

Terry travelled all the way from Wales for the Invasion of Friends.

He's one amazing lad!

People rest awhile awaiting lunch.

Lunch is served.

My Annie which Chris weathered so beautifully is heading for the turntable.

Barry and I crew the 301 in the afternoon.  Here we arrive Bell.

Barry is conductor as we head east out of Bell towards Watkins Siding and eventually Peter's Pond.

Empty hoppers at Ironwood Brick as a train works the east end of Ironwood.

Our train is on  the big curve approaching Peter's Pond.

Meanwhile, back at Ralph, Grant starts out on a journey with this big fella!

Nelson Yard midday.

Nelson Yard from the other end.

A train is about to pierce the trestle outside of Nelson.

Doug and Gord are all ears...

...as Terry wends a story for Fred.

Spruce mid-session.

Grant is following his steamer intently as the train passes through Ironwood.

My locomotive climbs the grade Eastward into Mount St. Helens.

Paul's steam locomotive at Peter's Pond.

Terry, Ken and me following the session.

Indeed, a great day was had by all!

All the best, 
Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada