Anatomy of IPP&W Trains 301/311
We enjoyed a couple of visitors to the garden railroad for this week's operations.
Neil (in behind) brought out his buddy, Ron (holding the throttle) for our ops session on the IPP&W.
Ron is visiting from his home in the Muskoka region of Ontario. He lives in McTier.
Note: To view the pictures full size, simply click on any picture. To return to the regular appearance of the blog page, simply click outside the picture.
Note: To view the pictures full size, simply click on any picture. To return to the regular appearance of the blog page, simply click outside the picture.
Ron was thrilled to run his new CN diesel road switcher.
He had only had it out of the box a couple of times and had only run in it a small loop.
One thing is for sure, it would get a workout running train 301/311 on this day.
The two top pics show the crew departing Craig Leigh.
Ron has arrived Mount St. Helens and is safely tucked in on the passing siding.
He runs around his train in order to conduct the facing siding moves. The CN boxcar must stay with the diesel as it holds the batteries and sound unit.
Neil looks down at his switch list while Ron couples on to the back of the train.
In short order, the setouts and lifts are completed and it is time to get back on their train for the next destination en route.
The crew arrives Ironwood.
On this day, the Ironwood Brick siding must be worked. This is easy as it is a trailing industry.
A close-up view of the diesel for Ron.
You can see how the crew temporarily spotted its lift on the main while they shunted the remaining cars that were already in the Ironwood Brick siding back to their proper location.
The crew also had a spot at Larabie Fuels off in the distance, a facing move.
All the moves are complete at Ironwood so it's time to get back to the front of the train.
Next destination on their westward journey will be Spruce.
They navigate the narrows between the foliage on the big curve out of Ironwood.
Cross the mainline.
Where the crew arrives spruce.
Looks like a passenger has "hopped" aboard the train.
There was a lot of work at Spruce on this day with spots and lifts at the two facing sidings of Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Supply as well as the trailing spur track.
The crew is westbound out of Spruce on yet another big curve that is most photogenic.
They are downhill below the mainline they had traversed earlier.
Taking the big curve at Lily.
Approaching the trestle just to the east of Nelson Yard.
Through the gorgeous trestle.
Watch out for that cactus!
Arriving Nelson Yard.
The 301 terminates here.
The crew uncouples from their train.
They then back onto the consist of train 311, destination Firgrove.
Passing the depot at Belson.
With Bellamy Station in behind.
They have been granted clearance across the diamond at Bellamy.
VFR rules are in order on this day as there was no dispatcher.
With experienced crews, the entire session ran like a Swiss clock!
In the hole at Mercer siding.
Neil checks the turnout alignment to ensure his train will take the main into Peter's Pond.
Arriving Peter's Pond.
"Let's see...hmmm...put your left leg out, tuck your left leg in...press a few buttons to hear the horn and bell's din"!
The crew first determined their moves up in Cedar Rock, a short line that branches off the main at Peter's Pond. There is no runaround track up at Cedar Rock, so switching moves and car placement in relation to the locomotive must be determined down at Peter's Pond.
Climbing the grade into Cedar Rock.
Arriving Cedar Rock.
Momentarily lifting a car to create a lead into the trailing industry at Cedar Rock Supply.
The pond in behind Cedar Rock.
Their work is done at Peter's Pond and it's off to Bell.
The crew holds the main at Watkins Siding.
When traffic clears at Bell, they have a green light to enter the yard. Neil enjoys a refreshment seeing as the run is nearing completion
Arriving Bell.
It's a big yard, but the crew has it easy on this day as their exchange of traffic deals solely with cars in Stuart Yard...all trailing switches.
Looks like Ron has the hang of it all.
"This is so much fun!" he is heard whispering to Mike.
Bell's moves are completed and it's a clear alley up the grade into Firgrove.
The train rounds the big bend out of Bell.
Ron's diesel has no problem hauling this tonnage up the grade.
They enter the yard at Ralph, named after the late Ralph Dipple. This location is also referred to as Firgrove.
Winding through the ladder.
Past the depot.
The train has terminated here at Firgrove, so Ron uncouples the locomotive group and heads onto the turntable.
This isn't an Armstrong...it's a Fingerstrong!
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
The ops session is over, so why not have fun and return the engine back to the other end of the property!
Throw on a passenger car and a caboose.
Enjoy some camaraderie with Henk.
...and the boys.
Pass by the depot at Firgrove one last time.
...and...head out on the high iron.
Round the bend back into Bell.
Past the station at Bell.
Through Watkins Siding.
Amongst the pines.
Approaching Peter's Pond, this time from the west.
Arriving Peter's Pond.
The lush foliage which abounds at this particular location.
Righthand running through Mercer Siding.
Past Bellamy...yes, we've turned the passenger car to its appropriate direction.
Into Belson.
A slow order into Nelson Yard.
Out of Nelson Yard.
Bridge approach in an easterly direction.
Artsy railfan shot!
Exiting the trestle near Lily.
Up the grade to Spruce.
Outside Spruce.
Rounding the big bend into Spruce.
Through the big trees.
Nearing Spruce.
On the station track.
The beautiful depot at Spruce.
The big curve out of Spruce over the trackage we recently plied.
In the bush west of Ironwood.
Already through Ironwood.
Up the grade.
Onward to Mount St. Helens.
Into Mount St. Helens.
Approaching Craig Leigh.
Round the bend into the yard.
Arriving Craig Leigh.
Almost at the station.
Time for lunch.
A nice sized crew on this day.
Paul explaining some of the intricacies of programming to Neil.
While Fred and Ron enjoy a conversation.
Ah yes! All is well in the world of garden railroading!
As always, a great big "thank you" to Fred for hosting the gang every Saturday morning.
Fred, I know Neil and Ron truly enjoyed themselves crewing the 310/311 job on this day!
Have a great train day everyone!
Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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