An Engine Man Earns His Stripes

Father and Son Time

This is a tale of a "father and son" crew aboard a train along the IPP&W and RP&M railroads.

Jonah and his dad, Chris, are relaxing in the chairs as Bernie cracks up in his seat over something Moe has just said.  Apparently, Moe found out that this "father and son" tandem would be crewing with that "Hamer" fellow.  "Oh, no!" Moe was heard do say, "You're in big trouble if you're spending the morning with that character with the camera!"

The session is underway and Jonah has taken control of this beautifully weathered Canadian National road switcher.  He will be running train 302/312 on this day.
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His dad knows what he is doing as he's already placed the stock car in behind the locomotive!
Note the new bell on the long hood of the RS3.  Thanks go out to Chris for its assembly.

Mark and his dad, Bill, have everything under control in their yard at Firgrove.

Jonah and Chris continue making their train up in the yard.  They carefully block their consist as per setouts at their first destination...Bell.

Navigating the three-way turnout in the yard at Firgrove.

Moe offers up a few more pointers of how to handle that Hamer lad!

With all of their freight cars assembled and blocked as per destination, Bill has aligned the turnouts and the crew aboard 302 back their consist onto their van.

They let the passenger train head out of Firgrove first.  That would be Moe sitting in the cab of the CP diesel hauling the "silver".

A closer view of  the engine under Jonah's control.

Arriving Bell, the crew conducts their facing siding moves first.  They know the passenger train has already arrived and departed and they check the schedule.  Nothing coming for a short while.  Best plan, get across the main to Brunt's Brewery before any further traffic arrives Bell.

Having drilled Brunt's Brewery, they back their train along the main and head back to the yard.

With their work at Bell complete, they are given clearance to Watkins siding.  They will have to wait quite a while for a crew to finish up at Peter's Pond, so time for a visit at the "head table".

The "husband and wife" crew in Peter's Pond has completed their moves and Jonah and Chris meet them at Watkins.  Steve and Seanna are in control of the this little CP switcher.

302 is now cleared into Peter's Pond.  We glimpse them rounding the big curve just to the west of town.

They've arrived Peter's Pond and have taken the main.

They meet the ore train of empties.

It's always a railfan's joy catching a meet with camera at the ready!

With their work done at Peter's Pond, the crew heads for a meet at Mercer.

Two Canadian National locomotive crews wave to each other as they meet in the siding at Mercer.

302 has been cleared directly into Nelson Yard.

Taking the diamond at Bellamy.

Approaching the depot at Bellamy.

Soon after...Belson.

Arriving Nelson Yard on the A/D track.

They will have to uncouple their stock car from the train and set it out at the team track pictured above.

There's the stock car.

It is taken off the train.

Heading eastward.

Reversing down the appropriate track.

On the far track.

The stock car will soon be set out and 302 will have completed its work.

312 has already been made up by the yard crew at Nelson, so Jonah takes the helm once again.  Steve checks the orders for 312 and verifies that all cars on the train match his paper work.  While, we know the Nelson crew is very competent, it is still advisable to ensure you depart a location with the cars that are listed on your manifest sheets.

Departing Nelson Yard along the Nelson lead.

Tiptoeing out on the trestle.

Through the iron.

Taking the curve at Lily.

Drilling the track at Blockhouse.

Through the undergrowth.

Love that load.

Climbing the grade into Spruce.

A full train shot.

Piercing the foliage.

Jonah inspects his train as it nears Spruce.

A meet with Moe's train.

"Is that picture #328 Hamer just snapped?" Moe is heard to grumble.  Jonah gets a big chuckle!

Servicing the spur track involves a runaround move.

Love the tail end stock!

Back on the train and ready to head to Ironwood where Hamer's camera battery finally dies out.
"Thank heavens!" Moe is heard whispering.

 Jonah certainly earned his stripes crewing with his dad and that funny looking character with the camera in hand!  It sure is a lot of fun watching a father and son spend a morning together running trains.  Can't think of any better hobby!
Thanks for checking in!
Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada