Narrow Gauge Ops Session - September 19th

A Very Busy Day in Ottawa

September 19, 2015 was a busy day in model railroading in Ottawa.  Ottawa Valley HOTrak set up for their weekend of operations at St. Anthony's Soccer Club.  The St. Lawrence Division of the NMRA held their meeting in the city of Brockville, an hour's drive from Ottawa. 

 With so many of our Garden Railroad operators in these other groups we knew that we would have a skeletal crew for Garden Ops on this day.  Well, with a couple of outside visitors to the garden, we managed to run most trains with the exception of the ore train and Passenger 1 and 2.  The image above is of Glen Hammond as it was set up for the ops early in the morning.

Just thought I'd share with you the train set-up orders.  The one above is for Glen Hammond.  Each location along the railroad has one of these pre-ordained set-up sheets.  You can see that there is a check box beside the car and the listing for which track or industry the car is earmarked.

Moe and Paul share a laugh with Gilles, one of our two visitors to the layout on this morning.  Doug, our illustrious dispatcher, invited his friend, Dominique to come and run trains. Gilles accompanied Dominique and I know that he is glad that he did as we enjoyed a great morning on the IPP&W. 
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Moe and Gilles just before the ops session got underway.  With an overcast morning, most of the umbrellas were left unopened on this day.

Let's head over to the eastern end of the railroad.  Doug brought out his beautiful steamer, lettered and numbered for his home road.

Love that logo, Doug!

Here is our other visitor on the day, Doug's guest, Dominique.  We catch Dominique railfanning his train before it departs Craig Leigh.

Bernie, the yardmaster in Craig Leigh has Train 301 set and ready to go even before the bell has rung.  Way to go, Bernie!

In the lounge, Fred goes over the last minute instructions as Paul, Henk, Bill and Gilles look on.

Gilles heads over to Glen Hammond where his train, number 318, is staged and ready to depart.

With a blow of the horn and bells ringing, 318 is on the roll.

It passes the depot at Glen Hammond and traverses the outer track outside of Nelson Yard.

Rounding the bend, 318 departs yard limits.

We know Gilles was impressed with this beautiful bridge crossing the gut outside Nelson Yard.

318 arrives Spruce.  Paul is crewing with Gilles on this morning.

Meanwhile, back at the eastern terminus, Craig Leigh, Pool Train #15 looks ready to rumble!

Moe will command this train which will run over the rails of both railroads, the IPP&W and the RP&M.

Bernie poses for a shot in Craig Leigh.  Bernie has really done a great job working this large area of the line.

Pat has signed on to Train 327.  It will depart Glen Hammond for Firgrove. It seems Pat has some switching to complete at the Glen before he must depart.

Pat's locomotive on this day.

Over at Nelson Yard, Henk, Gord and Paul have things underway as they team up to assemble the traffic for the various trains that will eventually depart the yard.

"What's that dear?" Henk listens in, "You want me to pick up some eggs on the way home?"

This faraway shot shows Ironwood below the photographer and Spruce in the distance where Paul and Gilles are currently working.  Behind Paul, we see Cedar Rock which is located at the end of a branch line that connects to the IPP&W at Peter's Pond.

Below my window in the dispatcher's booth, I spot this switcher working Nelson Yard at its eastern end.  Three cabeese are resting on the caboose track and the orange and green combine below will later run along the Rat Portage and Mattawa.

Paul works the east end of the yard with Gordie and Henk spotted off in the distance.

Pssst....Paul....smile for the camera!

That's better!  Hehehe!  Hey...looks like Henk heard me too!

Aha!  We have a meet!  Or...should I say, a "pass".  Moe's Pool Train #15 has caught up to 301 as the crew of 301 has protected itself in the siding.

Dappled shade offers this photographer some interesting challenges when it comes to light, but, hey...it's a shot of a train and that's all that matters!

301 continues drilling the industries at Mount St. Helens as the Pool Train prepares to depart westward for Ironwood.

Doug is the conductor with Dominique at the controls in the cab of 301.

With their work complete at Spruce, Paul and Gilles bring 318 around the big curve into Ironwood.

They arrive Ironwood where they take the siding for a meet with Moe aboard the Pool Train.

Paul heads into the "stub-end" operators grass canyon between Spruce and Ironwood while Moe relaxes in the shade as he brings his train along the station track.

A closer view of the meet.

Closer still!

This overall shot of Ironwood is testament to the great planning of this railroad.  Dispatching the line is a joy as there are multiple meets throughout a session.  (Doug asked me to dispatch this day to enable him to run the layout with his guest, Dominique, aboard 301.)

Paul orchestrates the moves at Ironwood as Moe is about to depart town westward to Spruce.

Once again I check below my dispatch window to catch two steam locomotives in action at Nelson Yard.

Moe brings the pool train around the big bend into Spruce.

Along the station track.

In the meantime, Pat has been cleared from Glen Hammond right through to Peter's Pond.  We spot him right hand running through Mercer.

The pool train is always a colourful one!

Train 15 departs Spruce as Moe walks toward Glen Hammond where his train will catch up with him.  You've got to love the gardens and the rockery outside of Spruce.

I turn around after taking that last image to find 301 finishing its work at Mount St. Helens.  The crew has run around their train and will back onto their consist before departing.

Dominique is all smiles.  Why wouldn't he be?  He's  in paradise, running trains with friends as the sun clears all of that overcast grey away!

Locomotive 45 is a true beauty!

Moe "shows proof" of his moves which were questioned in an always kidding fashion.  Dominique is all ears and eyes while Doug is unsure of the explanation.  That's okay Moe, I watched and "ya followed yer orders to a T!"  Hehehe!  Yes, we do kibbitz and have fun at all times!

A great big "Thank You" to Lawrence who puts the effort into organizing our sessions.  Your time spent on this is greatly appreciated.  I believe Doug also spends time on our behalf doing this for sessions as well.  Yes, it's all volunteer time and everyone's contributions certainly make a big difference!

Moe relaxes beside the dispatcher's booth as he brings the Train 15 into Glen Hammond.

Bell is a rather busy junction on the railroad.  We spot 327 arriving the yard where he will meet 302.

Pat, in the green shirt, is running the 327 while Lawrence is aboard 302.

301 enters Ironwood along the siding track.  It seems that the Coca-Cola company helps to pay the bills for the IPP&W judging by the consists in the last two images.

Dominique...at the throttle of 301 on this fine day.

Here's a great overall shot looking across Nelson Yard, Glen Hammond and over to Bell.  We spot a number of crews and yard workers working wonders on this marvelous railroad.  Lawrence will depart Bell shortly with eastbound 302.  Pat will depart the same yard westbound to Firgrove aboard 327.  Train 15, the Pool Train departs Glen Hammond for Peter's Pond also in a westbound direction.  Paul and Henk work Nelson Yard.

Lawrence, aboard 302, departs Bell downgrade.  He will arrive Watkins siding momentarily and then head to Peter's Pond.

Paul and Gilles have arrived Mount St. Helens aboard 318. When they complete their work here, they will terminate their train at their next destination, Craig Leigh.  They will then crew the "turn" as 319 out of Craig Leigh as a westbound run.

Pat is a-grin as his train climbs the grade at "The Ledges" with its final destination of Firgrove in sight.

Bill and Mark have kept a clean yard at Firgrove and Ralph, as always.

We lens the Pool Train crossing the diamond at Bellamy on its approach to Mercer and Peter's Pond.

Pat arrived Firgrove as 327 where he turned his locomotive for his return trip to Glen Hammond as 328.  His train is just out of Bell bound for the siding at Watkins.

The Pool Train sneaks in behind and below the BBQ between Mercer and the pond.

Time to relax as Moe brings the pool train into "The Pond".

Train 15 has arrived Peter's Pond.

Another view of 318 working Mount St. Helens.

Henk is aboard RP&M 67 at Rat Portage in difficult light.

Thanks, once again, Fred!  Where else would anyone want to be on a Saturday morning?!

Before his camera battery ran low, this railfan managed to snag the tail end of a train at Peter's Pond.  This indicates the end of another account of a great morning on the Ironwood, Peter's Pond and Western!

Have a great week everyone...and, as Fred always says, "Stay Safe."  Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada