Final Session For the Season

A Treat For the Season!

Saturday October 17th was the date determined for the final ops session on the IPP&W/RP&M.

The yard master at Nelson wired a message to all railroad employees stating this fine offer... 

As a special promotion for the end of the season Nelson Yard is holding a pecan butter tart event. The crews of IPP&W trains coming through Nelson Yard will be presented with a pecan butter tart to enjoy while their train is being prepared.  RP&M crews are automatically included.  Trains running through Glen Hammond are not covered so the crews may try and bribe the dispatcher to route them through Nelson Yard.  Special arrangements will have to be worked out to supply the yardmasters and assistants at Craig Leigh and Ralph, the dispatcher and the President.  Trains legitimately calling at Nelson Yard may place an order with or without anchovies.

I could not attend the session on this day as I had a musical commitment at the church where I play guitar each week.  Colin Churcher, Malcolm Vant and Steve Mackenzie snapped some great images which they were willing to share on the blog and I thank them greatly for this!

I credit Colin with the first 18 images you will see as well as a video that I have linked to this posting.

The middle 20 images are from Malcolm and the final eight images come from Steve.  Malcolm also snapped the image that closes out this posting.  I hope you will enjoy the account of what appears to be a great final session of the season for the lads and lasses on the Ironwood, Peter's Pond and Western as well as the Rat Portage and Mattawa.

Still on the culinary theme, a number of the crew met "pre-ops" at the local restaurant down the street.  Colin's caption reads,  I met with Paul A., Paul C., Bernie, Gord at Reynolds.  Our waitress, Samantha always knows what we will order - bacon and eggs or pancakes. 

When I visit Colin's travel blog, I am always delighted to see the images of the meals he enjoys while away.  Colin continues to keep the bar set high as he shares these next two images of the fine looking breakfast the lads enjoyed pre-ops. 

Of course, one requires a hearty breakfast in order to handle the demands a railroad offers!
To view any of these images in larger format, click on the image.  To return to the default page, click outside the image.

"At the garden there was quite a leaf fall and the first order of business was to brush off as many leaves as possible," Colin indicates.

We see Lawrence dressed for the weather as he brushes off the tracks along "The Ledges".  I understand the crews experienced some bouts of snow flurries throughout the morning as well.

Steve manages to find a much heavier tool.  As the saying goes, many hands make light work.

"Today was a pecan-butter tart promotion day at Nelson Yard," as Colin demonstrates this lovely offering of enticing treats!

"Paul A and Malcolm worked 301 into Nelson Yard and claimed their butter tarts."
It is fun watching these two handsome lads indulging in the most welcome offering put on by the Nelson Yardmasters.

 "Steve and his wife, Seanna, worked the west end of Nelson yard then took out 67 returning with 68."  Thanks, Colin.  I must add that it is nice to see the road crews signing up to do some yard service.

"Paul C. and Gord worked the east end of Nelson Yard."  Gord is to the left and Paul is to the right stationed between Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond.

"The Pool train (Moe) passes the double headed passenger train with Pat and Steve," as lensed by Colin's camera from his vantage point in Nelson Yard.  Neil Lowes, in the lumberjack sweater, seems interested in this "meeting of the minds".

Moe's power on the Pool Train on this day.  That's one great looking tandem, Moe!

Pat and Steve have passenger 2 in steady hands as they trundle across the great trestle on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.

The westbound ore train of empties has arrived Nelson Yard.

Bob works the ore train in the massive yard.

As always, the very capable Nelson Yard team has their property looking "all well and good" as the session progresses.

"65 was worked by Colin's RS3 8450 seen here at Bellamy under the control of Paul C."  Colin tells us.  This is a great shot of the depot at Belson as the crew slows to a crawl to work the team track in behind.

Thank you, Colin, for taking the time to snap all of the above images while conducting the moves as Nelson Yard Master.  Greatly appreciated!

Here is a video Colin captured of Passenger 1 climbing the grade from Blockhouse to Lily with the helper engine midtrain.  Click on the arrow inside the image to begin the video



Great video footage, Colin!  Thanks for sharing!

Neil Lowes also sent a video of this train my way via Dropbox. Click on the link below and you will see it as a true double header rounding the bend at Lily.  Here is the link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n7spuyw48qsmiwn/AADe_KYrpmyOfC-ovvIAdX1ra?oref=e&n=89206329&preview=IMG_2191.MOV

Here is a second video Neil sent with a closer view of the train.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n7spuyw48qsmiwn/AADe_KYrpmyOfC-ovvIAdX1ra?oref=e&n=89206329&preview=IMG_2192.MOV

The next 20 images were taken by Malcolm Vant.  In the image above, Malcolm managed to capture this shot looking down the many tracks Nelson Yard offers up on this very cold autumn morning.

Steve's Pacific is in the foreground while Pat's is tucked in behind.  That's Lawrence in the distance.  We are in Firgrove at the moment.  The two locomotives will double-head Passenger 2 out of Firgrove where they will traverse the entire railroad arriving in Craig Leigh later in the morning.  The crew will then run Passenger 1 in the reverse direction.

Bob is getting ready to run his diesel out of its matching carrying case.  This CN power will hold the honours on the ore train this day.

Paul and Doug listening in on the pre-ops discussion.  Doug, our affable dispatcher, will ensure all trains run according to schedule, as he always does!

Seanna is dressed for the weather.  Indeed, layers is what works on these brisk mornings where the temps hovered around zero degrees Celsius!

Bob has set out some ore empties on the track beside the engine house in Craig Leigh.

Looks like the Craig Leigh yardmaster, Bernie, has 301 set to go on the ready track in behind him.

Steve looks ready and set to go as well.  He is standing between Cedar Rock and Spruce.

301 is underway with Paul and Malcolm as crewmates.  They are downgrade out of Mount St. Helens and will arrive Ironwood shortly.

Paul and Henk arrive Spruce aboard what appears to be train 318, the turn out of Glen Hammond bound for Craig Leigh.

Moe guides the Pool Train westbound into Spruce.

Now...if I can just manage to pry the door open on that boxcar resting on the spur track in Spruce and dig into a treat of Hershey's chocolate!  Yum yum!

Pat looks on proudly as he and Steve guide Passenger 2 downgrade out of Bell at Watkins Siding heading for a station stop at Peter's Pond.

Malcolm captured this great looking shot of his train, 301, meeting the ore train at Ironwood.

Passenger 2 arrives Spruce.  That hopper car seems to be doing a celebratory dance upon being visited by such a prestigious train!

You've got to love this close up shot Malcolm captured of Passenger 2 at the depot in Spruce.

Departing Spruce, Passenger 2 rounds the big curve and heads for Ironwood.

Henk offers up some sage words of wisdom to the crew of Passenger 2.

A great shot of Lela working the interchange tracks west of Bell.

Looks like 301 is about to arrive Nelson Yard and get its treat as shown earlier!

 Malcolm headed indoors where we find Henk and Chris enjoying the warmth.  That chili sure looks inviting, eh Chris!

Paul has polished off his bowl of chili and is looking for more!

Don't blame him as I bet it was the tastiest chili north of the border!

Thank you so much, Malcolm, for your contribution of these 20 pictures.  Lots of great angles and clear and crisp images!

Steve Mackenzie snapped these next eight shots (including the one above) of the train he and Pat crewed, Passenger 2 and 1.  We have this beautiful head-on shot of the two Pacifics awaiting their duty at Firgrove.

True beauts in all our books!

Steve's locomotive is to the right with Pat's to the left.

They are eager to get underway!

Steve captured this higher angle shot of the train on the big curve between Spruce and Ironwood.

Love this low angle railfan shot of Passenger 2 about to depart Ironwood for Mount St. Helens.  In the distance we see Train 15, the Pool Train, about to take on the grade up to Watkins Siding and into Bell.

Moe's power on the Pool train is this handsome AB pairing of CP power.

A final look at Passenger 2 at Ironwood.  Thanks so much, Steve, for these great shots of a great looking train.

Thanks again to Colin Churcher, Malcolm Vant and Steve Mackenzie for taking the time to photograph the train action so that we could create this photo essay of the final operating session for the season.

Moe sent this teaser shot to me and the gang via e-mail saying,  "Hi all.  Take a look at what Mike the Hammer missed seeing at today's operation.  Cheers, Moe!" 
That Moe...always a card!  Thanks, Moe, for the action shot which includes four trains!

Finally, we can't thank Fred enough for all that he does in opening his home up for us each week to enjoy wonderful camaraderie, fine food and such a wonderful railroad to operate.

This chapter closes the book on yet another fabulous season of running trains on the IPP&W/RP&M. We'll see you all next year!

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