Garden Railroad Withdrawal

Do You Suffer Railroad Withdrawal

 So-o-o-o...it's a Saturday morning and a really sunny and warm one at that!  

I'm sitting in my crew lounge strumming my six string  Even though I really enjoy playing this beautiful Martin guitar...I have this strange feeling that I should be somewhere else.  Why, I must be missing heading over to the IPP&W for Saturday morning train ops.  That's it!  Are you suffering "Garden Railroad Withdrawal" symptoms?  Perhaps a short posting to rekindle the "Train Ops" juices will be of some service.

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Overall Outlook

This overall shot of part of the eastern sector of the layout taken in the spring of 2015 sure brings back memories.  Check out how tall the foliage has grown around the tracks.  Say...where's that big house gone?  Paul and Bernie have arrived Spruce while Steve and Chris work Ironwood.

Meet and Greet

Train meets are a railfan's delight as it is not very often that one is able to capture two trains in one shot.  This meet took place in the summer of 2014 when the HOTrak club came over to visit the IPP&W.  Gord loaned his D&H diesel to a pair of HOTrak operators as did Lawrence with his B&O road switcher.  The Delaware and Hudson crew is eastbound on Track 4 at Bell while the B&O crew is westbound.

Meet and Greet 2

When one train passes another, we still consider it a "meet".  Passenger 2 meets Train 302 at Spruce.  The diesel AB pairing on the freight train is a gorgeous tandem which belongs to our dispatcher, Doug Matheson, and the handsome paint scheme represents his home road.

Diesel of the Day

This gorgeous looking Springfield Terminal unit arrived IPP&W rails midsummer in 2014 during the annual invasion weekend.  Grey and orange typically do not blend well together, but on a diesel locomotive, they sure do!  The 681 is an SD45 high hood.

Steaming Steamers

Nothing beats watching the rods and drivers do their dance as a gorgeous looking steam locomotive passes by.  All the railroaders in the garden were overcome with a sense of joy during our recent autumn sessions when Pat and Steve teamed up together to double-head their two Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 Pacifics.  Indeed, this railfan managed to grab dozens of great shots of this fine looking tandem.

Freight Train, Freight Train...Going So Fast!

This shot, taken on the morning of July 27th, 2013 showcases Train 327, the turn from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.  Doug Hayes was engineer on this day and I was conductor.  Ottawa Central road switcher number 1878 holds the honours on this day. Our train is spotted at a location known to some as "The Ledges" and we're climbing outbound from Bell for the terminal destination in Firgrove.

A Passenger "Peek"

This 2014 shot captures a great looking passenger train rounding the bend out of Ironwood as it approaches the depot at Spruce.

Whether "Ore" Not!  The Ore Train

I have said before that "Bob" and "The Ore Train" are synonymous.  We see Bob with his leg up in the distance as he enjoys watching the ore train depart Spruce westward to Nelson Yard.  Gary and Paul also enjoy the view.  Henk works Ironwood in behind Bob.

"Going Yard"

"Going Yard" is a relatively new term in baseball.  If a batter has "gone yard", he has hit the ball "out of the yard".  Yes, he has hit a home run.  Well, the train crews always hit a home run when they arrive the yards on the IPP&W/RP&M.  All yard masters have years of experience under their belts and they ensure that all trains arrive and depart on schedule to the best of their abilities.  Here we see the ore train in Nelson Yard with a string of loaded hoppers.

Trestle Treasures

The large trestle outside Nelson Yard is a magnetic gathering place for railfans.  We spot this pairing of small diesels hauling an eastbound freight through the trestle.  The crew will be downgrade into Blockhouse in short order.  This shot was taken during the recent "Invasion of Friends" held this July.

Radical Rolling Stock

This British Columbia Railroad 40' boxcar is our featured car tfor his post.  This railroad was a class II railroad and was the third largest in Canada in the 1970's.  The car looks nicely weathered as it basks in the sun at Craig Leigh.

We Love Those Curves!

There are a handful of gorgeous curves along the IPP&W/RP&M and they certainly attract railfans from all over.  We spot a peddler freight rounding the big bend to the east of Glen Hammond.

Ho! Ho! HOTrak Visit

In 2014, Fred invited the members of HOTrak over for a train ops session midweek.  Here we see Lawrence as he offers some advice on how to use the throttles.

Invasion of Friends

This glimpse of a busy looking Nelson Yard was captured during the standard gauge invasion day of 2014.  Everyone seems to be enjoying the sunshine and camaraderie.

A+ for Artsy

Here's an artsy shot for your enjoyment.  This locomotive rests in the engine house at Firgrove awaiting its next assignment.  Lawrence did a great job building the facility.

Surely You Jest!  Don't Call Me Shirley!

Steve's crewmate reads the riot act to young Steve at Ironwood who seems to be "mooning" the backyard neighbours!

Location, Location, Location!!!

Our featured location for this post is Firgrove.  Firgrove is the western terminus of the line.  We see the engine house and the turntable with some industries in the background.  Bill and Mark are the yard masters at Firgrove.

Location, Location, Location...continued

The station tracks are clear at Firgrove.  This shot must have been taken near the end of a session.  The depot here is truncated against the western fence of the property.

Wye Not?

The wye at the entrance to Craig Leigh offers operators the opportunity to turn their locomotives as there are no turntables at this end of the line.  It is often a hive of activity as two legs of the wye head to the engine house tracks.  All trains heading into and out from Craig Leigh traverse the far track of the wye as well.

Table Talk

The crew lounge is located under a large tent in the centre of the property with tracks passing by in many directions.  Lots of great conversation and laughter occur around the big table.  We catch Fred, Bob and Barry sharing a laugh in an earlier year.

Heading Indoors

A quick snapshot of one of the many models Fred has on display inside the house.  This little switch engine is a really beauty in my books!

Out of Bounds...but still spectacular!

Our "Off Property" destination for this posting is Doug Matheson's Northland layout located on his property south of the city of Ottawa.  Doug is our dispatcher on the IPP&W.  His railroad is situated in a gorgeous woodlawn setting.  That is a great looking trestle, Doug!

Operator in the Spotlight

Our "Operator Closeup" this post features our very own Henk.  Henk is always happy with a throttle in his hand.  He is equally adept running Nelson Yard, taking trains out on the RP&M or hauling tonnage on the IPP&W.  His quick and witty sense of humour keeps the mood light at all times...except if you arrive Bell the same time as he does!  Hehehe!  We love ya, Henk!

Where is This On the IPP&W?

This close-up shot of "something" on the railroad property sure looks interesting.  Can you identify what it is and where it is located on the railroad.  Check in next posting for the answer.  If you think you know the answer, feel free to send me an e-mail!

Going Away Shot

"Going Away" shots can be very effective train images.  They set the mood that the railroad is large and expansive and that the train is heading "somewhere else".  Check out Passenger 2 as it barrels downgrade out of Firgrove heading for Bell along "The Ledges".

The Tail End

We take a look at the RP&M Drover Caboose which will be placed on train 67 in short order.  Soon the train will head out of the yard via Glen Hammond and be on its way down RP&M trackage. With this final look at the "tail end" we say good-bye to this installment about railroading outdoors up here in Ottawa.  Please do check in at some future time for some more medicine to help you survive your garden railroad withdrawal symptoms.

Have a great train day everyone!

Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada