2016 Garden Railroading Season Underway With a Fine Tribute

2016 Garden Railroad Season Underway

The crew of the IPP&W and RP&M gathered for their spring "kick-off" meeting.  Needless to say, the lads and lasses were glad that the cold spring weather seems to have scurried off, no doubt pushed aside by a warm front.  

I was unable to attend the first meeting due to a church commitment, but I was sent some photos and a wonderful story about a dedication on the railroad.  I'll let Colin Churcher's words speak for themselves.

As many of you know, Bud Nelson bequeathed his CPR maroon and gray RS-3 8450 to me and it has been a regular switcher in Nelson Yard.  Thanks to Gord Bellamy I now have name plates which have been attached on the cab sides under the number.

I think the name "Lord Nelson" is very appropriate for this locomotive as Bud was certainly a force to be reckoned with.  The name is associated with British military history but there is also a railway connection.  The Southern Railway in Britain built a class of powerful 4-6-0 passenger locomotives all with military names.  The first of the class was no. 850 Lord Nelson and they became known as the Nelsons.  I saw them as a kid on my visits to London Waterloo where they hauled the heavy passenger trains to the west.

I am attaching a picture of 8450 with its name plate and also a picture of 850 beautifully restored and in preservation.

 Thank you, Colin, for sharing this fine story.  Two beautiful locomotives, indeed.

Fellow garden rail enthusiast, Malcolm Vant, sent along a couple of photos of the first action seen on the line since before the snow flew.  Here is a different Canadian Pacific diesel piercing the trestle outside of Nelson Yard.

Some cool looking plow action.  While there is no snow, there very well may be some debris along the right of way that would require some deflecting away!
Here's to a new season of garden railroading in the nation's capital.

Thank you, Colin and Malcolm, for the stories and pics!

Mike Hamer - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada