2016 Season Opening Session in the Garden

We Begin a New Season!

Today marks our first session of the season!

Indeed, spring is in the air up here in Ottawa!
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This means Fred awakes from his winter slumber.  "Who's that coming to check out the property?" he muses as he looks over his shoulder.

Yes, some of Ottawa's finest.  Our fire fighters stop by to see what all the fuss is about.

While the team sets out cars for the session.

I've volunteered to run the yard at Firgrove although it will be difficult to do so as handily as Bill and Mark have proven in the past, but I'll try my best.

It's lots of fun making up the consist for 302, the manifest freight that will traverse the entire length of the IPP&W.

302 is almost ready to go as we back the train onto the van.

The bell rings and it's time for the morning pre-ops rendezvous.

All speakers manage to hold everyone's attention.

Train ops get underway.  Henk drills Nelson with the CP locomotive while my CN road switcher performs double duty now heading up Train 327, the turn from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.

Gord and his sidekick, Paul, ensure everything is in tiptop shape in and around Nelson Yard.

Our turn has arrived Peter's Pond.

As the saying goes..."Measure Twice, Cut Once".

In railroad parlance we prefer to say... "Check Twice and Switch Once".

Malcolm has things in control up in Cedar Rock.

Meanwhile Moe is all smiles now that he has had some major trackwork done, which he wishes to share with us later on.

Lawrence and Paul must be aboard 301 as it is early in the session and they are working Mount St. Helens.

Back down in Peter's Pond, Pat is in control of Passenger Train 2.

We've protected the turn for the meet.

At Spruce, Bob rounds the bend with a consist of empties aboard the ore train.

He's downgrade out of Spruce.

Our turn takes the siding and awaits permission into Bell.

Lilly is a great place to railfan trains especially when they are as beautiful as Train #2.

Chris surveys the action in Nelson Yard.

Fred paid a hefty amount for his front row seat to watch the comings and goings at Spruce.  Steve and Seanna are commanding the easterly turn out of Glen Hammond.

Passenger #2 arrives Craig Leigh.

Bernie holds the fort at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

In the meantime, Steve and Seanna reach Ironwood.

While Henk deals with a string of ore cars in Nelson Yard.

Here comes the Pool Train into Bell.  A pleasant surprise awaits Moe upon arrival.

We catch the ore train out of Nelson Yard on its way to Peter's Pond/Cedar Rock.

What's this!  The pool train is traversing IPP&W tracks up to Firgrove?  Due to an equipment shortage on the IPP&W the switcher at Firgrove was pulled into mainline duty.  This meant that Train #20/21 from Firgrove to Bell was annulled.  Thus the detour for the pool train.

No matter.  In a short period of time, Moe had the pool train returning back to Bell after switching out the cars in Firgrove and turning his locomotive on the "armstrong."

Henk checks his orders at Glen Hammond.

Upon arriving back at Bell, the pool train once again had to turn the locomotive and swap the tail end cars for its run down the RP&M.

Man, that Moe is proficient at the throttle.  He's already spotted heading down the RP&M!

Paul is at Rat Portage conducting some spots and lifts.

Love that road switcher in CP colours!

Malcolm has brought train 327, the Glen Hammond/Firgrove turn into Firgrove and he is now building the return leg in the yard at Ralph.  Shortly he will depart as Train 328.

The ore train terminates in Firgrove.

As does Passenger Train #1.

Malcolm has 328 ready to depart Ralph for Bell.  His shirt certainly says it all!

Arriving Bell, he meets the RP&M train.

The yard is busy.

With both crews assisting each other with facing moves, the job gets done efficiently.

Paul brings 301 into Bell.

With Lawrence's beautiful road switcher in B&O colours on the point.

302 is nearing the end of its run as it arrives Mount St. Helens.  In no time, they will be terminating at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

Bob returns with a load of empties rounding the big curve at Spruce.

With exhaust puffing out of the stack.

I have to thank Paul for getting my headlights up and running at the end of the session.  Too bad I didn't get him to look at the diesel before the session began.  At any rate, thank you, Paul for your infinite wisdom with garden locomotives!

Henk and Lawrence shoot the breeze post ops.

While Lilly looks like a magnificent carpet of green.

Malcolm just sent me some pics he took from his phone.
Here's our train protected on the main as Passenger #2 glides to a station stop in Peter's Pond.

I'm enjoying the downgrade passage of the ore train out of Spruce on its approach to Blockhouse.

Steve spots some traffic in Spruce.

The railroad action on this fine Ottawa morning will always bring a smile to my face!

Our train heads upgrade at the ledges.

Last shot back at Peter's Pond.

Back to Moe.  He asked me to share this image with the gang of the latest "trackwork" done on the IPP&W.  Indeed, Moe we are so very happy that you went into the hospital with that darned cold that wasn't seeming to get any better.  A major operation later and Moe is now a new man!

Ah yes, the hot stove.  No need for that now that summer-like weather is now here!

Thanks so much for checking in!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada