Views From Malcolm's Lens

Malcolm's Point of View

I just received a batch of photos Malcolm snapped from this past Saturday's session to complement the ones taken by Chris E. using Seanna's camera. 

 Here we see the depot at Spruce with the sun's rays shining proudly from above.
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Malcolm managed to railfan the back end of his train, Train 302, as it takes the hole at Watkins Siding.  That's Malcolm's crewmate, Lawrence, the gentleman the siding is named after.

Garry's train is in the siding at Ironwood where he and Steve will commence their switching chores shortly.  To view the pics in larger format, click the image.  To return to the default page, click outside the picture.

Garry's spotting a car at the team track in Ironwood.

While Steve handles the throttle.

Chris is explaining to his guest operator, George, the intricacies of throttle management.  Chris is a great person to link up a guest with as he is a very experienced operator having built numerous HO scale indoor layouts in his lifetime.

Where would the operations be without this handsome gentleman?  Indeed, Doug manages to keep all trains flowing at safe intervals each week from his perch in the dispatch booth.

A view down the tracks at Spruce.  That's Chris E. in the background on the hunt for pictures for the blog.  Thanks, Chris!

You've gotta love the dappled shade Mount St. Helens offers on hot mornings.

Peter's Pond can become a hive of activity now that the Cedar Rock branch has been incorporated into the operations for the past couple of seasons.

Pat has Passenger #2 well in hand up the grade into Spruce.

The patio umbrellas are a Godsend on these bright sunny mornings.

Looks like the yardmasters in Nelson, Gord, Henk and Paul, have things well in control.  That's Moe off in the distance.  He acted as the Firgrove Yard operator this day.  He is running Train 20, the milk run, from Firgrove down to Bell and back.

I see the ore train but I don't see Bob.  Rest assured, he's nearby!

Pat is now westbound as Passenger #1.  He is making a station stop at Ironwood.

Lawrence and Malcolm are still waiting in the hole at Watkins.  That's a beauty of a road switcher Lawrence has in B&O colours.

There is always something interesting to see at the table on a Saturday morning and this past Saturday was no different.  I wonder who brought out this gorgeous model?  Malcolm and Fred informed me that Bernie Geiger from the Ottawa Railway Circle dropped by with the "Croc" electric locomotive on the table. He got it in Germany quite a few years ago.

Thanks for the great pics, Malcolm.  Have a great week everyone!  Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Standard Gauge Operations on Saturday, June 25th Mike's A Proud Father

June 25th Operations

What's this about Mike being a proud father?  Read on...

Yes, the title is correct.  The session was a standard gauge one.  Seanna and Steve can be forgiven as they required a "loaner" locomotive for the session.  Thanks to Garry for graciously loaning them his Annie.  Steam still rules!  Yabba dabba doo!

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Steve and Seanna signed up for Train 301/311.

This train traverses the entire IPP&W line westbound from Craig Leigh to Nelson Yard to Firgrove.

They are in the hole at Mount St. Helens.  They will have to run around their train to conduct the facing moves at this location.

Since I was absent from the session, I asked Seanna and Steve if they could snap a few pics on my behalf for the blog.  I also asked for a shot of the sign-up sheet for my information.  Thanks to Chris E. for snapping the pics with Seanna's camera while she ran trains.

Paul is the Craig Leigh yardmaster.  Here he is working Douglas Yard in the shade.

Indeed, along with Paul, we are so appreciative of those who sign up to work the yards.  They don't get out on the high iron as much, but their role is vital to the smooth running of the railroad.  Henk is looking down at his consist with Doug and Paul to his left.

Doug holds onto the pole in the shade as the three yardmasters, Henk, Paul and Gord organize the trains for the crews.  Pat, aboard Passenger #2, looks on at the far right.

Henk also runs trains along the RP&M when not working the yard.

We also give a big note of thanks to Moe for running the yard at Firgrove.  In this shot, he is with Doug at Bell.  It's so good to see you out again, Doug!

Moe has done the milk run aboard Train 20 from Firgrove to Bell.

He chats with Doug as his train ascends the grade up to Firgrove.

Malcolm watches as Pat's Passenger #2  navigates the big curve to the west of Spruce.

Paul and Tom are in care of 327W from Glen Hammond to Craig Leigh.  They are in the hole at Mercer awaiting the passage of Passenger #2.  It is so nice to see Trevor out with the crew on this day!

Chris and Lela have signed on to the Pool Train, Pool Turn #15.  Lela graciously gave up her spot in the cab to George who crewed with Chris.  Lela then visited Doug Hayes' lovely wife, Ena.  Looks like Fred is showing Doug Lake around the railroad.

The Pool Train and Passenger #2 meet at the depot in the Glen.  The Pool Train takes the station track in order to switch out the industries here.

Later in the day, they are spotted shunting traffic at Bell before heading over to RP&M rails.

Earlier in the morning, Malcolm and Lawrence were spotted aboard Train 302/312 at Bell.  Their train will traverse the entire road in an easterly direction.

302 meets The Pool Train at Watkins Siding between Bell and Peter's Pond.

Looks like a saw-by may be in order.

318's power spotted outside Ironwood.

318E is the eastbound turn from Glen Hammond to Craig Leigh.  Steve and Garry are in control of this train at Mount St. Helens.  They take the station track to await the departure of another train.

Paul and Tom aboard 327W, the other turn (Glen Hammond to Firgrove) are working the end of the branchline at Cedar Rock.

The rest of their train is on the track down in Peter's Pond.

We couldn't share a posting of a session without at least a couple of picture of Bob on the ore train.

He's eastbound out of Nelson Yard navigating the trestle.

My reason for my absence was to attend the Governor General's first inspection of the season of the Foot Guards.  My daughter, Alison, was the Master of Ceremonies for the hour-long event.  Here she is with my wife, Lisa.

She is standing at the podium under the entranceway delivering her address to the crowd.

The marching band came up the laneway.

While our Governor General, David Johnston, came out to inspect the servicemen and women.

Indeed, I am a proud father!

Next week, it will truly be narrow gauge!

Have a great week everyone.

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

New Depot At Spruce

Spruce Gets "Spruced Up!"

As the title of this posting indicates, the town of Spruce along the IPP&W has been given a facelift of sorts.  Read on to learn of the developments.

As you may have noticed in the previous two postings of the train ops session this Saturday, there is a beautiful looking new depot placed at Spruce on the IPP&W.  (photo Steve/Seanna Watson)
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This magnificent structure is a fine addition to this busy location on the line.
It is a replica of the Gananoque station and a mutual friend of Bernie and I, John Shipman, was able to inform us as to who built it.

The gentleman who made this wonderful model is Pierre Ribot.  Pierre's wife, Mimi, did the painting of the depot, John tells us.  With its magnificent roof lines and elegant design, it will be a crowd pleaser for years to come.

Garry and his lovely wife took a trip to Gananoque following Saturday's session where Garry found the station standing just a beautiful there as it does on the IPP&W.

Judging by these prototype pics, our fine modeller did a magnificent job on the build.

Garry discovered this track in back the station.  He was wondering how we could incorporate this in the real scheme of things on our very own IPP&W.  Hehehe!

Here's a shot from Saturday's session.

She sure is a fine looking beauty!  Thank you to Bernie and Fred for going "halfers" each on the purchase of this magnificent addition to the IPP&W!
Have a beautifully "spruced up" day everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada