Back To Operations
Yes, we are back up in the saddle!
It's no fun when we have to call a rain postponement as we did last week.
We share with you a lovely model made by Bruce showcasing Fred's garage. Brilliant Bruce!
Earlier this week, we paid tribute to Fred.
In an e-mail from Bruce and Jean, Bruce posted this image of Mills Fuel, a facility he built for his layout down in the States.
The structure is a replica of Fred's shed on his property up here in Ottawa.
Thanks, Bruce, for allowing me to post these pics from your website.
To view these images in larger format, click on the pic.
To return to default, click outside the pic.
Gord just sent me these images of the four signals which govern the entire interlocking.
The left signal govern trains on the IPP&W wishing to head across the diamond to Mercer Siding and into Peter's Pond. The signal on the right protects the RP&M route across the diamond to Rat Portage. A great big "Thank You" to Steve and Seanna for their hard work in this department.
Eastbound trains heading into Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard must stop at this signal and contact dispatch for clearance across the diamond.
RP&M trains and the Pool Train must await at this signal out of Rat Portage with a destination of Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond.
A railfan's view of the new depot at Spruce. What an architectural beauty!
Two Mikes in one picture...yikes!
The gentleman standing beside me in the red shirt found out about the railroad from this blog.
He came to visit and run trains as he is in the process of deciding to build either a small HO scale railroad in a 10x10 room inside his home or build a large garden railroad on his massive property north of the Ottawa River in the province of Quebec. Well, I know the obvious answer to Mike's dilemma. Build both! Hehehe.
Stu and John were out running trains with us on this gorgeous Ottawa spring morning.
Lawrence and Doug in conversation.
Fred at the table pre-ops.
Seanna and Steve discuss the signals they have been installing.
Pat came out as Steve's guest.
Lawrence giving the pre-ops briefing.
Paul and Bob in front of Fred's shed.
Ah! Something new on the railroad! Another look at the new depot at Spruce.
It's in a new location to the west of town on the other side of the tracks.
Time for the session to begin. In Bernie's absence, Paul has volunteered to run the big yard at Craig Leigh. He is assembling our train, Train 301 which will ply the entire length of the property.
Love that CP diesel, Paul.
The caboose track in Douglas Yard.
Paul helped Stu assemble the Pool Train, Train 15.
The Pool Train in Craig Leigh.
Rounding the bend at Douglas Yard.
My Annie is awaiting clearance from Paul to back onto our train in Douglas Yard.
I've given Mike the throttle and I tell him that these G-scale locomotives run so beautifully...seeing as it is his first time coming out to a session.
Boy was I wrong on that account on this morning.
Old man "Murphy" came out and as soon as I instructed Mike to "go ahead", the locomotive skipped and sputtered!
We're skipping and sputtering out of Craig Leigh after being given clearance from dispatch to head west to Mount St. Helens.
We barely arrive Mount St. Helens.
For the life of me I try to figure out why such a reliable locomotive is so unreliable on this day when I am having a guest operator crew with me. Mike hands me the throttle and I start moving ahead and in reverse to see what will happen. It's at this point that I hear another crew over near Watkins Siding calling out, "Hey, our train is moving back and forth!" Yup, problem figured out. Another operator brought out a new locomotive and it just so happened to be on the same frequency as my Annie which I've been running on the railroad for a good two years now. We sure got a laugh out of that afterwards...and there was no damage done to either locomotive.
While in the hole at Mount St. Helens awaiting a meet with 318, I snap a few images hither and yonder. Here is Steve railfanning Peter's Pond with video equipment.
Garry is at Watkins awaiting clearance into Peter's Pond aboard Passenger #2 while Lela works Ironwood's Windmill Siding on 318.
Paul is Lela's engineer on the day.
With 318's work complete, we are given clearance into Ironwood.
What's all the commotion, what's all the fuss?
Peter's Pond has become clogged, I must see this, I must!
Aha! A cornfield meet! No, this was not dispatch's fault as all trains had been cleared within their respective timelines, although one suffered a "service interruption" somewhere out on the mainline resulting in this very interesting "Meeting of the Minds" at Peter's Pond. Lesson learned on this day was if you have a locomotive issue out on the high iron after being cleared to a destination, notify dispatch immediately so dispatch can make alternate arrangements with other train crews. Indeed, you'll never know what you'll find at this location on the line! Seems like Old Man Murphy was enjoying a field day on this fine spring morning!
Tom listens in on Fred and George's conversation at the table.
Train 327 is captured in an area of the line known simply as "The Corners". She sure looks beautiful in the dappled shade.
327 meets Passenger 2 at Watkins Siding.
Following the sorting out of the cornfield meet, Train 15, the Pool Train is spotted at "The Corners".
George and Fred share a smile and a story.
Passenger 2 is tucked in behind the facility at Ironwood Brick heading Eastbound towards Peter's Pond. Love the green backdrop!
Rounding the bend at "The Corners".
Much later on, Passenger 2 is spotted rounding the curve into Spruce after having departed Glen Hammond and Blockhouse.
Our train, 301 is busy switching Larabie Fuels in Ironwood when Passenger 2 arrives town.
Dispatch has instructed us to set out the ore cars for the ore train from the facing siding at Ironwood Brick to the passing siding in town. This move will enable the crew of the ore train to pick up their traffic in a trailing fashion.
Steve films the action as Bob controls the ore train from afar.
His train arrives the big curve outside of Spruce.
Rounds the bend.
He passes through Spruce in short order and meets us in Ironwood.
Bob uncouples from the ore consist and heads past the turnout to pick up the "now trailing" ore cars.
My crewmate, Mike, gives Bob the main again.
In short order he is backed onto his train.
And...heading eastward to Mount St. Helens.
We spot the Pool Train arriving Spruce.
We continue to hold the siding to allow the Pool Train passage to the station track.
Passenger 1 is seen in the distance arriving Ironwood.
301 works the spur track at Spruce as a fellow freight passes by.
Passing the new depot at Spruce.
She's a real beauty.
301 is downgrade towards Nelson Yard.
Love those sweeping curves.
Another crew is spotted switching out the industries at Cedar Rock.
Near Nelson Yard, an RP&M crew works a siding at Bellamy.
301 is at one of the lowest points on the line at Blockhouse.
Rounding the bend at Lilly.
Through the big trestle.
301 terminates in Nelson Yard. The train continues westward as 311.
311 has just been given the green from dispatch to cross the interlocking. The crew will radio its position to dispatch the moment the locomotive clears the signal.
311 arrives Peter's Pond and finds tranquility in and amongst the ferns.
Up the Cedar Rock Branch with a single set-out on this day.
Past the single trailing siding at the Rock.
There is little doubt as to the colour of railroading.
Love the billboard style of these older reefers!
311 has departed Peter's Pond and is trailed by the Ore Train.
"Tunneling" beneath Mount St. Helens.
Through Watkins and into Bell.
With the ore train in hot pursuit.
The ore train in Bell.
311 works Stuart Yard as the ore train passes on its way to its final destination of Firgrove.
George and Bob railfan the passage of the ore train at "The Ledges".
Appearing over our shoulder we spot this lovely centre cab working the industries around Bellamy.
311 drills Track 2 in Stuart Yard.
With their work complete in Stuart Yard, the crew departs this busy junction point and heads westward to Firgrove. Another billboard reefer heads the consist out of Bell.
Commencing the climb to Firgrove.
Steve and Seanna address a minor issue with one of the signals they've installed. Thanks so much to this remarkable husband and wife team for their tremendous input into this area of operations on the railroad. You certainly make a difference!
The grade is long but this 2-6-0 can handle it!
Taking the S-curve into Firgrove.
With the session complete, it is now time to pack up.
One car in the tray.
Five cars in the tray and she's ready to go into the storage shed.
Time for some lunch.
Some post-ops discussion.
Some laughter.
Some sausages...ah, yes...that's what we've been waiting for!
Guest and regulars mingle and there is a strong sense of camaraderie as we meet to enjoy train operations each week on the IPP&W/RP&M.
Dispatcher Doug is all smiles following another successful session.
Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
No...it's just the crew listening to see if our American friends have arrived for the invasion yet! No, no, no...that's still a few weeks away...but...wishful thinking on our part anyway!
Have a great week everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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