Dispatch Duties During June's First Session

Dispatch Duty Calls!

Ah, yes!  I'm found back in the dispatch booth for the first time this train operating season.

Doug usually holds down this job, but every now and then he wishes to run a train out on the line.

Today Doug ran Passenger 2 and 1 so I dispatched the line.

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It was a beautiful morning, so no need to turn on the fan...but it's there, just in case!

We spot the new toggle switch which controls the lights at the diamond.  Steve and Seanna did a great job designing and installing the system.

We find Paul aboard an RP&M train awaiting clearance from the dispatch to cross the diamond.

Yes, the wiring has been buried and works its way from the diamond to the dispatch booth.

Paul is returning after heading over to the interchange track at Bell.  We spot him just outside of Rat Portage as he awaits clearance once again at the signal.

He cannot cross the diamond until he gets his green and a verbal clearance from dispatch.

Before we can begin the session, everyone pitches in to set out the cars to their respective locations.

Gord releases his locomotive from its carrying case.

We assemble around the table for the pre-ops briefing.

Fred offers words of wisdom for the group.

Everyone is keen to hear what he has to say.

Bernie, Lawrence and Doug crack smiles as Fred offers up some humour.

Moe and Henk have sought solace from the sun under the canopy.

Doug and Chris share smiles.

Gord's tip of the hat indicates it'll be another great morning of train ops.

The lovely Lela and the handsome Chris have signed on to run the Pool Train today.  Let's check it out!

We spot them on their approach into Glen Hammond.  They will meet Passenger 2.  Upon Lela's sage advice, I give the Pool Train the station track in order to allow them to switch out some cars at the siding in behind the depot.

We spot their coach car at the rear of their train.

In the meantime, our regular dispatcher, Doug, is enjoying life behind the throttle as he brings Passenger 2 into Bell.

Later, he arrived Glen Hammond for a meet with the Pool Train.

Doug's A-B tandem is a joy to behold.

Back on the Pool Train, Lela works the spur behind the depot.

Ah, yes...meets are always fun to railfan.

Thanks again, Lela, for the tip!

Earlier, back in Bell, Steve and Peter work the yard and the interchange track aboard 302.

Later, Chris guides the Pool Train into Bell where he and Lela will exchange traffic with Train 20, Moe's train, which came down from Firgrove.  Yes, three trains in the yard at one time, but it worked!

Steve and Peter have arrived Peter's Pond.

I couldn't resist snapping a shot of this car from my favourite railroad!

The car is just two digits off my HO version as seen on my B&M home layout!

 

302 works the industries up in Cedar Rock.

In the dappled shade.

An aerial shot taken from a drone of 302 departing Peter's Pond.

302 terminates at Nelson Yard.  The crew will be given a new consist and depart shortly as Train 312.

The opposing train to 302 is 301.  Both trains traverse the entire IPP&W road.  Garry and Lawrence signed on for 301 on this day.

Here they are in the shade of Mount St. Helens.

Then at Ironwood.  Fred is seated watching the action at Watkins Siding.

Doug and Chris are in the background.  Doug has Passenger 2 at Spruce while Chris works the Pool Train.  Garry and Lawrence continue with their moves at Ironwood.

Having crews work in tandem allows for quicker switching and a great deal of brainstorming on the part of the crews.

Fred oversees the railroad as Garry throttles down to bring 301 into Nelson Yard.

Their train terminates here and they will continue westward as Train 311.  This shot was taken from inside my dispatch hut.

This similar shot to the earlier one showcasing the crew awaiting clearance into Peter's Pond.

Their train is in the hole at Mercer Siding and they must wait for another train to complete its moves at the Pond before they can enter.  They will also have a meet with Passenger 1.

They are finally given clearance into Peter's Pond.  We spot them working the branch up into Cedar Rock.  The addition of this branch to the system adds greater interest in this area of the line, but it does mean that crews must take longer at the Pond than before the branch opened.  Garry and Lawrence are experienced operators and they complete their work in short order.

 This new industrial building adds to the overall appearance of Cedar Rock.

 

Back in Glen Hammond, Paul and Malcolm assemble their train.  They will crew the 318/319 Turn from Glen Hammond to Craig Leigh.

I grab a snapshot of Malcolm just outside my dispatcher's booth.

 A few more car moves and their train will be on the roll.

I didn't get the opportunity to railfan this crew on their eastward leg of the turn, but here I catch them at Mount St. Helens on the westbound return leg.  

 Paul works the throttle. 

The other Paul and Pat ran the other turn, Train 327/328 the Glen Hammond to Firgrove Turn.  We find them protected at Peter's Pond while the eastbound ore train approaches.

Pat has 327 in the hole at Watkins Siding.

Coming upgrade into Bell.

Having run around their train, they prepare to work the yard at Bell.

Later in the day, we spot their return run again in Bell, this time as Train 328.

Paul takes a well-deserved break in the shade awaiting clearance out of Watkins for Peter's Pond.

Still awaiting clearance.

Awaiting some more!

That's 312 at Ironwood in the foreground.

328 is given clearance...finally...into Peter's Pond.  They will work the industries up in Cedar Rock.

Let's check in on the ore train.  Bob has arrived the station track in Bell where he meets the crew of 302.

A short stop, and then he's on his way.

Bob is the proud operator of the ore train on most of our Saturdays.

Leaving Bell for Peter's Pond.

Head shot.

Tail shot.

In the hole at Watkins Siding for a meet with the Pool Train.

Later on at Blockhouse.

Then pleasantries are shared with Lela up in Spruce.

Thanks, Lela, for the pat on the bum!

A beauty of a diesel Bob is in charge of.

A going away shot of the ore consist in Spruce.

Before leaving Spruce, he had to take the siding for a meet with Passenger 1.

Later, the ore train meets 319 at Ironwood.  319's crew gave Bob an assist with his facing siding moves.  Thanks 301.  Paul and Malcolm sacrificed some of their run time to aid a fellow train operator.  It's gestures like these that are greatly appreciated and add immensely to the camaraderie and the successful management of traffic across the system.

Much later, empties are spotted westbound at Mount St. Helens.

Into Ironwood once more.

Arriving Nelson Yard.

The yard looks pretty clean by this time of the session.

Let's head back and follow Doug aboard Passenger 1. 

He is now westbound out of Craig Leigh where he meets the Pool Train in Mount St. Helens.

Dispatch has given him the station track.

While the Pool Train holds the siding.

Rounding the bend into Ironwood.

Railfan shot.

Meeting 319 in Ironwood.

Looks like a pleasant morning for railfanning.

Two gorgeous locomotives at Ironwood.

Malcolm checks out the action at Spruce.  Passenger 1 is downgrade to Blockhouse while the ore train holds the siding in Spruce.

Into Blockhouse.

The dome car.

Out of Glen Hammond.

Passing 311 at Mercer.

Meeting 302 at Peter's Pond.

The green of the unit compliments the green of the foliage at the pond.

Heading over to Craig Leigh we find the yardmaster with a big grin.  Yessirree, Bernie runs a tight ship at this eastern terminal location of the railroad.

Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

I can't get enough of Bernie's lovely TH&B GP7.

Bernie's hand gestures control all movements on the eastern section of the railroad!  (big smile)

Let's head on over to the RP&M.

We see Henk arriving Bell where he'll work the interchange with the IPP&W.

His Drover Caboose is one of my favourite selections of rolling stock on the entire railroad.

Nice looking locomotive too!

Henk is all smiles all the time...

...except when he is perplexed!  Hehehe.

Just kiddin' Henk...you're the best!

Henk works the eastern end of Nelson while Paul works the west.  Gord oversees the yard as a whole.

And...quite the busy yard it is at most times during the ops session.

The "b"umbrellas offer shade on these sunny spring mornings.

Our great friend, Ray Farand, dropped in to see what condition the railroad's condition was in.  I remember that song from the sixties.  Ray is an ardent railfan and prolific author.  When he isn't railfanning the IPP&W/RP&M, he's seen trackside anywhere up the Ottawa Valley and many other places across our vast country and throughout the continent.

A couple more shots of the Pool Train.  This train is numbered #15 on the railroad.  We catch Lela and Chris climbing the grade out of Watkins Siding heading for Bell.

They've already traversed the RP&M and find themselves back at Glen Hammond.  They will travel on to Craig Leigh where they will end their run.

Out of Nelson Yard they tiptoe across the trestle into Lilly.

We say goodbye to them at Blockhouse.  They still have to pass through Spruce, Ironwood and Mount St. Helens before they reach their destination at Craig Leigh.  Typically Moe handles the ore train, but he chose to assist the railroad by working the terminal yard at Firgrove on this morning.  Sadly, I was not able to snag some pics of the action over there as I was quite busy in the earlier stages of the session.

Here's a shot of Moe from an earlier session.

Thanks, Moe, for handing off the Pool Train to another crew!

Moe in an earlier session at Firgrove, the location where he was yardmaster on this week.

Checking back in on 319.  In this earlier shot they arrive Ironwood.

319 takes the siding for a meet with the ore train.

Malcolm captures a railfan shot as the ore train slows as it passes the station.

As mentioned earlier, Bob, in command of the ore train, greatly appreciated the assist 319 gave him in shunting cars in and out of the facing siding. 

319 switching at Spruce.

We check in on 312 (formerly 302).  Garry and Steve have their train on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.

They step on to the trestle.

Railfans abound at this location on the road.

Around the bend at Lilly.  Yes, I know it should be spelled Lily for the flowers, but my puppy's name is Lilly so that's how I refer to this area of the line.

I've got my ducks all in a row and things are settling in nicely towards the end of the session so I head over to the table to snag a nice shot of Fred.

A final gander at the other Paul making up his RP&M train in the Glen.

A lovely Canadian Pacific road switcher has the honours on Paul's train today.

Yup, Fred is a content man sitting in the shade of the dispatch booth and watching the railroad come alive with expertise and camaraderie.

Malcolm sent me these next few images from the line and around the table.  We catch Steve working the far track at Cedar Rock.

Bob pulls the ore train into Spruce.

 With the session now complete and all the cars safely packed away, it's time to enjoy a drink of some Sleeman Railside Session Ale!

Steve and Henk discuss the session we've just enjoyed.

While Bob enjoys the flavour of this great ale.

Sleeman tells us that, as the legend goes, the wild hops growing by the side of the train tracks leading to the original Sleeman Brewery are the inspiration for the Railside Session Ale.  Indeed, these gentlemen will attest to the fact that it is a flavourful and distinctly hopped brew with a refreshing taste of history! 

Laughter and stories abound around the table post ops!

Lunch and drink are enjoyed and for a short moment in each person's week, we can forget about all the stressors in our lives and enjoy the strong sense of community which is found along the tracks of the IPP&W and RP&M railroads.

So, thank you to Doug for allowing me to dispatch this great line.  It was pure joy.  Why, I even managed to railfan almost all of the 132 images found in this posting.

Ah, yes.  Fred is "at one" with nature as he attends to the needs of the tail end of the ore train.  Thank you, Fred, for allowing all this great fun to happen each week.

Have a great week, everyone!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada