Saturday, June 30th dawned bright, fresh and sunny. No better thing to do than to head into the train yards! As the title of the post says, it's standard gauge operations on the day. This could only mean one thing...and that is that we spot a plethora of diesels railside along the IPP&W and the RP&M.
This gorgeous D&H GP38-2 does not disappoint. To me, this is one of the classiest paint schemes in the history of diesel railroading. Thanks, Gord, for giving me the opportunity to stable one!
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This CN North American Herald is eye-catching on Bob's unit.
Lawrence's deep blue engine lettered in his home road, the Algonquin and Ottawa, rides the rails with dignity and pride.
The olive green and gold livery on this puppy holds its own as well.
As does the sergeant stripe scheme on another of Bob's units.
Which arrives the property in a classy manner.
Henk's CP engine adds a splash of colour to the RP&M.
As does Gord's centre cab.
Garry runs long-hood forward with this beautiful CN geep.
While its brethren is found outside the engine house in Firgrove. This unit belongs to Steve.
I always have to check in at Craig Leigh to have another gander at Bernie's lovely TH&B geep.
Along with the colour of railroading, we find many "colourful" characters that greatly enhance the experience each week. Indeed camaraderie abounds during our sessions as Paul and Lawrence smile in agreement.
As do Bernie, with Paul, Lawrence, Pat and John.
Bernie in Craig Leigh readies 301 before the bell rings.
Garry and John listen in on the pre-ops discussion as does Fred in the foreground.
Pat and Garry review the sign up sheet before selecting a train to run.
Meanwhile, camaraderie abounds in Nelson yard where Gord (in red shirt), Henk (in the background) and Colin keep the entire railroad running smoothly by keeping things well organized at the major classification yard on the railroad.
Steve looks on as Henk and Colin seem to be enjoying something that has occurred on the line. Hmmm...can't figure out what that would be?
The discussion turns to laughter. Never did figure out what they were discussing!
Dispatcher Doug keeps traffic moving throughout the session.
While Fred, Lawrence and Pat seem concerned about a spotting around Peter's Pond.
Now, what could that be?
Fred enjoys watching Bob with the ore train.
Yeah! Mark and Bill arrive. So nice to have you fellows visit.
Of course, post-ops we also gather around the table for further camaraderie as Bernie's smile attests.
John, Paul and Bill await the BBQ to be ready.
As do Bob, Steve, Lawrence and Pat...all a-smile.
John enjoys the shade and the sharing of stories.
As do all the lads.
"I'll take one of these and one of those!" Bill tells himself.
Back to pre-ops, we always enjoy when Steve brings out a tray of brownies his lovely wife has baked for the gang.
Speaking of true camaraderie, Steve had already signed up to run 302, one of two freights that ply the full length of the IPP&W. I asked Steve if I could run with him as I wanted to photograph the D&H diesel I brought along, thanks to Gord.
Steve already had his CN locomotive out of the carrying case and on the ready track. I was so impressed as he agreed to crew with me and allow me to switch engines to the Delaware and Hudson GP38-2. Thanks so much, Steve. You know you made my day!
After Paul assembled our train in the big yard at Ralph, we head out onto the high iron aboard the "Ralph Dipple" as this locomotive is named. You see, Ralph Dipple was a great friend to many and he operated with the gang before I arrived. Ralph passed away a few years ago, so Gord honoured his memory by naming the GP38 after him. In fact, Ralph Yard where we are departing is also named in is honour.
We round the bend to the west of Bell and enter the yard on a slow approach.
With lots of local switching keeping the yard master at Firgrove busy, our train was a little late departing so we arrive Bell to find another crew working the interchange.
Aha! We notice it's the RP&M gang as we pass by its Drover caboose which is sitting on Track 4
With a multitude of trailing moves at Bell along with a single facing move, we gather up the gumption to ask the RP&M crew if they could handle our single facing lift. Well, are we pleasantly surprised when an RP&M employee, notably Henk van Zijl, offers out of the kindness of his heart to help us facilitate this move. We had heard stories about this RP&M operator, but Steve and I can attest that he is the finest of gentleman, a scholar and a wealth of railroad knowledge when it comes to interchanging traffic between two railroads.
Thanks so much, Henk, with the assistance. This helpful assist sped us more quickly along the route!
We are beneath Mount St. Helens.
Where we find ourselves up the Cedar Rock branch near Peter's Pond.
The dappled shade always offers the crews respite from the sun.
Then, it's back down to the pond where we notice something fishy at Norton's Fishery.
"What's that Gawd-Awful smell?" Steve asks me.
Even the lads resting pond side notice it too.
It seems two young lads employed at the fishery were distracted by some bikini clad "chicklets" bathing in Peter's Pond and they totally forgot to ice the last few trays of fish. This happened the day before and the fish were left outdoors were they began to "go bad" in the morning sun. The smell was so terrible that Steve and I decided to get out of the Pond "Pronto".
We were quickly cleared to Mercer siding where we met our eastbound counterpart, 301.
We shouted out to the crew to "Beware!" as we met them in the siding. In our haste to depart Peter's Pond, we quickly placed our lifts immediately behind our locomotive and we made the executive decision not to spend any further time in the pond blocking our stock car in behind the locomotive.
As we entered Nelson Yard, it was duly noted that said stock car was well back in the consist.
Of course, we endured the wrath of the Nelson Yard crew.
While Steve attempts to tell the story of the rotting fish, the Nelson Yard crew are having none of it.
Henk and Colin are chuckling to themselves over the incident. "This must be put in the blog!" they demand. So let it be said...the story has been told...truth and all! (Read the title!)
Ah...yes...there are other places around the railroad to be visited, such as Douglas Yard where Bernie hangs out.
Bernie is readying Passenger #1 and Train 15.
Earlier in the week, Bernie approached Lawrence and Fred with a novel idea.
Why not house some stock yards in Craig Leigh?
A small bit of infrastructure was added and the spur was placed in the ops software.
Now Bernie has another industry to switch out in addition to making the run down to Mount St. Helens as a diversion from the main yard.
A couple of overall shots showing Lawrence and Pat working Cedar Rock while the other Pat and Paul have their two trains in Mount St. Helens.
Our train meets Passenger #1 as Steve and Pat look on. In behind, Bob works the new spur between Watkins and Peter's Pond with his ore train.
Lawrence's locomotive hugs the edge of the precipice between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood. From this point, let's tour the layout in a westbound direction.
She's one lovely looking locomotive, Lawrence. Here she is at Ironwood.
Later, Pat pulls Passenger #1 into Ironwood.
Then into Spruce.
At another time in the morning, Bob's ore train meets 302 in Spruce.
Fred looks on as Bob takes the main at Spruce. Steve checks his next set of orders.
A "going away" shot of the ore train.
Downgrade to Blockhouse.
Earlier in the day, Paul has his eastbound turn piercing the big trestle.
As did Bob with the ore train.
Love the sergeant stripes.
Earlier, Paul had departed Glen Hammond as Gord worked Nelson Yard.
She's a mighty fine looking train, Paul.
As always...Nelson Yard is in good hands.
Thanks to Gord, Henk and Colin.
The umbrellas help keep the sun at bay.
Passenger #1 heads out of Bellamy and is about to enter Nelson Yard.
Garry has his train in the hole at Mercer.
While Bob takes the mainline at Peter's Pond.
Steve at Cedar Rock at the end of the branch out of Peter's Pond.
Bob in the corners also out of Peter's Pond on the main.
Upgrade into Watkins Siding.
Garry is upgrade into Bell.
Pat at Watkins Siding with Passenger #1.
Pat at Bell with Passenger #2 earlier in the day.
Bob in Bell.
The eastbound ore train has different power on the day than that of the westward.
Bob had just taken the big curve off the ledges and is seen rounding the bend into Bell.
A great railfan location known as "The Ledges".
Pat at the western terminus of Firgrove.
Turning that great big steam locomotive with ease.
Paul is the yardmaster at Ralph.
An overall view of the property.
Henk running light at Rat Portage.
It's always fun to check in on some of the examples of rolling stock.
A great location for this kind of railfanning is the big yard in Craig Leigh.
It goes by the name of Douglas Yard.
Aha! New rolling stock spotted.
This D&H covered gondola is a pretty sight.
We did mention the colour of railroading. Love the carrying case, Bob!
As I was leaving I took a glance down at the garden Fred and I put in last year.
To my most pleasant surprise I saw this beautiful lily. It is one that my mother had special ordered for her garden many years ago before she passed away. It was her favourite flower out of the hundreds of varieties she had in her garden. I hadn't known that it had come to the IPP&W with me when I brought along a bunch of perennials last fall due to the fact nothing was in bloom when I dug them up. Seeing this flower brought back a flood of memories of my mother and I thank Fred for this as he gave me carte blanche when it came to resurrecting the garden.
Well, as the title says, you've seen the colour of railroading in those phenomenal diesels. You've witnessed the camaraderie the entire gang enjoys every Saturday morning which is enhanced when people like Steve let me run the D&H locomotive even though he had his CN one staged and ready to go...and with other crew members like Henk offering to take up their valuable time to assist a train from another railroad...and to Gord for allowing me to finally stable one of my favourite locomotives in the D&H livery. You've also endured one of the tallest of tales ever heard along the route of the IPP&W. Finally, you've seen firsthand the power a single flower can bring a person.
Have a great week everyone. Check in next time for a synopsis of next week's train ops which will be narrow gauge! All the best,
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
