This is part two of the review of August 27th's train ops session in the garden.
Colin, Garry, Pat and Malcolm relax before the session gets underway.
As always, we listen in on Colin's safety explanation.
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Again, we thank George for taking on the role of Ralph yardmaster at Firgrove.
We also thank Brian for doing the same in Craig Leigh.
Looks like Pat is on the roll with Train 15 as Garry looks on in the background.
Colin has kept Nelson Yard neat and tidy while Henk arrives the central yard with Train 302. He will depart the yard with Train 312.
Later in the session, Garry had to depart for a short while, so Pat offered to assist John with Train 311. Here, Pat guides his train around 328 at Watkins Siding.
311 arrives Stuart Yard in Bell.
Henk has Train 312 at Spruce as Lawrence looks on.
He runs around his train to switch out the facing team track.
Having completed his work at Spruce and Ironwood, we catch up with Henk at Mount St. Helens relaxed as he switches out the trailing sidings.
Earlier, Malcolm was at Spruce aboard eastbound Train 318.
Malcolm's new steamer is silhouetted against the bright sunlit backdrop at Mount St. Helens.
Like Henk in the image a few back, Malcolm works the trailing sidings at Mount St. Helens aboard the 318/319 turn. He is eastbound Train 318 here.
We spot him a short while later, again in MOunt St. Helens, as Train 319, now westbound back to Glen Hammond with Craig Leigh being the turnaround point.
Paul uses his Canadian Pacific Road Switcher to work the interchange tracks while Doug arrives Bell as Train 328. He was running 327 westbound from Glen Hammond to Firgrove. This train, also a turn, is now eastbound back tot he Glen from Firgrove.
Love that big locomotive, Doug!
Doug has three great looking kids working with him. We spot Connor in the black Sidney Crosby cap, Owen in the blue cap and Paul in the white shirt!
Looks like the other Paul is finished with his work at Bell. He will depart shortly back to RP&M rails. Then the quartet aboard 328 can continue with their work at this busy location on the railroad.
Connor is thinking that maybe he will be a railroad engineer when he grows up!
Mom looks on as the "four" kids have fun in the yard!
Loren is probably thinking that now she'll have to build one of these railroads in her back yard!
328 has arrived Peter's Pond.
Where they head up the branch line to Cedar Rock.
Connor has it all under control as grandpa looks on.
Back in the Glen we meet Train 15 once again, now eastbound with a final destination of Craig Leigh.
My shadow helps to compose this image of the power on Train 15.
The Pool Train rounds the big bend into Spruce.
On a station approach.
Then into Ironwood.
Upgrade to Mount St. Helens.
After terminating in Craig Leigh, Pat runs his locomotive over to the engine house.
Where he tucks it into bed for another run on another day.
Meanwhile, Lawrence is found relaxing and watching the action in Nelson Yard as he awaits to depart Glen Hammond on Passenger #2.
He then meets 318 in Spruce.
Passing 318, Passenger #2 departs Spruce for Ironwood.
The Algonquin & Ottawa steam locomotive is a beauty. Lawrence!
Into Ironwood.
And...much later out of Ironwood, only this time as Passenger #1 in the opposite direction.
Rounding the curve into Spruce.
Arriving Spruce.
A long time later, Passenger #1 is upgrade into Bell from Peter's Pond.
I spot Lawrence's locomotive out the door of my dispatch booth.
In Stuart Yard at Bell, George has brought Train 120 down from Firgrove.
Just looking at the rolling stock in Stuart Yard, one can see how the traffic patterns change at a moment's notice.
My steam locomotive looks great with all that weathering done by my friend, Chris.
Like George's short "hop" from Firgrove to Bell, Brian got to experience a similar jaunt aboard Train 121, the stockcar jump from Craig Leigh to Mount St. Helens and back.
Brian uses his diesel for the run.
Where he arrives Mount St. Helens to swap a pair of stockcars with a different pairing before heading back home to Craig Leigh.
Connor, it was great seeing you, your brother and mom at the railroad session on this lovely August morning. You and your brother were true "professionals" with that throttle in hand. Keep up the great work! You know, you may just put your grandpa and his friend, Paul, out of a job here!
Well, that's all for train running. Now, it's time to grab some grub and drink in the lounge!
Hey, we spot Mike sitting beside Heather on the left. Good to see you Mike. It's also nice to see Bill in the orange shirt and Mark in the foreground to the right as well! Have a great week everyone and we'll catch up with you next week when we run our diesels for the standard gauge operations.
All the best,
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
