We continue with our synopsis of our recent Narrow Gauge session where we had a host of visitors come out to see the operations. Remember to check the archive to the right to see the previous posting regarding this session. Also, feel free to check out any of the 70+ postings of our sessions over the past couple of years in the same archive!
Garry is working with the Nelson Yard yardmaster on this day. Part of his role will be to take RP&M 65 out for a run along the Rat Portage and Mattawa.
His locomotive on the day.
To the right you can see him in Glen Hammond.
Bathed in sunlight, Garry continues with his switching.
The smaller yard in the Glen is adjacent to the much larger Nelson Yard.
Garry has gained clearance across the interlocking where he arrives Rat Portage.
Later in the morning, his RP&M mate, Pat, runs Train 67 out to Bell.
We spot Pat trackside in Rat Portage.
The two roads in the system work together as a community. We spot Pat offering Bob some assistance with his cars on the ore train.
Pat climbs out of Pratt's Bottom with an imminent arrival at the interchange to the west of Bell.
Pat has taken Track 4 at Bell where he will drill the interchange tracks.
Here's a close-up of his new steam locomotive.
Bell can be a busy location at the best of times.
When he completes his moves here, he will have to turn his locomotive on the turntable before heading back to RP&M tracks.
Let's take a glance at the western end of the line.
Paul has signed up as yardmaster in Firgrove. The large yard to the right is Ralph Yard named in honour of the late Ralph Dipple.
The umbrellas offer some interesting hues to the images.
Along with working the yard, Paul makes up and breaks down trains.
He also runs a short jaunt down to Bell and works the industries there aboard Train 21.
Paul has Train 21 at Bell.
This run offers him respite from the yard work.
In the meantime, Bernie controls all the movements in and around Craig Leigh. That's Steve taking a swig from his bottle.
Douglas Yard is a fair sized classification area.
Bernie's steamer on the day.
The passenger area is the end of the line in Craig Leigh.
Along with handling freight cars, Bernie also works with the passenger trains you saw in the previous image.
Nelson Yard is the busiest hub in the system.
Colin, Pat and Garry handle the duties here on this day while visitors look on.
Colin has his trusty uncoupler attached with an umbilical cord.
One of our visitors looks on.
He assists Colin with the throttle.
Colin takes a break and touches base with this dispatcher.
A dynamic duo in the shade.
We saw Chris and Lela running Train 327 from Glen Hammond to Firgrove in our earlier post.
Here Chris is bring their return train, number 328, down into Bell on their trip back to the Glen.
In Peter's Pond.
Lela controls the car movements while Chris handles the throttle in cognito.
This husband and wife team arrive back in the Glen.
Steve and Seanna started out the morning aboard 301. In this earlier shot still aboard 301, they tiptoe onto the trestle before entering Nelson Yard.
They have now departed Nelson Yard as Train 311 as they continue in their westward direction.
Rounding the bend near Hayes' Falls.
Below Mount St. Helens.
Westward along the fence line and up into Bell.
That's Pat in the foreground at Ironwood.
Let's check in on Pat again. He was running 302 from Firgrove to Nelson Yard. He has just departed the yard aboard Train 312 continuing in his easterly direction.
312 in Spruce where he met 301.
Back to this image of Pat with 312 in Ironwood.
Having terminated his run in Craig Leigh, Pat readies his carrying case for his locomotive.
We check back in on Train 15 as it arrives Spruce.
Then through Ironwood where we spot it near "The Corners".
A lower angled shot.
Moe is all smiles as he nears the terminal.
The Pool Train.
Arriving Craig Leigh.
Let's check in on Steve with Passenger #1.
He has departed Spruce and is downgrade toward Glen Hammond.
While Bob has the ore train at Spruce.
Steve's locomotive.
Passenger #1 on the trestle.
The session is near its end, but Bob still enjoys running his train. Here he is downgrade into Mount St. Helens from Craig Leigh.
Out of Mount St. Helens.
Let's do some "people watching". Here's Steve watching Passenger #1 as it takes the large curve on the outskirts of Nelson Yard bound for Glen Hammond.
"Keep that blog a-coming, Mike!" Chris calls out.
The other Mike is all smiles as he visits this Mike near the booth.
George, Mike and Peter follow the action all over the railroad.
Peter and Bernie in Craig Leigh.
Seanna, Bernie and Steve share smiles.
Seanna raises a toast while Pat engages a railroad mate in conversation.
Lela is that mate at the lunch table with Pat.
While Lela's true mate, Chris, engages Moe and Paul in conversation.
Paul, Garry, Pat and Tom share a laugh with Chris.
Yes, it's always smiles when we are at Fred's place!
Fred and Moe sitting back sharing the great company that is found trackside on the IPP&W/RP&M each Saturday morning.
Have a great week everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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