June 24th finds the gang back in the swing of things running the narrow gauge equipment.
This is the sixth session of the season.
To view the pics in larger format, click on the image.
To return, click outside the image.
While the steamers may not offer the colour variation we see in the diesels, they sure offer a lot of character in so many other ways.
Malcolm has sent along his video link.
You can check it out at:
While there was a weather threat from the evening before...
...we lucked out with a sunny AM.
Well, we do find colour in the narrow gauge equipment.
In particular, the billboard reefers.
With great logos.
To add to the great content!
Paul was assigned Yardmaster in Craig Leigh.
With Moe holding down the honours in Firgrove.
And I had a ton of fun in Nelson Yard which was particularly busy on this day...but with Chris, George and (later) Henk assisting in the yard and running the RP&M trains, we managed to complete the full session with our newly extended format which sees us running 50% more trains.
Let's examine the situation pre-ops.
The freight cars have to be brought out to their respective locations.
This is a rather nice looking stable of cabeese!
Doug presents Chris with his copy of the train ops book published by the Train Ops Sig.
Doug wrote the chapter on passenger trains for model railroads and Chris offered four photos for his chapter.
We hang out around the table as Fred double checks the train lists.
Pat and Steve share a funny tale.
While we say goodbye to Pete who must return to his hometown of Wolfville, Nova Scotia after a six week vacation up this way.
"We'll really miss ya, Pete!" says I.
In fact, Pete plays a wicked saxophone and came out to many a jam and even a performance during his stay in Ottawa.
George reads over the RP&M train orders.
Doug chuckles while Lawrence explains some of the idiosyncracies of the up-coming session.
While the lads listen attentively.
Fred looks over the crew list.
Nelson Yard is looking pretty clean at the moment. My locomotive on the left has pulled all the traffic from Fallentree Mine, Mackenzie Lumber, the freight shed, the team track and the back track. This move is the first priority maneuver in order to bring all the cars into the yard while the two other yard operators begin classifying traffic to their designated tracks for outgoing trains. George's locomotive to the right works the east end of the yard while Chris uses his diesel switcher to classify traffic at the west end of the yard. It really is an easy task as the operators at each end simply pull a long string of cars and drill them into Tracks 1-4 depending on the train each car must go out on. With only one yard list between the three engineers, a means of communication was established and all trains were able to depart the yard in short order.
While Chris and George manned the RP&M jobs, I kept working the yard classifying later traffic as more and more trains would begin to arrive and depart.
Here is the Mackenzie Lumber facility on the outskirts of Nelson Yard which must be handled immediately along with the mine traffic.
The yard changes its look throughout the session.
Looking across Glenn Hammond over to Nelson Yard.
George and I check our train lists early in the session.
George handles the make-up of trains before heading over to RP&M rails.
Passenger equipment at Firgrove.
Moe's trusty CP road switcher.
Paul in Douglas Yard at Craig Leigh.
Always in the dappled shade.
We see trains arriving and departing.
Fred chats with firefighter Sid as Pat and Malcolm get ready to depart aboard Train 319 much later in the morning. This train will be their third leg of the journey after running Train 302 from Firgrove to Nelson Yard, then 312 from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.
Malcolm has wyed his locomotive after bringing in Train 312.
Looks like Pat will be the conductor on their last leg aboard 319.
Ready to depart Douglas Yard!
On the station track in Mount St. Helens.
Anne follows the action. She and her husband, Peter, have a lovely garden railroad in the Ottawa region.
The tail end of 319 between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.
Pat and Malcolm have reached Spruce.
Where they drill the spur track.
On into Blockhouse.
Approaching the big bend at Lilly.
In cognito.
On the approach to the big trestle.
This railfan captures that railran!
Let's check in on Lawrence for a short while.
We catch up with him in Cedar Rock aboard Train 313, his final run of the day between Nelson Yard and Firgrove. Cedar Rock is the line that branches off the mainline in Peter's Pond.
Later, Lawrence arrives Bell.
Where he takes Track 4 due to a meet earlier on with another train.
Lela is running 314 eastbound to Craig Leigh from Nelson Yard. This is her third leg of the morning.
Her crewmate is Norm.
Looking down the line at Mount St. Helens, we spot the station track and the siding.
All the spurs here will be trailing for the crew.
Doug's locomotive is a real beauty.
As is Norm's dog.
Some railfans visit the railroad.
Earlier Lela and Norm ran 327 in the opposite direction between Glenn Hammond and Firgrove.
We find them in Peter's Pond.
Must not cross over the train while it occupies the crosswalk.
Chris is a great ambassador to the hobby. When he spotted Peter (Anne's husband) he offered him the throttle to run his RP&M train.
We spot them returning "cab forward" back to the yard following their sojourn up to Bell.
At Bell there is a turntable where crews can turn their locomotives, but the need was not required in this situation.
Love that beautiful Drover caboose in tow.
Peter owns a magnificent garden railroad located in the western sector of our fair city.
Here he is taking his second run, a short jaunt up to Rat Portage on the RP&M.
Earlier, his train was made up in Nelson Yard.
Then backed out of the yard for entry into Glenn Hammond.
The question Chris asks with a smile...what does a crew do with regard to safety measures when it has a single tankcar as its lading?
George also ran RP&M trains up to Bell and a short hop up to Rat Portage.
For his Bell run, Henk arrived and assisted as crewmate.
Indeed, it was a warm one on this day as Henk's body language attests.
George's train drilling the far track in the yard at Rat Portage.
With his caboose out on the main which isn't a worry as no further traffic will be coming down the line on this day.
Moe definitely knows how to dress on a day like this...you've gotta keep the sun and the bugs at bay!
George's train has been given clearance across the diamond.
A closer look.
An RP&M meet near the diamond.
Coming into Belson.
Entering the yard with the hand of God looking on.
Oh no, not the hand of God...the ankle of Henk! Hehehe!
An earlier shot taken of the same train departing Nelson Yard.
Heading out to Belson.
And in the yard at Nelson.
We catch Pete and Steve on their second leg of the morning aboard Train 311, a westbound freight out of Nelson Yard bound for Firgrove.
They are currently at Bell on Track 3. Why the frown, Pete?
Hmmm...I see...yes, it's our friendly Dutchman, Henk with sidekick George! They are working their RP&M train near the interchange area between the two railroads.
No worries...in short order their work is done and Pete and Steve quickly get down to the business at hand at Bell.
The red planet. The crew is in Firgrove.
They've turned their locomotive and will soon be heading to Glenn Hammond as 328.
Rounding the bend into Bell.
With Pete at the helm.
Coming into the yard.
Much later, passing through Bellamy. "Hold up. Steve! Yer a-movin' too fast!" says Pete!
That's one gorgeous locomotive Steve owns.
Rounding the bend into Glenn Hammond.
Let's see if I managed to catch a few shots of some of the crew.
Here's Malcolm. Thanks for sharing a number of pics and videos Malcolm!
Pat is in support of our local hockey club. We came close this past season.
Norm was out as a guest and ran with Lela.
Two handsome beards...Pete and Chris!
Sandwiched by Lela and dispatcher Doug.
Anne really enjoyed the morning.
Malcolm awaits lunch!
As does Paul, our Craig Leigh yardmaster on this day.
Looks like Moe is about to clip Henk with that BBQ tool!
Around the table.
Those tongs are getting a little too close for comfort thinks Henk.
Thanks for the lunch, Anne!
Mark and Bill! What a treat to see you out!
Louise is a guest of Pat's.
Lela and Chris looking great!
Sexy legs on that feller in blue me says! Had a blast as yardmaster in Nelson Yard.
We had all outgoing trains readied when incoming ones terminated with a short delay for one train. That was okay as that train couldn't depart the yard for a while due to traffic conditions in the next town. We managed to run all four RP&M jaunts with the capable hands of Chris, George and Henk on board. Lots of fun all around!
Thanks, as always Fred. Yup, next Saturday morning we celebrate the 150th birthday of our nation and Fred's hat says it all.
With a wave from the back end, that's all for this week folks. Now that I have more time on my hands, I am able to complete the blog entry in a single section. Have a great week everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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