Day Two of the Invasion saw the assembled gang running Standard Gauge.
Paul's CP GP30 #8202 is a prime example of the sweet looking diesel locomotives found on this day!
Paul's CP GP30 #8202 is a prime example of the sweet looking diesel locomotives found on this day!
With diesels small and large making an appearance.
Love the Algoma Central custom paint job, Steve and Seanna.
Henk's little switcher that could!
Sue, Malcolm and Barry sure look like a cheerful bunch.
And...why not? As Malcolm's T-shirt says, it all, "Still Plays With Trains".
As does Barry's!
Tom and Barry enjoying the beans.
To check out some videos Malcolm took from this session, check the link below.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AIaXekvhWigyiKk&v=photos&id=4275D0234272929B%2111528&cid=4275D0234272929B
To check out some videos Malcolm took from this session, check the link below.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AIaXekvhWigyiKk&v=photos&id=4275D0234272929B%2111528&cid=4275D0234272929B
To view the pics from the previous day's session, follow this link.
Bernie and George at Nelson pre-ops.
Brian is excited to begin running trains.
Paul and Bob too!
Great to see Ken and Gaetan.
Nicole too!
Pre ops setup in Nelson Yard sees Garry, Henk and Malcolm surveying the scene.
Bernie unloads his TH&B geep.
Fred is about to give the morning chat.
Doug reviews a few of the items before we begin running trains.
The crew listens in.
Steve is scratching his head, but no worries, he's a capable operator.
Yummy looking treats!
The session is underway. Steve and Tom have Train 301 in Ironwood.
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Tom bring a car into the Ironwood sidings.
To enable Steve to set it out at Windmill.
With their work complete at Ironwood and Spruce, its through the iron girders on their approach to Nelson Yard.
Keeping a careful eye on their train.
On a slow order into the yard.
Later we find Tom and Steve up in Bell aboard Train 311.
In the very corner of the property working the yard.
A view of the lads on their afternoon run, this time as 303 out of Craig Leigh.
We've managed to find them in the shade of Mount St. Helens.
On the tail end of their train switching out Ironwood.
Into the sidings at Ironwood.
The Ironwood Brick facility.
Let's look in on Jim and Sue aboard 302.
Down from Firgrove, Jim navigates the big curve on his approach to Bell.
That's a great looking New York Central train, Jim!
In the siding at Watkins.
Up in Cedar Rock at the end of the branch from Peter's Pond.
Taking advantage of the shade at the big yard.
Much later as Train 319 westbound at Ironwood.
Switching the facing sidings at Spruce.
Back in the Glenn we catch Don and Malcolm about to board 318 eastbound.
Taking the outer track they depart Glenn Hammond on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.
They tuck into the hole at Spruce for a meet with the ore train.
Looks like they'll have some work to complete in Spruce.
A nice low angle shot from Malcolm of their train.
Departing Spruce with Don at the controls.
Rounding the big bend into Ironwood.
Taking the siding at Ironwood for a meet with 301 in the AM.
I have a conversation with Albert outside the dispatch booth while 318 pierces traffic at Ironwood.
Around the bend into Mount St. Helens.
Their same train with a different consist during the afternoon run.
An earlier view of their afternoon run when they meet Gaetan and Nicole bringing #15, the Pool Train up the grade.
Moe and Don follow the train.
Malcolm railfans near the bridge.
Moe's got the idea of sitting in the shade below the dispatch hut.
The doorbell rings as someone wants to enters Henk's yard.
Its Train 303.
Don and Malcolm are now aboard Train 313 from Nelson Yard to Firgrove.
The sun sure brightens the day.
313 in the hole at Mercer.
313 meets 304 in Watkins.
Later in Bell.
Where they have by-passed my dispatch hut.
It was great meeting Noelle, who came to Ottawa with John.
Here's to another teaching year, Noelle!
Thanks for bringing the B&M buggy out for my viewing pleasure, Henk!
Steve and Don taking advantage of the canopy for a respite from the sun.
The Craig Leigh crew have assemble Train 15, the Pool Train.
Doug reviews the train orders with Gaetan and Nicole.
Gaetan guides Train 15 into Ironwood.
Where they meet Steve and Tom.
Steve and Tom have 301 safely in the hole.
Rounding the curve into Spruce.
Train 15 approaches the big trestle.
A brave railfan captured this rare shot.
Train 15 out of Glenn Hammond.
Into Bellamy.
Later on they ride RP&M rails into Rat Portage.
Where they meet Bob.
With the ore train.
Back in Glenn Hammond.
Ready to roll.
In the opposite direction toward the big bend at Lilly.
Upgrade into Spruce where they meet 312 in this previously viewed photo.
The depot at Spruce.
Coming into Spruce.
For the meet with 312.
Passing the eastern station.
Ken is the Craig Leigh yardmaster on this day.
Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.
Using the old steamer for the job.
Some cabeese.
A lovely specimen.
Railfan view.
Meanwhile, over in Firgove we see a busy Ralph Yard.
Paul's unit works the yard and takes the short hop down to Bell.
Along "The Ledges".
Paul takes a break while he awaits clearance into Bell.
Along the station track.
Another railfan perspective. That GP30 Canadian Pacific unit is a beauty, Paul!
Back up in Firgrove.
Keeping the yard clean.
Table talk amongst visitors.
And locals alike.
Stories shared.
A gathering of minds.
Relaxation too.
Friendly folk.
Lunch delight.
Back to train ops.
Seanna and John have 327 out of Glenn Hammond arriving Peter's Pond.
John checks his orders.
Work to do in Cedar Rock.
A long reach.
Upon completion of their work in the pond, it's upgrade into Bell.
Where they meet Bernie and George who are working the interchange with their RP&M Turn.
Much later as Train 304, they arrive Nelson Yard.
A busy locale.
Now they are Train 314 out of Nelson bound for Craig Leigh.
We say good-bye to them at Spruce.
And say, "Hello" to that RP&M crew that enjoyed the run up to Bell.
The RP&M train at Bell.
Bernie's TH&B unit heads up the train.
Say "Hi" Bernie!
And a lovely unit it is!
The tail end of their train as they return back to Nelson Yard.
Brian brings in the second RP&M turn with his CP diesel locomotive.
Time to check in on the ore train headed up by Bob's behemoth steam locomotive.
Ralph Yard is a great place to start.
Coupled on.
And ready to rumble!
Into Bell.
Much later at the curve at Lilly.
West of Spruce.
Meeting 318.
Getting an assist from 301 lifting the ore cars from Ironwood Brick.
Thanks Steve and Tom!
Arriving Ironwood.
A gorgeous meet.
This sharing of tasks certainly adds to the camaraderie which abounds on the railroad.
Steve looks on as Bob brings the ore train into Craig Leigh.
Later, upgrade at Blockhouse.
On RP&M iron between Rat Portage and Bell.
Beneath Firgrove.
Into Bell.
In Nelson Yard.
Nice low angle shot from Malcolm.
East of Nelson Yard.
A young railfan!
Entering Spruce.
After lunch, I crew 301 with Seanna.
Coming into Spruce.
Meeting the afternoon 318.
Near the pedestrian crossing.
Around Lilly.
All aglow!
Slow order.
For the photographer!
Wow! Would ya lookee here! 311 is 10 cars out of Nelson Yard.
We'll have to be creative as not all sidings can accommodate a train of this length.
It's typical "righthand" running through Mercer but we requested the left hand route as a visual inspection indicated it might be slightly longer than the righthand siding.
At Peter's Pond we dropped our van and a single car to shorten our train sufficiently as Seanna backs along the main to protect our train.
And rightly so...as Bernie navigates the big curve on his approach to Peter's Pond.
He takes the station track while our locomotive looks on.
We switch out Cedar Rock.
Through Bell, it's upgrade along "The Ledges".
Same photo eliminating the bright light to find shadows.
Thanks, Seanna, for being such a great crewmate!
Let's check in on Nelson Yard. Henk controls his New York Central switcher while Garry and Brian determine their moves. Bernie and George in the background handle the west end of the yard.
Brian's locomotive.
Albert looks on.
As Bernie and George use the mainline as a switching lead.
While Fred looks on.
As Garry and Brian use the Nelson approach as a lead at the east end.
The umbrellas provide a tremendous amount of shade.
Jim and Sue are in Nelson awaiting Henk's approval to hit the high iron.
Henk is all grins.
Cuz he's got a B&M buggy in tow!
A view from the dispatch booth shows Nelson Yard to the right with Glenn Hammond down below.
Moe stops by to chat with Bernie.
While Henk continues enjoy the proceedings.
Indeed, Nelson Yard takes on a different personality every half hour or so as trains arrive and depart allowing for the yard tracks to change colour and consist.
A low angle shot from Glenn Hammond shows the Glen Hammond tracks in the foreground with the Nelson Yard tracks in the distance.
This low angle shot from Malcolm's lens profiles Henk's switcher.
Don and Fred and drink.
Steve and Malcolm...twins on this day.
Jim's bay window caboose.
The winds are changing as they have done so often this summer.
The windmill at "Windmill" in Ironwood indicates the direction the flights will be using on their approach and take-offs to and from the Ottawa airport all day long.
Indeed the dispatch board was quiet at times while pretty hectic at others. Just ask the residents in and around Bell! Hehehe!
Well, you can see, I survived the session intact.
Fred, what can we say? It's because of you, my man, that all this great "coming together" of people from all over can take place. On behalf of everyone...a great big note of "Thanks" as always!
Seanna's earring says it all. At road crossings, we railroaders don't rush to miss the action, we slow down, stop and enjoy the story!
Thanks to all of our American and Canadian friends who made their way up to Ottawa to partake in the 2017 "Invasion of Friends". It was a great pleasure to have been a part of such an event!
Til' next time! Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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