July 29 Session 11 Standard Gauge

 

As the post title indicates, we've just enjoyed our 11th session of the season.

 

 

Standard gauge was the method of operations on this day.

 

 

With a variety of diesels in differing sizes.

 

 

And liveries.

 

 

Some local lines.

 

 

Some national ones.

 

 

Black...

 

 

...and blue.

 

 

Interesting rolling stock.

 

 

Hopper cars.

 

 

Bright cars.

 

 

Provincial roads.

 

 

In different colours.

 

 

Covered gons.

 

 

Coal hoppers.

 

 

Lots of fun pre-ops.
Malcolm took some great videos from the session.  Follow the link below.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AHhTuL0Puz9JQEY&v=photos&id=4275D0234272929B%2112256&cid=4275D0234272929B

 

 

Nice to have Phil over to run the trains.

 

 

Big crowd.

 

 

Fred offers pre-ops words of wisdom.

 

 

Everyone listens in.

 

 

As Fred introduces Doug's grandson, Owen.

That's Uncle Paul in behind.

 

 

We don't limit visitors to the human kind.

 

 

Four-legged folk can ply the rails!

 

 

Let's check in on Nelson Yard.  Henk offers Pat Brewer and Brian some instructions.

 

 

Steve and Seanna work in the yard as well.

 

Steve has sent me photo proof and the evidence speaks for itself..."Orange is the Blue Track".

 

 

And a busy place it is.

 

 

Colourful too!

 

 

Ever changing.  Thanks to Mal for sending some great images to add to mine.

 

 

Henk's NYC switcher.

 

 

Later in the AM, Steve has arrived the yard with the train he and Malcolm crewed, Train 302.

 

 

Henk continues the yard work while his four helpers have headed off to RP&M rails to run the interchange trains.

 

 

Moe looks on and listens to Henk's stories.

 

 

A low angle of the yard.

 

 

Steve and Seanna have returned with one RP&M trains and will shortly head out with another.

 

 

Lela arrives the yard later in the morning with the train she and Moe crewed, Train 304.

They will commence their third leg of the morning aboard Train 314 which Henk has made up.

 

Chris and Lawrence have brought in Train 303 and will head out with Train 313.

 

 

Pat has brought out his NYC switcher which is numbered differently from Henk's.

 

 

Brian and Pat will head out with their RP&M train.

 

 

They have backed out from Nelson Yard and headed over to Glenn Hammond.

They will work the team track with its industries shown in behind their locomotive.

 

 

The drover caboose adds a nice touch to their train.

 

 

Later in the morning, the same lads crewed a second RP&M train using new power.

 

 

The beautiful CP F-units belong to Brian.

 

 

The lads work the west end of Bell near the interchange.

 

 

Once their work is complete, they will turn the diesel locomotives on the turntable.

 

 

Heading home to Nelson Yard.  They have been cleared across the diamond.

 

 

Rounding the bend at Bellamy.

 

 

And into the yard.

 

 

Meanwhile, Steve and Seanna begin their morning's work as part of the Nelson Yard crew.

 

 

Blocking traffic at the east end of the yard.

 

 

Like the lads before, this crew will also take a pair of RP&M trains up to Rat Portage and Bell.

 

 

Awaiting clearance to cross the diamond.

 

 

Arriving Bell, they take Track 4.

 

 

Returning to Nelson Yard.

 

 

The Algoma Central unit is a true beauty.

 

 

Their train is a colourful one, indeed.

 

 

Their later train takes them to the team track at Belson.

 

 

H-e-r-e-s Seanna and Steve!

 

 

Here's our youngest operator on the day, Owen.

 

 

He's crewing Train 301 with "Uncle Paul".

 

 

With Paul's CN Alco.

 

 

Paul uses the clipboard to indicate where he wants Owen to clear the train.

 

 

Owen's brother, Connor, surveys the action.

 

 

They arrive Ironwood where Paul seeks the shade.

 

 

The lads' mom, Lauren, looks on.  301's crew has their train protected in the siding.

 

 

Passenger 1 meets 301 at Ironwood.

 

 

Owen relaxes while Uncle Paul studies the switch list for Spruce.

 

 

The lads' grandpa, Doug, along with Moe check out the action at Spruce.

 

 

Owen, mom Lauren, Connor and "Uncle Paul".

 

 

Grandpa Doug knows where to hide from the sun!

 

 

Grandson Connor joins him.

 

 

When they depart, Moe takes a seat at Nelson.

 

 

Bob had to leave early, but the ore train ran nonetheless.

 

 

Downgrade out of Firgrove.

 

 

With Phil at the helm.

 

 

Through Bell and heading towards Watkins Siding.

 

 

Then into Peter's Pond.

 

 

Phil chats it up with Chris and Lawrence.

 

 

Then he radios dispatch for clearance to Nelson Yard.

 

 

Outside of Nelson Yard, Phil has work to do at Treacle Mine.  He gingerly steps out onto the trestle which acts as a lead for the two spurs at the mine.

 

 

Backing into the mine complex on the bluff situated above Blockhouse.

 

 

Drilling the mine.

 

 

A train depart Nelson Yard in an eastbound direction as Phil pulls the string of loads out onto the yard lead.

 

 

Back onto the train.

 

 

Much later, climbing the grade into Spruce.

 

 

Shouldn't be too tough to handle the incline with only eight ore cars.

 

 

Phil arrives Spruce.

 

 

Then into Ironwood where the crew aboard Train 312 offers an assist with his facing lifts.

 

 

312's crew pulls back on the main.

 

 

Phil heads forward to pick up the cars they have readied for him.  True teamwork!

 

 

As the ore train continues to grow in length, Phil will continue east towards Mount St. Helens and Craig Leigh. 

 

 

And 312 will get back to their switch list duties for Ironwood.

 

 

Let's check in on Craig Leigh.  Malcolm has spotted Bernie's TH&B Geep beside the engine house early in the day.

 

 

It doesn't rest long, though.

 

 

As Bernie begins with one of his first chores of the day, making up the consist for Train 301.

 

 

Douglas Yard is a shady spot.

 

 

And this railfan enjoys the action around the area.

 

 

Bernie conducts his work.

 

 

With a smile.

 

 

Or two!

 

 

Man, sometimes it's touch snagging a shot in a deeply shaded area when the sun shines brightly!

 

 

Bernie watches as Pat inspects Pool Train #15 before heading out onto IPP&W rails.

 

 

Another gorgeous switcher is spotted near the engine house at Craig Leigh.

It belongs to the handsome lad, Chris Lyon, although Chris will be running a different locomotive as this little puppy was assigned the ore train on this day.

 

 

Chris has Train 318 out of Glenn Hammond at Blockhouse.

 

 

With his engineer, Lawrence, they have arrived Ironwood after breezing through Spruce.

 

 

There's quite an amount more work for them in Ironwood on this day.

 

 

Their train is protected in the siding as Passenger 2 rounds the bend out of Spruce.

 

 

Later, Lawrence handles the engine at Mount St. Helens.

 

 

While Chris conducts the moves.

 

 

They made it to their destination of Craig Leigh where they became Train 303, now in a westbound direction.  However, with heavy traffic in the next two towns down the line, they must hold at Mount St. Helens.

 

 

As the good lads they are, they have placed their train on the station track to allow the crew in Ironwood to come in on the siding in order to handle the trailing industries here.

 

 

Still waiting!

 

 

Working "cab forward" at Ironwood.

 

 

Ready to head to Spruce.

 

 

Then on approach to Nelson Yard.

 

 

Paul Anderson is the yardmaster at Firgrove.

 

 

He keeps all the movements going in Ralph Yard.

 

 

With his beautiful GP30 Canadian Pacific diesel.

 

 

In the maroon and grey scheme, she sure is a "looker".

 

 

Lots of cabeese to be handled.

 

 

Later in the day, Paul will take the gas electric down to Bell for a short hop.

 

 

Another beauty too!

 

 

The red umbrella protects Paul from the sun.

 

 

And his diesel too!

 

 

The gas electric on the easternmost outskirts at Bell.

 

 

Speaking of Firgrove, Malcolm and Steve have Train 302 on the roll after departing the westernmost terminal.

 

 

The lads are double-heading independently.

 

 

In elephant style.

 

 

Taking Track 4 at Bell.

 

 

Under the umbrella tree.

 

 

The lads split their units to conduct their switching with Steve working the west end of Bell aboard his Ottawa Central unit.

 

 

While Malcolm works the east end with his Conrail diesel.

 

 

Malcolm works Bell while Pat bring his passenger train into Glen Hammond.

 

 

302 rides through Mercer Siding.

 

 

I've cleared them through the diamond at Bellamy.

 

 

Upon terminating 302 in Nelson Yard, they board Train 312 continuing east to Craig Leigh.

Steve has changed engines and now controls the CN unit in Sergeant Stripes.

 

 

Double heading again, the crew tiptoes onto the trestle.

 

 

A railfan's drone managed to capture this artsy shot.

 

 

Through the trestle.

 

 

Malcolm railfans his own train.

 

 

The crew works the trailing spur at Blockhouse.

 

 

On into Spruce.

 

 

Later...Ironwood.

 

 

Where dispatch asks them to assist the ore train.

 

 

They pull the cars from the facing siding.

 

 

And back down the main.

 

 

With five full hoppers for the ore train.

 

 

The ore train arrives and is thankful for the assist from 312.

 

 

Malcolm grabbed this trackside shot of the meet with the ore train.

 

 

312 continues its work in Ironwood.

 

 

Bill heads over to watch the action.

 

 

312 meets 303 who have graciously given them the siding track.

 

 

312 eventually terminated in Craig Leigh where the crew immediately boarded Train 319 destined for Glenn Hammond to the west.

 

 

Between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.

 

Trackside in Ironwood.

 

 

Thanks for the great trackside shots, Malcolm!

 

 

A view across the property to where Malcolm and Steve are working.

 

 

More shots of 319 in Ironwood.

 

 

With that handsome striped unit.

 

 

Let's follow Lela and Moe for a while.  We catch them in Glenn Hammond working the industries aboard Train 327 bound for Firgrove.

 

 

In Peter's Pond they meet Passenger 2.

 

 

Running around their train.

 

 

Later, upgrade at Watkins Siding.

 

 

327 has terminated in Firgrove.  Moe and Lela board Train 304 eastbound.

 

 

304 at "The Ledges".

 

 

Rounding the bend into Bell.

 

 

They take Track 3 due to the nature of their switching movements.

 

 

We catch up with them at Cedar Rock, the branch line that leaves the mainline at Peter's Pond.

 

 

This branch is fun to work.

 

 

From Nelson Yard, Lela and Moe are on the final leg of their journey aboard Train 314.

 

 

About to round the bend at Lilly.

 

 

Malcolm captured them switching in Spruce.

 

 

Later in Ironwood.

 

 

We say "So Long" to Lela and Moe and catch up with the passenger train.

 

 

Departing Firgrove.

 

 

With Pat at the helm.

 

 

Downgrade between Firgrove and Bell.

 

 

At Watkins Siding.

 

 

Through Peter's Pond.

 

 

Righthand running through Mercer Siding.

 

 

Through the diamond.

 

 

East of Glen Hammond.

 

 

At Lilly.

 

 

At Blockhouse, the passengers all wave to the "Friendly Giant" which dominates the landscape.

 

 

Upgrade to Spruce.

 

 

Around the bend west of Spruce.

 

 

Around the bend east of Spruce.

 

 

Station stop in Ironwood.

 

 

Having been turned at Craig Leigh, Pat departs with Pool Train #15.

 

 

Back to Ironwood.

 

 

Spruce.

 

 

Lilly.

 

 

Through the girders.

 

 

Arrival Glenn Hammond.

 

Later at Bell.

 

 

Crossing over to RP&M trackage.

 

 

At Pratt's Bottom.

 

 

Below Firgrove.

 

 

Into Glenn Hammond.

 

 

Blockhouse.

 

 

Outside of Spruce.

 

 

Ironwood.

 

 

Meeting 312.

 

 

Terminating in Craig Leigh.

 

 

Pat's not done!  He now takes Passenger 1 westbound across the system.

 

 

Love those stainless steel cars.

 

 

With Doug's F-units on the point.

 

 

Lettered for Doug's Northland RR.

 

 

Through Watkins.

 

Because I was dispatcher on this day, I wasn't able to run my latest acquisition, my Delaware & Hudson GP38-2.  If you notice from the images of a recent run out at Doug's place, I still had to re-glue a few items on the locomotive...the end steps, the lower side step and the moveable front step.

 

 

 After this session I headed home and, with a little ACC, was able to glue these missing parts on the diesel.  Can't wait until the next standard gauge session at Fred's when I get to run this little blue and grey angel with the lightning stripes! Hehehe!

 

 

Man, that was a lot of action with a great gang of people.

 

 

Thanks to Fred for the on-going invite!

 

 

Meeting Stuart (Stewart)?

 

 

Nice to see you out, Bill.

 

 

Mark too!

 

 

And the kids, both little and big!

 

 

Time to play some cards.

 

 

And enjoy a great lunch thanks to Moe's cooking!

 

 

Fun with four-legged friends.

 

 

Father and daughter, Doug and Lauren.

 

 

Connor too!  Fred...you're a genius!

It sure is a lot of fun for me writing this blog each week.

Have a great week everyone and we'll see you next Saturday trackside along the IPP&W and RP&M!

 

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada