Garden Railroading: Session 13 of the Season and a New Industry

Session One-Three of this glorious season of train ops found me bringing out two of my three large scale locomotives...of course those that run on diesel.

I will always be grateful to a dear friend, Gord Bellamy, who thought of me when he offered this true beauty my way.

For Gord knew and understood that I was a modeller of Northeastern Railroading and he saw the passion in my eyes the first time I had laid eyes on this gem.

Making this Delaware & Hudson GP38-2 all the more special is the gentleman for whom it's named.

Ralph Dipple was a dear friend to all around the Ottawa Valley Garden Railroad Society. Sadly, Ralph passed away a few years ago. Ralph Yard in Firgrove is named in his honour.

Diesel days are colourful ones for certain.
To view the pictures in larger format, click on the image.
To return, click outside the image.

And Steve's 1701 adds to the flavour.

As does this RS3 in CN colours, my other locomotive. I have to thank Chris for his authentic weathering job on the unit.

Bernie also thanks Chris for the dirt found on his Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Geep.

And...last, but not least, Chris's own CP end cab nicely doctored up as well.

Steve brought out his Algoma Central Geep which was painted and lettered by Charls Gendron.

This Canadian Pacific GP30 has a firm hold on the role of yard engine for Ralph Yard at Firgrove. It belongs to Paul Anderson.

How about a leased unit?

Brian has it running in multiple unit formation with his CP locomotive.

And...a fine pairing they make!

George showcased this little CN switcher in the handsome black and yellow livery.

Moe ran his CP Alco.

I'm pretty excited on this day for I have finally realized the dream of having an opposing industrial spur in Rat Portage on the RP&M. I had been lobbying the railroad management in the form of writing letters and attending board meetings in the hopes of expanding the RP&M empire's roster of clients The railroad acquiesced and the new spur will be home to Hamer Manufacturing and will be able to hold two cars at any given time. (I had lobbied for Mills Millworks, but RP&M personnel were concerned that a certain gentleman with that name might get too big of a head.) Speaking of getting too big of a head, it's been said that if you walk two blocks down the street from the Hamer Mfrg. facility, Hamer's twin brother runs some sort of factory outlet store dealing with hats of all shapes and sizes. It is located on the main street (and only street) of Rat Portage. Allowing for the nickname of the town being referenced simply as "Rat" the Hamer Hat outlet store's motto goes something like this..."Hamer Hats...A Hat That's Fit For a Rat!"

The Wednesday work crew of Lawrence, Mike (me) and Fred had the siding in place in about an hour and a half. I must thank Lawrence and Fred for mentoring me with this work as I am an HO model builder first. I run the large scale trains, but have limited scope and ability when it comes to track work and construction in this great scale.

Enough story-telling. Let's get back to business here! We notice two cars are spotted at the Hamer Mfrg. siding.

A train has arrived Rat Portage.

The job at Rat has now become a little more challenging with the new facing spur.

But nothing that this handsome operator can't get around.

Chris brought his engine into the yard at Rat and there was sufficient room on the far siding to act as a lead. He has gone into Hamer Mfrg. to lift a BCOL boxcar.

With sufficient room, he uncouples from the string of cars.

And is ready to bring the car down to his train.

Where he will use the runaround track to place the car in the consist. Some may ask the question, "What happens if the back track is full of traffic thus offering no space for the crew to get into the Hamer siding?" Simple enough...pull the string of cars from the back track and momentarily place them on the other siding or on the runaround track. Another thing to consider is that fact that working Rat Portage on the RP&M is much more leisurely of a job due to the fact you have very few trains arriving and departing as you would find on the IPP&W mainline. The crew may occasionally encounter Train 15, the Pool Train or the one other RP&M run...or, perhaps, the ore train...but the frequency of meets in Rat Portage is considerably less than that in other locations on the larger railroad.

Arte Johnson actually came out to run trains this past Saturday...V-e-r-y I-n-t-e-r-e-s-t-i-n-g!

He was spotted on the outskirts of Rat Portage.

Man...the lengths some railfans will go to...not to get a picture...but to get in one! Hehehe!

Arte is having way too much fun!

Let's check in on the folks in attendance for the session.
Thanks to Bernie for sending a group of pics my way for the blog to go along with my own.

Mr. Fred at the helm.

A picture of me!

Steve, Moe, George and Jim find themselves relaxed pre-ops.

John, Paul and Garry seem to be haloed as they listen to Fred's words.

Pat Brennan, Brian, Norm and Pat Brewer.

Lawrence and Pat.

Fred with some sage words for the crew.

Paul, Garry and Henk.

The man himself.

Lela has a seat with the gents.

Further relaxation.

Norm has a tale to tell.

And the crew tunes in.

Steve is aboard as well...as are others not pictured.

Our first look-see will be Train 318.

Moments before, 318 departed Glenn Hammond.

George holds the honours running his CN switcher on the main skirting the east end of Nelson Yard.

He bypasses the rake of cars being classified by the Nelson crew.

His conductor, Lawrence, keeps an eagle eye on the proceedings as the train departs yard limits.

Through the trestle.

Bypassing Blockhouse on the tracks beneath the yard throat where they spy that same lengthy cut of cars being classified.

George pulls 318 into Spruce.

This will be their first town en route as they head eastward towards Craig Leigh.

With their work completed at Spruce and with another crew still occupying the sidings at Ironwood, 318 is cleared to Mount St. Helens bypassing Ironwood.

They then return to Ironwood.

Where they will have much work to complete.

Lawrence orchestrates the moves with the deftness of a surgeon.

George and Lawrence terminate Train 318 at Craig Leigh. Bernie has already assembled their return run, Train 303. You can see that George has backed his locomotive onto the train at Douglas Yard.

They once again work the sidings in Ironwood.

Lawrence reviews his switch list as he asks George to pull some cars from the sidings.

Later, rounding the bend at Lilly.

George appears to be enjoying himself immensely.

303 on the bridge approach.

Over the great divide.

Pat and Brian have Train 327 taking the right hand siding at Mercer as they cross the diamond at Bellamy Junction.

Brian is controlling both units with a single throttle in MU fashion.

Their first stop on their westbound journey is Peter's Pond.

They will split their locomotive tandem to handle Peter's Pond and Cedar Rock.

Love the leased unit belonging to Brian. HATX 417 is part of the Helm Leasing Project.

This unit is in its fourth reincarnation as a former ex CSX unit. Research shows that she lived different aspects of her life as B&O 3751, L&N 3019 and SCL 1606.

It's clear sailing through Watkins Siding and past my dispatcher's hut.

Where I usually hang my hat when not out railfanning!

No time to take a photo at the moment as there is chatter on the radio and I'll have to address the movements on my dispatch panel.

Into Bell, Brian takes Track 3 where he and Pat meet eastbound 302.

Brian has split his mu'd locomotives and this half of the twin set works the western end of Bell.

While this half works the eastern sector.

On their approach into Firgrove.

Adjacent to the station.

With 327's run complete, Brian will turn the locomotives and ready them for Train 304, an eastbound run to Nelson Yard.

The double header arrives Bell.

Where they take Track 4.

They first work Stuart Yard.

Then it's down to Peter's Pond.

They take the siding at Mercer.

Where they must await clearance into Nelson Yard.

Sometimes the delay takes longer than expected due to the level of traffic at Nelson.

That sure is a lovely looking train!

Garry and Moe handle 301 out of Craig Leigh.

We first find then at Mount St. Helens.

With Moe at the throttle.

Garry surveys the landscape.

While Moe drills the facing tracks.

Their next stop is at Ironwood.

Where Garry conducts the movements.

Then into Spruce.

With the Spruce trees framing their work.

On their approach to Nelson Yard.

Where they meet 312 which has been awaiting their arrival in order to depart.

Having arrived Nelson Yard, Moe takes a short breather.

Before continuing his westbound sojourn, this time aboard Train 311.

They meet an RP&M train at Bellamy.

Cleared through the diamond, Moe and Garry arrive Peter's Pond.

Where they will have work to conduct.

Up the branch in Cedar Rock.

Another crew waits while Garry and Moe complete their assignment at this location.

With switching done down at the pond, they climb the grade at Watkins Siding.

And arrive Bell.

We say goodbye to Moe and Garry.

And...we say hello to Steve and Lela.

Steve has the brakes applied deftly as he brings 302 down the grade at "The Ledges".

Coming into Bell.

Later at Peter's Pond.

Lela discusses their moves with her crewmate.

Lela requests clearance from Henk into Nelson Yard.

Steve crosses the diamond.

And takes the yard approach track.

With 302 terminated in Bell, Steve and Lela are now Train 312 and they are in Spruce off in the distance.

Ah, here they are...a closer view of the relaxed pair.

At Ironwood, they handle the sidings.

With baton in hand, Lela orchestrates every move.

Their train arrives Mount St. Helens.

Lela will check her switch list momentarily

Mount St. Helens will be an easy task as all sidings trail the locomotive.

It's upgrade from here.

Arriving Craig Leigh.

Taking the track around the bend.

On the outskirts of Douglas Yard, Steve brings the locomotive to a stop.

So yardmaster, Bernie, can grab their consist.

Bernie has pulled the cut of cars back enough for Steve to come down the adjacent track.

Which will allow Steve to back onto his new train, 319, which Bernie had assembled earlier.

319 departs Craig Leigh while Bernie will shake down 312 in the yard.

Given the green its downgrade to Mount St. Helens for the crew of 319.

We can't forget our RP&M crews, especially the lad aboard the front of this beautiful Algoma Central diesel locomotive.

With their stockcar tucked in safely behind the engine, the crew is ready to depart Glenn Hammond.

Steve and Norm will be the crew on this day.

Their short train will be underway in short order.

Due to dispatch duties I was unable to follow their first train but later I found the crew once again in the Glenn with their new train now underway.

I caught up with them in Rat Portage.

On the main as Train "Rat 70".

Norm is the conductor.

Steve is the engineer.

Upon return, they take the inner approach track to Nelson Yard to allow 311 to depart. Note how 311 now has their green after Rat 70 crossed the diamond.

Norm in Nelson Yard with skipper Henk.

Steve and Norm later in Bellamy.

Let's look back at the cool looking road switcher will handle yard duties at Nelson and run the trains along the RP&M this day.

Chris and Pat have the RP&M Turn 65/66 train on approach to Rat Portage.

Chris instructs Pat to hold short of the small yard.

He uncouples the engine from the train in order to handle the lifts at Golding Grains.

Later, the team works the new industry in Rat Portage.

The moves were covered earlier in the posting.

Still, it's fun for me to see the action once again! Hehehe!

Up at Bell, they work Stuart Yard.

The mainline between Bell and Watkins Siding acts as the yard lead.

Running around the yard.

Back at the west end, Pat follows the proceedings.

While Chris keeps all moves crystal clear in his mind.

A close-up of this great looking loco.

Then, its cab forward back down on RP&M rails off in the distance.

Arriving Rat, they work the sidings in the yard once more.

Cleared through the diamond, they are on a slow approach to Nelson.

Chris ensures all turnouts are in their favour.

Arriving the yard.

Taking the engine for servicing.

Another day's work done and Chris is all smiles!

Let's check in on Paul working as yardmaster in Firgrove.

His GP30 drills the industries along the back fence.

The passenger train is readied at the depot.

His Canadian Pacific unit is the regular at this location on the railroad.

Paul must assemble Train 302, his first priority on the day.

Ralph Yard.

The yard changes in appearance throughout a session.

Looking down Ralph Yard from the end of the peninsula.

A number of cars that will go out on the eastbound trains.

After 302 departs, Paul has time to switch out the local industries before he must make up train 304.

His GP30 working the yard.

Paul keeps everything clean and organized!

Like Paul on the western front, Bernie keeps a shipshape yard on the eastern edge of the line.

Many operators place their locomotives on the track near the engine house.

Bernie's TH&B Geep is the regular yard engine in these parts.

Part of Bernie's many responsibilities is to assemble all passenger trains that depart Craig Leigh.

A brief hiatus in the action offers some shady respite for the handsome yardmaster.

A gander at the paperwork for Craig Leigh.

We saw earlier how Bernie assists with the breakdown of incoming trains.

The yard is a great place to railfan.

Special guest visitor, Jim Davies, checks out Douglas Yard.

Over in Nelson Yard, the action begins.

Cars are placed throughout the yard.

Trains are classified and, in short order, trains will be departing.

Henk is the Nelson Yard master.

Chris and Pat will form one RP&M crew and Steve (in the distance) will form the other with Norm.

In a rather rare scene, the eastern crew has brought out a lengthy string of cars, virtually emptying the yard in order to classify that end of things. The string made it all the way down the mainline to Lilly!

Steve is working the western front.

His Algoma Central unit adds a flare of colour.

The tracks adjacent to the A/D track will form the train consists for the day.

Chris and Pat continue with their work to the east.

Henk verifies car numbers against his list.

A lull in the action offers time for a short siesta!

You've gotta love the ever-changing palette at Nelson Yard.

With all meets out on the railroad having been covered, I was able to close the dispatch booth and pull out my D&H GP38-2 for a passenger run across the IPP&W.

Downgrade between Firgrove and Bell. My consist is comprised of the following cars;
"Strathcona", "Kamloops", "Skyline", "Revelstoke", "Shoal Lake" and "Banff Park".