Session 14 of the Season - August 19/2017

 

How about taking a "close-up" view of our 14th session of the season, shall we?

 

 

Narrow gauge meant that Brian could bring out his Rio Grande Southern unit.

 

 

Bob could run his Yellow Pine Lumber Co. bruiser.

 

 

Paul could press Fred's IPP&W #4 into service in Douglas Yard.

 

 

Steve's steamer could also make an appearance.

 

 

As could these two beauties working Nelson Yard.

 

 

Not to forget this other beast of a steamer!

 

 

Last Wednesday, I promised to showcase the mine and the sign at Nelson.

 

Here she be's!  Great job, George!

 

 

Table Talk.  This will be part one of a two part posting.

 

 

The crowd assembles.

 

 

It's the pre-ops rendezvous.

 

 

Lads surround the table.

 

 

Doug and Paul Anderson

 

 

Paul Norton.

 

 

His royal highness, Henk!

 

 

Fred delivers the goods with profound words, as always.

 

 

We'll start this week's session with the ore train.

 

 

Where we'll follow Bob.

 

 

From Firgrove in the west to Bell.

 

 

Along the RP&M at Rat Portage.

 

 

Back up to Bell.

 

 

Out of Pratt's Bottom.

 

 

Eventually...into Nelson Yard where he meets yardmaster, Garry.

 

 

Bob will have some setouts at the newly named mine.

 

 

Before continuing east to Spruce.

 

 

Then into Ironwood where he gets an assist from Chris and Bernie aboard 301.

 

 

They have gladly retrieved Bob's ore cars from the facing spur at Ironwood Brick.

 

 

So that when Bob arrives town.

 

 

He will be able to place them on his train. The lads will first back up and sneak into the siding for Bob to come ahead.  The crew aboard 301 is to be thanked heartily for the taking of their precious switching time to assist a fellow engineer.

 

 

Our second train to follow is Passenger #2 out of Firgrove.

 

 

She's an eastbound train.

 

 

With Doug and his K-27 in charge.

 

 

After clearance from the dispatcher, it's full steam ahead.

 

 

Rounding the corner.

 

 

Into Bell.

 

 

Through Watkins.

 

 

Behind Ironwood Brick.

 

 

Out of "The Corners".

 

 

On approach to Peter's Pond beneath Mount St. Helens.

 

 

Through Mercer Siding.

 

 

Cleared through the diamond.

 

 

Working Glenn Hammond.

 

 

Outbound from the Glenn.

 

 

Through the trestle.

 

 

Approaching Lilly.

 

 

Taking the big bend at Lilly.

 

 

Climbing the grade in the distance to Spruce.

 

 

Arriving Spruce.

 

 

Past the depot.

 

 

On the station track.

 

 

Departing Spruce.

 

 

Train 70 is an RP&M run which departs from Glenn Hammond.

 

 

Steve is at the controls this day.

 

 

Before heading onto RP&M iron he first works the team track at Belson.

 

 

He has his green through the diamond.

 

 

A later train Steve ran was the turn up to Bell known as Train 67-68.  Steve departs Nelson Yard with four cars out.

 

 

After switching in Rat Portage, he arrives Bell with a single car in tow.  He holds RP&M rails as he lets 328 pass with Bernie at the throttle.

 

 

Once 328 clears, Steve will take Track 3 in Bell, the track that will allow him access to Stuart Yard.  Typically he would take Track 4 with its access to the interchange area to the west of Bell, but his orders tell him otherwise on this day.

 

 

Steve meets the ore train holding the main.

 

 

Working Stuart Yard.

 

 

With his RP&M caboose.

 

 

The mainline outside my dispatch hut offers me a great railfan's perch!

 

 

Seeing as we're already in RP&M territory, why not follow the other crew from that railroad?

 

 

We find Steve and Lawrence aboard their Bell Turn, RP&M Train 65-66.

 

 

While they may "appear" red, they certainly aren't seeing "seeing" red as the smiles on their faces attest to the joys of train running.

 

 

The new Rat Portage station.

 

 

Means a station stop for the Drover caboose.

 

 

Which adds to the operational pleasure.

 

 

For this good looking pair.

 

 

It's now upgrade to Bell following two further station stops en route.

 

 

Taking Track 4 in Bell.

 

 

To enable access to the interchange tracks.

 

 

They are protected for their meet with 304 and skipper Paul.

 

 

A lovely look at two steam beauties!

 

 

Later in the morning, Lawrence and Steve run Train 70 up to Rat Portage.  They will take the same red Drover caboose you see in the middle of the yard.

 

 

With Train 70 assembled, the crew backs out of Nelson Yard for Glenn Hammond.

 

 

Later, we find the crew in Rat.

 

 

Taking the siding for a potential meet with either the pool train, the ore train or another RP&M crew.

 

 

I'm still overjoyed to see this new siding at Rat Portage.

 

 

Which offers crews the opportunity to switch a spur which is opposing to all other spurs at this location...adding to the variety and challenge.

 

 

It's a double thrill to see my name on the industry and on the switchlist as Hamer Mfg.  I must thank Lawrence and Fred once more.

 

 

The crew has parked their caboose on the far track.

 

 

Let's check the uniforms for this crew on this day.

Let's see...St. John's...

 

 

...and Port Sydney.  As Steve attests, this crew has both ends of the country covered from east to west!  A true Canadian crew!

 

 

With their work complete at Rat Portage, it's tender first through the diamond on their return trip.

 

 

The throttle slows the train for a station stop at Belson.

 

 

Let's check in on this affable crew aboard 301.

 

 

Bernie and Chris are at Mount St. Helens while Doug in the background will bring his passenger train below them into Peter's Pond.

 

 

This previously viewed image showcases the meet...well...not really a meet, but ya know what I mean!

 

 

With another crew working in Ironwood, the two lads must wait it out, and the garden stone walls offer a nice bench for a tad bit of respite.

 

 

Finally cleared into Ironwood, 301 begins their switching duties.

 

 

Only to be asked by dispatch to provide an assist for the ore train.

 

 

Not a problem for this friendly crew.  Thanks, again, 301 for sacrificing precious train time to offer help to a railroad colleague.

 

 

They've reached Spruce.

 

 

They've taken the main out of courtesy to allow an on-coming train to tuck in on the siding.

 

 

With a colourful consist.

 

 

Awaiting a meet with Train 312.

 

 

312 is eastbound while 301 is westward.

 

 

Both trains safely tucked in.

 

 

With the meet complete.

 

 

"See that train a-comin'...comin' round the bend!"

 

 

Chris contacts Garry, the Nelson yardmaster indicating his proximity to the yard.

 

 

Through the pedestrian crossing.

 

 

Upgrade at Blockhouse.

Bernie snapped this picture of his Connie as it crosses the bridge on 301's approach to Nelson Yard.

 

 He also managed to find the elusive dispatcher sneaking out of the dispatch booth to partake in some railfanning!
 

 

Westward 301's counterpart is the eastbound 302 originating in Firgrove.

 

 

Henk and Pat crew 302 on this day.  We have caught them in Bell.

 

 

Later, up in Cedar Rock.

 

 

Where Malcolm railfans their activities.  Note the new turnouts and track underway for the Cedar Rock extension.

 

 

Pat has been cleared into Nelson Yard.

 

 

Henk performs a "quality control" check of Nelson.

 

 

"He's doing a good job..."

 

 

"But..."  (just kidding, Garry!)

 

 

With the termination of their Train 302 at Nelson Yard, they continue in the same direction as Train 312 bound for Craig Leigh.

 

 

Eastbound at Blockhouse.

 

 

Meeting their counterpart, 301, in Spruce.  301 is running late due to no fault of their operators for it was 301's crew in the hole at Mount St. Helens waiting to get into Ironwood.  It was the crew of 301 who were asked to spend additional time assisting the ore train in Ironwood.  Finally, 301's friendly tandem of Chris and Bernie also offered dispatch the option of sending 302 on the long trip down to Spruce rather than holding 302 at Nelson Yard for them to come up.  True gentlemen they are!

 

 

The meet of 302 and 301.

 

 

Henk checks his switchlist for Spruce while Pat awaits

 

 

Paul and Lela will start their day in Glenn Hammond with westbound 327.

 

 

They hold at Mercer Siding for clearance into Peter's Pond.

 

 

Following their arrival in the "Pond" they head up the Cedar Rock branch.

 

 

Then it's through Watkins Siding.

 

 

Into Bell and beyond.

 

 

After terminating their train in Firgrove, they board eastbound 304.

 

 

Where Paul brings his train into Bell to meet Steve and Lawrence in this previously viewed image.

 

 

With a second viewing of these two beauties on Tracks 3 and 4.

 

 

Lela guides Paul in on Track 3.

 

 

The main acts as their lead while drilling Stuart Yard.

 

 

Lela at Nelson Yard.

 

  

Her crewmate Paul now departing Nelson aboard their new train, Train 314.

 

 

Meanwhile, up in Firgrove Moe has everything under control.

 

 

His CP diesel is a beauty.

 

 

As is the RP&M gas electric Moe brought down to Bell.

 

 

He'll have to turn the locomotive for his run back up to Firgrove.

 

 

Northland is located at the western throat of Craig Leigh.

 

 

The passenger terminal in Craig Leigh.

 

 

Paul is the yard master here.

 

 

Passenger #1 passes through Paul's yard.

 

 

Paul later takes a small turn down to Mount St. Helens.

 

 

With this little engine that could.

 

 

Many a car populates Nelson Yard at the beginning of the session.

 

 

They have to be classified by the RP&M and Nelson crews.

 

 

This engine works the western sector.

 

 

Steve and Lawrence discuss car movements.

 

 

While the other Steve joins in.

 

 

Steve, Lawrence, Steve and Garry work the yard tracks with efficiency.

 

 

Steve will take a train out on RP&M iron in short order.

 

 

While Garry continues to tidy the yard...here in the west.

 

 

And here in the east.

 

 

Job well done, Garry!

 

 

Rolling stock review.  This Conoco tanker was found at the industries outside Nelson Yard.

 

 

This Texaco tanker was on the siding in Peter's Pond.

 

 

A lovely Erie boxcar near the engine facility at Craig Leigh.

 

 

Three "yellow birds" in Glenn Hammond.

 

 

A favourite...billboard reefers just outside of Bell.

 

 

Fred is such a gracious host.

 

 

Visitors come from all around.

 

 

Regulars too...like our ever smiling Pat.

 

 

Pat, Doug and Henk take a breather from the action.

 

 

The same three lads.

 

 

Malcolm, the ardent railfan.

 

 

Great to have you come for a visit, John!

 

 

Lunchtime post-ops.

 

 

With joyful conversation.

 

Garry, me, Henk, Moe and Pat post ops.  Thanks, Bernie, for the picture!

 

 

Prankster Henk.

 

 

Keeps the lads in stitches.

 

 

Time for lunch, Brian!

 

 

What a delight too!

 

 

It was fun for me to dispatch (and railfan) all at the same time!

 

 

 The elusive me!

 

 

Thanks, again, Fred for a great day of train ops in the garden!

I'll post part two later this week!

 

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada