Session #6 Standard Gauge July 7th, 2018

Standard Gauge Session #6

On July 7th we gathered at Fred's place here in Ottawa.

Diesels were the locomotive options of the day.

The weather was most co-operative for the crews.

The cattle have put up with the extreme heat long enough and are relieved that the trains would be running again on the weekend.

Pulled by a stable of dependable diesels.

Some working the yards.

Some awaiting their assignments.

CN in one scheme.

CN in another!

Another provincial road with ties to our friends to the south of the border.

A fine example of a U25B brute.

CN in its earlier scheme.

A relatively local road.

Love the wet noodle.

And the lightning stripe.

Blue on blue!

An Alco FA.

Before I introduce a few of the characters in this plot, feel free to visit Malcolm's video footage from the session at...(you may have to copy and paste the link into your address bar.)

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AODDnKpXhu%2DI0%2Dc&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2127848&parId=4275D0234272929B%2127834&o=OneUp

Let's check out some of the actors on the stage.  Here's Bill.
You can enlarge the images by clicking on them and return by clicking outside them.

Steve.

Bob.

Lawrence and Brian.

Bill Sn3 Scobie.

My man, Moe.

Malcolm.

Lela and George in the foreground.

Doug in red.

Paul with the smile.

Garry deeply into his maneuvers.

Mr. Chris.

Bernie.

Pat and Lawrence.

George.

Doug.

Two visitors to the railroad in the distance, Ralph (in red) and his grandson, Charlie.

The "blue boys" to the right are Chris and Steve.

Fred shows Charlie and Ralph the layout of the land.

Ralph was an early member of the IPP&W many moons ago.

Little ole me.

Our skipper, Fred.

Let's get on with the show, shall we!

Moe and Lela are holding the siding in Spruce.

We see them in the distance.

Moe's CN locomotive.

A change of diesels due to a "service interruption."

Departing Spruce.

Slipping downgrade to the bottom of the hill at Blockhouse where they will climb out of the valley on their approach to Nelson Yard.

Taking the curve at Lilly.

One of this railfan's favourite locations along the line.

Through the span.

On the approach track to Nelson Yard.

We find Train 302 on Track 4 at Bell.

With Steve and Chris as crew.

Departing Bell.

Arriving Peter's Pond.

The "Blue Boys" of summer.

Pushing their freight up the slope into Cedar Rock.

Working in the shade at the end of the branch.

They depart Peter's Pond where they meet a westbound train at Mercer Siding.

Doug and Brian have work to conduct in Glenn Hammond before they are able to depart eastbound for Craig Leigh aboard 318.

Passing the depot in the Glenn.

Taking the large curve on the outer perimeter of Nelson Yard.

Much later, we find 318 working the trailing sidings in Ironwood.

After arriving Craig Leigh, 318 terminates and 303 begins its westward journey in the capable hands of Brian and Doug.

The 0-5-0 method of uncoupling works fine for this lad.

This CP specimen enjoys the dappled shade in this location along the line.

Lawrence and Pat crew Train 327 which began its day in Glenn Hammond with a distant destination of Firgrove.

We find them switching at Bell.

With an IPP&W train and an RP&M train in Bell, the crews work together or around each other depending on the complexity of their required moves.

Lawrence brings 327 up the grade along the ledge between Bell and Firgrove.

Pat heads past the empty Ralph Yard to determine where his train should stop.

In the shade at Firgrove is as good a place as any.

With 327 terminated, this same crew hops aboard a different locomotive to begin their trip eastbound aboard Train 304.

Pat is now the man with the throttle and Lawrence takes over the decision-making for the crew as conductor.

Pat's lovely New York Central switcher.

That lightning stripe scheme is popular among railfans, this one included!

They bring their train in on Track 4 to handle the interchange track.

Earlier in the day at the same location this railfan found 302 working Stuart Yard with the ore train arriving in the distance.

Bob's favourite run is as engineer aboard the ore train.

His FA unit handles the mineral lading on this day.

Outbound from Nelson Yard.

Through Blockhouse.

Approaching the pedestrian crossing.

Finding daylight, then shade...

...then daylight again on the grade.

Encountering the large phallic symbol on the outskirts of Spruce.

Let's head over to the junction of the two railroads to the west of Nelson Yard.

We spot Bill.

Along with Malcolm.

Aboard their RP&M train working the industries outside of Glenn Hammond.

An overall view of the area around the shared trackage at the junction.

Their RP&M train is working the yard.

They flit back and forth in front of the depot as they drill the yard in Rat Portage.

Then, it's up to Bell to complete some work at the interchange track.

Having turned their locomotive on the "armstrong" they run around Stuart Yard.

On their return journey back in Rat Portage.

Gentlemen from both RP&M trains work together at Rat Portage.

Enjoying the shade.

Glenn Hammond is a busy place where that will see RP&M trains, IPP&W trains and the ore train throughout the day.  If passenger service had been available on this day, those trains would make an appearance here as well.

Doug and Paul's RP&M train seen earlier in the AM.

Doug and Paul.

Their train in Glenn Hammond.

Doug is enjoying train ops!

Their train is almost ready to depart.

They're on the roll.

So is Paul.

 Rounding the curve.

A "going away" railfan shot.

Having been granted clearance through the junction, they find themselves on home trackage as they approach Rat Portage.

Doug studies his orders while Paul (in the distance) brings his train into Rat Portage having met their comrades' train down in the valley.

Indeed, two RP&M trains share comradery down in Rat.

Drilling the tracks, the engine trundles back and forth in front of the station as witnessed earlier by the other RP&M crew.

With a long train, the moves must be considered with attention to detail.

We find the crew heading back to Nelson Yard long hood forward.

This previously viewed image showcases Paul's lovely CP locomotive.

The Northland Ore Dock in Craig Leigh houses a herd of ore cars.

Bernie's first task of the morning in Craig Leigh is the assembly of the consist for 301.

Looks like tankers won the lottery on this day!

Bernie brings his small transfer train down to Mount St. Helens later in the session.

A happy man who gets away from the terminal area for a short while.

Bernie's TH&B Geep.

Drilling the sidings.

Then it's back on to his train.

Let's head over to the westernmost point of the line, the summit in Firgrove.

George handles all chores here.

With his diminutive, yet powerful switcher.

He has made the run down from Firgrove to Bell.

The run downgrade along the ledges.

Travelling along the main line at Bell.

From my perspective in the dispatch booth my vista includes many a crew on many a train.

As I state each week, Nelson Yard's personality changes minute to minute.

Paul is working the east end of the yard.

While Garry's locomotive works the western portion.

Garry and Doug review their lists.

Low angle view of the yard.

Bob has the ore train in town while Garry has set up a track for his arrival.

Another low angle inspection of the yard.

Malcolm taking valuable video footage of train movements.

While Garry continues to work away.

With Lela and Moe in the background, Train 301 has recently arrived and they will be taking Train 311 out shortly.

A railfan's shadows casts a cloud over the western throat of the yard.

Rolling stock review.  The icing platform in Craig Leigh.

The ore dock.

An "oldie" car among the mix in Douglas Yard.

A newer freight car spotted on a siding just to the west of Glenn Hammond.

Some of the sidings up in Firgrove.

The Hamer Manufacturing facility down in Rat Portage.

A trio of tankers in Northland.

Love the logo.

I'll take some molasses!

Love the green tank.

Lackawanna loads.

Another inspection of the icing platform.

Love the bright colour of this dandy!

Thanks for following along with my account of the session.

As my shirt indicates, always support those who serve.

Doug is enjoying the fine weather on this morning.

My friend, Bill, truly appreciates the camaraderie found along the lines of the IPP&W and the RP&M railroads.

Ya never know what skipper Fred will say next, but rest assured, he will always have an eager and enthusiastic audience.

Indeed, these bovine beauties did manage to escape the heat and feel the breeze through the slats of CP stockcar 276894.

As for me, I found time this past week to complete this cool puzzle of steam locomotives seeing as I am on my summer break!

We look forward to our sessions this coming Friday when we host our American friends for the annual "Invasion of Friends" meet.  Friday's operation will be narrow gauge and Saturday's will be standard gauge.

Please continue to keep a colleague of mine in your thoughts and prayers.  She's a 26 year-old kindergarten teacher who works in my school.  Casey was struck by a personal water craft (sea-doo) on Canada Day and is still in a medically induced coma following surgery.  

Thank you.  Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada