Session #7 Invasion of Friends Friday the 13th Narrow Gauge at Fred's - Morning Session

The annual "Invasion of Friends" kicked off brilliantly this past Friday, the 13th of July.

As can be determined by this locomotive aboard Train 318 in Glenn Hammond, the session is of the narrow minded variety.  This blog entry will showcase the train operations held in the morning only. To see the blog entry from the afternoon session, copy the link below into your address bar.
https://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.com/2018/07/session-7-afternoon-operations-during.html

Our good friend, Moe, managed to snag a few shots of the property from "on high" with his camera on board his drone.  Note how the umbrellas play a crucial role in protecting the yard masters.
To enlarge the image, click on it.  To return, click outside the image.

A similar view shows a train "in the hole" at Mercer Siding which parallels the back wall of Fred's house.

Our aerial "recon" mission finds Ric checking his lists at Nelson Yard.

An "overall" view at Craig Leigh.  Don is capturing a picture of the drone which is capturing a picture of him!  Bernie is to the right.  Yes, Bernie, we now see how much you appreciate the job these trees do in shading your work environs!

And...now...for some introductions of our friends from south of the border.  Here's Ed, my crewmate on the day.

Sue and Diane.  

Jim.

Don to the left.  He is with a local friend, Stewart.

Jan, in a sunny setting.

Ric, the Nelson Yardmaster.

Ken made an appearance later in the AM, seen chatting with Jan.

Wes is from Ontario, but he often heads south of the border to run trains in upstate New York.

Pre-ops, we gather for the information session.

That's our dispatcher, Doug, with Ric and Stewart.

Fred, Henk and Wes enjoy the camaraderie which abounds.

Pat, in the background, is attentive to Fred's words.

As are Paul, Ed, Sue, Diane, Lawrence and Bernie.

Jim and Don, seated and Doug and Stewart standing proud.

Steve and Ric in the background with Jim and Don relaxing on the chairs.

Thanks to Bernie for sending along this shot of a special carrying case.  Hmmm...we are curious as to its contents?

Aha!  Ric and Jan brought along this little treasure!

It's fully operational.

With sound!

Luckily, not smell!

The other major characters on this day are...

...the steam locomotives which head up the trains.

Many varieties.

Many wheel arrangements.

Little brutes.

Medium sized ones.

Man, can this little guy pull a string of cars!

Colourful.

Larger brutes.

A variety of railroad companies.

Buzz, buzz!

Strong and hefty yard workers.

Huge locomotives.

And...weathered ones!

Let's check in the train operations.  Bernie snapped this photograph of Jim as he departs Craig Leigh aboard Train 301.

Jim has 301 arriving in Mount St. Helens in a westbound direction out of Craig Leigh.

A colourful little buggy!

A beautiful locomotive.

He checks his orders as Train 318 is about to meet his train in the opposing direction.

Jim has run around his train and begins to drill the facing tracks in Mount St. Helens, above, while Train 302 heads eastbound into Peter's Pond on the trackage below.

Pat is at the helm of 302 as he enters "The Pond."

Looks like some reefer cars will be heading up to Cedar Rock on this morning.

Pat pushes his lading up the branch.

Meanwhile, Ed and I will crew 318.  Our train is on the left track in Glenn Hammond and appears ready for its morning call to duty.

We crawl slowly out of Glenn Hammond, bypassing the large Nelson Yard.

Past Fallentree Mine.

Approaching the big trestle to the east of Glenn Hammond.

Beginning our downgrade descent which will find us at Blockhouse in short order.

Later, we find Steve and his grandson switching out the industries at the end of the Cedar Rock Branch.

Looks like they have some work at Cedar Rock Supply.

The grandson sure is enjoying himself!

They continue to work in the shade while we spot Lawrence with the ore train in Spruce just behind them.  That's Jim off in the distance in Ironwood and Doug, our trusted dispatcher looking over the action after stepping out of the booth.

Henk mans one of the two RP&M trains for this session.

Before he heads out, he works with Ric, the Nelson Yard master, making up consists for the various trains which will arrive and depart the yard throughout the AM hours.

The umbrella is essential on this sunny morning!

Ric, the yardmaster, reviews his lists while Henk looks eastward toward the rising sun.

Garry, to the left, has brought his RP&M train up to Bell to deposit cars on the interchange track and to pick some up as well.

Garry runs around his train using Track 3.

 Once again on Track 4, he will be able to push his consist onto the interchange tracks.

My crewmate, Ed, has Train 303 heading westbound at Ironwood while Lawrence, in the distance, hauls the ore train eastbound.

The ore train has "clear sailing" orders at Watkins Siding, named after Lawrence himself!

Lawrence brings the ore train around the big bend into Spruce.

Through Ironwood, he meets 303 at Mount St. Helens in this earlier shot in the morning.

303 will sneak into the siding allowing the ore train a clear alley up to Craig Leigh.

At Watkins Siding, we gain a clearer view of the fence posts that have gone in along the back border of the property.

Let's examine the three main yards.  We begin at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

Ken has yet to arrive, so Bernie works his usual role as Craig Leigh Yardmaster.

He's fortunate as Douglas Yard is in shade for the majority of the day.

The Northland Ore Dock is a new surprise for our American friends.

Ed has arrived Craig Leigh aboard 318.  He is in the process of turning his locomotive on the wye as Bernie offers up a big smile.  Bernie has already made up Ed's next train, Train 303.  When the locomotive is wyed, Ed will back down on 303 and we will be able to depart westward.

Don is no dummy!  He knows where the shade is!  Two handsome lads.

We travel to the far reaches of the IPP&W to find Paul manning the yard in FIrgrove.

Paul checks over his lists for the day.

His motive power on the day.

A true beauty she is, Paul!

Across from Firgrove is Rat Portage which is situated along the RP&M line.  I am proud to have this little siding named after me.  Thanks to Lawrence for such a wonderful structure!  I love it!  I also love the name, "Hamer Manufactoring"...now, check out the spelling...can you spot the difference?  I guess Hamer "factors" into a lot of the happenings along the RP&M!  Hehehe!

Nelson Yard is big...but not too big for this little brute!

"Ozark Larry" can handle anything that is thrown his way!

The mainline acts as a yard lead to the west.

Ric works the east end as well.

Seems he's got an audience as Wes and Jim look on, after having entered the yard.

A colour coordinated tandem!

Time to check in on some of the locals.  Here's Moe!

Skipper Henk.

Dispatcher Doug.

In the dispatch hut.

Fearless Fred.

What's Moe up to?

Aha!

"Zee drone, boss, zee drone."

Hovering above the back neighbour's yard.

Looks cool, Moe!  (Moe later took some aerial video of the train action.  When Moe gets it on line, I'll be sure to link the video to the blog.

Wes listens to Fred while Steve and his grandson check out the train action at the far end of the table.

Henk is all smiles as Ric has kept the yard in "tiptop" shape.

Sue and Jan play a train game on their devices...hehehe!

Henk entertains the young lad.

Which keeps us entertained as well!

Lawrence visits the table.

 The ladies share their own tales.

We left off with Train 301 in Mount St. Helens where it met Train 318.

Jim now has 301 at Spruce.

He's run around his train to drill Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Supply.

That station at Spruce is a beauty, for sure.

Working from the tail end of his train.

Spruce is a lovely location along the line.

We catch up with Pat aboard 302 in Cedar Rock.

Later he meets Jim, now with Train 311. 

The head end of 302 greats the tail end of 311.

Mercer Siding is a great railfan location if you enjoy snapping pics of meets!

Ed and I have 303 switching out Blockhouse.

Then into Spruce.

Next, Ironwood.

Between Ironwood and Mount St. Helens.

Eastward bound.

Departing Mount St. Helens...

...for Craig Leigh where we, once again, check out this snapshot of Bernie and Ed.

Bernie has taken our train into Douglas Yard.  This provides Ed with the opportunity to wye our locomotive.  The engine house in Craig Leigh is a beautiful structure.

Ed begins the process of wyeing the steamer.

In the shade.

Back into the sun.

Heading toward Douglas Yard.

With the bell ringing, Ed passes the work crew in Northland.

And..finally, he has reached the consist for 303 which Bernie had made up earlier.

We find Steve aboard 327 out of Bell.

With grandson leading the charge.

Rounding the bend up to the ledges.

Much later, Steve now has 304 eastbound at Watkins Siding.

Then at Mercer Siding.

With a short consist in tow.

Henk is in Glenn Hammond.

Enjoying the shade of the umbrellas.

Aboard his RP&M train.

Ric soldiers on at Nelson.

Keeping everything tickety-boo!

With his able assistant, Jan. 

The yard is organized.

Looking across Nelson Yard, Glenn Hammond and up to Bell.

Time for relaxation.

Glenn Hammond.

Three locations in one photograph.

Say cheese!

This is the life!

I've got to agree.

Paul runs down some traffic from Firgrove for Bell.

He has Firgrove looking neat and tidy as well.

Here's Paul.

Hey...a new locomotive!

This must mean that Ken has arrived!

Where he works Craig Leigh.

Drilling the caboose track.

Love that Rio Grande specimen, Ken.

Bernie will get a break shortly.

And Ken will take over.

With a couple of lads in the peanut gallery.

A look at structures...Windmill in Ironwood.

Love the loading area Lawrence has made at the Hamer facility in Rat Portage.

We missed Bruce and Jean at the invasion this year, but Bruce's awesome sludge works keeps Cedar Rock a busy place!

The cattle are ready to board in Mount St. Helens.

A lovely load of lading!

Lawrence works Ironwood Brick with the ore train.

Where he meets the crew of 303.

Lawrence requires the main.

He is then able to depart Ironwood for Nelson Yard.

Through Spruce, he is now downgrade to Blockhouse and then back up the hill on his way to Nelson Yard.

Much later and in the distance, the ore train ascends the grade at "The Ledges" where he will soon terminate his train in Firgrove.

Must be getting near lunchtime.

So says skipper Fred.

The condiments are out.

Folks gather round the table.

It'll be sausages today and burgers tomorrow.

Looking good.

I can almost taste it.

The table is full.

With great friends.

Soon, we will begin our afternoon ops, but a few more images from the morning are awaiting you.

Bernie sent me a few pics from the session.  Here we are in Craig Leigh with Steve's locomotive #4 parked alongside the engine house.

Lawrence works the throat of the Northland Ore Dock while Don relaxes in the shade.

Because I am behind the camera, I appear in the rare photograph.  Thanks, Bernie, for sending these along.  Ed and I are in Craig Leigh about to begin our run with Train 303.  We arrived early aboard 318 from Glenn Hammond.

We snake through the turnouts at the west end of Craig Leigh and begin our journey.

My camera lensed us in the locomotive.

Our caboose pulls up the rear of the train.

We meet the ore train who has been holding the main in Mount St. Helens offering us the siding for our local switching maneuvers.

Ed follows our train's progress as we conduct our runaround move.

It's fun seeing yourself in a picture!

With our work complete at Mount St. Helens, dispatch has given us our clearance for Ironwood.

Between the Mount and Ironwood.

You can spot our train climbing the grade on the further bridge at the gut.

Ed throttles down as we tiptoe onto the bridge.

Through the iron.

Arriving Nelson Yard.

Ed stands on the far side of Glenn Hammond and awaits the signal to depart Nelson.

Signal granted, we continue our journey, this time aboard Train 319.

Ed follows the locomotive.

As we pass the station at Bellamy and approach the junction.

Through the junction, we meet Train 404 at Mercer Siding.

With the meet complete, we have clearance into Peter's Pond.  Diane follows our progress.

At Peter's Pond we take the branch up to Cedar Rock.

Then it's on to Bell.

Burrowing below Mount St, Helens.

On the lower level in "The Corners."  We look upwards to find Train 312 on its approach to Mount St. Helens.

Through Watkins Siding.

On into Bell where we meet an eastbound.

Then it's upgrade toward Firgrove.

Climbing "The Ledges."

Into Firgrove.

313 is terminated.

What's this?

Indeed...a good stiff drink is required after a long run in the cab of a steam locomotive on a hot day!

We head back a little in time to follow Jim and Wes.

They are working Spruce aboard Train 301.

Downgrade to Blockhouse with an eventual destination of the big train yard at Nelson.

Arriving Nelson Yard.

Their journey continues westbound out of Nelson, this time as Train 311.

311 meets 302 at Mercer Siding.

Having completed their work at Peter's Pond, the crew of 311 arrive Bell.

They take Track 3.

Crews from both railroads are able to work alongside each other in perfect harmony with the new runaround capability near the interchange area.

A lovely sight!

311 rounds the bend out of Bell in a westward direction.

Climbing "The Ledges" for its final approach into the terminus at Firgrove.

Checking in on Pat, we find him aboard 312 at Spruce.

Drilling the trailing sidings.

Through Ironwood and into Mount St. Helens.

The previously viewed photo of two trains on two levels.

The caboose is analogous with the tail end of our story from our Friday the 13th train ops in the morning.  Our next post will showcase the afternoon operations on this same day.  Then, check in on the days ahead to see images from Day Two when we ran diesels.