Session #9 Narrow Gauge Ops - Of Gardens, Real Steam, Rails and Sails

The detail on this locomotive indicates that we are running steam in the garden for our ninth session of the 2018 season.

Speaking of gardens, Fred asked me to help tidy up the first garden visitors encounter when they enter the railroad environs.

A neighbour of Fred's had some excess mulch from a project he had on the go, so, with three bags of mulch, and following some last minute weeding, the garden's appearance continues to improve.  If you are able to twist and turn your head, you would recognize that this garden ornament as an actual stirrup step from the end of a real freight car.

A tie plate with some railroad nails hammered down add to the overall "rust garden" appearance.

A couple of hosta, some sedum and a stand of lilies work in tandem with the rocks and other garden ornaments to help create a welcoming atmosphere to the railroad grounds.

We cannot forget the trusty (or is that rusty) brake wheel and the beautiful bell that rings the start of our sessions!

Empty chairs at empty tables down in Craig Leigh.  Will they last that way throughout the entire session?  Time will tell.  (Thanks, Bernie, for the picture!)

Bernie calls it the new viewing lounge in Craig Leigh. The Craig Leigh yard master was given a hard time for not providing beverages for the thirsty engineers and conductors.   

This carrying case helps stamp the notion that this will be a narrow gauge session.
To view the images in larger format simply click on any image.
To return click outside the image.

Our intrepid videographer, Malcolm, captured video sequences from the session.
Copy the link below into your browser for a "look see."

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21ADov%5FkmSK5nEaAE&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2128205&parId=4275D0234272929B%2128204&o=OneUp

Some of the pawns in the play.

In a variety of styles.

An unlettered and unnumbered beast.

A White Pass hauler.

A Rio Grande puller.

A Canadian Northern specimen.

One in Steve and Seanna's road.

My Annie displays a combined railroad from my New England railroad interests along with Fred's line...the Ironwood & New England.

This steamer of George's will work Ralph Yard in Firgrove on this day.

Bernie's shot of the two steamers at the engine house in Craig Leigh.

Thanks to Bernie for the next four photos from our pre-ops gathering around the table.
From left to right we see Garry, Paul, me, Fred and Helen.

Brian, Pat, Lawrence and Pat are the four lads in the penalty box.

Paul keeps us entertained with a story.

All the lads are "all ears" for the safety discussion.

Pre-ops necessities include emptying all of the bread trays of their cars for the session.  The Firgrove crew insists the trays be placed back in the shed throughout the session in order to keep their area neat and tidy.

Steve and Seanna begin setting out the ore cars.

Seanna's mom, Helen, will run the ore train with her.

Helen enjoys a story with Fred while Henk offers up a great smile.

Indeed, smiles abound pre-ops as we await the excitement a sessions offers.

From left to right, we find Brian, Pat and Lawrence.

Seanna holds her mom, Fred and Henk in rapt attention.

But not for too long as Henk breaks into a chuckle along with George, Brian and Pat.

Helen keeps the stories moving along.

Brian, Pat and Lawrence listen in.

More folks arrive the main table area from far afield as the bell has now been rung.

Doug and Bernie catch a few rays.

Lawrence, Pat and Malcolm hang out around the table area.

Steve, Paul, Helen, Bill and Henk.

Thanks, Malcolm, for the image of "yours truly!"

Fred offers some words of wisdom to the congregation.

Thanks again to Bernie for the next nine images.  We find Pat and Lawrence at the engine house in Craig Leigh firing up their locomotive for its daily duties.

Their train, 301, has been made up by the Craig Leigh yardmaster.

Pat radios dispatch for clearance to Mount St. Helens, their first stop en route to the far west reaches of the railroad.

Lawrence stays near the wye to ensure all turnouts are aligned.

Bernie has captured the essence of the passenger terminal.

With a number of trains readied for duty.

Moe will be running the passenger trains on this day.

Some typical head-end equipment.

An IPP&W reefer awaits some ice at the ice house.
Thanks for that bunch of images, Bernie!

Pat and Lawrence have completed their work at their first stop of Mount St. Helens aboard Train 301, a westbound manifest freight.

They proceed out of the Mount and will shortly find themselves in Ironwood.

The crew works the many industries found in Ironwood.

Further west is Spruce.

Out of Spruce they have gained clearance to Nelson Yard.

Approaching Blockhouse.

Passing the station.

Pat observes his train as it begins its ascent up to Lilly.

Their train continues to climb as they approach the broad curve at Lilly.

Lawrence slows the train through the giant span.

He holds his train at the approach turnout which governs passage either into Nelson Yard or over to Glenn Hammond.  

With permission granted to enter Nelson Yard, Lawrence crawls along through the myriad of turnouts at the eastern yard throat.

Garry, the Nelson Yard master has lined 301 onto the arrival/departure track.

301 terminates in Nelson Yard.

Lawrence and Pat will depart in short order aboard Train 311.  Paul enjoys a seat in the shade as his train, 302 has already terminated and had been awaiting the arrival of 301 before he could depart aboard Train 312.

We find our dispatcher, Doug, controlling all train movements near the epicentre of the railroad.

Paul is my crew mate aboard 302 this morning.

Paul has his "wee-cuppa" of tea in hand.

A similar load on flatcar!

With this being "Shark Week" on the Discovery channel, we could say this is "Paul Week" on the blog as he will appear in many a pic from this railfan's camera seeing as "we two" shared the same cab on 302.

Downgrade at "The Ledges."

Rounding the curve into Bell.  Note the two tracks that make up the interchange area to the right of our train.

We have been "in the hole" for some time now as we await a meet with westbound Train 327 at Watkins Siding.

We tunnel below Mount St. Helens where we barely notice 318 working above us.

Bernie finds Paul and I down in Peter'sPond.

We work the team track in the town before we proceed up the branch.

With my camera, I capture an image of Bernie as he snaps an image of me.

The Paul and I proceed up the Cedar Rock Branch.

At Peter's Pond we have two cars to transport along the Cedar Rock Branch.

The reefer was spotted at the fishery and it will be a simple matter for us to take it up the branch and return it back to its industry upon our return.

We have to lift the Rio Grande gondola from the crusher lead in order to place our setout car into the industry.  The designated drop is momentarily placed on the aggregate track.

With repositioning in order, it's a simple move to shunt the car into the crusher.

A low angle view.

All of the cars on the aggregate track are lifts for us.

We're back down in Peter's Pond.

Back on our train, I request clearance up to Nelson Yard.

We're underway.

Right hand running through Mercer Siding.

We're cleared through the junction.

Past the tower.

I've contacted dispatch to indicate we have cleared the junction.

We come in on the arrival/departure track in Nelson Yard.

It's a short rest for our crew before we depart Nelson further east aboard our new train, number 312.

Bill and Brian commandeer Train 327 which began its run in Glenn Hammond.

Their clipboard acts as a great car stop as they switch out an industry to the west of Glenn Hammond.

They enter Peter's Pond.

Where they immediately protect their train.

Bill is all smiles as he runs ahead up the Cedar Rock Branch to review the work he must do.

Pat, in the background, works the siding tracks over in Mount St. Helens.

Bill and Brian have completed their work at Peter's Pond and are at ground level in "The Corners."

They meet 302 which has been holding the siding for them for a few minutes.

On up into Bell.

Where they arrive on Track 3.  Glenn Hammond and Nelson Yard appear to be quite filled with freight at the moment.

Later, Bill and Brian return eastward having reached Firgrove.  They turned their locomotive on the armstrong there and began the journey aboard new train 304.

304 enters "The Corners" while 312 works the Ironwood Brick spur to the left.

Brian and Bill are once again up in Cedar Rock, this time aboard a train travelling the opposite direction as before.  That's Henk over in Spruce switching out the Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Supply.

Malcolm has captured me capturing the action in Cedar Rock.

We find Pat and Henk working Ironwood.

Then they are off to Mount St. Helens.

Pondering their moves.

At least the sidings are in their favour.

Pat is holding up the tree.

Henk removes his cap to offer the brain a bit more oxygen!

Bernie ambles down to the vicinity to snap the next two images of this handsome crew.

"Let's see," wonders the dynamic duo, "The recipe tells us to move this one here and that one there!"

My train, 302 passes beneath them.

Henk liked my oxygen remark.

Oh no...Henk has dissolved.  All that is left of him is his cap!

Mother and daughter run the ore train.

Down from Firgrove, they approach Bell on a slow order.

On the main in Bell.

Just passing through!

Through Peter's Pond, we find them departing Mercer Siding.

A railfan's shadow.

Much later, Seanna has the ore train in Ironwood.

Then she meets 312 in Spruce.

On the mainline.

Passing through.

Malcolm videos the progress of the ore train as it tackles the grade out of Blockhouse.

Then he railfans Seanna's train getting an assist from ours.

Paul, Doug and Bill talk trains.

With Moe.

Love the hat, Bill!

Hey, here's Neil!

He and Fred catch up on their respective week's news.

Bernie finds a moment of solace in Craig Leigh.

What's this...a disease-al?

Yessirree!

It seems Moe is bucking the trend on this day.

But...the passengers have to get across the line, so Moe's road switcher holds the honours on this day!

Moe rounds the bend between Bellamy and the Glenn.

He takes advantage of his station stop for a short break.

We look across Nelson Yard to find Moe and Doug alone on the railroad.

Lee has arrived.

With his lovely wire, Edith.  It's so great you both managed to make it out!

Neil takes a break from the table.

To follow the train action in the eastern sector of the railroad.

While Doug sits in the hot seat.

But it's never too hot for Doug.

As he always manages to"keep his cool" as he keeps the trains safely apart.

Using his schematic of all mainline towns en route.

I share a smile with Doug knowing I may likely be dispatching the following week.

In the distance, Steve drills the western throat of Nelson Yard.

As an employee of the RP&M.

He's outbound for RP&M tracks once he gains his green.

We spot another RP&M job climbing out from Pratt's Bottom.

And...a little later on...gliding downhill at the same location in the opposing direction.

Malcolm and Paul are in Rat Portage.

Then they make their way back to Nelson Yard while Lee and Edith look on.

Malcolm takes a rare moment away from his work to railfan the ore train.

Then it's back at it with his crewmate Paul in the yard.

The work is endless.

But it is rewarding.  Garry keeps a watchful eye over the proceedings.

Malcolm and Paul.

Rolling stock review.  The sun is low in the sky in the early AM hours as two reefers and a gondola are spotted in Firgrove.

Two handsome billboard reefers in Douglas Yard at Craig Leigh.

Two gons.

Two tankers at Northland.

Another reefer at the ice house.

Cattle sounds are heard around Peter's Pond.

The passenger terminal at the end of the line in Craig Leigh.

Did I mention it was Shark Week on the Discovery Channel?

Well, once again, I will tell you...it's "Paul Week" on the Garden Blog.

For Paul is the engineer aboard my train...and I'm the guy with the camera...so that means lots of pics of our train!  (big grin)

We are now aboard 312 and we have just departed Nelson Yard.

Coming out of Lilly we cross the same gut we just traversed as we take the horseshoe curve.

Paul holds at Blockhouse as we have a lift.

  

We've ensured our cattle cars are placed directly behind the locomotive.

Another horseshoe curve outside of Spruce.  (There are three horseshoe style curves on the IPP&W.)

Entering Spruce, we spot the passenger train in the distance.

We pass the depot.

And...a beauty she is!

With 312 tucked safely in siding, Moe can proceed to the station.

For his station stop.

Earlier, Moe had his train in Mount St. Helens destined for Craig Leigh.

Which gave him a moment to stop and enjoy the shade.

In Craig Leigh, he terminated Passenger #2 and boarded Passenger #1, now seen westbound at Spruce where we eventually encountered him.

Structure study.  The crusher is in behind the aggregate ramp.

The lengthy sidings in Mount St. Helens hold two industries each helping to create greater challenges while switching.

The stock pens in Mount St. Helens.

Bruce Chandler created the Chandler's Sludge Works.  Apparently it offers the best bottled water in the entire region through which the railroad runs.

The full Chandler facility.

Mount St. Helens, again.

Up in Cedar Rock we find Lawrence and Pat working 311.

It would appear they have both facing and trailing sidings to cover on this trip.  Or...they may have to remove the gondola from the Watson Siding as they may require the siding as a lead into the trailing Cedar Rock Supply spur to the right.

While my crewmate, Paul, monitors our action in Spruce.

Then he takes a short break to watch the developments in Cedar Rock.

Later, we find Pat westbound in "The Corners." with 311.

He climbs the steady grade through Watkins where he meets an eastbound counterpart.

In short order, Pat and Lawrence make it through Bell and up to Firgrove.
In this image we find them on the final leg of their journey aboard 328.

Verifying their work in Bell.

The umbrellas are a Godsend on these hot, summer mornings!

Our final check-in with Pat and Henk finds them relaxing in the shade at Craig Leigh.

Bernie has their train made up and ready to depart.

But Bernie tells us that they have no desire to get up and off those chairs!

So, Moe gets a head start out of Craig Leigh.
Thanks for those last four pics, Bernie!

Henk and Pat finally get about finishing up their work in Mount St. Helens.

They have worked Ironwood and are up in Spruce.

Shunting cars in and out of Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Supply.

Then onward to Nelson Yard.

Paul enjoys watching Moe aboard Passenger #1 as he makes his station stop in Spruce.

Later, an eastbound is in the hole awaiting the meet with the passenger train.

Over in Nelson Yard everything continues to run smoothly.

Cars are on their allotted tracks.

Garry ensures arriving trains are broken down in short order.

He also ensures that consists are readied for the arriving crews to take out as these crews continue on their respective journeys. 

Steve lends Garry a hand.

Up in Firgrove we find George.

He is occupied with his lists as he maintains an organized yard as well.

Paul and Malcolm say hello to George as they work the trackage down in Rat Portage.

While over in Craig Leigh we spot a quartet of cabeese on the cabeese track.

Douglas Yard is looking good.

As is the Douglas yardmaster!

Yes, Bernie keeps things in order in this locale.

With that big brute of a steamer.

Smile for the camera, Bernie!

Bernie's Connie placing a cattle car on the headend of the next manifest freight out from Craig Leigh.

The Northland Ore Dock.

Bernie directs Seanna as to her movements upon arrival in Craig Leigh with the ore train.

Lee watches as Seanna backs her train through the wye and onto the Northland Ore Dock.

Craig Leigh terminus.

With many a passenger car and headend equipment.

Glenn Hammond is abuzz in the early morning hours.

It's tracks are chockablock full!

Soon trains will be departing.

As the IPP&W and RP&M keep the merchandise rolling.

Still more rolling stock.

An IPP&W reefer resides on the house track in the Glenn.

A brightly coloured stock car.

A gondola load of logs.

Some "overall" perspectives of the railroad.  Here we are positioned at the main table looking over to Spruce and the Cedar Rock branch.

One of the two new houses out back.

With new fence work going in.

Looking down one "shoreline" of the peninsula at Spruce.

Looking across Peter's Pond.

A view towards Craig Leigh from the shade of Mount St. Helens.

Bill and Brian enjoy a short rest while Pat and Lawrence work their train in behind.

Lee chats with Paul while Fred looks on.

Malcolm sent me this shot of Paul and me aboard 312 at Ironwood.

Our train had just arrived moments earlier.

Paul pulls the locomotive forward.

This shot shows Paul at Ironwood with Pat and Henk in behind at Spruce with Cedar Rock further off in the distance.

With Bill and Brian working in behind at Cedar Rock, this image catches three crews working three separate locations on the railroad simultaneously.

I've managed to sneak up on Malcolm.

As he videos our train on the move.

You can see his image of my train in his phone.
You can also check out the real train movements at the 2:20 point on his video which was listed near the beginning of this blog posting.

Bernie caught me catching Malcolm catching our train!

We arrive Mount St. Helens.

We are almost done our work aboard 312.

From St. Helens it'll be up the hill to Craig Leigh.

Where we spot Bernie in the distance.

We arrive Craig Leigh near the wye at Northland.

Bernie directs us in.

The locomotive is removed from the train and sent to the engine house.

Say!  Here's Doug!  But he wasn't at this week's train session.  Where was he?

Aha!  I spotted him when I went sailing at the Nepean Sailing Club!
Doug sure is a handsome lad standing in front of all those gorgeous sailboats!

Yes, I had to leave my crew mate, Paul, to fend for himself as my wife, Lisa, picked me up early from the train ops session so that we could head over to the sailing club.

We were invited to sail on a friend's boat, the "Obsession" a 33 foot Viking sailboat.
It was my first time sailing in over 30 years!

Lisa and I took turns at the helm throughout the afternoon.  Sure was fun!

My sight line from my vantage point behind the wheel.

Lisa at the helm.

You will recall this image at the top of this blog posting?

Well, this week I also found time to make it over to the newly revamped Museum of Science and Technology.

Where I snapped a few pics from inside the "Train Hall."
The 6400 is a streamlined 4-8-4 locomotive built at Montreal Locomotive Works.

The 3100 is also a 4-8-4 locomotive built at the CPR Angus Shops.

The 2858 is a CP H1d Royal Hudson.  This 4-6-4 locomotive was built at MLW.

When the school teacher (in the middle) isn't busy running trains at Fred's place, sailing at the Nepean Sailing Club or visiting the newly refreshed Museum of Science and Technology, he certainly finds other ways to spend his time over his long summer vacation!  Why, just this week he found time to travel down to Merrickville with his new friend, Bill (on the left).  On the way down they stopped momentarily to see if Mike's good friend, Doug, was home...and judging by the appearance of that handsome lad on the right, he was!

 Indeed, Doug happened to be home and he was delighted to show his garden railroad to Bill on such a lovely summer morning.

Doug's layout is set in a gorgeous woodlawn environment crafted carefully by the man himself.

Stone pathways and lovely plants co-exist with the railroad.
Thanks for the quick tour, Doug.  We'll share some more pics in a further posting!

Then, it was back in the car for our destination of Merrickville and a visit to the train hobby shop, Lark Spur Line.

With a stop included at the canal locks.  Indeed, transportation is the theme on the day!

Where my wife, Lisa, and Bill enjoyed watching the boats get a "lift" in the lock.

A blue sky day!

Before departing I was interested to see the workings of the swing bridge.  A true marvel of engineering.

And, with that, we view another marvel of engineering...Fred's gardens and his spectacular outdoor railroad.

This lovely garden is the first sight that greats visitors to the back property.

What a joy it is spending time with Fred and friends!

Fred's smile tells it all.

And...with the red caboose...

...it's time to say "adios" until next week.
I hope you have enjoyed this lengthy and varied posting of our first train ops session following our great time during the Invasion of Friends the week before.
Have a great week everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario,Canada