Session #17 - Narrow Gauge - Post Tornado

The clear blue skies in this shot of my train, 311, on the first day of fall belie the fact that this area suffered a severe storm the night before.

A rare tornado measured as an F3 struck the western sector of Ottawa the evening before and then skipped across the Ottawa River to the province of Quebec.  Fortunately there were no fatalities registered. (It has now been suggested that two tornadoes touched down in the region during the height of the storm, one an EF-2 and the other an EF-3.)

It felt strange to be running trains in perfect weather conditions just a mere 16 hours later.

A major power station located but a few miles from Fred's home was destroyed, yet Fred's neighbourhood was unscathed.  Such is the nature of these types of storms.

Running trains in the garden helped us escape for a few hours.

It was a joy watching Alex, Steve's grandson handle this wonderful locomotive with his grandpa.

It was also pure joy seeing the positive impact of the turnout installed along the RP&M near the interchange area.  Two trains from two railroads arrived Bell at the same time and were able to go about their business without interfering with each other.

The rolling stock, indeed, indicates this as being a session of the narrow gauge variety.

Grandpa Steve and grandson, Alex.

Skippers Pat and Fred.

Husband and wife team, Steve and Seanna...along with Bernie, Paul and Doug.

Bill's smile always brings the sunshine.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Henk whose store location we think will be without power for some time as it was affected by the destruction of the nearest power station.  Henk couldn't remain for the train ops session as he had to continuously check in on the business.

Dispatcher Doug ensures the trains will run as expected.

Bernie makes his way over to Nelson Yard and stands alongside Doug to watch over the activities.

Later, we find Fred in the same location.

Doug took these next seven images.  Here I am helping set out traffic pre-ops.
Yes, it is a tad chilly.  The sun will rise higher as the morning progresses and things will warm up as the action on the railroad heats up.

Doug heard me shout out to Pat as our both trains arrived Bell, "Mine is longer than yours!"

Pat and Garry in Nelson Yard pre-ops.

The Craig Leigh yard switcher.

Bill...eyeing a meet.

Our good friend, Pat!

Little ole me...I am the "rear end" and not an "_ss _ole!"  Hehehe! Big grin!
Thanks, Doug, for the fun images!

We begin our look at the action with Passenger #2 arriving Peter's Pond.

Young Alex stays near his passenger train as it rolls downgrade near Blockhouse.

Later, the passenger service arrives Glen Hammond.

Where Steve has some work to conduct.

The yellow splash of colour from a passenger car and a freight car brightens the morning.

Pool Train 15 arrives Peter's Pond in a westbound direction.

They meet a freight train which is protected on the main.

Great job, Alex!

We find Bill at Watkins Siding eastbound aboard 302.

302 meets my train, 327.

Bill conducts some yoga moves to uncouple his locomotive from a reefer.

Another brightly coloured car on the railroad.

Train 15 passes on the station track.

Bill inspects the train as it runs by.

He then runs around to the front end of his consist.

He awaits clearance into Nelson Yard.

Clearance is granted.

Bill arrives Nelson.

Over to the east, we find Train 318.

With Seanna in control.

She then makes her way over to Ironwood while her husband, Steve, takes her place in Spruce with 301.

Later, Seanna is aboard 303 in Mount St. Helens.

Her switching here will be facing moves.

303 is between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.

On its approach to Ironwood.

Let's check in on my train, 327 in Glen Hammond.

Just out of Glen Hammond, the car on the siding to the left will be a lift for me.

Drilling the siding at Bellamy.

Dispatch has cleared me through the shared trackage.

I hold the siding at Mercer.

Then it's on into the Pond.

Two of my cars are facing moves up in Cedar Rock and one is a trailing move, so I have my "ducks in a row" before departing Peter's Pond up the branch to Cedar Rock.

Pulling some lifts from the crusher with the pond not far away.

The large Watson facility offers some shade.

With all my setouts completed at Cedar Rock, I've grabbed my lifts and am ready to head back down to the junction in Peter's Pond.

Coming down the grade I find Passenger 2 on the station track.

With a friendly wave, the passenger crew departs.

Way out east, Steve has 301 in Mount St. Helens.

He later passes the train his wife, Seanna, controls at Ironwood and makes his way over to Spruce as seen earlier.

Working the facing Mackenzie Lumber spur in Spruce.

Between the two lads we see Steve's diesel about to tackle the climb out of Blockhouse up to the great span outside of Nelson Yard.

Steve rounds the bend at Lilly.

301 arrives Nelson Yard.

Steve switches his list and confirms his cars are  correct as he will soon depart as Train 311.

311 departs Nelson Yard.

Time to check in on our RP&M crews.

Pat has arrived Bell aboard RP&M 65.

He has turned his locomotive and will depart as Train 66.

RP&M 66 meets RP&M 70 down in Rat Portage.

Just moments earlier, RP&M 65 meets IPP&W 304 at the interchange in Bell.

With the addition of the new turnout on the RP&M track, both trains can enter the area independent of each other.  Doug gets to enjoy the scene from his perch in the dispatch booth.   These are his words..."That extra crossover at Bell really has been worth its weight in gold keeping Bell fluid all season from the dispatchers point of view."

Pat is enjoying the action.

As is this railfan!

Two trains paralleling each other.

What a gorgeous sight!

Awesome!

So sweet!

We're loving it!

Brian commandeers the other RP&M train.

He has backed Rat 70 out of Nelson Yard and has entered Glen Hammond.

His train is to the left of the station at Bellamy as he awaits to see what his RP&M colleague is doing down in Rat Portage.

The Hamer facility looks busy.

Brian checks his orders aboard Rat 70.

The Hamer facility appears busier still!

Nice looking train, Brian!

Nelson Yard basks in the sun.  Garry controls the movements in and around the yard with his two RP&M crewmates, Pat and Brian.

Brian walks over to the east end of the yard.

An audience has arrived.

No problem for Garry.

He keeps on working like the Eveready Battery lad!

Some interesting locomotives and cars are found in the yard.

A look across the yard shows Glen Hammond and Bell in the distance.

Garry's work involves tagging cabeese on the ends of their respective trains.

Over in Firgrove, Ralph Yard looks pretty busy.

George ensures that the busy-ness never gets out of control.

Ralph Yard finds sun while Firgrove is hidden in shade.

Later in the session, George hauls Train 20 down to Bell.

He will later return as Train 21.

George is looking good!

So glad to see you out and about, George!

Fred enjoys a conversation with him.

We must not forget the goings on in Craig Leigh.

Hi Bernie!

Nice looking steamer!

Craig Leigh covers a large area at the eastern end of the railroad.

Looks like Bernie is bringing in a reefer for the ice track.

Nice!

Railfan shot!

Later, Bernie brings Train 31 down to Mount St. Helens.

Where he has some switching to do.

Before returning back to Craig Leigh as Train 30.

Our trusty dispatcher, Doug, sneaks out of the dispatch booth for a peek of the action.

We find Pool Train 15 in Peter's Pond.

Train 15 meets 304 at Watkins.

Nice looking train, lads.

Steve and Alex in Bell.

Train 15 finds RP&M rails to the west of Bell.

Slowing down for a station stop in Pratt's Bottom.

Later, arriving Glen Hammond.

Two Steve's in one image!

Steve checks over his switch moves in the Glen.

He backs his train into the yard at Glen Hammond.

The fence offers a great backdrop.

Later, Alex inspects his train as it climbs the grade near Spruce.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Almost there.

We've made the summit.

And rounded the bend.

Then into Spruce.

Later, onward to Mount St. Helens.

Bill travels east through the iron girders aboard 312.

312 exits the bridge.

Rounds the bend at Lilly.

Nice looking power, Bill!

Out of Ironwood.

Skipper Bill!

Seanna has 303 westbound into Ironwood.

She meets 314 in Spruce.

314 can then depart for Ironwood.

303 at Spruce with many observers.
Indeed, smiles abound when we're out on the high iron!

Back to 327...westward out of Peter's Pond.

Arriving Bell on Track 3.

Departing Bell for Firgrove.

Tackling the grade at "The Ledges."

A nice "going away" shot.

Later 304 is eastbound near the dispatch booth.

A nice close-up shot.

Time to get the bed ready.

As the session ends.

Hopping into bed.

Safely tucked in.

The tail end tells us it's time to end the post.

Thankfully, the weather vane indicates that the winds near Fred's home did no damage at all in the previous evening's storm.

Pat packing up.

Saying "Good-bye!" (Tom Sawyer)

But...he has to wait for his driver, Bill.

Thanks, once again, Fred!  The session was great!  Hope you don't have to wait too long to get the power to your home restored.

Have a safe and enjoyable week everyone!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada