This wonderful meet in Mount St. Helens indicates that this week's session is of the narrow minded variety. Thanks to Doug for sending all of the photos from this posting as I was away in Montreal on this day.
We catch Passenger 2 threading the needle through the great trestle to the east of Glen Hammond.
A beauty of a locomotive found downgrade out of Firgrove. This is Moe's locomotive aboard Passenger 2 heading for Bell.
Paul and Neil have the Bell 67-68 turn working the interchange in Bell.
Henk and Pat arrive Spruce aboard Train 314, their third run of the day.
Moe is in the driver's seat taking in all of the action while his passenger train enjoys a stop in the Glen.
Pre-ops, the lads share some camaraderie.
Henk runs around his train in Peter's Pond. We catch him during his first run of the day aboard westbound Train 327.
Steve and Seanna crew 301 in Spruce.
Bernie looks on as Bob drills the Northland Ore Docks.
Tankcar in Rat Portage.
Lawrence works 302 at the end of the Cedar Rock branch.
Nelson Yard is a hive of activity.
Pat Brennan and Henk begin their day as Train 327 about to depart Glen Hammond for Firgrove with stops en route in Peter's Pond and Bell.
Garry, our affable Nelson Yard Master. Indeed he is the "Master of the House!"
At the Craig Leigh passenger facilities Bernie readies the Pool Train for its later run.
Pat Brewer assists the Nelson yard master before heading out aboard RP&M Train 65.
Bell can be a busy junction at times as well. We spot Bob checking out the ore train which is out of sight behind the photographer.
Passenger 2 has arrived the depot in Bell. The ore train is spotted in the distance at Watkins while westbound train 327 rests on Track 3.
Malcolm and Seanna check out the meet in Spruce.
327 has run around its train and is making use of the newly installed yard lead as the crew works the yard in Bell.
Train 15, the Pool Train is railfanned by Malcolm and Lawrence at Spruce.
Some beautiful steamers up in Firgrove.
The ore train is westbound at Spruce.
Bernie is the yard master at Craig Leigh. He keeps incoming and outgoing trains running efficiently as always.
303 threads the needle on its approach to Nelson Yard.
Pat has brought RP&M Train 65 up to Bell to exchange traffic with the IPP&W. He will return to RP&M rails shortly as Train 66.
Nice looking power in Craig Leigh.
Earlier in the day, Pat and Henk ensured they conducted any switch moves in Glen Hammond before departing aboard Train 327.
:Lawrence works the trailing spur at Blockhouse aboard Train 312.
Steve and Seanna await clearance to depart Craig Leigh early in the day aboard Train 301.
Discussions at Mercer.
Neil and Paul assist the Nelson yard master before departing for Rat Portage on Train 70. When Train 70 begins its run, it will back out of Nelson Yard, sneak into Glen Hammond then head across the junction to Rat Portage.
Malcolm with Train 302 in Peter's Pond.
Henk and Pat in Nelson Yard.
Ditto!
Moe has the Pool Train at Glen Hammond. He may conduct some switching of the track behind the depot.
Later, Moe is in care of Passenger 1 arriving Ironwood for a meet with Train 314.
Taking a much needed rest.
A westbound crew arrives Peter's Pond.
Kibbitzing in and around Nelson Yard.
Bernie in Craig Leigh.
Malcolm and Lawrence resting in the shade of Mount St. Helens.
Brian and Paul with Train 303 in Ironwood on a lovely June morning.
The passenger yard.
George keeps Ralph Yard well organized up in Firgrove.
Rat Portage.
Nelson Yard changes character every few minutes with trains arriving and departing.
Neil with his RP&M train at Anderson.
Bob brings ore to the Northland Ore Dock.
A train passing the depot in the Glen.
Garry directing moves at the western throat of Nelson Yard.
A beautiful steamer arriving Peter's Pond eastbound. .
Love it!
Pre-ops readiness.
Setting up the yard.
Paul Anderson has RP&M 70 up in Rat Portage.
Paul Norton enjoys the meet of two trains in Spruce.
Fred loves watching the action at these busy places...
...with Bill Sn3 Scobie behind him in the dispatch booth.
Henk and Pat up in Cedar Rock.
George, the Firgrove Yard Master.
Steve, aboard Train 311, radios for clearance out of Peter's Pond. Looks like the passenger train will be granted permission before his freight train. Seanna is at the throttle while Moe shouts "All Aboard" before departing the Pond.
Glen Hammond is a beehive of activity in the wee hours of the day.
Passenger 2 in Bell.
The pool train later in the day at Ironwood.
Activity just past Lilly.
Seanna guides 311 through the pedestrian crossing on her way into Peter's Pond.
318 departing Spruce for Ironwood.
Henk observes a meet at Watkins.
Brian and Paul with 303 in Ironwood.
Moe hauls his passenger train along the station track at Ironwood.
Moments earlier he was in Spruce.
George takes advantage of the big red umbrella to offer protection from the rays of the sun.
The ore train trundles into Nelson Yard with Bob at the helm.
George works the tracks in Firgrove.
Lawrence and Bernie confer on the switch lists in Craig Leigh.
Rat Portage.
Pat works Bellamy aboard RP&M Train 71.
Seanna and Steve guide 301 into Mount St. Helens much earlier in the day.
Much later, Malcolm and Lawrence have Train 319 westbound in the same location.
Brian with 303 in Mount St. Helens.
A crew uses the newly installed yard lead on the eastern end of Bell freeing the passenger train to depart Bell for Peter's Pond. Again, thanks to Chris Lyon for offering the great suggestion of installing this lead at Bell.
Spruce and Ironwood.
Early morning activities near the dispatcher.
The Northland Ore Dock.
The ore train arriving Spruce.
The hustle and bustle of Nelson Yard.
Henk observes his train, 304, on its approach into Bell. It was Henk's brilliant idea of installing a crossover track at the interchange junction thus allowing RP&M crews to go about their business without disrupting IPP&W crews (and vice versa) at this location.
304 takes track 4 at Bell in order to work the interchange tracks.
An RP&M train is downgrade into Pratt's Bottom.
Hi Steve!
Bob with his ore train in Nelson Yard.
Lovely scene this is!
Pat and Henk work the Ironwood Brick facility.
Garry lines up switches at the eastern throat of Nelson Yard.
Neil and Paul work the yard in Glen Hammond with RP&M Train 70.
Train 70 in Rat Portage.
A handsome crew.
Smile for Bill!
327 depart Glen Hammond earlier in the day.
Pat checks out the big yard.
Westbound 303 meets an eastbound counterpart in Mount St. Helens.
Fred checks out the beauty in the parallel nature of the tracks at the Northland Ore Docks as Bernie sets a turnout.
Pat and Henk in Bell aboard 304.
The RP&M is a highly successful railroad interchanging with the IPP&W.
Smile Bernie!
I think we already shared this shot, but it is so beautiful...why not share it again!
Paul and Neil work Anderson.
Henk and Pat in the Pond.
This shot showcases the immensity of the two railroads.
Hats are a necessity on these sunny mornings.
Down in Rat Portage we may very well have a meet with two trains as I notice some traffic being held in the team track area to the bottom of the image.
Checking for hotspots.
Moe taking a breather.
My facility in Rat Portage. Thanks so much for creating the structure, Lawrence!
The eastern throat of Nelson Yard. We see the passenger train taking the bypass track into Glen Hammond.
Speaking of parallel tracks...they are something of beauty in the eyes of certain beholders!
Malcolm and Lawrence with Train 312 in Ironwood.
Bob's locomotive.
RP&M crews in Nelson Yard.
A crew either heading up or coming down the Cedar Rock Branch in Peter's Pond.
Ralph Yard in Firgrove.
Moe bringing Passenger 2 into the Pond.
Fred continues to check out the action in the big yard.
Brian and Paul in Spruce.
George in Ralph Yard.
Checking out the consist of a train in Firgrove.
A meet between passengers and freight at Mercer Siding where it is always righthand running.
A gander down the tracks at Bell.
In the shade at Mount St. Helens.
The ore train passing through Glen Hammond.
Busy Bell.
Things are in a holding pattern in Rat.
Henk has something else in a "holding pattern"...a good strong beverage to offer a toast to yet another successful operating session on the IPP&W/RP&M at Fred's place. My only wish is that I could've been there on this beautiful morning to enjoy the trains and their crews. Until next week when we get out those diesel locomotives...cheers!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
PS. Thanks, Doug, for taking all of these wonderful photos!
No comments:
Post a Comment