Session #4 was full of surprises and Bernie stands beside one in Craig Leigh...an area of new trackage.
Which serves two purposes...to create a nice, long lead for the Craig Leigh and Douglas Yard crews...and to create a new siding for Imperial Oil.
Bernie's locomotive indicates our session as being of the standard gauge variety.
Indeed...modern cargo...
...for a "Modern Man!"
A lovely OC specimen brought in by Steve.
To view Malcolm's wonderful video from this session, copy the link below into your browser.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AOYbaCq5tsaVZSM&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2143380&parId=4275D0234272929B%2143378&o=OneUp
To view Malcolm's wonderful video from this session, copy the link below into your browser.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AOYbaCq5tsaVZSM&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2143380&parId=4275D0234272929B%2143378&o=OneUp
B&O blue belonging to Lawrence.
Love the transfer caboose.
Paul's Canadian Pacific GP30.
Malcolm's Conrail blue unit.
Doug's wonderful AB pairing of F's.
George's Canadian National switcher in Ralph Yard.
Some traffic in Firgrove.
George has a wonderful crewmate with him on this day...his daughter, Manny.
Neil brought along a guest, Len from Smith's Falls.
Malcolm works the western throat of Nelson Yard before crewing Train 65 with Brian.
Looking good, Malcolm!
Paul works the eastern end of the same yard.
The umbrellas are a Godsend on this sunny Saturday morning.
Even though I will be the dispatcher for the railroad on this day, I brought out my Delaware & Hudson GP38-2 just in case there is a need for an extra locomotive.
We are pre-ops around the table.
Fred offers sage words.
Andrew, Manny and George listen attentively.
As do these lads.
We congratulate Paul (seated) for being this year's McEwen Award recipient at OVAR for this year. OVAR is Ottawa Valley Associated Railroaders and there are over 150 members. Paul was honoured for being such a great ambassador to the hobby in "oh so many ways!"
The session begins and Train 318 is underway from Glen Hammond to Spruce.
With skipper Bill at the throttle.
Paul continues with the switching in Nelson Yard...
...while Garry manages the crews and the traffic as our very capable Nelson Yard Master.
Pat and Steve have arrived Bell aboard Train 302.
Steve's beautiful engine.
They are joined shortly thereafter by Passenger 2, our eastbound passenger service from Firgrove to Craig Leigh.
Doug is running his F pairing while Andrew oversees the situation.
Paul and Neil have the right idea when it comes to protecting themselves from the sun's rays. Two happy lads they are!
Passenger 2 has arrived Peter's Pond where the train meets IPP&W westbound freight 327.
Up in Mount St. Helens we find 301.
Chris tells me that the figures represent he and his wife, Lela.
Here's Chris!
318 works Spruce.
While Passenger 2 arrives Glen Hammond.
Nelson Yard is an area of hustle and bustle.
Passenger 2 bypasses the big yard and steps onto the trestle.
On approach to the big bend at Lilly.
318's crew is in Ironwood.
With their lovely looking F-unit.
Speaking of F's...
...Doug pulls Passenger 2 into Spruce.
Then into Ironwood...
...where Bill and Pat have offered him the station track.
Upgrade to Mount St. Helens.
The station track is occupied by 301. Doug tells me there is an elderly passenger who will have to navigate her way to the depot somehow with 301 in the way. Now, the blame is not to be placed on the crew of 301 as they were originally on the siding track. They moved over to the station track to offer the siding track to the incoming crew aboard freight 318. Alas, Passenger 2 beat 318 into Ironwood. We'll have to have a chat with that elderly patron of the IPP&W...perhaps a year's worth of free rides along the system may be in order.
327 climbs the grade along the Cedar Rock Branch.
Switching the industries near the end of the branch.
Lawrence and Moe crew 327 on this day.
Tomorrow morning I will be hosting the students from my class and their families at my home for a visit to my Boston and Maine layout pictured above.
Tomorrow morning I will be hosting the students from my class and their families at my home for a visit to my Boston and Maine layout pictured above.
Check in later over the weekend to find more pics and stories from our outdoor Session #4 when I will find more time to post at the computer
Mike Hamer Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I've managed to find a bit of time before the school children come over for their model railroad visit to load up the following sequence of images. In the above photo, Bernie is lining up the routing for Passenger 2 as it approaches Craig Leigh.
Doug brings Passenger 2 along the western leg (actually south) of the wye.
The consist is short enough...
...for Doug to bring the locomotives up alongside the engine house.
He stops short of the bumper.
Doug observes his train as Bernie (out of the image to the left) aligns the route for Passenger 2 to back up along the eastern (actually north) leg of the wye.
Passenger 2 rolls slowly in reverse.
With a light on the top lefthand corner of the B unit.
Backing into Northland.
Through Northland.
Then around Douglas Yard. Alas, I had to hop back to the dispatch hut to deal with other traffic along the line. Rest assured, Doug backed Passenger 2 into the terminal area of Craig Leigh where he later departed with the Pool Train.
I just enjoyed a wonderful visit with the students in my class and their families.
They were thrilled to see the trains running through the scale scenery.
Each child had the opportunity to run the train across the layout.
They got the chance to blow the crossings and ring the bell upon entering the yards.
They were thrilled to visit their teacher's home with their parents.
Siblings from other grades were welcome to attend with a sister or brother.
The clipboard held a "Where's Waldo" activity where the families were asked to find a variety of items all around the layout. The checklist offered 20 items to be located.
I have been hosting my students for over twenty years now.
The children were able to see the idyllic New England scenery based on my boyhood visits to the northeastern United States.
They learned how I made the scenery.
And...they saw some interesting urban modelling as well!
Back to our train ops at Fred's. We catch 327 working the recently installed Wellington Siding on its westbound journey from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.
RP&M 65 is in Rat Portage in care of Brian and Malcolm.
Chris and Lela are pulling 301 into Ironwood after a lengthy wait in Mount St. Helens. Dispatch appreciates their patience while we waited for Ironwood to clear.
An F-unit leads 318 in Mount St. Helens.
While...our AB pairing of F's brings Train 15, the Pool Train, downgrade from Craig Leigh.
Len captures the meet of the two trains led by the cowl-bodied motors.
Train 15 depart Mount St. Helens.
In short order, Doug arrives Ironwood.
He slows for a station stop.
Then it's around the bend westward to Spruce.
At the west end of the line, Bob has Ore Train East descending the grade at "The Ledges."
A real beauty, Bob!
Love the look of those unit trains.
The ore train arrives Bell.
Where we find the crew of 327 in the yard.
Very little time is offered for a wave to the other crew and the ore train is away to the east out of Bell.
Check in later for more pics and stories! Mike
Nice low angle shot.
Doug switches out some head-end equipment on the Pool Train in Glen Hammond.
Chris at the pedestrian crossing...
...with his train, 301, climbing the hill past Blockhouse.
His crewmate, Lela, follows her engine at the western end of Nelson Yard.
The ore train arrives Nelson Yard eastbound.
Down in Rat Portage we find our RP&M crew aboard Rat 70.
With Paul's GP30.
304 rounds the bend into Bell.
While Train 15 approaches the same location in the opposing direction.
Train 15 slows for a station stop.
At Bell.
Bob will be underway toward Spuce shortly. I'd better check my dispatch board to ensure we have no cornfield meets! (big grin)
The Ottawa Central unit tells me that 302 has arrived Nelson Yard and will depart shortly as Train 312.
Pat checks his consist to ensure all of his cars are coupled to his train...a standard procedure.
Lawrence has 304 to the left at Bell while Pat indicates an all clear to his crew mate, Steve.
Much later, Train 15 is now eastbound out of Glen Hammond.
We'll cross that bridge when we get to it!
Garry keeps Nelson Yard moving!
311 has a stop at Wellington Lake.
They must switch out the industry there.
Then it's up to Bell.
Train 15 follows the ore train at a safe distance.
Steve and Pat work 312 in Ironwood.
Moe and Lawrence are up the branch in Cedar Rock with 304.
Train 15 at the depot in Mount St. Helens.
The Northland Ore Dock.
With Bob explaining the ore car moves to Len.
Parallel track configuration.
Love the Santa Fe paint scheme, Bob.
Such a long locomotive.
A true beauty.
Looks great, Bob!
Train 15 has arrived Craig Leigh and slows down at Northland in order to back onto the eastern leg of the wye.
A bunch of fellas look on as Doug backs Train 15 down to the engine house just out of sight.
Bernie and Neil are in the pic as Train 15 pulls ahead along the western leg of the wye.
While it would appear Train 15 is heading back to Mount St. Helens, such is not the case.
Once Doug brings the tail end past the switch, the train will back into Craig Leigh.
Yard Master Bernie's diesel.
Making up another train in Craig Leigh.
At the other end of the property, Chris and Lela haul Train 328 eastbound at the ledges.
Their full train.
Aha! Doug has brought Train 15 all the way back to the terminal area in Craig Leigh.
Looks good, Doug!
328 uses the lengthy yard lead at Bell.
Train 66 returns from Rat Portage and awaits clearance through the junction.
The central hub of the layout.
George and Manny in Firgrove.
She's having so much fun!
Such a great engineer.
The crew of 328 continue their work at the eastern side of Bell.
Looking good Chris and Lela!
Bob brings the ore train down the grade out of Spruce.
With its lengthy consist, this train sure is a beauty!
A wonderful sight to behold.
Doug is now on his third passenger run, this time aboard Passenger 1.
No...it's not Doug. It's Len at the throttle!
Len brings Passenger 1 into Spruce.
Meanwhile, back at Bell, George and Manny bring their short hop into town from Firgrove.
Switching out the east house track.
Passenger 1 flows downgrade out of Spruce.
Len pays rapt attention to his throttle. You're doing a great job, Len!
Looks like a train is working Nelson Yard up above.
Malcolm stares at his train which is out of sight to us.
There it is.
Malcolm takes a break to video his train after the passage of the passenger train.
Len again!
With his train.
Tiptoeing onto the big trestle.
Finding daylight.
The RP&M Bell Turn departs Nelson Yard.
The Bell Turn is Train 65 "out" from Nelson Yard and 66 on its return journey.
Train 313 finds itself in the hole at Mercer awaiting clearance into Peter's Pond.
Doug and Lela hold a little discussion as Passenger 1 rounds the bend in the distance.
Passenger 1 meets 303 at Mercer Siding and will arrive Peter's Pond in short order.
The ore train is upgrade at Wellington Siding.
The ore train heads into the hole...
...as Passenger 1 is given priority into Bell.
At the junction RP&M and IPP&W crews meet.
Chris brings 328 through the junction.
Lela lines up 328's track where it will terminate in Glen Hammond while Len brings Passenger 1 along the station track in Bell.
Neil looks on as Bob aligns the turnouts in order to bring the ore train into Bell along Track 3.
Enter the ore train and exit the passenger train.
Bell in the shade.
The ore train is on the move.
Len guides Passenger 1 upgrade to Firgrove.
While Paul and Paul are spotted in Rat Portage with the Bell Turn, Train 67-68.
.
The passenger train has arrived Firgrove.
A nice looking consist!
Pat and Steve are westbound in Ironwood with Train 319.
Moe and Lawrence have 314 in Spruce.
The crews of 314 and 319 discuss how they will hold their meet following clearance by dispatch.
Bob checks his signal in Rat Portage...
...where a creative meet of three trains was held. We have the ore train departing while one RP&M train is on the siding while the other RP&M train had tucked into the far track near the wall. With the passage of the ore train, that train's crew has already brought their locomotive back down on the main in front of the Rat Portage station.
Meanwhile, Garry keeps the entire railroad system running as he makes up and breaks down outgoing and incoming trains from both roads!
Bob brings the ore train off RP&M rails and into Glen Hammond.
Arriving the station track.
Bypassing Nelson Yard.
Steve and Pat continue their work in Spruce with 319.
Lawrence and Moe arrive Ironwood aboard 314..
313 has finally been granted clearance into Peter's Pond after being third in line to enter yard limits.
Bill and Pat are jubilant...
...to finally be on the move again. Thanks for your patience lads!
They demonstrated great camaraderie by allowing another crew to enter Peter's Pond ahead of them seeing as that other crew had a simple drop and lift off the team track.
Pat and Steve with nice smiles for the gang!
Switching out Spruce with 319.
Determining their moves.
The B&O road unit tells me...
...that Lawrence is in the vicinity. He and Moe awaited the passage of the ore train before continuing their work aboard 314.
A lonely boxcar resides on the siding at Wellington Lake.
The depot there.
A local awaits the passenger train.
A local yokel! Hehehe!
A lovely depot it is!
313 rounds the bend into Wellington Lake.
Stopping just past the depot.
Bill and Pat have a set-out here.
Bill uncouples the rear coupler of the car that is to be set out.
He directs Pat with the setout moves.
Setout complete...it's back to the train.
A great crew!
Onward ho to Bell!
This new trackage makes for great train operations in this somewhat busy area.
Climbing the hill into Bell.
That F-unit looks spectacular lads!
Have a great rest of the week! Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I've managed to find a bit of time before the school children come over for their model railroad visit to load up the following sequence of images. In the above photo, Bernie is lining up the routing for Passenger 2 as it approaches Craig Leigh.
Doug brings Passenger 2 along the western leg (actually south) of the wye.
The consist is short enough...
...for Doug to bring the locomotives up alongside the engine house.
He stops short of the bumper.
Doug observes his train as Bernie (out of the image to the left) aligns the route for Passenger 2 to back up along the eastern (actually north) leg of the wye.
Passenger 2 rolls slowly in reverse.
With a light on the top lefthand corner of the B unit.
Backing into Northland.
Through Northland.
Then around Douglas Yard. Alas, I had to hop back to the dispatch hut to deal with other traffic along the line. Rest assured, Doug backed Passenger 2 into the terminal area of Craig Leigh where he later departed with the Pool Train.
I just enjoyed a wonderful visit with the students in my class and their families.
They were thrilled to see the trains running through the scale scenery.
Each child had the opportunity to run the train across the layout.
They got the chance to blow the crossings and ring the bell upon entering the yards.
They were thrilled to visit their teacher's home with their parents.
Siblings from other grades were welcome to attend with a sister or brother.
The clipboard held a "Where's Waldo" activity where the families were asked to find a variety of items all around the layout. The checklist offered 20 items to be located.
I have been hosting my students for over twenty years now.
The children were able to see the idyllic New England scenery based on my boyhood visits to the northeastern United States.
They learned how I made the scenery.
And...they saw some interesting urban modelling as well!
Back to our train ops at Fred's. We catch 327 working the recently installed Wellington Siding on its westbound journey from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.
RP&M 65 is in Rat Portage in care of Brian and Malcolm.
Chris and Lela are pulling 301 into Ironwood after a lengthy wait in Mount St. Helens. Dispatch appreciates their patience while we waited for Ironwood to clear.
An F-unit leads 318 in Mount St. Helens.
While...our AB pairing of F's brings Train 15, the Pool Train, downgrade from Craig Leigh.
Len captures the meet of the two trains led by the cowl-bodied motors.
Train 15 depart Mount St. Helens.
In short order, Doug arrives Ironwood.
He slows for a station stop.
Then it's around the bend westward to Spruce.
At the west end of the line, Bob has Ore Train East descending the grade at "The Ledges."
A real beauty, Bob!
Love the look of those unit trains.
The ore train arrives Bell.
Where we find the crew of 327 in the yard.
Very little time is offered for a wave to the other crew and the ore train is away to the east out of Bell.
Check in later for more pics and stories! Mike
Nice low angle shot.
Doug switches out some head-end equipment on the Pool Train in Glen Hammond.
Chris at the pedestrian crossing...
...with his train, 301, climbing the hill past Blockhouse.
His crewmate, Lela, follows her engine at the western end of Nelson Yard.
The ore train arrives Nelson Yard eastbound.
Down in Rat Portage we find our RP&M crew aboard Rat 70.
With Paul's GP30.
304 rounds the bend into Bell.
While Train 15 approaches the same location in the opposing direction.
Train 15 slows for a station stop.
At Bell.
Bob will be underway toward Spuce shortly. I'd better check my dispatch board to ensure we have no cornfield meets! (big grin)
The Ottawa Central unit tells me that 302 has arrived Nelson Yard and will depart shortly as Train 312.
Pat checks his consist to ensure all of his cars are coupled to his train...a standard procedure.
Lawrence has 304 to the left at Bell while Pat indicates an all clear to his crew mate, Steve.
Much later, Train 15 is now eastbound out of Glen Hammond.
We'll cross that bridge when we get to it!
Garry keeps Nelson Yard moving!
311 has a stop at Wellington Lake.
They must switch out the industry there.
Then it's up to Bell.
Train 15 follows the ore train at a safe distance.
Steve and Pat work 312 in Ironwood.
Moe and Lawrence are up the branch in Cedar Rock with 304.
Train 15 at the depot in Mount St. Helens.
The Northland Ore Dock.
With Bob explaining the ore car moves to Len.
Parallel track configuration.
Love the Santa Fe paint scheme, Bob.
Such a long locomotive.
A true beauty.
Looks great, Bob!
Train 15 has arrived Craig Leigh and slows down at Northland in order to back onto the eastern leg of the wye.
A bunch of fellas look on as Doug backs Train 15 down to the engine house just out of sight.
Bernie and Neil are in the pic as Train 15 pulls ahead along the western leg of the wye.
While it would appear Train 15 is heading back to Mount St. Helens, such is not the case.
Once Doug brings the tail end past the switch, the train will back into Craig Leigh.
Yard Master Bernie's diesel.
Making up another train in Craig Leigh.
At the other end of the property, Chris and Lela haul Train 328 eastbound at the ledges.
Their full train.
Aha! Doug has brought Train 15 all the way back to the terminal area in Craig Leigh.
Looks good, Doug!
328 uses the lengthy yard lead at Bell.
Train 66 returns from Rat Portage and awaits clearance through the junction.
The central hub of the layout.
George and Manny in Firgrove.
She's having so much fun!
Such a great engineer.
The crew of 328 continue their work at the eastern side of Bell.
Looking good Chris and Lela!
Bob brings the ore train down the grade out of Spruce.
With its lengthy consist, this train sure is a beauty!
A wonderful sight to behold.
Doug is now on his third passenger run, this time aboard Passenger 1.
No...it's not Doug. It's Len at the throttle!
Len brings Passenger 1 into Spruce.
Meanwhile, back at Bell, George and Manny bring their short hop into town from Firgrove.
Switching out the east house track.
Passenger 1 flows downgrade out of Spruce.
Len pays rapt attention to his throttle. You're doing a great job, Len!
Looks like a train is working Nelson Yard up above.
Malcolm stares at his train which is out of sight to us.
There it is.
Malcolm takes a break to video his train after the passage of the passenger train.
Len again!
With his train.
Tiptoeing onto the big trestle.
Finding daylight.
The RP&M Bell Turn departs Nelson Yard.
The Bell Turn is Train 65 "out" from Nelson Yard and 66 on its return journey.
Train 313 finds itself in the hole at Mercer awaiting clearance into Peter's Pond.
Doug and Lela hold a little discussion as Passenger 1 rounds the bend in the distance.
Passenger 1 meets 303 at Mercer Siding and will arrive Peter's Pond in short order.
The ore train is upgrade at Wellington Siding.
The ore train heads into the hole...
...as Passenger 1 is given priority into Bell.
At the junction RP&M and IPP&W crews meet.
Chris brings 328 through the junction.
Lela lines up 328's track where it will terminate in Glen Hammond while Len brings Passenger 1 along the station track in Bell.
Neil looks on as Bob aligns the turnouts in order to bring the ore train into Bell along Track 3.
Enter the ore train and exit the passenger train.
Bell in the shade.
The ore train is on the move.
Len guides Passenger 1 upgrade to Firgrove.
While Paul and Paul are spotted in Rat Portage with the Bell Turn, Train 67-68.
.
The passenger train has arrived Firgrove.
A nice looking consist!
Pat and Steve are westbound in Ironwood with Train 319.
Moe and Lawrence have 314 in Spruce.
The crews of 314 and 319 discuss how they will hold their meet following clearance by dispatch.
Bob checks his signal in Rat Portage...
...where a creative meet of three trains was held. We have the ore train departing while one RP&M train is on the siding while the other RP&M train had tucked into the far track near the wall. With the passage of the ore train, that train's crew has already brought their locomotive back down on the main in front of the Rat Portage station.
Meanwhile, Garry keeps the entire railroad system running as he makes up and breaks down outgoing and incoming trains from both roads!
Bob brings the ore train off RP&M rails and into Glen Hammond.
Arriving the station track.
Bypassing Nelson Yard.
Steve and Pat continue their work in Spruce with 319.
Lawrence and Moe arrive Ironwood aboard 314..
313 has finally been granted clearance into Peter's Pond after being third in line to enter yard limits.
Bill and Pat are jubilant...
...to finally be on the move again. Thanks for your patience lads!
They demonstrated great camaraderie by allowing another crew to enter Peter's Pond ahead of them seeing as that other crew had a simple drop and lift off the team track.
Pat and Steve with nice smiles for the gang!
Switching out Spruce with 319.
Determining their moves.
The B&O road unit tells me...
...that Lawrence is in the vicinity. He and Moe awaited the passage of the ore train before continuing their work aboard 314.
A lonely boxcar resides on the siding at Wellington Lake.
The depot there.
A local awaits the passenger train.
A local yokel! Hehehe!
A lovely depot it is!
313 rounds the bend into Wellington Lake.
Stopping just past the depot.
Bill and Pat have a set-out here.
Bill uncouples the rear coupler of the car that is to be set out.
He directs Pat with the setout moves.
Setout complete...it's back to the train.
A great crew!
Onward ho to Bell!
This new trackage makes for great train operations in this somewhat busy area.
Climbing the hill into Bell.
That F-unit looks spectacular lads!
Have a great rest of the week! Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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