Our Magnificent Marcel
This week, Marcel sent me pictures of his indoor HO scale layout. Before we view them, let's check back to some of Marcel's train running fun at Fred's this past summer.
We catch him with a great big smile on his face as he is about to embark on a journey over IPP&W rails with a general freight consist behind his UP diesel unit.
An early summer shot with Marcel checking his phone as Fred and Grant converse in the crew lounge.
My D&H powered train meets Marcel's tonnage in Peter's Pond.
Marcel and Grant on a sunny summer morning.
You'll recall that Marcel has been keeping us updated on his Arizona garden railroad.
He's shared with us his industries.
He's even gone out to the layouts of some of his friends and we really do appreciate those great photos coming out of the southwest Marcel!
Earlier Marcel shared these first two images of his indoor HO scale layout.
It appears to be constructed in the shape of the letter "U".
Marcel tells us that he's not big into scenery as yet.
No bother, Marcel...as there is plenty of "action" for us to gaze and gawk at on your layout!
A great looking mining complex.
Love the cantilevered bridge, Marcel!
A wonderful looking station with an elevated car park and trackage entering the station tracks from below!
We find TOFC traffic in abundance as well as COFC as seen towards the bottom of the image!
A beautiful shelf display with that gorgeous Turbo train in the background!
Hey, why not complete this blog posting with a review of more of Marcel's train running fun at Fred's throughout the summer!
Indeed, traffic volume was down this past summer season on the IPP&W.
That didn't mean that railfans wouldn't be able to spot trains...and spot them they did.
Marcel also found the time to make the journey down to Belleville, Ontario for Barry's open house.
He found plenty of train running activity on that day.
The weather cooperated so well for Marcel and the group!
Mark and Marcel in conversation at Barry's.
"Are you having fun yet, Marcel?" we call out.
"You betcha!" Marcel replies...and who wouldn't have fun on Barry's beautiful railroad in Bonnie's magnificent garden! Big smile!
Following a fun day of train action, it was time to pack up.
Speaking of big smiles...here's a big Marcel grin back up in Ottawa at Fred's place. We spot Jim Davis in the background taking in all of the action.
Marcel's wide grin tells it all. Running trains is so much fun!
Fred is an observer to the train activity at the Northland Ore Dock.
Marcel has joined his various groupings of empty ore cars and is ready to head out once he finds an appropriate end car for his train.
More railfans have arrived the scene...Bernie and Jim.
Marcel drifts downgrade through St. Helens.
His train rides the embankment on its westerly direction out from "The Mount".
Mark captures an image of the two unit trains in Nelson Yard as Fred and Marcel hang out trackside.
Another train on an earlier summer morning.
The ore drag reaches the lengthy Mercer Siding.
The Union Pacific diesel is up to the task of elevating the ore train out from Mercer Siding and on into Nelson Yard as I guide my CNR train through the Fred Mills trestle to the lower left of the shot.
My tanker train which I have dubbed "The Oil Can" makes progress through the trestle as Marcel walks over to Nelson Yard in the background.
Two units of trains have arrived Nelson Yard simultaneously on this bright August morning.
Yes, these past few railfan shots were snapped on the eighth day of the eighth month!
Marcel and Jim in the crew lounge.
On yet another summer's morning, Marcel is called to run the same unit ore train.
We spot him in Spruce.
Later on the approach to Brennan Gap.
Tiptoeing onto the long span.
Made in the shade!
Later in the season we find him with another general manifest train.
Through the junction.
Working the yard tracks in Nelson.
The crew delivers a hearty "hello" to young Ollie, a noted railfan and operator of the line!
Egads! Marcel has teamed up to crew with...
...little old me!
Not a problem at all. We have everything under control.
Everything under control. Yes we are all agents of CONTROL...and we know how to run trains up in Cedar Rock.
Before I start my "delicate" moves up in Cedar Rock with Marcel I indicate that we must confer upon the moves beforehand. This means....none other than...
...the dreaded "Cone of Silence."
Here is our discussion.
Marcel: Mike...you know the cone of silence never seems to work.
Mike: What's that Marcel, you think I've gone berserk!
Marcel: Before we switch out Cedar Rock...
Mike: Before there's a glitch with which clock?
Marcel: No, No, No...Mike! Before we make our moves at the end of the branch...
Mike: Yes, Marcel...everything grooves over here at Fred's ranch!
Marcel: Mike, let me repeat myself...now listen carefully!
Mike: Yes Fred's models are neat on his shelf...I've been inside the house to see!
Suffice it to say...the crew actually did survive working together. The cone of silence was finally ditched somewhere along the Cedar Rock Branch. If you can believe it...lading did make it across the line and the IPP&W survived yet another day in these pandemic times! (Big grin!)
What's Marcel up to now?
Aha! His train is rounding the horseshoe curve out from Spruce and enters ironwood on the main.
Marcel's railfanning his very own train! How can he be inside the cab and outside the cab at the same time?
He's a magician...that's why I've titled this blog entry, "Marcel, the Magnificent!"
The morning haze continues to linger over in Firgrove.
This doesn't stop Marcel and me from piloting our train out from the western terminal area.
We are eastward bound at "The Ledges."
Our train has taken track four in Bell.
This allows us to work the interchange tracks.
We've reached Nelson Yard.
Following a short wait, we are cleared out of the big yard on a slow order restriction...
...due to the fact construction is taking place to the east of the yard.
We have summited Clarke Hill...
...and curve on into Spruce.
It would appear that we will have much switching to do here on this day.
No problems for this crew as they are a capable duo...
...and there is little traffic throughout the duration of our time in Spruce. Suddenly, they come across a strange encounter.
The crew hears some rustling nearby...
...could it be that other agent from CONTROL?
...he's always hiding away some place in cognito!
Could it be Agent 13 hiding in one of the trees near St. Helens?
Aha, no...it's not Agent 13. It's Andrew himself...incognito in his Covid mask entering St. Helens from the east!
We take the siding...for a meet with Andrew's train.
On another day at a another time...
...we locate Marcel at the Blockhouse switch.
At still another time, we have found him in Glen Hammond with that lovely E-unit.
Let's watch some video footage of that gorgeous train.
Commandeering his freight train on yet another summer's day, we find Marcel passing by the rock wall at Lilly.
This videographer found some nice video footage of the train taking the curve.
How about a trestle shot...
...or two!
The video action is captured at this moment in time.
Yes, I've heard from all of you. I can't close out this blog entry without sharing an image of Agent 99 (the intelligent one) alongside Agent 86, Maxwell Smart!
With the tail end car in Spruce, we say farewell from Marcel and the gang.
Here's to our next blog posting!
Thanks for sending along those great pictures of your indoor HO layout, Marcel!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
