July 25th Train Running Continued
We continue with our look at last Saturday's train running.
Bernie has his train westbound between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.
The crew is on the downhill glide into Ironwood.
His train hauls lading onto the siding.
Marcel and Bernie make every attempt to keep a safe social distance apart.
Marcel proceeds eastward out from Spruce.
Earlier, he was found in Nelson Yard.
Completing some switching moves...
...as he classifies his train.
Over at Watkins Siding I pull my consist up the grade with another freight train on a slow order behind me at Wellington Lake in the background.
Entering Bell.
Paul holds the siding momentarily...
...then he is given the main at Bell.
Paul sets the turnouts...
...as the two crews wave to each other.
The large industry towers above this Rio Grande Southern belle.
With the turnout thrown, Paul's train navigates its way up to Firgrove...
...and I set the turnout to take me onto RP&M rails.
The blue and grey of the D&H complements the blue and grey silos of the industry in behind.
I'm off to visit Rat Portage and Mattawa rails.
Rounding the bend...
...and into the shade.
She's a short train on this day...
...but the crew take their work very seriously.
Up in Firgrove Paul turns his locomotive.
Well done, Paul!
I find myself beneath Firgrove.
While Marcel is eastbound at Blockhouse.
Departing Spruce.
Paul exits Firgrove.
My train finds the great outdoors...
...and rounds the big bend.
Paul is downgrade at "The Ledges".
I'm through Rat Portage.
Getting a suntan.
While Bernie prepares to leave Ironwood...
...on his way to Spruce.
In the tunnel of shade.
Paul hugs the fence...
...while his caboose follows suit.
I'm on my approach...
...into Glen Hammond.
Safely in the Glen...
...and then bypassing the large Fallentree Mine complex.
(There had been a huge pine tree at this very location that was downed in a terrible storm we had in Ottawa many years ago.)
(There had been a huge pine tree at this very location that was downed in a terrible storm we had in Ottawa many years ago.)
Onto the trestle...
...and out.
Around Lilly.
Downgrade over the gut.
Lining up for Spruce.
On the outskirts...
...and into Spruce with a meet with Bernie.
Departing Spruce...
...and leaving Bernie to conduct the work.
Looking good, Bernie.
Coming upgrade...
...with Mount St. Helens in my sights.
In the cool shade...
...near the corners...
...and preparing for another meet.
Marcel enjoys the action...
...from his perch in the cab.
He is underway...
...heading west...
...into the sunset.
Not so fast...
...as there is plenty of daylight left.
I park my locomotive...
...beside the engine house...
...to get some final shots...
...of this blue, gold and grey beauty.
Here's Henk!
Here's Mark!
We've been talking about...
...how we have been biding our time...
...during these Covid days.
As for me...
...I put a couple of hours work a day in...
...the building from scratch...
...of this machine shop...
...for Doug, our devoted dispatcher.
There is so much joy to be found...
...in creating models...
...in a scale outside from the one...
...you typically model in.
(My model railroad is HO while the machine shop project is in O-Scale.)
(My model railroad is HO while the machine shop project is in O-Scale.)
I would advise any of our OVGRS friends...
...to take on the challenge...
...of working in a new scale.
It sure is a lot of fun...
...and it helps to pass the "Covid time!"
If you are working on any railroad projects in any scale, feel free to send a few images via e-mail my way with a few words explaining your project and I will include them at the end of my various blog postings. In these "non-operations" times, it helps to keep our blog postings interesting!
Hope to see many of you Saturday at Fred's!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
