Mark and Family

Mark and Family

Here's a great e-mail Mark sent my way!

Hi Mike, On a chilly December morning, I decided to go back in my own personal “time machine”, a.k.a. my photo collection, and pull out some wonderful memories of train operations on my own Patrick and Perimeter Line from this past November, 2020. I love the shoulder seasons because one can see the weather change so quickly! The following pictures tell a story spread over a couple of days in early November (9th and 10th) I believe, and then again from this past Sunday, November 29. What a difference a few weeks makes! 

The first batch consists entirely of a Playmobil operating session. It’s exactly like what we do on the IPP&W, (switching cars, assembling trains) but with child-friendly equipment.  Above is a mixed goods train is witness to the fun captured against an early-November sunny background.

Running under the watchful eye of our beloved Oliver.

Gabriela has enjoyed her first taste of true railroad “operations”. The goal was to deliver the truck from the main yard out to the mine, where presumably it will be hard at work. Gabriela performed the “backing in” maneuver admirably! The passengers on board, enjoying the view of the fall foliage, seem to agree.

OK, so it wasn’t all Playmobil. Here Gabriela and Emilia are helping to assemble a “big train” in 1:29 scale.

They are learning the intricacies of the Revolution throttle.

And off we go - assembling a freight train under the expert control of our engineers, Gabriela and Emilia.

Yes, this is November, and no, this is not photoshopped. On November 9 and 10, 2020 Ottawa experienced a bit of a “heat wave” that was warm enough to warrant setting up the kiddie pool one last time in the backyard! You’re never too old to have fun… 

It’s back to running Playmobil. Oliver is running, but can he catch up?

While I stepped away for a moment, apparently I missed quite a derailment (maybe it’s better I wasn’t around to witness it…) Here the work crew is carefully reassembling the train..

And off we go again. The children had fun practicing train meets, letting faster trains overtake slower ones on the sidings.

Station and “passenger” action is always a fan favourite. Maybe it’s a pit stop to the creamery for some ice cream on this warm November day?

Our two Playmobil trains resting after a hard day’s work.

And then reassembled again into a super-long consist so Oliver can have fun!

Fun indeed!

Gabriela loves working the mine.

Whoa! Where did all that snow come from?  Oh yeah, it’s November. No “time warp” glitch here, just the natural passing of a few weeks. In the meantime, Ottawa saw its first significant winter storm of the season and, sadly, we had to take down the backyard pool...

Sunday, November 29 was warm enough to melt that snow, however, and the tracks were clear enough to run a short operating session. We catch up to the action just as the Climax is preparing to switch the mine lead.

Having dropped off the trailer-flat car on the rear siding, we now pick up some empty flats and log cars from the mine.

The children are running the show, and boy you can tell the weather has changed! Looks downright frigid in those winter coats, boots and hats! I believe the flat car is empty no more - it has received a load in the form of a glove. Why not, eh, as long as you’re having fun..

Oh goodness! We almost forgot about the White Pass passenger train steaming towards us. Good thing we were able to tuck away into a siding just in time to let her pass.

The two trains meet again at the main yard.

I can’t end without a picture of our beloved Oliver - frequent operator (or honourary railway inspector anyways) on the IPP&W and train-lover extraordinaire!

Thanks, Mark, for your wonderful account of train running with the children!  What a beautiful family you have!

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada