Of Arizona and Ottawa

Of Arizona and Ottawa

Marcel has sent along some great pics of his layout and the layout of his friend, Mike Funk.  Mike calls his layout the GFRR (Grand Funk Railroad).  That's brilliant!

Mike Funk's GFRR.  Your railroad is a beauty, Mike!

Some fabulous landscaping.

The presidential motorcade...hehehe.

A great little vignette.

Some close-up views from the initial image...

...showcase a beautiful Amtrak passenger train...

...and some wonderful details throughout the land.

Lovely workmanship, Mike!

Back to Marcel's railroad...we find this amazing structure.

Marcel calls this the "M.Y. Grain" Co-op.

Check out the cactus in this image and that railroad mining complex on an island off in the distance.

Marcel calls it the "Old King" Coal mine.  Love the play on words for both industries, Marcel!

Here are some close-ups I snipped from some of Marcel's earlier images he had shared with us.

Quite the facility!

Love the pair of rail diesel cars.

Remember these fine diesels Marcel showed us in a previous posting?

He has quite the stable.

The collection holds both American and Canadian lines in the mix.

Three CN diesels are found on and around the turntable!

Meanwhile...back up in Ottawa, we catch up with images from this past summer which have yet to be posted...such as this one of some of the lads in Nelson Yard.

Pat's sweeper train has arrived the yard.

Quite the fascinating train, Pat!  We love it!

The sweeper train is followed shortly by Moe's peddler freight.

The train is basking in the sunlight offered up this cool mid-November morning!

The lads look on.

We enjoy this broadside view!

A nice 3/4 angled shot.

And...another!

Two small trains offer a touch of colour to the landscape.

The lads in conversation.

The sweeper rounds the bend behind the Fallentree mine.

The foliage has turned colour at ground level as three spans now join the two banks of the chasm.

Moe's train has terminated...

...on the Northland Ore Dock in Craig Leigh.

In dappled shade...

...we review his short consist...

...and caboose.

Let's check in on Moe's train from a short while earlier.

He rounds the corner near the lip of the ledge near Ironwood Brick.

His train is short yet colourful.

We follow Moe out from Ironwood.

He's going away from the railfan...

...on up to St. Helen's.

With his locomotive nearing its next destination we find his caboose back on the high iron.

Let's check that sequence out!

Back in Ironwood...

...Pat has picked up some cars that had been set out earlier.

He departs town...

 

...not on the mainline...rather the seldom used Ironwood Brick shortcut!

His train plows the joining trackage...

...between Ironwood and Peter's Pond.

This track is here for a single purpose...

...to act as a loop track allowing continuous running on this "point-to-point" railroad.

Yes, it is rarely used...

...but it does require a "sweep" every now and then.

Video Footage of the Loop Track being swept...part one.

Video Footage of the Loop Track being swept...part two.

Say Pat...

...wouldn't it be fun...

...if this event were to occur in a regular operating session...

...every now and then!

Pat has arrived Craig Leigh and has already wyed his train.

He deposits the consist on the ore dock.

Then he heads over to the wye...

...in order to reach the engine house.

Here's Mr. Pat Brennan himself!

His train is heading to bed!

Two cabeese on the tail end means that it is time to say farewell for this blog entry!

While today may just be the first day in December, but...hey, did you know that last night's full moon was called a "Beaver Moon".  I researched the name to learn that the first full moon in November is called this because it reminded hunters that it is time to set their traps before the ponds froze over to ensure a hearty food supply throughout the coming winter.

I hope you have enjoyed these still images from Mike Funk's amazing Grand Funk Railroad, Marcel's incredible line and the activities in mid-November at Fred's place up here in Ottawa.

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