Finally!

Happy Father's Day

A small handful of operators descended Fred's place to run a few trains.  This was a good test of the trackage following the winter's layover.  

We'd like to take this time to wish all the dads out there a Happy Father's Day!  We say "Finally" as we finally get the opportunity to run a few trains this season...although Marcel beat us to the punch a few weekends ago!  Big grin!

(Remember, you can enlarge the images by clicking on them and shrink them by clicking outside them.)

Well, would you lookee here!

Check out the sweeper car Doug brought out.

Doug tells us that it's an old kit he's had for quite some time.

Love the wooden look, Doug!

Here's Doug!

Doug's Simcoe and Southern Ontario locomotive power.

With a Canadian Pacific van hauling up the rear.

Finding daylight on the curve to the east of Spruce.

As seen earlier in Spruce.

Through Ironwood.

On the outskirts of town.

Past Ironwood Brick.

Upgrade to Mount St. Helens.

A railfan's perspective.

Video footage from the area.  

(Click on the arrow once...then a second time.)

Tackling the hill...

...up to Craig Leigh.

Video footage coming in to Craig Leigh.

Arrival at the terminus.

Doug will wye the train for a return trip in a westerly direction.

Check out this video footage.  Hi there, Pat!

Indeed a lovely car, Doug.

Video captured of the return trip.

Meanwhile, in this video Doug runs the sweeper car past this ardent railfan who captures a "service interruption" of sorts!  The track actually "cants" on a super-elevated angle here which may require some addressing!  This is why running trains at this early stage is so helpful in determining areas to address following the "off-season" of winter.

To the west of Spruce Paul drives his locomotive sans cars up the grade and into the big curve to the west of town.

The two crews meet in Spruce.

Looking good, lads!

Some nice video of the meet of the two trains.

Paul's locomotive spotted moments earlier.

Nice looking unit, Paul.

Doug and Paul driving their respective trains.

Video taken of Paul's steamer.  These early season sessions where a few operators run a few trains offers up views of areas where trackside pruning will be required.

We all want one of those masks, Pat!

Pat's train at the rockery.

Through Blockhouse.

Over Brennan Gap on the Patrick Brennan trestle.

Over the gap as seen in this fine looking video footage.

Working the industries on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.

Earlier in the session Pat and Paul discuss how much they have missed running their trains in the great outdoors.

Indeed, we all have missed the gatherings.

Indeed, we will keep a safe physical distance apart for the summer.

Pat "A&P" locomotive...perhaps!

The Rio Grande Southern is far from home.

The stable of power may appear small, but these are mighty beasts!

Too cool!

The lillies offer up a great backdrop for the action.

Tiptoeing out onto the newly built trestle.

Pat's power switching out the stub end tracks near Nelson Yard in this video segment.

Past the block house!

We capture a passenger train running westerly (geographical easterly) through Spruce.

She's a beauty, Paul.

Past the depot in Glen Hammond.

Here's Paul!

Paul's passenger service captured on video earlier through Spruce.

Bernie holds the crossing in anticipation of a train.

Pauls's train spotted earlier in its run near Mount St. Helens.

In the mount!

An aerial shot of Pat's train.

Lovely Pat!

Gorgeous!

Here's Pat!

Video of Pat's train from a shaky railfan!

Let's to back in time a few moments when Pat traversed the tracks at Ironwood.

Earlier still on approach to St. Helens.

The masked bandit.

The tail end of Pat's train way back in Craig Leigh.

We are so thankful for Lawrence's many contributions.

He has spruced up the loading dock for the industry at Mount St. Helens.

Lawrence had taken the piece home to work on.

Ditto for the icing platform in Craig Leigh.

Lawrence had repaired the bents here.

For our hockey fans out there, the playoffs are still running at this time.  Fred shared with me the link below that you can copy and paste into your computer's browser.  It will take you to some old black and white footage of Les Canadiens taking the train from Montreal to their out of town meet with another NHL team.  

That's Yvan Cournoyer and Jean Beliveau in the image above.  Check out goaltender Gump Worsley buying his young son a treat at the concession stand in cavernous the Montreal station.  You will also recognize general manager Sam Pollock.

Copy and paste this link into your browser to see the two minute video of the team on the train.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/videos/media-8462042/hockeyeurs-sur-rails-dans-annees-60

Fred in his spiffy overalls!  What a glorious morning to gather!

Thanks, Fred, for sharing that "old time" hockey video.  It sure was a treat seeing some of the players from yesteryear!

All the best to everyone and stay safe!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada