Action From Session #2 July 17

 July 17th Session #2 Standard Gauge Operations 

With no rain in the forecast but overcast skies, 16 OVGRS friends amassed for train operations in Ottawa.

Diesels made an appearance today as the operations were of the standard variety.

Full crews manned each train with only the ore train being annulled once again.

And now...for our starting line-up...leading off and playing second base, Pat Brewer. 

Batting second and playing right field...George Wellington. 

In the third spot and playing third base...Bernie Goodman. 

Batting clean-up, the designated hitter, Len Bernicky. 

Playing left field and batting fifth, Paul Norton.

In sixth position, our catcher, Paul Anderson. 

Batting in the seven spot and playing first base, Marcel Mantha. 

In the eighth position and filling in for Mike Hamer "dispatched to the injured list with camera finger," at shortstop, Malcolm Vant. 

Completing the line-up, the centerfielder, Moe Cote. 

And...managing this rambunctious crew, in the dugout, Doug Culham. 

"Dispatch, this is 301 requesting clearance from Craig Leigh to Mount St. Helens."

"301...you are clear to Mount St. Helens.  Take the siding and protect against Pool Train 15."

A few minutes earlier Malcolm was spotted boarding his locomotive for the run.

With crewmate, Robin (on the right) and Yardmaster Bernie in Craig Leigh.

Mike sets up his throttle and locomotive to be used by the crew of 301 in this image shared by Bernie.

301 needn't worry about the Pool Train as Ottawa road traffic held up the engineer, Mr. Paul Norton.

With his arrival at the terminal he would have his train ready in no time at all.

Paul verifies his headend traffic.

"Dispatch, Pool Train 15 requesting clearance to Mount St. Helens."

"Pool Train 15, you are clear into Mount St. Helens on the station track.  301 is protected in the siding."

Train 15 throttles down on its approach to Ironwood. 

It steers over to the station track. 

Train 15 meets 318, an eastbound manifest out from Glen Hammond earlier in the morning. 

On a slow advance to the depot.

Captured on video camera, various crews cluster around the eastern tip of Ironwood. 

(Remember to click on the white arrow once, then again to enable the video footage to operate.)

Earlier, 318's crew were given clearance to depart Glen Hammond while other crews worked the Glen, Nelson Yard and Bell.

318 is underway!  It would appear a few cars are still being set out at Nelson.

Having completed their work at Spruce, Jim and Paul work the turnout to the east of Ironwood.

They begin their switching tasks while the crew of 301 continues its work off in the far distance in Mount St. Helens.

Earlier, 318 trundled beneath the evergreens following its departure from Glen Hammond.

The Fred Mills Trestle welcomes the crew aboard.

The newly constructed Lawrence Watkins trestle shares space to the right in Brennan Gap.

The crew enters the verdant landscape found at Lilly.

Yet another successful transit of the bridge.

318 is underway in this video footage taken on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.

The crew drills the trailing sidings at Ironwood.

Two pairs of eyes on the tracks.

Looks like some work is being done at Larabie Fuels.

That CP Geep is a beauty.

CP meets CP!

Let's watch the video shall we!

We catch up with 301 winding its way around the big bend out from Ironwood. 

Spruce will be in the engineer's sight momentarily.

It would appear there is some livestock carried on this train.

Short video footage of 301.

The crew has achieved the siding at Spruce.

The expansive Nelson Yard is a hive of activity during the initial phases of a session.  Here we spot Jim and Henk hard at work making up their trains.

Henk oversees the action.

Coloured poker chips identify the track to where a specific car is to be shunted.

RP&M local 65 departs the yard at the western throat.

Pat is in control of this train.

We've captured the switcher framed between the signals.

Pat's lovely engine of New York Central heritage has a personal history for the Brewer family as his relatives landed in New York a number of centuries ago.

With work to conduct at the Lyon siding near Anderson and Rat Portage, the train will terminate in Bell.

Passing the depot near the junction.  The return run back from Bell will be aboard Train 66.

A lovely transfer caboose represents the second "book end" for the train.

Video review of Train 65.

We have spotted CP 8426 on Track 4 at Bell. 

Earlier she had worked the Cedar Rock Branch which finds the mainline at Peter's Pond. 

Marcel handles the groundwork while Len is in the cab.

The CP Rail car almost glows in the dark.

Passing the Sludge Works.

Cedar Rock is handled by all main line trains.

Video of the work done at Cedar Rock. 

Time to head back down the branch...

...with a single car in tow.

Arriving the junction...

...where the crew deposits the CPRail car back at the fishery.  It had been blocking their way up the branch so the crew simply brought it along with them.

Video of the train descending the Cedar Rock Branch.

I managed to catch up with Lawrence and Moe on their second run of the morning.

They began the day aboard 302 out from Firgrove to Nelson Yard.  Then they crewed 312, the train you see here in Ironwood.

312 works eastward from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.

We catch them in the process of handling their trailing moves.

Let's watch the video.

Lawrence and Moe had earlier arrived Peter's Pond from the west.  They are studying their orders.  It has been determined they will have to head up the Cedar Rock Branch on this run. 

(This and next five photos by Bernie)

Later again, as 312, the crew arrives Spruce.

A little "service interruption as Moe studies the leading truck on his road switcher. 

Railfan Mike has arrived on scene.  Crews also work Ironwood to the left and Cedar Rock to the right. 

Lawrence enjoys a well-deserved break in the shade. 

Moe drills the trailing sidings at Mount St. Helens.

(Thanks for these six pics, Bernie!) 

Over in Firgrove we find George setting out equipment pre-ops.

He verifies car numbers with Pat. 

This dynamic duo will have all equipment set out to their proper locations in record time! 

Ralph Yard in Firgrove pre-ops. 

George's handsome CN endcab. 

Some interesting lading on that flatcar. 

An Ironwood Road hack.

She's a beauty too!

Canadian to boot! 

Number 41 will go wherever her crew will take her! 

Alas, I didn't manage to get video while up in Firgrove.  That will be next week's project!

So...why don't we check back on the action at this location...

...from last week...in the shade of the red umbrella.

We find George in control of the proceedings at Ralph Yard...

...with this gorgeous looking steamer...

...of which we did get video footage for your perusal!

Our trusty Craig Leigh Yardmaster pre-ops.  Bernie has some 35 or so cars to set out in and around the terminal area and yards.

His lovely TH&B Geep, #73...a GP7 model.

Cars set out at the Northland spur.

Also at the new spur between Douglas Yard and the Terminal buildings.

This image showcases how the spurs either fill up, empty...or evolve throughout the course of a session.

Bernie's role in Craig Leigh is fivefold.

He must ensure all trains departing this terminal location are made up and ready to depart on time.

He conducts local switching across a wide swath of territory.

He breaks down incoming trains.

He makes a couple of runs down to Mount St. Helens.

Finally, he directs the movements of all incoming and outgoing traffic to ensure the east end of the railroad runs smoothly each day.  Let's check out some video of Bernie's switching moves.

Back on the western front and earlier in the day, Train 302 has finished its work in Bell...

...and breezed down the siding at Watkins to await a meet with 327.

In this video footage of 302's progress, listen in as RP&M 70 contacts dispatch for clearance across the junction into Rat Portage.  You also hear my response.

Here's Doug with Rat 70.  Doug began his day assisting the Nelson Yardmaster as one of the members of the RP&M crew.

From Nelson Yard, his assignment had him working the siding which crosses the gut to Lilly on the Lawrence Watkins Trestle which was recently reconstructed.

Then he headed over to Glen Hammond.

He now has a bit of work at Bellamy before crossing the junction and heading into Rat Portage.  Completing the Bellamy task, he radioed in to dispatch for clearance through the junction which you heard in the previous video.

Doug, captured on video, departing Glen Hammond for Bellamy.

Marcel listens in on the pre-ops meeting while Jim snaps a picture.

From left to right, Robin, Lawrence, Doug and Moe all seated with Malcolm and Bernie off in the background.

Pat has joined us in the back row there.  Of vital importance is the safety measures we take in case of emergency on the premises. This is taken very seriously.

It was so nice having Jim Davis from south of the city join us for the session.

His son works for FirstAir.  Love the cap, Jim!

Two water towers located in Douglas Yard.  We know which railroad they belong to!  The Goodman Coffee Line!  (Big grin!)

I'd be remiss if I let this first blog posting go without another quick gander at the comings and goings in Nelson Yard.  We see RP&M crewman, Pat, studying his switch list while Henk monitors the progress in the yard.

Len and his crewmate, Marcel, have delivered 304 and will depart the yard as 314, their third trick of the day.

Len runs his locomotive along the A/D track in search of his new consist made up earlier by the Nelson Yard crew.

We spot the affable yardmaster hard at work.

Things are under control as per usual.

Train consists are constantly built up and broken down.

Henk is always up to the task.

Henk, captured on video!

Doug assists in putting cars away post-ops.  We wish to thank all those who came early to help set out the cars following a year's layover where trains were simply run for the fun of it.  We knew that the cars would be out of order from the previous session two years earlier, so thanks again to all who assisted pre-ops...and...post ops!

Speaking of post-ops...what a delightful sight for sore tummies!

Yum yum!  Great cooking Moe and Fred. 

Jim and Marcel...in relaxed mode...as always!  That's the way to live lads!

The crew lounge table.

Thanks for this shot, Bernie, and the many others you sent my way.

Here I am with Jim after enjoying great camaraderie all around!

We end the posting with this fun picture of our relaxed skipper enjoying a seat in Craig Leigh!

Thanks, Fred, as always for hosting the sessions!

Next week's train ops will be narrow gauge.

See ya then!  Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada