Barry Hosts His First Session of the Season
Our good friend, Barry Birkett, from Belleville hosted his inaugural session of the season on the same day as ours here in Ottawa. The group included a gathering of railroad friends from Kingston as well as some of our wonderful faithful who have been coming out to Barry's for years now.
Johnny ChuffChuff sent along many pics to go along with the few Barry sent my way taken from the lens of his friend, Grant.
Enjoy this blog entry showcasing the enjoyment that was had by all participants on this fine day!
This letter was sent by Barry following his successful session.
Greetings from Belleville!
I am writing to say how much I enjoyed having you visit and run trains this past Saturday. A couple of you couldn't make it at the last minute, but those who came, I believe, had a great time.
The first order of the day was to "Have Fun!" and I think we achieved that goal. As usual, Bonnie, with Noelle's help, made sure no one was hungry or thirsty, and of course, the weather was perfect!
I want to thank all of you who were here for your wonderful friendship, and your amazing ability to get the hang of operating really fast. I hope some, or all, of you will have "caught the bug" You will always be welcome to come any time to run a train or two....just give me a call or email the day before, so I can have some trains and train orders ready.
Johnny Chuff Chuff and Noelle took a bunch of pictures, and when they are posted on Mike Hamer's blog in a few days, I will forward his message with them to you.
I hope to see you all again soon!
Barry
PS: As you probably have heard through Andy, we hope to have a second shot (pun intended!) at an operation for the Kingston crew and friends on Saturday, August 28th.
PPS: Earlier that same week, I am hoping to be able to invite Fred Mills and the Ottawa (OVGRS) group down for our 5th annual, "Invasion of Friends." If you can't come on Saturday, and are available, you would be welcome to join us then. BB
A view of Quinte West. The main track joins the two terminals via the turning "Y"
(Click on the images to enlarge them and click outside the image to return to the default look of the page.)
We are at Ottawa station. The cars will be taken away by Train 413 shortly.
Barry is giving a briefing for the lads prior to the start of the operation. They were all amazing students! From left to right we see Dale, Barry, Kurt and Roger.
Belleville townsite, just out of the yard. Tatters-all Thrift Store Warehouse siding is on the left. Barry tells us, "I fondly remember Trevor every time my train goes by, or works, there."
A long train is spotted entering Cumberland Yard to do some work
The signup sheet, only filled in for the first half
Train orders for train 312 from Belleville to Ottawa
Barry and Johnny enjoying some railroad camaraderie on a beautiful Belleville morning! Barry "mugs" with a "mug"!
The standard pre-ops meeting where train running and safety is discussed. Johnny ChuffChuff is found chatting with Kurt on the steps leading down to the lower deck...
...while Barry holds court down below. June and Grant are seated to the left and that's Dale and Roger seated to the right.
All in attendance listen with eager ears.
Indeed, umbrellas are a necessity out in the sunshine.
Mask wearing ensures safety in these pandemic times.
Johnny has found the waterfall at Mount Kamaron. Too bad we don't have sound with these images! (Big smile!)
Bonnie's gardens are "second to none" in our books!
The birdbath guards the property entrance between Hayes Fuels and Trista Centre.
The tracks to the left take you to Golding Enterprises, Trista Centre, Staging (below the deck) and the old St. James Flour facility no longer standing.
Morning refreshments are required for the crews and observers alike. It's nice to see Grant and June taking the precaution of mask wearing while the sky in back could almost have been the wonderful product of a hand-made painting!
Time for more photos before the running of the trains. We once again thank Grant for the earlier photos in this blog posting and Johnny for the remaining ones.
Barry organizes the crews at Ottawa. We spot Roger and Grant gathering trackside. Barry first informs Kurt (out of the picture) as to his assignment which originates here in Ottawa and terminates in Belleville. This will be Train 411, the Ottawa to Belleville express. Being an express train, he will have fewer stops than the wayfreight that the other lads will crew. Note the clever storage container residing below the upper deck.
Anticipation builds as the session gets underway.
Train 411 will be made up here in Ottawa as Barry explains the workings of the throttle.
Kurt is a quick study and will soon be underway in care of 411. This shady location offers respite from the morning sun.
Another locomotive is added to the morning's fleet.
Barry sets it out from its carrying case. Quinte West is to our left, Belleville is off in the distance and the bridge spanning the chasm takes crews into Orleans. Roger will be the engineer aboard 412 with Grant as conductor. Their wayfreight will have nine station stops in total while the earlier express train in the opposing direction will have six.
Veggie gardens keep the Birkett family in good health! Johnny enjoys a front-row seat observing the action.
Barry offers up more words of wisdom for the crews at Belleville. Dale finds shelter from the sun to the right while Grant listens in from afar as Barry reviews the throttle procedure with Roger. Seeing as Johnny is also in the image to the left, I presume that it is Noelle behind the camera!
June joins Dale beneath the umbrella while the foliage along the fence line offers up a verdant backdrop.
Dale, it's great seeing you and June once again.
Hopefully we'll be able to meet up in August when the Ottawa crew descends upon Belleville.
Shaanenville sees plenty of train action. The crew were five cars out from Belleville to start their day's run, two from Quinte West and three originating from the yard in Belleville.
The peninsula jutting out harbours the Shaanenville East spurs as Roger and Grant switch out the many sidings that make up Shaanenville and environs.
Thank goodness for runaround tracks! The crew has a single set-out and a single lift here before departing with five cars remaining in their consist. They must first await the arrival of 411 (as per schedule) before heading over to Kamaron City. If 411 is delayed, the meet will be annulled here and will occur elsewhere.
Barry takes a "Walk on the Wild Side!"
Adam has arrived in time to run a few trains. He chats with Johnny who is taking a break in the swing chair.
Still more work to be done in Shaanenville.
Kurt is well in control of his TH&B locomotive hauling 411. He has reached Orleans and will be headed to Cumberland in short order.
With some locations at ground level, operators get a good workout bending down to couple and uncouple cars and throw turnouts. Grant is getting some exercise with his car movements. He and Roger are working Kamaron City with the Sandra Bypass trackage near Juliana Junction in the foreground.
The lads are through the junction and on into Hayes Fuels.
There's often a tankcar or two requiring switching at Hayes Fuels. On this day, the crew has a single lift (pickup) here and they will now have six cars behind the engine plus caboose.
Dale studies his orders for Cumberland.
Some rolling stock examples in Shaanenville.
Barry has managed to create some lovely urban landscapes on his spectacular railroad.
Adam scratches his head as Barry begins his instructions..."The knee bone is connected to the leg bone..."
..."while the leg bone is connected to the ankle bones..."Just kidding of course. Adam will be a quick study!
Kurt continues to work his outgoing train at Cumberland.
At Trista Centre, the lads once again have an equal number of lifts (pickups) and drops (setouts) so their train remains at "six cars out".
412 takes the big curve at Trista Centre and bypasses Hayes Fuels in the opposing direction from earlier. They will take the Sandra Bypass off in the distance and head into Cumberland.
Adam is busy making up his train in Ottawa.
A glance at the urban surroundings between Belleville and Shaanenville.
What have Barry and Adam spotted on the tracks?
Nothing of concern as Adam continues with his work at Ottawa.
Roger visits my favourite spot...the treat table!
Adam arrives the scene as well.
These professional engineers and conductors require sustenance to keep the trains moving along the rails!
...and great socializing...something everyone has missed over the past 16 or so months.
Adam and Barry are smart lads...taking advantage of the umbrellas as the sun continues its daily trek across the sky.
Adam has an end cab switcher at the helm.
Cumberland, like Orleans, can be a busy location along the line.
Some stub end sidings in Ottawa.
East Broad Top #10 is a beauty.
Kurt has make Trista Centre.
Roger has some free time...
...so he joins Adam as a crew mate.
You can never have enough train running! Tons of fun!
Adam has reached Kamaron City...
...with the Doobie Brothers "Long Train Running!" He is in the process of switching out the facing and trailing industries.
Crossovers offer flexibility for both crews and dispatch.
Barry has elevated the trackwork here along the back of the property.
While still at ground level from the perspective of the grass...
...operators are actually standing in the lower section at this point on the railroad.
That would be West Ben to the right and Cora's Corners leading into the wye, of which one leg is spotted in the lower righthand corner of the image.
Some crews have arrived back in Ottawa.
Staging tracks proceed beneath the deck.
Love that Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo mug, Barry. Thanks to Johnny ChuffChuff, Noelle and Grant for the great pics from a very successful train operating day! It was a joy for me to put this blog entry together "from afar!"
Barry, you are a true ambassador to this great hobby of ours. Here's to many more fine operating sessions in the future!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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