July 17th Session Two Action (Part Two)

Section Two of July 17th Train Operations

As usual, we have more pics and vids coming our way from our second session of the season.

With a full roster of assignments with the exception of the ore train, meets were the order of the day!

(Click on the image to enlarge and outside the image to reduce to normal appearance)

We have two trains running in the same direction meeting here in Bell.

Train 313 is residing on Track 4 closest to the camera.

Train 311 is on Track 3, the second track from the aisle.

The third track from the aisle is known as Stuart Yard.

The crews have kept the mainline clear...the track that takes passengers to the station.  The interchange tracks are off in the distance as the west end of Bell is where the two railroads converge.

Bernie snapped these next four pics at Bell. 

Malcolm and Robin have 328 entering Bell from the West as Paul completes his 313 tasks on the interchange tracks.

Power has been replaced on 328 due to a locomotive malfunction.  We invite our Union Pacific partner to the dance! 

Indeed, it can become a relative hive of activity at this location.

Our UP brother now holds the honours on 311, heading west to Firgrove.

We catch the train "threading the needle" through the canyons of freight cars at Bell.

From Track 3, the crew will take the ladder out of the yard and progress up the grade to the western end of the line.

Captured video of Train 311 in Bell.

After holding short of the eastern throat at Nelson Yard, the yardmaster has cleared 303 into the yard. 

The crew is on a slow order as most yard tracks are occupied at this busy time in the schedule. 

All turnouts are set...

...and the crew finds their way to a distant track.

(Note the red disk as indicator of track colour between the rails on the second track from the bottom of the picture) 

Four locomotives are at work in the yard at the moment. 

Marcel is all smiles as he awaits for Train 303 to clear the yard throat.  He has already been given clearance from dispatch to depart the big yard upon 303's arrival.  His train, 314, a unit tanker drag can be seen sitting on one of the lower tracks in the yard. 

Video evidence of 303's arrival.

(The squeal you hear on this video does not originate from Paul's locomotive.  One of the operators elsewhere on the line has left their radio on without being aware of doing so.  Big grin!)

303's orders from dispatch moments earlier were to hold short of Nelson Yard to the east and contact the yardmaster for clearance into the yard. 

With clearance granted, 303 is on the move.

Jim and Paul will drop their consist off in the yard and will then board Train 313 heading west toward Firgrove.

Attending video footage of the crew. 

 Earlier on, 311 was found up in Cedar Rock.

 UP power 9375 seems monstrous in this small town!

 No worries, the locomotive is up to the task even if it is not really a switcher! 

 She's a picture of beauty though! 

Let's watch the video action in Cedar Rock. 

Roll call for 302!  Ah, there she be's...taking the big turn into Bell from the west.

A short manifest freight.

We like the IPP&W transfer van pulling up the rear.

Instructed to take Track 4, the train will be in the best position to work the interchange yard.

While across the way, we spot this zebra striped engine hauling out from Glen Hammond.

302's video footage.

Mercer is a railfan's hotspot where if you hang around a while...you may just see a train in mere moments...or, in this case...two trains!

302 clears the tail end of Pool Train 15 "right hand running".  They must wait for clearance across the diamond.

An RP&M train had been holding short of the diamond crossing and has been cleared to proceed as witnessed now.

While not marking the true appearance of a diamond as it once did, this location is more like a crossing junction of the two roads...but it is fun to reference it as a diamond crossing (or simply diamond), thinking of old times.

Having contacted the Nelson Yardmaster, Lawrence and Moe will proceed through the junction having already been cleared by dispatch following the exit of the RP&M train.

Siding video footage at Mercer.

We catch up with Doug down in Rat Portage, home of the 1907 Stanley Cup champions.

We have the team that defeated the Montreal Wanderers posing with Lord Stanley's Cup.

The plaque in Kenora that tells the story of the cup win.  I tell this story each season...the town name "Kenora" is an amalgam of the first two letters of three town names in the district...Keewatin, Norman and Rat Portage, the early name given to the town because of the migration of muskrats between the lake and the Winnipeg River. (Kenora)

Doug works the siding and Hamer Manufacturing.

In this location we are nestled between the west wall of the house and the west fence line.

Behind Doug we find Ralph Yard in Firgrove (out of the picture).

Mission completed in Rat Portage, Doug contacts dispatch for clearance across the diamond.

His train holds short of the signal.

Waiting patiently for a response from dispatch.

Ah, that's better!

The RP&M train is homeward bound.

RP&M video results.

In a rarely photographed location, we find our RP&M crew achieving daylight near the junction tracks.

Long hood forward, the train reaches the junction.

He'll be in Nelson Yard in short order.

Henk offers up a story as Doug studies his orders.

Video has found the RP&M train on its homeward journey.

Yard work at Ralph finds George shunting a flatcar with some interesting cargo.

Here's the man himself.

Two operators in a single view at the west end.  Doug is working the massive Golding Grains facility down in Rat Portage to the left.

This boxcar would be happy behind Lawrence's RS3 of similar company lines.

The fuel track at Ralph.

Rat Portage is the major stop along the Rat Portage and Mattawa Railway between Nelson Yard and Bell.

It sits silent for long periods of time and then all heck breaks loose when two RP&M trains want in there along with Train 15, the Pool Train.

Some video fun with Doug at Rat Portage.

Later we spot Pat in the same location.

He is drilling the back track.

The New York Central adopted that "pleasing to the eye" light grey/dark grey band scheme in 1945, first spotted on some of their E7 locomotives.

Indeed, it looks very attractive on the smaller road switchers.

Engine #8756 passes by the Hamer Manufactoring Facility...a play on words.

Let's observe the video strip of Pat's train moves down in Rat Portage.

Near the terminal we find Bernie aboard his Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Geep.

This is also a very appealing paint scheme on a locomotive.

Bernie observes his moves.

The main line past the ice house acts as a lead for him.

Billboard reefers brighten up an overcast morning.

This reefer has come a long way and has crossed the border!

This homebody carries the beaver with crest logo on its flanks.

Great filming ya, Bernie!

Let's check out that video film!

We find Lawrence and Moe waiting at Nelson Yard.

At the moment, the yardmaster seems occupied.

Note the overcast sky above Nelson...but, alas...no raindrops were felt at any moment throughout the morning.

Paul and Fred are having a "good yarn" off in the distance.

Still...

...waiting.

The trio to the left huddle up in search of a delinquent freight car.

While at the same moment, the crew aboard 304 holds court over in Bell.

"Who's on first?" "That's right!" "What d'ya mean that's right?" "Who is on first!"  "That's what I'm asking you!" "What?" "Oh, he's on second."  "Who's on Second?" "What is on second."  "What?" "He's on second!" "No...who's on first!" "I don't know!"  "He's on third."  "Who's on third?" "No, who's on first." "I don't know!"  "I just told you I don't know's on third!"

Still...

...waiting.

Meanwhile there is tranquility over in RP&M territory.

As RP&M crews idly go about their business with few delays.

Still...

...waiting.

Oh bother!  Let's just watch the video coverage!

Rolling stock review!  We find this trailer train flat with an Allied van atop at Northland.

We don't have the blues on this morning but this "robin's egg blue" tanker adds to the festive mood.

Mobilgas makes its presence known in this flashy red scheme.

Check out this "British American" car on the siding.

My research tells me that Elon Huntington Hooker of Rochester, New York started up the Hooker Chemicals Company in 1903.  The only other Elon I have heard of is another innovator who is privately funding rides into space.

A look down the spur track at Northland finds all rolling stock "holding their own" pre-ops!

We find ourselves in the neighbourhood of Craig Leigh.

With train action taking place in the background...

...we come across Father Fred and he holds court for a short interview.

Father Fred captured on video camera.

It's always fun for me putting these blog entries together as we get to relish the train running activities on our own time through a simple click of the mouse.  

Here I am (on the right) in the dome of the Park Car out from Jasper taken back in 2006 during our second trip across Canada on "The Canadian" two years running!

With a wave of his hand, Fred bids us farewell until next time we meet; this coming Saturday...when we bring out our steam locomotives for a great narrow gauge session.

Have a safe and healthy week everyone!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada