Barry's and Bonnie's Belleville Ops

Train Ops In Belleville With Barry and Bonnie

August 25th was a day the gang has been anticipating for some time now.  For today is the day we foray upstream to Belleville, Ontario to visit Barry and Bonnie Birkett.

The rain held off, the sun dissipated the morning mist and the heat rose...but that did not deter us from running the trains Barry set out for us on this day!

Indeed, hard core railfans will be delighted to follow the action from this day's train running experiences.

Here's Barry!

There's Bonnie.

This is their pet butterfly...they have her well trained to pose for a picture from Mike!

(Click on the image to enlarge and click on the return arrow in the upper left corner to return to the regular look of the page.)

Bumblebees too...imagine that.

We love the fraternal twins on the flatbed.  Hmmm...black or red...either one will do in my books!

Marcel and I are the "yard" crew at Belleville as we arrived early just behind Bernie and Fred.  Bernie was yard crew in Ottawa.

Van Zijl siding is a lengthy one, Henk will be pleased to learn.  We enjoy these two New Haven boxcars residing there. 

Bernie's power in the yard at Ottawa.

Kamaron Falls.

The peninsula at Shaaneville with the hoppers located at the Mackenzie Aggregates siding with Bonnie's Foods appearing just beyond the hosta to the right.

The lovely patio to the east.

The lower deck to the west.

Tanker traffic resides beside the caboose track.

Colourful cars at Quinte West

Marcel and I continue to make up the trains for the three tricks.

Belleville Yard is well designed.

Is this the penalty box?  Not at all...it's the line-up for the Order of Canada for contributions to large scale modelling!  (Big grin!)

Barry holds court.

We gather on the lower deck.

Paul squared!  (Two Pauls in one pic!)

Pat and Marcel.

"Still Playing Trains" indeed!

Fred pays us a visit in Belleville Yard.

Marcel follows his train.

Pat and Paul have Train 6101 in Orleans.  They departed Ottawa earlier and will terminate in Belleville.

The Lyon's Liquids siding sees some action.

The bridge acts as a switching lead in Orleans.

Why...it's Johnny ChuffChuff!

Hi Jean!

Hello Fred and Sid!

Moe and Pat will work Train 6104, the run from Belleville to Ottawa.

Marcel and I have their train blocked and ready to go.

Pat and Paul have reached Cumberland.

Pat and Moe in Shaaneville.

Every year I have to snap an image of one of my favourite cars Barry has in his stable!

The splash of colour it adds is wonderful.

Pat's loco works the siding spurs.

Bernie runs some stockcars just past West Ben.

Hi Noelle, Bonnie and Barry!

Pat's New York Central locomotive is running from Kamaron City to Shaaneville.

Marcel and I meet them with our third trick train, Train 6116, an express run!

Much later we find ourselves in and around Trista Centre.

Dave Welsh visits the gang.

Bernie and Paul study their notes.

Noelle checks her camera...

...after taking a shot of Chuff Chuff's Junk.   Hmmmm...

Speaking of Chuff Chuff...here's Johnny!  (With Dave.)

Marcel and Fred share a break.

Pat has arrived and the lads enjoy each other's stories.

These ladies are the smart ones, for they've found the shade!

Marcel and I were given the opportunity to run the big yard in Belleville as Yardmasters.  Above we find his UP diesel working the west end of the yard by Chuff Chuff's Junk.

The exhaust blows heavily as the big brute gets underway!

Marcel marshals a few cars at Quinte West.

This railfan feels like he's "up, up and away" in the cloud of exhaust.

She's a thing of beauty, Marcel...no doubt about it!

Let's check out the Belleville video action!

Time, next, to handle the spur at Chuff Chuff.

Both cars appear on our list as going out on the first trick of the day.

Looking good on video, Marcel!

Blocking our traffic for the eastbound train.

Continuous back and forth and the job gets done...

...to the satisfaction of my engine man!

Video review in Belleville.

We decide to wye our locomotive to have it in the desired facing direction before we assemble the second and third tricks back in Belleville Yard.

Some more video for your enjoyment!

The old meets the new.

She handles her chores beautifully.

For, it will be this steamer that takes out Train 6104, the Belleville to Ottawa wayfreight as capture in video motion.

Train 6104 will encounter nine stations on her eastward journey.

We love that SOO LINE car, don't we Andrew!  It would follow in the "family line" behind your RS3 back home in Ottawa!

The Rio Grande covered hopper offers up an autumn appearance for the train.

How about that BCOL 40 footer!

The CP caboose was the lead hack on this day being placed on the first train out.

More video work at Belleville.

Tales abound as Johnny manages to keep Sid well entertained.

Not to mention Jean and Fred as well.

Ah, yes...

...life is good when we are among great friends!

Conversations captured on video footage.

I'll have a Big Mack and Fries please!

Paul and Pat take a much needed rest in the humidity of the morning.

There's Bernie in the cab!

Number 73 earns its keep on this morning.

Keeping hydrated is vital to dedicated performance on the railroad.

Bernie has reached Shaaneville...

...as have Pat and Paul.

Paul's CP diesel is at home on this Canadian railroad.

Bernie takes the outer track at Trista Centre.

Arriving Trista Centre.

Then he meets Paul's diesel near the crossovers between Hayes Fuels and Juliana Junction.

Lots of "organized activity" in this area of the railroad.  We appreciate the work Bonnie does in the gardens!

Bernie's train enters the Sandra Bypass.

More video views of the activities.

Time for nourishment and sustenance...

...thanks to Mighty Moe...our barbecue brainstrust!

Lots of munchies to keep us going!

Oh my gosh!

Oh my gosh!

Oh my gosh!  My eyes are deceiving me!  Can it be?

Can it be?

Can it be...a Boston and Maine rail rail diesel car?

A flash of silver...

...and the lettering on the end reveals the truth.

It is...it is...it is a B&M RDC!

Thanks a ton, Marcel, for bringing her out for some "fun in the sun" as the video footage reveals!

We find Pat on his return journey.

Love that CN&W yellow boxcar on the next track over.

Sid follows Pat's train as Pat follows Pat's train!  (Big grin!)

Let's examine the video reel!

Paul's CP unit works the far end of Cumberland.

Check out the vehicles in tow here!

A lovely splash of yellow to brighten our day.

More video action!

Speaking of brightening our day...

...Betty, our friendly butterfly has paid us a visit numerous times throughout the morning.

Mike has managed to capture her movements on video, oblivious to the railroad action all around her.

So, I get home and sit at my computer to create this first blog entry from our wonderful experience in Belleville...exhausted...yet exhilarated from a great day of train running with wonderful friends within the large scale railroading community.

On behalf of Fred and the entire gang from Ottawa, we thank Barry and Bonnie for hosting such a special and heartwarming experience!

I do have many, many more pics and videos from the day as well as those that will come in from some of our OVGRS friends who shared this experience with me.

Hopefully I'll be able to get another entry "in" before I leave on my drive to the "Merry Times" Saturday morning.  If not...look forward to a couple of weeks from now for more merriment from Belleville.

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