Our Sixth Successful Session of the Season
Now, I would say the title above acts as an excellent example of alliteration.
Indeed, have have the "Rain King" on the ropes as each Saturday thus far has dawned sunny and bright or slightly overcast with no precipitation.
"Dieseldom" is the word of the morning.
Diesels here!
Diesels there!
Diesels, diesels...
...everywhere.
Diesels blue...
...diesels white!
Diesels that pull...
...with tons of might!
Diesels that pull ore so well.
Diesels on Track 4 in Bell!
Before we get on with Saturday's proofs...
...we find Pat working Wednesday on the roof!
As a worker, Bernie's a cracker...
...for he has complete control of his weed wacker!
Our railroad has got it made...
...cuz we have this "jack of all trades"!
We never need to scratch our heads...
...for our fearless leader is Father Fred!
Enough already, Mr. Hamer. Stop the rhyming and get down to business with the blog posting, will ya!
And, getting down to business is what these lads do!
Bernie arrived the property early to ensure all was set out properly in the expansive yard he was asked to "master"!
And...a masterful job he has done!
Fred controls the pre-ops organizing...
...as he cross-references the car numbers on his master list.
Steve is doing a bit of weight-lifting, it would appear.
The shirt tells it all...
...as we spot Bernie's assistant, Bill, inmate #463.
(Love that 463 locomotive, Bill!)
The sun shines on Nelson Yard...
...and Blockhouse in behind.
The dynamic duo of Nelson...
...meets the dynamic duo of Firgrove.
We say "hello" to Len and George.
It's another dynamic duo...two Paul's with Paul Anderson (on the left) holding down the fort at Craig Leigh.
The other Paul (of the Norton dynasty) shares a chuckle with our birthday boy, Marcel!
Pat and Sid have things well taken care of in Glen Hammond.
Yeah! It's wonderful seeing Bob back up in the saddle!
Great to have you aboard with us, Bob! We've missed you!
Seanna has the honours today.
With the ringing of the Bell, the lads and lasses assemble in the crew lounge.
Bill enjoys Fred's talk and Mike's safety speech.
Then, it's on to train running...
...and do we ever have a surprise for you!
Look what Marcel brought out for our enjoyment!
His rail diesel car steps out from Craig Leigh in fashion!
Let's check the video out!
Over in Nelson Yard, Bernie and Bill observe their RP&M mates across the table.
Pat will run RP&M train Rat 70 while Andrew assists.
318 seeks clearance from dispatch...
...to depart Glen Hammond...
...with Blockhouse in mind.
We watch some video footage of 318's departure.
Later in the morning their train is spotted in Ironwood.
Fortunately for them, the town is empty of other traffic.
Passenger 2 has made it through Bell...
...and glides down the grade at Watkins.
The train approaches Wellington Lake from the west and will eventually gain clearance directly into Peter's Pond where the crew will meet IPP&W Train 327.
Railfan video at Watkins.
Marcel is the man of the hour! He sits and observes the comings and goings in and around Nelson Yard.
Speaking of Nelson Yard, the crew there has already pulled the ore cars from the Fallentree Mine and set them out on a spare track over in Glen Hammond. Note the ore train having arrived the Glen to the left.
A 400 series TH&B geep enters Bell.
The 401 is hauling tonnage aboard IPP&W Train 302.
I learned from Bernie that the 400 series runs "long hood forward" while the double digit TH&B geeps drive "short hood forward".
The 400 series are GP9's while the 70 series are GP7's. These units would eventually be painted in CP Rail's Action Red scheme down the road.
Train 302 reaches Bell on videotape.
Those "torpedo tube" air tanks atop the roof certainly distinguish the "nines" from the "sevens" in the Geep world of the TH&B.
While the crew has made hay at Bell, they must wait it out at Watkins until traffic in Peter's Pond clears up.
Speaking of CP Action Red, we have Len`s road unit slipping down the grade at "The Ledges".
Train 20 has this beauty on the tail end. Looks fabulous Uncle Fred!
Train 20 captured on video.
Robin works Bellamy as the Firgrove to Bell hop descends the grade.
Train 20 originated in Firgrove off in the distance. That's Ralph Yard in the foreground.
Loaded ore cars move east on the IPP&W.
We catch a glimpse of the CN "North America" livery on the side of 9404, a GP40.
The ore cars wiggle and dance their way through the crossover track.
This meet sees two trains in the same direction...sometimes called a "pass". The ore train is cleared all the way through to Peter's Pond and into Mercer Siding.
Check out the wobble of the ore cars on video as the train steers around 302.
Bob will find the Northland Ore dock later in the morning where he will set out two strings of loads and lift these empties.
We thank the crew of 318 for addressing the ore cars on the facing siding at Ironwood Brick. You have done a great favour for the ore train!
Train 327 works Peter's Pond.
Many a colourful boxcar is spotted on this day.
Who does not like this Ontario Northland insignia?
The crew runs around their train.
Let's watch the video segment.
A short time later, 327 has reached Bell...
...and has run around its train to work the Interchange Yard.
Off to the east, this railfan has captured a meet with 301 and 318.
This lovely CN unit is in command of 301 heading west to Ironwood.
The olive green and gold livery is a memorable one.
301 ducks beneath the big facility at Ironwood Brick while in the distance 318 climbs the grade up into Wellington Lake.
A moment captured on videotape.
301 is on its way to Spruce...
...so Paul will have to take the long route. Malcolm and Moe have 303 holding the siding in Spruce.
Heading over to RP&M territory we find Rat 70 returning home.
Wit clearance across the diamond granted...
...the train reaches Anderson.
...Pat uncouples the first car from the rest of the train. He has set the brakes on the remainder of the consist as he will skirt across the junction to set out the B&O car in at Anderson.
Part of the process is captured on video.
We thank Andrew for the loan of his SOO LINE locomotive.
Pat certainly was grateful. Later in the day he ran the "Bell Turn", Trains 67-68 up to the interchange.
We must discuss the benefits of the new siding installed in Ironwood last summer.
Dispatch truly appreciates the flexibility this additional siding offers.
In this instance, the ore train passes through while two IPP&W crews hold the sidings.
IPP&W 303 has completed its work and the ConRail locomotive will haul it into Spruce. 301 backpeddled into Ironwood and will now conduct its work at this location. In the second posting to be offered later in the week, you will see yet another "triple meet" in Ironwood!
A video montage of the "triple header".
Bob has achieved Craig Leigh with the loaded ore drag.
The swap-out of loads for empties begins.
As anyone who has worked Nelson Yard will attest...it can be "oh so quiet" for a long time...waiting....waiting...waiting...
...for any train to arrive...
...and then...all four arrive at once...not to mention the two RP&M trains, a passenger run-by and the ore train! Say, that makes eight trains!
The two "Killer B's", Bernie and Bill handled the situation with acumen.
While I swing my camera from my perch in the dispatch booth, I find the ore train in the vicinity at Glen Hammond!
While out railfanning for the blog...I will have to adjust my magnetic dispatch board to tidy things up!
A video encounter at Nelson Yard.
Looking great, Bernie!
Glen Hammond is a happening place as well early in the morning. Note all of the colourful cars in both the Glen and over in Nelson Yard!
On "Workday Wednesday" I managed to snap a trio of images of this lovely combine car Fred had been readying for service.
She's a true beauty, Fred!
The Ironwood, Peter's Pond & Western car #7866, the "Lake Simcoe" made it into service on this weekend's session we are glad to announce! You caught a glimpse of the car on Train 20 running down from Firgrove to Bell.
Here's the birthday boy out with me making music in Carlsbad Springs at my bass player's farm last Monday evening.
I've got my Fender Stratocaster ready to go, but...alas...there was a power outage and we ended up not playing.
Instead, we ended up on the back patio chatting all evening...
...with my good friends, Alec and Tina...
...on their 150 acre property.
So-o-o-o...we'll give'er another "go" this afternoon!
These blog postings could not be done without the ability to run trains at Fred's place. We thank you, Fred, for every moment we share in your backyard!
Don't forget to check in later in the week for part two from this week's proceedings!
Enjoy a safe and healthy week everyone!
Cheers, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Thank you, Mike, and all the great FRIENDS that make OPERATIONS possible.
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