Third Rain-Out Postponement
For the third time this season, the weather has not cooperated with us on an Ottawa Saturday.
It's nice to have "extra" pics and video footage so far unused from previous sessions to share with you.
It is my hope that these stories will suffice for your railroad operations needs for this week. Big grin!
The view outside my Alta Vista window showed rain falling as hard as we see in the platform image above. While this train is running, we have chosen to stay "warm and dry" indoors instead!
Back on July 24th we held a narrow gauge session...and the weather cooperated!
Sometimes our trusty "Ironwood Road" RS3 gets asked to fill in for a steamer that is not available as was the case on this day.
Bernie and Barry make a delivery in Mount St. Helens aboard Train 303.
Barry covers the three-way switch at the entrance to the small yard.
A variety of equipment is found in Ralph Yard.
Passenger 2 drifts into Glen Hammond for a station stop under Chris's command.
Paul's steamer handles the chores in Douglas Yard on this day in the early summer of 2021.
Spruce sees plenty of action and this eastbound crew is busy running around their train using the main as the runaround track.
This steam locomotive is in the comfortable care of George Wellington.
Indeed, George has sailed into Bell aboard Train 20.
Train 312 is found in Spruce.
Pat's locomotive flies under the radar in "stealth mode".
Pool Train 15 has priority through Wellington Lake where it meets an eastbound crew switching the location.
Skippers Bernie, Henk and Bill are all active.
Not only is Bernie our talented yard master on the east end, he is also a talented train operator. We find him aboard 312 with Pat at Blockhouse. Bernie will later assist another crew in the session.
Train 15 slows to a stop in Peter's Pond.
The towering ferns offer up a verdant backdrop for this ardent railfan!
15 sneaks past the crew lounge moments earlier.
302 has found Nelson Yard and the crew will climb aboard 312 in short order.
Henk is in "relax mode" with Bernie close by.
Pat Brewer and Robin have 304 underway out from Bell following their clearance to Watkins.
Number 3 handles its chores in Ralph Yard admirably.
Barry and Doug have reached Spruce aboard 318.
Train 301 is underway out from Ironwood.
The crew navigates the big curve on approach to Spruce.
Doug brings his train onto the siding track that was left open purposely by the crew of 318. The two trains have just swapped locations and both crews offered up the siding turnout modelling a strong message of cooperation and collaboration!
Bernie is busy up in Cedar Rock with 312.
The ore trains sails past a crew working Spruce Yard.
Earlier we found 327 climbing the ladder tracks at the western end of Bell.
Marcel arrives Ironwood with ore cars a-plenty.
He will lift the empties from the Ironwood Brick siding.
He acts as both engineer, conductor and brakeman.
With his lifts complete, he passes a westbound working the siding tracks.
Looking good, Marcel!
The crew aboard 301 (out of sight) conducts a run-by inspection as the ore train departs town.
My locomotive enjoys the action the passenger runs bring its way.
Having brought Pool Train 15 home, the crew will depart in a westerly direction aboard Passenger 1, the third run of the morning for this little puppy!
The terminal area in Craig Leigh.
Passenger delight!
This versatile engine enjoys its roll hauling passengers or freight through the Ontario countryside.
Video footage of locomotive 27.
To engage the video, simply click on the white arrow once, then a second time.
Pool Train 15 emerges from the thicket between Spruce and Ironwood.
Transiting the station track, the crew will arrive the depot in short order.
A westbound train hides in the siding.
Its crew is able to continue its work unabated by the passing of the other train.
Doug works the team track in the freight shed area.
Number 27 rolls to a stop.
Ironwood sure is active...alive and doing well!
Doug and Paul Mackenzie continue their efforts while Pat is eyeing his train out from Wellington Lake in the distance.
A video review.
The videographer set the turnout thinking it hadn't been set already...which it had. Yikes! Stop multi-tasking, Mr. camera man! (Big grin!)
Up in Craig Leigh Paul Anderson controls the movements of trains in and out of the yard and engine areas. He is setting the turnout for the escaping ore train as Chris looks on. Once the ore train clears the wye, the passenger consist will be turned.
The Northland Ore Dock is a hive of activity.
Marcel is in charge of ore transport on this day.
Chris is in charge of passenger movements.
Paul offers an assist at the dock.
Still more video review in Craig Leigh this time.
The ore train slides down the grade with brakes a-squealing!
The tail end.
Number 27 is wyed.
She's ready for her next job!
We catch the video action.
Doug Culham settles in for a little wait as the crew at Spruce finish up their moves before the two crews swap locations. That's Barry in the red and Doug Hayes in the blue working 318 at the moment.
The recent stillness in Ironwood is broken as the ore train descends into town.
Let's catch that video shall we?
The action at Spruce is halted momentarily for the passage of the ore train.
By the depot...
...and around the bend.
Who doesn't appreciate the look of unit trains?
Down the slope at Clarke's Grade.
Off to the Fallentree Mine.
Video coverage.
The ore train wheels ahead following clearance from Bell through Wellington Lake and on into Peter's Pond.
Marcel takes the crossing where he will reset the turnouts.
Rolling along the fenceline.
Markers on the front of the rear! Hehehe!
On into Wellington Lake.
Video action along the property line.
Early in the AM hours we spot Passenger 2 departing Bell.
My locomotive is the selected headend power on the day.
It's a colourful consist, for sure!
A yellow tail marks the rear of the train.
Video capture of Passenger 2 heading to Wellington Lake.
We come across Moe working RP&M 65 in Rat Portage.
That's one long haul Moe has on the go!
His Canadian Pacific diesel handles the chores down in Rat with ease.
Rat Portage video footage.
Train 318 arrives Douglas Yard.
Barry is in charge of the incoming train.
Paul has aligned the route for Barry.
Video of 318's arrival.
For our final video segment we catch an eastbound having traversed the pedestrian crossing out from Blockhouse.
The headend enters the canyon...
...before ascending Clarke's Grade up to Spruce.
With the tail end clearing the crossing...
...we are able to check out the video of the train.
Check out this cool looking hopper Paul Norton will be purchasing. Paul...I bet Steve McKenzie knows quite a bit about this aircraft! Paul informs us that he has purchased four "Warbird Hoppers" and is awaiting the Spitfire model. Thanks for sharing, Paul!
Paul knows how to warm my heart! Why it's a large scale Boston & Maine 40 foot boxcar! Paul tells me that this car was in a shipping box on his veranda when he arrived home from our last session at Fred's!
Paul, your large scale version matches my HO scale ones beautifully! Love that interlaced "B" over "M"!
And...they match the Bluebird scheme on the GP9's!
Paul goes on to tell me...When
Aristo-Craft first made reefers, they did not include CNR. So I painted and
lettered one and sent a picture of it to Lewis at Aristo-Craft. The CNR reefer
was available the next year. There are now three of mine at Fred’s. But the home
made one always make me smile as it passes. It has rusty coloured wheels because
of the ice melting from the car while it is running. Another pristine one will never leave the puzzle layout I have indoors at home.
Mark sent along these next three images of Ollie with his train in the backyard of their home.
A little yellow speedster.
Check out this next video Mark sent along. He tells us...
Oliver is really enjoying “pushing” his Playmobil trains along... a true
precursor to battery power. Why have battery power when you can trust the
reliable “Ollie power!”
Copy and paste the link below into your computer's browser to see the action!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/14ljj960aur7jc1/IMG_4197.MOV?dl=0
Here's hoping we will not need this train umbrella for next Saturday!
Yes...while we may suffer from a minor dose of the "Rainy Day Railway Blues," Fred's smile will always cheer us up!
Agreed...here's to better weather next week!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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