Year in Review - Session #8

 Year in Review - Session #8

Our eighth session of last season took part in the first week of September on the fourth day of the month.

This must have been around the time of "Back to School" but not for this school teacher any more.

Retirement is glorious!  I can blog about our railroading exploits in large scale all I want at any time of day and on any day of the week!  Yeah!

We first discovered this bulkhead flat with this interesting load on September 4th last year.

Remember, you can enlarge any image by clicking on it and return to the default page by clicking outside it.

The numbered buoys could be destined for Wellington Lake or they may very well be transferred to a foreign road via the RP&M.

We thank Lawrence for his custom handiwork here.

We catch a great big smile on Paul's face as he and crewmate Marcel back Passenger 2 on the wye in order to turn the train for its reverse arrival at the terminal in Craig Leigh.

Marcel is all smiles as well as the other Paul, the Craig Leigh yardmaster on this day, looks on.

The Park Car.  Now, which park car is that?  It could Firgrove Park, Bell Park, Peter's Pond Park...oh...the list is endless!

Let's catch some video of this reverse move!

Judging by the rolling stock...

...this is a standard gauge session!

Pat and Malcolm offer greetings in Firgrove as they await clearance down to Bell aboard 302.

The ore train has reached Ironwood.

With no IPP&W train in the vicinity, the crew will have to conduct their own drops at Ironwood Brick.

Ore train video footage.

A lovely CNR van rests in Ralph Yard.

A few more vans are spotted up in Firgrove pre-ops.

The power for 302 on this day.

311 has just departed Nelson Yard en route to Peter's Pond.

They tackle the junction first.

The red aspect indicates that all systems are working as should be.  There should be no oncoming traffic ahead of 311...only a possible train in the hole at Mercer.

The tail end clears the junction as we spot another CPRail unit high up off in the distance.

Rolling video of 311.

Passenger 2 is in care of this Canadian National unit.

The rear of 302 awaits clearance following the departure of Passenger 2.

Lawrence and Sid in deep conversion with Andrew found in the background.

Bob must be nearby!

Love the Santa Fe livery on this big dog!

Hauling the ore train into Northland.

Once clear of the turnout ahead, Bob will back his train on to the Northland Ore Dock.

Video reels of the ore train in the east end.

Skipper Bill has seeked out a refreshment.

The gang assembles pre-ops.

Fred is about to deliver his weekly preamble.  "Hmmm....cookie!"  says the Cookie Monster from the rust garden.

We catch the Pool Train rounding the bend out from Spruce.

Video of the action.

The lads get a chuckle from Uncle Fred.

Lots of folks have arrived for the session.

Pre-ops and my dispatch board is clear!

302 has arrived Nelson Yard.  Malcolm and Pat will depart as 312 in short order.

Yardmaster Henk has everything under control.

Some Nelson Yard video footage.

Earlier 302 had taken Track 4 at Bell to work the interchange.

Sid examines Lawrence's handiwork with the bulkhead flat.

Rat 70 departs Glen Hammond bound for Rat Portage.

A host of trainmen assemble near the eastern throat of Nelson Yard.

Bill controls all movements in this area of the yard.

Pool Train 15 has reached Glen Hammond where it has a set-out and a pick-up.

The view from here as on video.

The Nelson crew work the Fallentree Mine on behalf of the ore train.

Moe and Pat have brought 318 into Craig Leigh.  They are turning their locomotive on the wye before departure with Train 303.

Earlier, Train 302 had work to conduct up in Cedar Rock during its first trick of the day.

Train 304 arrives Bell from Firgrove.

Seanna and Steve are on their second trick of the day after bring 327 up to Firgrove from Glen Hammond.  Love that smile, Seanna!

Love Steve's smile too!

The crew has arrived Track 4 to facilitate their switching at the interchange.

304 as captured on video tape.

The ore train is spotted in the eastern sector of the line.

Mark is assisting the Craig Leigh yardmaster today.

Mark observes the movements of the ore train with care to detail.

Train 30 rides the rails down to St. Helens.

They have a clear path straight into the sidings.

Train 30 is the short hop carried out by the Craig Leigh yardmaster at some point during the session when the "busy-ness" subsides in Craig Leigh.

Safely tucked into the middle spur.

Let catch Train 30 on video camera.

Robin and Bernie have arrived Bell with RP&M Train 65.  They will return as Train 66.

Bill continues with his efforts in Nelson Yard.

Train 312 ducks in behind the Fallentree Mine on its departure out from Nelson Yard.

Pool Train 15 aims for Bell and eventually RP&M rails.

Its a blur as it passes by this railfan.

Train 15 caught on video.

The crew of 312 approaches the Fred Mills Trestle bound for points east.

Train 30 in St. Helens.

Norm and Mark are framed nicely by the stand of trees.

311 tackles the grade at Watkins Siding bound for Bell and later Firgrove.

Arrival at Bell.

A railfan's perspective.

Doug follows his train, 311, into the yard on Track 3 as Train 15 works the station tracks and RP&M 65-66 work the Interchange.  Yes, three trains are able to work around each other in the expansive environs found at Bell.

Captured video of 311's approach.

Earlier, 311's crew had some work to conduct up in Cedar Rock following their arrival in Peter's Pond.

The RP&M crew takes advantage of the lengthy yard lead to conduct their switching moves.

Earlier Marcel had guided 15 into the siding at Watkins.

311 and 15 at Bell...

...along with the tail end of 66.

Close up of the cab.

She's a beauty!

Video action in Bell.

Did I mention she's a beauty!

Finding new iron atop RP&M rails now.

Rounding the interchange area.

Downward ho to Pratt's Bottom and beyond!

Let's check that out on video!

Moe has 303 in Ironwood as Marcel conducts a station stop at Wellington Lake.

Malcolm and Pat are now on their third trick of the morning aboard 319 having arrived Ironwood.  Their eventual destination will be Glen Hammond.

Earlier, 311 was found in the hole at Watkins Siding.

RP&M 65 spotted earlier working Bell.

Love the livery of the Algoma Central, Steve and Seanna!

A trifecta of trains in Bell.

Nelson Yard seems busy as well!

Let's watch all that on video!

Ore cars dot the landscape in the big yard.

Multiple crews in multiple locations.  From right to left we see Bell, Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard.

311 still waiting for clearance into Bell.

The RP&M crews ride in style on this day!

A meet with the ore train.

As always, Bell can handle the congestion thrown its way!

Video review.

Lots of activity.

Check in later in the month for our next installment of "The Year in Review".  There are only a small handful of postings left until our season gets underway on the Victoria Day long weekend in May!  Indeed, we are all looking forward to a successful 2022 OVGRS season!

As always, we thank our skipper for the fun times we have each Saturday morning trackside!

We catch Fred in the new boardroom!

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