Session #3 June 25th
We celebrate "half-Christmas" by descending on Fred's property on the 25th of the sixth month for a train operating session.
The weather held with no rain and little wind in the forecast although the humidity gave operators a bit of a jolt.
Just as the mail must get through, the trains must run, and run them we did...in elegant fashion!
Rio Grande Southern #25 holds down the job in Douglas Yard. Paul Anderson is the yardmaster on this day.
Just a reminder that you can enlarge each image by clicking on it. You can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.
My #27 will carry lading across the high iron aboard 301 starting out from Craig Leigh. Paul Norton will be my crew mate.
Chris and Grant check over their train orders in Glen Hammond to the left as Malcolm readies RP&M Train 61 in Nelson Yard.
The umbrellas offer protection from the sun's rays much like an NHL caliber goalie guards his net from opposing shots.
Pat is found in the mist of the morning setting out cars in Spruce. Congrats to Pat on his retirement Monday (Today is his final day of work)! You're going to love retirement Pat! Now every day will be a Saturday for you!
Billboard reefers adorn the siding spur at the ice house.
Some headend equipment is found at the terminal building in Craig Leigh.
Additional billboard reefers are spotted across the main from the ice house in varying hues and colour tones.
Sid examines Bob's F-unit.
Jean enjoys conversing with Skipper Fred in the crew lounge.
George, Lawrence, Doug and Chris take a seat pre-ops.
Bill is all smiles as Paul continues with his efforts in Craig Leigh. Sid looks on from behind.
We begin to assemble for the briefing.
Skipper Fred offers up some tidbits of knowledge...
...while the Timmy's box offers up some timbits of refreshment!
Douglas Yard is untouched pre-ops.
We have made our departure out from Craig Leigh and arrive with 301 in Mount St. Helens where our work will be facing only.
Train 32 leans into the curve at "The Corners".
Marcel is about to arrive Spruce with the passenger train when he realizes that the station has not been brought out!
32 arrives the station track in Ironwood while 302 holds at Watkins Siding in the distance.
Marcel is radioing for clearance as Moe works 304 on the main at Spruce.
32 picks up speed on its departure out from Ironwood.
The ore train arrives hot on the heals of 32. That's my locomotive at the lower fringe of the image having just lifted the ore cars for Bob.
Bob is most appreciative for the lift.
Assisting the ore train slowed our progress slightly but we are now ready to exchange places with 304 in Spruce. Grant has aligned the turnout and we await clearance to depart.
Bob backs the draft of cars onto his train and will seek clearance into Mount St. Helens to continue his eastward trek.
Meanwhile, up in Cedar Rock we find the crew of 302 working the end of the branch. Doug and Chris have all things under control.
Heading back down the branch.
At Spruce, Paul and I drill the spur track.
We are "5 cars out" from Spruce with a concluding destination of Nelson Yard.
Lawrence re-rails a caboose as Steve and Seanna build their RP&M train in Glen Hammond.
With clearance gained, 311 crosses the diamond and approaches Mercer Siding with sights on Peter's Pond.
311 peeks out of the bushes as it exits "The Corners".
On beyond Wellington Lake.
Bob's steamer is up to the task with the ore train.
Bob poses for a snapshot!
322, our third trick of the morning has Firgrove in the rearview mirror with Bell in the distance through the windshield.
We have work at the trailing sidings up in Cedar Rock therefore our setouts must be tacked onto the fore section of the locomotive.
Passenger 35 conducts a station stop in "The Pond".
Locomotive #27 runs along the main...
...while 323 tucks into the branch track.
Moe and Grant are found aboard 323.
Pat & Pat work their third trick of the morning in the Mount.
Or...should we say..."Pat Squared"!!!
The retirement lad is a happy camper.
Now here's an experienced retiree!
Sid observes Bob running his locomotive into its carrying case.
Looking good Bob!
Bob's other locomotive is already tucked into bed.
A hat works to protect our ore man from the sun!
Grant's locomotive on the RIP track...oops...no track at all.
We finish off the image segment of the posting with another look at Paul's steamer in Douglas Yard at Craig Leigh.
In the early hours of the morning, Passenger 32 is spotted in the foliated area on the western front of the railroad (geographical east).
Marcel has the train humming through the landscape.
Meanwhile, directly above, Paul and Mike have reached Mount St. Helens and will be underway to Ironwood in short order.
Let's catch up with the two trains on video for the time being.
Remember, to start the video, click on the white arrow in the center once, then again a second time.
Hot on the heels of Passenger 32 is the ore train.
Bob has the steamer in full throttle mode...
...while Paul lifts the two furthest cars on the stock track in St. Helens.
We have a few reefers to pull.
Lots of colour in this string of cars.
Some colourful video footage of both trains.
A while later, our passengers pull into Spruce.
It's the job of the passenger operator to bring out the Spruce station from the outdoor office and place it on the layout.
Marcel remembers to do so at the last moment so that our cameras will have the depot in their pics!
Lots of crews can be seen from this vantage point; at Watkins, in Ironwood, here in Spruce and another up in Cedar Rock.
Some video work around Spruce.
301 rides atop the connector bridge between St. Helens and Ironwood.
With stock cars on the headend the crew arrives the outer edge of Ironwood.
Those billboard reefers we saw earlier in Craig Leigh have made it along for the ride!
Let's check out the video of 301 on its journey westward.
302 is spotted at Watkins Siding having run around its train after having to work Wellington Lake.
In short order they will have a meet with an opposing train.
302 on video tape.
Engineer Bob Clarke hauls the ore train up the grade named in his honour.
Clarke has reached Clarke Grade.
The tail end is alive and well.
Ore train video work.
303 arrives Wellington Lake.
Passing the depot.
Westbound 303 meets eastbound 302.
Let's check out the meet on video!
301 has lifted cars for the ore train from the Ironwood Brick siding.
The ore train arrives Ironwood.
304 is then able to follow into Ironwood for a meet with 301.
Once 304 clears the turnout, 301 will be underway to Spruce.
Let's check out the video footage from the area.
314 is found downgrade at "The Ledges" as Pat follows the progress of his train.
In the meantime, Nelson Yard is a veritable hive of activity...
...as is Glen Hammond to the right.
Let's check out the video footage on all that activity.
301 hauls into Nelson Yard from the east.
Our train is lined up by the Nelson crew. We will soon be departing aboard 311.
Once we are clear, 312 will have an open exit offered to them and they will head out of the yard eastbound.
Lots of video fun in Nelson Yard.
Our train proceeds slowly out from Nelson Yard.
Paul is at the throttle.
Some video of our departure.
314 holds the main for a meet with 311.
311 climbs the grade at Watkins. As its tail end clears, 314 will be underway to Peter's Pond.
Some video action.
We catch Paul with a smile on his face.
311 leans into the curve out from Bell.
The locomotive is working hard tackling the grade at "The Ledges" with a consist of nine cars and a buggy.
Let's see that on video, shall we!
In other news, the freight house has received its signage on the O-scale diorama I am building for Doug. While the structure, the gondola and the wagon with horses are kits, all other items are scratchbuilt.
Another wagon is completed along with a horse with a hat!
This is a surrey wagon and is well-kept.
I painted nine pewter figures for Doug including this lady awaiting the passenger train at Tyrone.
The surrey wagon at the depot...
...with horse without hat.
As seen from another view.
The farmer and his team of horses depart town with their milk cans.
I also built a second ore wagon for Doug which is up on blocks and under repair at the wagon repair shop.
Two more figures I painted adorn this little vignette and go along with the buckboard wagon and horse with hat.
Three of the four modules butt up with each other at this intersection.
Little vignettes are found throughout the massive diorama with this latest one on the other side of the fence from the wagon repair shop.
The project depicts eastern Ontario in 1912.
As always we thank Father Fred for hosting us each Saturday. Yer looking good with that haircut, Fred!
Johnny and Noelle, we continue to think of you in our hearts and prayers and wish you were here.
Have a great week everyone and stay safe and stay healthy!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
