Session #2 June 11th

Session #2 June 11th

Narrow Gauge Fleet

The weather Gods were picked this week to wear the same colours as the OVGRS crew on the same side of the field.  It's nice to be team mates with them whenever we can!

This allowed 23 members to arrive Fred's place with some late spring enjoyment.

Brakeman Donald of the Duck clan wishes to thank Father Fred for making this all happen.

To enlarge images, click on them. To return click outside them!

Donald typically hitches a ride on the steps of his favourite locomotive painted in Algoma Central colours...

...but every now and then he may just be found a little farther afield!

It was great seeing Seanna and Steve out for the first time in a couple of years.

We find them working 303, the Glen Hammond-Craig Leigh run at the entrance of the morning!

Thanks, Seanna, for your very kind words about how the blog had kept you in touch with everyone during your absence.  Your words mean a lot!

Aha!  Donald is back atop the footboards of the Algoma Central diesel watching the scenery pass by!

CN diesel 1701, a GP9 is working for the RP&M on this day.  We catch the crew drilling Nelson Yard on the western front.

D&H #7316, a GP38-2 is in the capable control of Mr. Bill Scobie and is spotted working the yard throat at the eastern end of Nelson.

Santa Fe diesel unit #5200, an SD40-2 is captured by the lens of this railfan eastbound (geographical west) having pierced the Fred Mills Trestle at Brennan Gap.

Canadian National E-unit #102 is a mystery.  Bernie helped me solve the enigma, for you see, the CN never rostered an E-unit...but two were purchased and painted in this livery then sold to American roads having never run on CN tracks in Canada.  Some deeper digging allowed me to learn the #102 pictured above in the green and yellow heritage colours was built in January 1950 and was reborn as CB&Q E8A #9940A.  She was later sold to the the Burlington Northern and retained the number 9940.  Her final days found her working as ex-Metra 9903 toiling for the commuter network system in Chicago's metropolitan area.

Her sibling, #103 was built in December of 1955.  She wears red, black and white heritage paint.   She began working as CB&Q #9986A before being sold to the Burlington Northern where she also retained her number.  She ended her working life as ex-Metra #9916.

Algoma Central 168 is an EMD GP7.  Built in 1952, she was sold to the Mattagami RR in 1985.

Proto2000 came out with an HO scale version of the locomotive working for its new boss.

While not quite the Algoma Central...

...at least the Mattagami came up with an attractive paint scheme rather than a single dipped colour!

CN switcher 8144.  It's funny...I researched this number for the switcher but could find no data.  Nonetheless, she is a favourite of railfans along the right of way in IPP&W/RP&M territory! 

Our dear road switcher in company colours as painted by none other than Billy Boy Scobie!

Bernie's TH&B GP7 decked out in that beautiful livery.

Love those sergeant stripes on this CN beauty.

Marcel, "You da man!"

An Ottawa Redblacks mug must mean Bernie's in town!

Chris has arrived early to assist with the car set out to towns and industries.

"Sunshine keeps falling on my head!" means that umbrellas are a "must"!

Yet another arrival to the session...head chef but not bottle washer...Moe!

Seanna!  It's so nice seeing you out!  Fred is so happy!

Sid and Jean grace our session each time they make it out!  Thanks for coming!

As dispatcher, I've got my ducks in a row.  These are the trains which will run from the east.

These are the trains originating in the west.

Our Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard trains.

Robin wears the new OVGRS shirt proudly as Steve looks on from behind!  Looks good on ya, Robin!

Once again, Pete has the bell ringing honours as our visitor.  He drives back to Wolfville, Nova Scotia this week.

Paul and Fred cover their lists.

Bell ringing video sound and sight clips!

Chris, Robin, Pete and Marcel relax after setting out the equipment.

Jean, Paul and Fred...not quite Peter, Paul and Mary!

"I'd like to talk to management!  Is it you who runs the show?"

Just teasing with ya, Moe!

Oh, oh!  Here's trouble!

Henk is the money man!

Cookie!  Who's the Cookie Monster?

Chris basks in the sun...

...as does his crew mate, Paul.

The crew aboard 304.

Speaking of trouble...naw...he's trouble's sidekick!  Hehehe!

Passenger 32, our first train out in the morning.

Marcel's locomotive stands in proudly.

She's a-shining in the daylight along "The Ledges".

Lovely dome car.

The tail end.

Passenger 32 poses for the video man.

The next handful of pictures come from Bernie along with the captions from him as well.

Early morning at the Craig Leigh passenger terminal.

Craig Leigh switcher pushes passenger 32 into the station while the engineer wyes his locomotive for the departing passenger 33.

Three trains in Ironwood. Train 313 with Chris and Paul, are waiting to switch Ironwood, but are sandwiched between the ore train and passenger 33. Bob and Andrew are trying to clear the switches with a stubborn locomotive as Marcel waits patiently with passenger 33. 

Looks like trouble at Bell!

A closer look finds Steve and Pat Brewer rerailing some gondolas on the ground as Seanna looks on. 

Bill doing some pole dancing at Nelson Yard. Bill would like the Wednesday crew to relocate the umbrella as it impedes access to the switches.  

Mecca is to the right! Fred repairing a choke cable at Spruce.

Henk relaxing at Nelson Yard. 

Andrew taking a close look at Bob’s automatic uncoupler on his caboose. 

With the caboose uncoupled, Bob proceeds to move the empty ore hoppers onto the ore dock.

Andrew watches as Bob’s F-unit pulls the first set of ore cars from the Northland ore dock.

Bob has backed onto the second set of ore cars and the train is ready to depart Northland.

Fred pays a visit to Craig Leigh as Chris and Paul wye their locomotive before picking up their outbound train 313.  

Chris doing his paper work as Paul continues to wye the locomotive.

Marcel poses at a full Craig Leigh passenger terminal.  

Marcel’s E8 has moved the headend equipment from passenger 33 onto the HE track. The Craig Leigh yardmaster has pulled five boxcars from Scobies to allow access to Brunt Malting and Milling.  

Pat and Pete have arrived at Douglas Yard with 312. Pete uncouples the locomotive and they will then pick up train 321 to complete their 3^rd run. 

Thanks Bernie for all those great looking pics and captions!

Our RP&M crew works the western front at Nelson Yard.

The crew is busy blocking traffic in the big yard and the mainline here acts as the yard lead.

Some video of RP&M routines.

To engage the video click on the white arrow two times.

Peering through the recently cleaned glass in my dispatch hut I spot Trains 303 and 304 being assembled in Glen Hammond.

Bill uses my D&H locomotive to handle the traffic to the east of Nelson Yard.

Here's Bill.

Train 304 leans into the curve at Lilly.

Some interesting lading carefully tied down.

Chris brings 304 into Blockhouse and enjoys the shade provided by the newly installed umbrella in this location.

Train 304 as seen on video early in the session.

Train 32 meets 301 in Ironwood while 304 waits at Spruce for clearance into this same location.

302's power pulls ahead on the eastern yard lead at Bell.

Pete verifies his set-outs and lifts at this location.

303 is freshly out from Glen Hammond and has taken the junction crossing.

The Fred Mills car which celebrated his 80th birthday last year!

Righthand running through Mercer Siding, 304's crew have their sights on Peter's Pond.

Video capture of 404 through the junction.

Paul waits patiently at Spruce for the crew which had just arrived Ironwood.  His wait will be a long one as the other crew has only begun its work.

RP&M Train Rat 62 heads toward Rat Portage and holds to the south.  Steve and Robin chat about the day's activities.

RP&M Train 61 is nearing completion of its work in Rat and then will commence on the journey up to Bell.

Our affable Firgrove Yardmaster, George, handles cars in Ralph Yard.

The sun highlights the colourful cars here.

301's power was spotted earlier in Mount St. Helens.

The crew is in the process of running around its train.

Lawrence and Moe crew 301 and enjoy the dappled shade.

Some video efforts covering their work.

Lawrence has installed some working ditch lights on his road switcher.

Working the siding in the Mount.

Mount St. Helens video work.

Passenger 32 is spotted downgrade at Watkins Siding slowing for a station stop at Wellington Lake.

That lovely dome car again.

A look back at 302 in Bell.

The ore train has made an appearance.

The Santa Fe unit drifts slowly by the station.

We've captured all that on video!

Paul is all smiles as he relaxes while being held in Spruce.

304 arrives Peter's Pond with Sid looking on as Pat and Pete discuss their moves.

They were six cars out from Wellington Lake.

The new cooperage!  Thanks Lawrence!

Seanna is all smiles as she runs up the Cedar Rock Branch while Marcel has arrived the station track in the Pond.

Steve follows Seanna up the branch while Marcel has been cleared to Glen Hammond.

Peter's Pond as captured on video tape.

Craig Leigh is dappled in the shade.

Marcel and Bernie enjoy a laugh or two.

Pool Train 33 is being assembled.

The ore cars feel very much at home on the Northland Ore Dock.

Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

A view from Len and Nancy's doorstep!

We head over to the far end of the property and find Pat in Rat!

Love the lightning stripe scheme on the NYCentral switcher.

Looks good, Pat!

The Hamer Manufacturing facility holds a single CP Rail car.

Pat pulls ahead of the station...

...and ducks into the tunnel.

Some video work down in Rat Portage.

Handyman Fred works on the turnout to the east of Spruce.

We've managed to thread the ore train through.

The western end of Ironwood.

Moe examines the happenings in Ironwood while Paul and Chris work Spruce in behind.

I'm the dispatcher.  Me bad!

I should've choreographed this meet in advance having the two other trains keep the station track clear even though the ore train requires it to make its moves at Ironwood Brick.

Having the passenger train take the farthest track from the station is a no-no in my books.  I'll do better next time!

Chris, Marcel and Andrew follow the proceedings.

Video work of the action.

The crew of 304 from Spruce arrive Ironwood...

...for a meet with 301.

With 304 in the clear, 301 can head out onto the main.

Lawrence's B&O RS3 does the heavy work here.

Taking the curve.

Video of the action.

It's relaxation time in Nelson Yard, skipper Henk tells us.

303's crew is found in Bell...

...along with Pat aboard Train 61.  He will depart Bell as Train 72.

Donald instructs the Watsons as to their next few moves!

Earlier, the ore train snaked through Spruce.

The waiting room at Spruce is occupied.

302 reaches Mercer Siding.

Love that stealth unit up front!

Hey...where did the signal go?!

Video review.

The crew of the ore train handles the switching chores on their own.

Our E-unit seems to have lost it train! Yikes!

An aerial shot.

Here comes that strange triple meet!

One of our RP&M trains returns to Nelson Yard.

Taking the crossing.

Love that Western Pacific 40 footer!

Hot on its heels is 302, having been cleared into Nelson Yard from Mercer.

The lads in Nelson will have tracks cleared for the two trains.

Love those tanker cars.

Junction video.

Cedar Rock is busy yet again!

A look at Ironwood, Spruce and Cedar Rock!

Sittin' on the job!

Aha, they're back at work...but what's so funny!

A lovely diesel, I say!

A busy place.

Some video fun!

I capture Bernie capturing the action!

302 continues its work up the branch.

Marcel guides the passenger train out from Spruce.

We did bring the station out!

302 in Cedar Rock.

Sid looks on under the cedars.

Another look at Craig Leigh from the neighbour's porch.

That's one good looking railroad I say!

Some more video!

Back in Nelson Yard we find a few crews hanging out.

Pete checks his list to verify all the cars are in order before departing with Train 312.

Over and under meet!

Pat videotapes his train through the trestle.

Looking good, Pat!

Lawrence looks on as Bill chats him up.

You've gotta love the appearance of a full yard!

George and Sid in Firgrove.

Another peek at Ralph Yard.

And...another glance at Cedar Rock and Spruce.

Moe investigates the surroundings in Peter's Pond...

...as Train 311 passes the cooperage.

Pete switches out 312 in Mount St. Helens.

Looking good lads.

A great crew...

...with great smiles!

Bob brings the ore train in on the siding as Train 41 required the station track.

Bernie is found deep into Craig Leigh.

Love that diesel, Bernie!

Switching out the tanker spur.

Now that looks delicious, Moe!

Paul is the chef's helper.

And...a great job they do!

Yes, yummy in my tummy, for sure!

Pat, Pete and Jean enjoy the lunchtime conversation.

The crew lounge table is a hot spot, for sure!

It's all smiles and laughter in the lounge!

A look from the porch.

Henk brought out the signal tower I built for him a couple of years ago.

Looks good there, Henk!

Me and the bridge!

Those magazine models showcasing the new shirts!

Well, Donald...what'd'ya think!  It was a pretty good session all around, wasn't it!

Brothers side by side.  Ted and Fred.

Thanks for checking in everyone and thanks to Fred for hosting!

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