Pat's Pics From Session #17

Pat's Eyes On Operation From Session #17

Pat has sent along a whole host of images for our enjoyment.

They were taken at our most recent operating session.

Pat also wrote all captions.  Thanks so much, Pat!  Greatly appreciated!

Steve was explaining to Robin the work required to repair the locomotive that Steve is using to pull the passenger train out of Firgrove.

A beautiful looking passenger train waiting to depart Firgrove. You can also see train 302 that Robin and I will be running today. 

Some of the crew gathering for pre-ops meeting.

Also at the pre-ops meeting Mike is speaking to Bernie's recommendations on switching at Mt. St-Helen's.

My Annie locomotive returning from switching Dutchman's Stores at the east end of Bell. 

Robin is all smiles as we continue to switch at Bell. 

Things are as busy as usual at Nelson Yard. It looks like some trains have left the yard and Ralph is building another train as Mike and Gerry look on. I assume it's their train. We also see Steve and Seanna working Glen Hammond.

Moe is working at the junction between the IPP&W and RP&M railways. In the distance we can see George working alone today at Firgrove. His trusty partner Len could not make it this week.

After leaving part of our train on the turntable track at Bell for the time being, Robin and I start our work at the Interchange tracks.

Moe keeping a close eye on his train as it proceeds to Rat Portage. 

Mike monitoring the situation at Nelson Yard.

302 has completed its work at Bell and is headed to Peter's Pond. 

I try to get a picture of the crew in the caboose of train 302 but they are all back in the van warming up as it is a cold October day on the rails. 

Supervisor Sid is keeping his hands warm with a coffee in hand. 

A couple of trains passing each other near Fallentree Mine just outside the eastern end of Nelson Yard.

An overhead view of the passing trains.

Two shots of Bernie re-railing his locomotive. A strong cool wind blew the station too close to the track (big grin) and the locomotive caught the corner of the building. 

Bernie...still saying his prayers!

Bill and Grant attend to another derailment at Watkins. 

This image was sent by Bernie in his earlier compilation of images, but could not be opened at the time...thus its appearance in Pat's grouping of images.

Bill and Grant are working Peter's Pond.

 It seems train 302 was too shy to come into Peter's Pond so I backed up the locomotive to reconnect as Robin convinced it that all was safe.

Train 302 meets Bill and Grant already working in Peter's Pond on train 303. 

Another view of train 302 in the north siding at Peter's Pond while Bill and Grant, each with their own locomotive, continue to switch train 303. 

While waiting for 303 to finish its work at the pond, I take a couple of pictures of the passenger train making its way from Spruce to Ironwood

In the second picture we can see a way freight making its way up the hill and passing Clarke's Gable.

Train 303 leaving Peter's Pond with Grant's loco as a pusher.

Now Robin and I start our ascent into Cedarock. 

Sid is keeping a close eye on our activities.

Switching Cedarock Crusher.

Pulling cars out of the building at the crusher.

As we bring the car back to the crusher that we didn't need, you get a good view of Spruce and Ironwood in the distance.

We descend from the rock to rebuild our train and move on to Nelson Yard.

Rebuilding our train at the pond.

After the pool train passes Blockhouse, you can see Lawrence's special camera train (which was tucked into Blockhouse track) heading towards the crossing before ascending to Spruce.

A view of the pool train with another one of Steve's locomotives

Jumping ahead to the end of our day as train 321 enters Glen Hammond.

Bernie and Gerry wait anxiously to put our cars away in order to get on with lunch.

Speaking of lunch, here's our friend Marcel waiting for the BBQ to warm up while waving bye to us. He is the wise one heading south for the winter. You will me missed Marcel!

Today was our final official "Workday Wednesday" of the season which helps to prepare for the upcoming Saturday session.

Our only other working Wednesday will be next week when we take down the canopy tarp and tuck all of the structures into bed...weather permitting.

Chris brought out a few more cowcatchers to show Fred.  Lovely work, Chris.

Garry and Lawrence enjoy a conversation as Lawrence tells some stories from his trip to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Chris chats with Fred across the table.

There's Fred!

There really wasn't much maintenance to get done so I swept up all of the pine needles that had fallen in the past handful of days.

On Saturday morning before our ops session we will have to blow any needles that have accumulated atop the train tracks before starting the session and even before setting the cars out to their industries and sidings.

That's all the time I have for now...but Pat has sent along some images from George's session held last Sunday.  I will post them following my musical rehearsal later this evening.

Thanks again Pat for these wonderful images and great captions!  

Mike and his OVGRS appreciative colleagues, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada