Nelson Yard Happenings
Session #3 Review
Our third session of the season saw steam locomotives plying the hot iron of the IPP&W and RP&M lines.
Images and videos from this session have already been shared in the congratulatory entry for our good friend, Bernie.
What follows are more pics and vids from a fine morning of train running.
A true railfan hotspot in the province of Ontario is Nelson Yard on the IPP&W railway. 👍
If action is what you are after, simply drive over to this "Spot in Nepean - where trains'll be what y'er seein'"
With the morning rush hour done, the big yard settles into a short lull before the arrival of trains 301 and 302 which will depart as 311 and 312.
Six locomotives are spotted in this scene. Can you find them all?
Mike and Paul have their coloured chips safely organized to the left beside Mike's steamer.
311 is underway and Mike will pick up the coloured chips as the train rolls by.
Nelson Yard on video.
While the Nelson Yard crew gets back to work, the passenger run enters its territory.
Alas, Pat and Marcel will bypass the big yard and head into Glen Hammond on the outer bypass track.
While off in the distance we spot the ore train holding at Mercer while one of its engines has gone rogue. We also view the recently departed Train 311 meeting the ore train on its travels to Peter's Pond and further points west.
Marcel guides his train into Glenn Hammond.
Marcel is a funny guy teasing yardmaster Mike (and Henk indirectly) in this video footage.
Moments earlier we find Rat 61 on final approach to Nelson Yard.
The tail end clears the junction.
Pat's locomotive holds the honours on 61 this morning.
Mike guides the train in on one of the lower tracks.
Continued video scenes from Nelson Yard.
Earlier still, we find Train 301 with helper service targeting a free alleyway into Nelson Yard.
The engine passes a trio of yellow reefers with a fourth appearing off in the distance at Glen Hammond.
Steam meets steam!
Continued video coverage in and around the big yard.
We appreciate the Fred Mills Trestle as a great railfanning spot just to the east of Nelson Yard.
Pushing from the rear, Ralph follows the guidance of Grant in the lead locomotive.
Bob observes the runby as Grant slows on entry to the yard throat.
Paul has lined the crew into the yard.
Still more video activity leading into Nelson Yard.
Note the communication between Grant and Ralph in their respective locomotives.
Then...302 makes an appearance but the two yard masters have ensured sufficient openings for the entry of all trains.
With the arrival/departure track taken up by the ore train as well as an inner track, 302 is cleared in on the green track.
Felicity commandeers the incoming train while Chris investigates a tender issue.
Train 302 shares the video spotlight!
With each incoming train, yardmasters Paul and Mike are given traffic for future trains on future tricks.
As the passenger train takes the Glen Hammond runby, Paul begins assembling traffic for third trick trains.
As we give a wave to the pool train let's consider what happens in Nelson Yard. At the top of the session, the yardmasters first assemble their two RP&M trains as those trains must depart immediately.
With the RP&M crews gone off to the country, the two yardmasters then assemble the two second trick IPP&W trains, numbers 311 and 312 as well as the next RP&M run out from Nelson Yard. Once 301 and 302 have arrived and departed as 311 and 312, the yard crews can then begin building third trick trains. They will also use traffic from returning RP&M runs to finalize the third trick consists. Loads of action and tons of fun!
Much later in the game, Rat 61 returns.
Malcolm and Pat roll past the small engine house.
Malcolm assists with guidance into the yard.
Still more trains are on the move in Nelson Yard late in the session.
Train 322 arrives home - or near home at Nelson Yard as there was a free alley for him. 322 typically terminates in the Glen.
No worries, though as we are now at the end of the session and the lads will know to place those cars in a tray labelled Glen Hammond.
Video evidence of 322's arrival.
For a more idyllic view of things, simply meander over to Peter's Pond where you may find a crew drilling the sidings in the lower area of town.
As is the case here. Cars are being spotted at the team track as well as Norton's Fishery.
Two opposing trains are spotted in town at the moment...a lovely meet!
The Prince Edward Island Railway has loaned one of its finest locomotives to the roster of the IPP&W for the summer months. She is eastbound (pointing geographical west) leading Train 302.
303 shares the town with 302 at the moment.
Nova Scotian "Saxophone Pete" handles the facing sidings aboard 303. When his loco clears the interchange with the Cedar Rock Branch (seen behind Pete's left leg) the crew of 302 will proceed up the lengthy branch to deal with traffic up in Cedar Rock.
This railfan pivots on his feet to capture a lovely image of the Craig Leigh terminal basking in the dappled morning shade.
C&S #6 makes easy work of the climb out from St. Helens.
The crew takes the lower leg of the wye.
Passing the sand house.
Marcel pulls to a stop beside the engine house. The crew will then trade out its power for the run on the Pool Train.
Video review of the ascent of Passenger 2 into Craig Leigh.
Down at lower elevations we find the ore train starting out from Peter's Pond bound for Mercer Siding.
The tail end of the ore haul. It's a short train at this time!
We follow the ore train's progress through Mike's video lens.
We find Pat and Malcolm down in Rat Portage.
They are working the yard tracks from the tail end of their train.
Pat's locomotive handles the moves nicely.
It's a "back and forth" procedure.
Rat Portage video events.
Malcolm and Pat have completed their efforts in Rat Portage aboard Train 61 aka "Rat 61" and have reached the junction area.
They have successfully split their train as they deal with the trailing sidings at Anderson.
Pool Train 33 makes an appearance taking on the challenge of the uphill grade into Lilly from Blockhouse. It's most recent station stop was at Spruce and the crew is destined for Glen Hammond.
Across the aisle walkway from where Pat and Malcolm were located we find a train taking on the big bend at Lilly.
This is IPP&W Train 321 finishing up its duties near the end of the morning's session.
Chris and Felicity will reach Glen Hammond in mere moments having completed all three tricks.
Third trick video work!
The conversation Malcolm and I were having was in regard to a recent street protest near where Malcolm lives.
Far away in a land rarely visited we find George working Ralph Yard at Firgrove.
The "master" yard master, George keeps the yard neat and tidy and in tiptop shape with his sidekick, Len, who was off duty on this day. In back we notice Bob and Gerry turning their locomotive for another run along the system with the ore train.
Heading back to Peter's Pond we find this lovely 40' specimen in wonderful livery at the former Delta Barrels facility, now renamed Brewer's Barrels.
Pat Brewer is one of the railroads dedicated "Workday Wednesday" crewmates who toils in a humble manner in the background with necessary assignments which help keep the trains atop the rails throughout our sessions.
Another distant glance at the passenger terminal.
Indeed there is much variety in this equipment as well!
An eastbound train reaches the pedestrian crossing below as two cars are classified above at the eastern entrance to Nelson Yard.
Mike and Paul, like George in Firgrove and Bernie in Craig Leigh, have all train consists made up and ready to depart!
Two reefers found at Bell sporting quieter colour tones.
Now that bright yellow UP reefer tells of a different story!
Malcolm and Pat have arrived Bell on their second trick of the morning, the Nelson Yard-Bell Turn known as Train 73-74. With setouts made 73 terminates. The crew then turns their locomotive and will lift cars to run back to the main yard area with Train 74.
At a later time we catch 311 hauling out from Bell.
In keeping with the schedule, the crew will make Firgrove in good time.
Grant's engine cleans and polishes the rails in care of 311.
This lovely loco assists with a shove from the rear!
The video showcases how steam puts on a celebration of all things created in the good old days!
Our RP&M train held to the west of Bell for the passage of 311.
We view a dynamic interaction between the crews of both railroads.
Meets at this location are rarer now that crews can proceed into Bell with greater ease.
Our little helper engine keeps in time with its leader!
The tail end on RP&M iron.
Video reveal of the meet to the west of Bell.
Paul relaxes in the shade awaiting the arrival of two IPP&W crews as well as two RP&M ones and the ore train.
Two of the three trailing spurs up in Cedar Rock handle the crusher and the aggregates facility.
The stone yard shares territory with Brewer's Barrels as another train works the neighbourhood.
Incoming! This is a hot train...rolling through the yard with a mission to deposit MT's to the mines and to lift loads.
A glance across two yards reveals a third one at Bell. Our RP&M crew will share the locale with the arriving IPP&W team.
Ralph is in control of the helper engine aboard IPP&W Train 322...
...while Grant works the throttle of the lead locomotive.
The area may appear congested, but I prefer to refer to the scene as...
..."organized chaos". Rest assured, the railroad is in good hands under the guidance and supervision of out illustrious dispatcher, Mr. Bill 'Sn3' Scobie spotted in the second image above.
Yet another view of the Pond!
We are left wondering if this is the ball Canadian golfer Nick Taylor used for his 72' putt to win the playoff and take home the championship trophy at this year's Canadian Open?
We love steam...
...indeed we do!
This pair takes a breather in the lee of the Craig Leigh enginehouse.
The crew working the lower portion of Peter's Pond has drawn this railfan back to the area.
A look at the team track and the Norton Fishery stub-end spurs with the IPP&W train well protected on the siding.
Here we find a crew later working Cedar Rock.
The sludge works facility is in back nestled against the tracks near where the old pond used to exist.
312 has found St. Helens as the crew examines the identifying marks on the cars along the lengthy siding.
Chris and Felicity check their switch list to determine which cars are to be set out and which cars are to be lifted.
Robin and Pete are aboard Train 314 up at the end of the Cedar Rock Branch.
Ralph, Bill and Grant are down in the pond as Bernie glances over from his perch in Craig Leigh.
Seanna and Steve are returning to Nelson Yard with Train 313 (out of the picture) and will depart as the crew of 323 as they continue their westbound haul to Firgrove.
Paul looks out over the big yard past the Glen as he studies what is happening in Bell (out of the picture to the right).
This is what's happening in Bell!
I recognize this lovely engine as belonging to our good friend Pat.
Seeing as Pat works for the RP&M railway and seeing as his locomotive is facing west...all indicators point to the fact that his and Malcolm's train must be RP&M 74 ready to head back along Rat Portage & Mattawa rails to Nelson Yard and the Glen.
She's a real looker, Pat!
311 drifts by on the main.
Here's an image I shared in an earlier blog entry of this lovely Drovers' Caboose on the RP&M.
She has a colourful personality, that's for sure!
Speaking of colourful personalities...check out this assembly of reefers at Brunts Brewery and on the Interchange track!
The RP&M crew deals with the trailing industry at Brunts before getting underway back east.
The entrance to Firgrove partakes in some action with the ore train.
In the distance at the far end of town Marcel turns his power on the passenger runs.
A quick gander in Ralph Yard finds two gondolas of differing designs.
C&S #6 ambles off the turntable and prepares for yet another run, this time back east.
Depending on the direction of this crew's locomotives, they are either on second trick Train 311 or their third run of the day aboard 322.
Colourful characters on the team track in Spruce.
And...a colourful character from Nova Scotia now in Cedar Rock! The direction his locomotive is pointing while in Cedar Rock tells me he is an eastbound train having departed Firgrove for Nelson Yard, therefore Pete must be working Train 314.
Drilling the aggregates siding with the crusher in behind.
Hard at work!
Aha! Their locomotive is heading east (geographical west) so this must be the crew of Train 322. They are on their third trick of the morning running from Firgrove to Glen Hammond.
Down in Peter's Pond we spot their power sandwiched between a 40 footer and their caboose.
Drilling the location of the Norton Fishery and the Team Track.
Fred's garage/office makes an appearance in Spruce.
Doug and Dilip have worked the RP&M NY-Bell Turn and are preparing to head back to cottage country with Rat 63.
They are assessing their moves in the Glen before departure.
In the distance, Steve and Seanna have found Bell aboard IPP&W 323.
Dilip is a happy camper as he will be visiting Rat Portage deep in the Lake of the Woods district!
It's a hive of activity around the Pond!
Ralph and Grant review the throttle commands as Steve walks this way in the distance.
Marcel and Paul are either talking about trains, motorcycles...or how great the OVGRS family is!
Another colourful specimen spotted in Ralph yard.
Ditto for this lad!
Train 50 makes its hop down to Bell from Firgrove.
Paul waits it out in the shade as there happens to be a momentary lull in the action at Nelson Yard.
Lovely colour tones on this locomotive.
Brethren...side by side!
A head-on shot.
Gerry had a ball running ore cars with the famous "Ore Train Bob" on this day! 😎
Indeed, Gerry is focused as he controls one of the two locomotives with Skipper Bob at the helm of the other.
They handle their train with acumen...no slippages or bunching up!
Great job lads!
Unit trains are favourites to many a railfan and this one does not disappoint!
With the tail end in view we send in our final video segment in the image below.
Our final video segment offers up a wonderful glimpse of the ore train in all its glory...if ore can be consider so highly!
Marcel prepares lunch for the assembled crowd.
Yum-yum!!!
Yup, this baby can handle any luncheon job the railroad throws its way!
Eager eaters!
The "Fab Four" keeps on reappearing even though the last group record they recorded was back in 69!
Man...the penalty box fills up rather quickly!
While Fred entertains Felicity, Bill is checking out something in the distance.
And we check out Bill's Kiwi shirt!
And...we check out the many himself!
The crew lounge is full on this day!
And, with Marcel's great cooking...so are all the tummies of the assembled crowd
Hey Fred....Felicity truly enjoys train running on the narrow gauge days!
It was great having you out, Felicity!
Take care everyone and we'll join everyone at our next ops session!
Mike and the OVGRS gathering...Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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