Diesels Dare to Take on Steam
While steam locomotives held all the superlatives last week, they quietly gave way to the diesel for this week's session.
We all enjoy the colourful personalities of our steam brethren, but we also take delight in the colourful liveries of their diesel cousins.
I worked Nelson Yard and was unable to steal away from my post to snap tons of images, but I did manage to railfan a few trains that wheeled by in my vicinity.
"Hear no evil!" the lads are communicating ever so silently!
Bernie thinks to himself, "Geez...what does a guy gotta do to grab the attention of these characters?"
They must be saying their prayers to the Lord above.
Or maybe they're searching the skies for the contraption that was making all that noise and interrupting our pre-ops briefing!
Fred tells the lads sitting in the penalty box to listen up!
And...just like a classroom of children...a few do! Hehehe!
Now Bernie's got their attention.
He explains how Craig Leigh will work on this day given the smaller number of participants due to two other major railroad events happening in the city at the same time!
Diesel days mean standard gauge rolling stock abounds around the system.
This lovely specimen's load was created by our great friend Lawrence Watkins.
I arrived early to the property to set out the cars in Nelson Yard. The colour coded chips indicate specific trains for each car. As I go about setting out the cars, I ensure the "deck is shuffled" in order for me to have to classify the trains with my locomotive.
My fellow Nelson Yard Master from the previous week's operations, Mr. Bill Sn3 Scobie wearing another great shirt showcasing some narrow gauge operations.
Bill ran 301 on this day and I handled the big yard on my own. I sure missed him!
Bernie is all smiles as Doug explains a few things to Dilip in back.
Of course we were just teasing Bernie at the beginning of this entry. The lads and lasses always "clue in" when Bernie speaks his many words of wisdom!
Chris and his daughter, Olivia, enjoyed running the RP&M on this beautiful morning. Olivia has a passion for teaching and she looks forward to her upcoming assignment in a Grade Two class this coming fall.
You'll make a fabulous teacher, Olivia, and I know the students will love you!
Our very own Ironwood Road road switcher trundles across the Fred Mills Trestle heading towards Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond.
Pat is in care of one of our other RP&M trains on this day. As the Nelson Yard Master I am very appreciative of his efforts along with those of Chris and Olivia. We made for a great team, the four of us!
A few hours spent at the workbench was all that was required to "spruce up" the office/garage residing currently in "Spruce".
Bruce from the United States built this for Father Fred. I have one more task to undertake with this little puppy. That is to make the sign for it.
Here is an image of part of the facility you pass by every time you enter Fred's backyard.
To begin each session we always have two trains staged in Glen Hammond near the center of the railroad. They are trains 304 (eastbound) and 303 (westbound).
Bernie's TH&B Geep will take charge of 304.
Marcel's CN Geep will command 303.
Ihave run down to railfan in Rat Portage where Pat has arrived aboard RP&M Train 71.
He works the yard in Rat passing back and forth in front of the Hamer Manufacturing facility...another wonderful structure built by Lawrence.
Olivia and Chris get underway with RP&M Train Rat 62 at the western side of Nelson Yard.
Note the green chips on top of the cars. This is the Nelson Yardmaster's method of tracking all cars as to their destined trains. All outgoing cars have been classified for the train. Chris will remove the chips as his consist passes by.
I have colour coded the sheets provided by Train Master Steve as to which trains each car will find as a home. The colour coding offers "quick and easy reference" for me as the yard master and it only took a couple of minutes to colour the sheet appropriately.
This list provided by the train master indicates the cars for the specific "departing" trains.
There are eight cars coloured green so Chris and Olivia will have eight cars on their RP&M train as they leave the yard for Anderson and points further along RP&M rails.
Chris has already lifted the green chips as Olivia backs their consist onto their transfer van.
On the hitch!
Some video footage of them gathering their train.
And...mere moments earlier their power pulled the string of cars from the specified siding.
On the roll.
Olivia has everything in perfect control.
This image reminds me of the Chris DeBurgh song, "The Lady in Red".
Let's re-title it to read, "The Freight Cars in Red!"
Earlier video footage from Nelson Yard.
Our railroad's road switcher rides atop the Lawrence Watkins Trestle.
Pat has lifted some cars from Lilly which will be run on the RP&M line.
Pat's efforts on video.
Engine 1701 has arrived Firgrove with Train 303. The crew has turned the diesel and they are in the process of building their next train, outgoing 314. They are found in Ralph Yard at the moment.
Marcel commands this train...
...along with Dilip at the throttle.
With no yard master on duty as mentioned before, the crew makes up their train in the dappled shade of Ralph Yard.
Let's check out the video of their moves.
Not far away in real estate but very far away in geography we find Pat working the sidings down in Rat Portage.
Being both brakeman and engineer, Pat is kept rather busy!
The switching presents no problems for him.
Our dutiful road switcher is more than enough power to handle the work on our secondary line.
Rat Portage video efforts.
314 is underway having been cleared down to Bell.
CN and Grand Trunk go together well!
The sidings in the town of Stuart are choc-a-bloc full at the moment. Hopefully the number of setouts will equal or be less than the number of lifts! Big smile!
Our RP&M power on the RP&M Bell Turn.
Olivia and Chris have all things under control as they work the interchange track at Bell as dispatcher Doug looks on from a distance.
We were thrilled to see Paul make it out for the operations. So great to see you, Paul!
Train 302 steps out onto the pedestrian crossing in Peter's Pond as Malcolm works the siding here. He is eastbound and will arrive Nelson Yard in short order.
A trio of cars hang out on the Cedar Rock siding down in Peter's Pond.
311 approaches this railfan heading west towards Bell at Watkins Siding.
Nice looking diesel, Moe!
Footage of video at Watkins Siding.
We catch up with 302 having departed Peter's Pond and having been cleared into Nelson Yard.
The train is passing through the junction toward the pre-arranged alley the Nelson Yardmaster has made available in the big yard.
Junction video footage.
I will share more images and videos from the session in a later blog entry.
But for now...let's visit another railroad on which I worked the following day. I made my way over to Professor David Gardner's home to put more effort into scenicking his HO scale layout. I have already built numerous structures for the railroad.
Hundreds of trees in a variety of green tones including some dead trees have taken over the massive corner mountain. It was quite the chore for little ole me to reach up to the top to plant the trees!
Some of David's British passenger cars with lighting on the dining tables.
Wonderful isn't it where the hobby has taken us - interior lighting and detailing that appears so realistic!
David enjoys the look of a long line of billboard reefers and this train does not disappoint.
The unit train traverses the gorgeous viaduct Carl Lindon had built.
HO scale video action.
This lovely CN steam locomotive came from the Loblaw's President's Choice Christmas train offering many years ago.
She actually runs like a charm on this DCC layout!
This image proves that not all reefers are yellow or orange!
Viaduct video!
Still more non-yellow or orange reefers!
The lower level brings trains into the town of Thornton. The depot was a joy to build. It was constructed out of resin and plaster.
Video of trains travelling on two levels simultaneously.
Now, let's check out some scenes from the Arnprior Train Show as sent my way from our good friend, John Soehner.
John wrote,
"Dave Moat joined me for the run to Arnprior to set up Route87 Modules for the
weekend show. Nice to get in early as temperatures were headed for 31 - 32 C by
the early afternoon. We set up the modules, connected the DCC and made sure
that at least an engine could run the full length of the 6 modules that were on
display."
An overall view of the modules John and friends brought out.
Vehicles are John's passion!
John continues,
"David’s Bullnose Livestock Schooner, his Mack with a MiniMetals Mid-State off
the bridge, the MiniMetal Purina Pervayer. AllStuck Solidly in the 1959 on this
module!"
"While I was busy getting the DCC connected David had placed numerous small
vehicles along Route 87 and checks to ensure no accidents to that time. So
below is the “1959” module with mainly Sylvan models tying up the traffic! A
mixture of David’s Sylvans and some of mine."
The show is well underway in this image!
John and David...all smiles!
Set up time!
"David had a few THB & CNR cars for the display as well his fine collection of Sylvan vehicles to add to the “1959” module where we both set out numerous “Clare” projects!
We returned to Arnprior Saturday morning before the show opened to set the scenes and create “the usual traffic jams” on the modules."
Hey, we recognize these two characters!
Mike's neighbour, Richard Thornton, is cleaning track on the NTRAK modules..
Smiles abound!
Lots of railroad groups have set up in the arena!
Hey, there's our very own Steve with the large scale layout which George and Len run with him!
David Moat oversees the action.
He takes queries from the visiting public.
Fred, David and John!
Hey, who's that handsome lad in the middle?
Why, it's our very own Bernie sandwiched between Fred and David!
These next series of images were snipped from video our very own Bob took at the Arnprior Train Show.
A lovely British layout.
Some fine scale modelling.
Ottawa's "Dirty Thirty" On30 modular setup.
Fabulous scenes.
A Heisler!
I love lighthouses and this one does not disappoint!
A lovely cove.
Phenomenal modelling.
Love that tug!
And...the spectacular crane. If I am not mistaken I believe that this is the work of Bruce Leckie.
More images of the Dirty Thirty modules.
Nice passenger coaches.
The vehicles tell me we are back with John Soehner and David Moat.
Great home-made decals.
Wonderful scenes!
Tractors anyone!
I'll eat lunch there.
Let's shrink in size shall we!
You certainly can run lengthy unit trains in N-Scale!
"Ore Train Bob" snapped video of - an ore train.
Quite the long drag!
Through spectacular scenery!
I believe this is T-Trak. Such a winter wonderland!
Trains running in opposing directions along the double mainline.
Ontario Northland.
Canadian Pacific.
Hey! A large scale CN locomotive for sale!
Copy and paste the link below into your computer's browser to view Bob's video of the Arnprior Train Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H57pTiBOMMU
"Check in soon when Mike will post another entry from our most recent operating session," Gerry tells us.
On behalf of Father Fred I would like to thank you for taking the time to check in on our train running escapades.
Indeed, Fred enjoys the camaraderie found in his backyard as much as we all do!
All the best, Mike and the entire OVGRS gathering.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment