Session #2 Second Section

 Session #2 Second Section

Our second section of our second session showcases the standard gauge activities that took place on June 3rd of this season.

You will recall that we had a skeleton crew operating due to a host of other train related activities taking place in the region on that day.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog entry as much as I enjoyed creating it!

It can't be argued that the largest generator of traffic on the system is good old Nelson Yard.

Keep traffic flowing is a constant job for the Nelson Yard crew and the D&H GP38-2 in the distance is hard at it.

Why the pencil crayons, Mike?

Aha!  A rather simple and quick reference method of tracking the trains each car goes out on is employed using colour coding.

Likewise, train consists are colour coded.

The chips indicate which train each car is destined for and we always scatter the cars throughout the yard before the session begins rather than simply placing the cars by hand into their designated blocks.  This means the crew must use their locomotive to do the job.

The Nelson Yard crew from session #1, Bill and Mike...with Mike handling the chores for session #2.  Dispatcher Doug has offered some sage advice to get the two RP&M trains classified initially as they go out right away.  The IPP&W trains that require work go out later in the morning as 311 and 312 following the arrival of 301 and 302.

The spare track at Bellamy has been granted to the Nelson Yardmaster as a western yard lead and it sure comes in handy when switching with crews working in the general vicinity.

I am able to drill Nelson Yard while Chris and Olivia work the sidings at Anderson.

Western throat video at Nelson.

Our Rat Portage and Mattawa road unit burbles and throttles around the tunnel entrance.

Pat's "long arm of the law" reaches down to throw a turnout as he continues with his efforts in Rat Portage.

RP&M video reels showcase Pat in Rat!

Spruce Depot and Fred's Garage/Office!

Chandler's Sludge up in Cedar Rock.

Aha...the lads are behaving themselves!

Oh no...not again!

Bernie and Gerry are shrouded in a smoky fog from the fires or is that simply the sun's rays playing havoc with the image...I believe the latter on this morning.

We catch up with this pairing later in the morning on their second trick of the day, Train 313, seen arriving the Mount.

Here are the lads!

Mount St. Helens video thoughts.

Dilip and Marcel will work Glen Hammond before taking 303 westward bound.

They have arrived Firgrove with 303 and will make up their outgoing eastward consist in Ralph Yard.  Their new train number will be 314.

One shady character and one sunny one!  Hehehe!  Just kidding lads!

Marcel's power for 314 travails in Ralph Yard.

Across the aisleway Pat has his RP&M train 71-72 passing by the station in Rat Portage.

Indeed, Pat is in Rat!

Lots of work must be completed in Rat Portage before Pat makes the trek up to Bell.

Bernie and Gerry are now aboard Train 313 out from Craig Leigh and bound for Mount St. Helens.

Marcel and Dilip are underway on their second trick of the AM hours aboard 314 spotted downgrade at "The Ledges".

Moe knows what to wear to protect himself from the sunny elements!

Way down in Peter's Pond, Malcolm has arrived with 302.

Lots of new sidings have gone in to the lower area of Peter's Pond in recent times.

Malcolm's engine is spotted later at the other end of the pond.

Let's take another look at 313 with that gorgeous TH&B Geep leading.

It's long hood forward for the crew.

And...here's an overall look at Mount St. Helens from a distance.

There always seems to be cars in abundance whenever this railfan checks in on this area!

A view of the small freight shed in Cedar Rock dwarfed by the 40-footers!

Two Canadian cars reside there as this photo was being shot.

Chandler's Sludge...yet another great looking structure created by our good friend, Bruce!

The sidings in Spruce.

Our roving videographer locates 312 about to depart out from Nelson Yard.

It's a real shorty on this run for Malcolm's second trick of the day!

Video action from Mike's camera.

312 has reached Lilly and has successfully navigated the big bend.

A "going away" shot of Malcolm's diesel "Big Blue".

Passing the rockery.

Following Conrail on video.

Dilip works his train along one of the many tracks in Nelson Yard.

Mike D&H loco idles away as crews are directed by the yard master.

Two CN colour schemes in one image!

Video efforts in Nelson Yard.

Olivia and Chris have made it back to Nelson Yard as they round the bend in behind the Fallentree Mine.

Our TH&B diesel is guided down a clear alley among many full ones.

Love that TH&B 40 footer!

Many Canadian road names are evident in this image...four in fact!

More video action in and around Nelson Yard.

Skipper Bill takes a breather in the shade of the old dispatch hut!

There's brakeman/conductor Chris now.

Olivia guides the train onto another cut of cars in order to work Lilly.

Here's Paul of the Norton clan!

Mackenzie Lumber in Lilly sees two spots at the big green barn.

We glance across Lilly to find Pat, Chris and Olivia hard at work dealing with their respective train orders.

Dispatcher Doug coaches new recruit Dilip in reference to the Train Master's role in putting together the session using the RailOps program.  

Judging by the success of our recent operations Dilip is already a pro!

Bernie and Gerry follow a chipmunk along the tracks in Peter's Pond...or maybe they are simply looking ahead through the window of that gorgeous TH&B Geep!

It would appear the latter statement is fact!

Drilling the Cedar Rock siding.

A threesome of cars as set out at Mackenzie Lumber in Spruce.  Yes Mackenzie Lumber is like a franchise on the railroad.

Another glimpse at two cool looking structures.

The combination of the rockery, the hostas and other foliage along with the manmade objects of track and structure make for a striking pose!

Lovely!

I think I'll just pull up one of those Muskoka chairs on the platform and watch the train action pass me by on this beautiful spring morning!

Cedar Rock action.

This fellow is a bit far from home!

Cote Bottling named after Moe.

We find ourselves down in Rat Portage.

Olivia and Chris take the siding.

We enjoy the paint job and weathering Chris accomplished on his CN Geep.

Firgrove finds a few cars hanging about the siding tracks.

Yellow and black.

Gerry, Bill and Bernie.

Ditto!

Hi Tom!

This is an image from many years back which Paul shared with me of the late Ralph Dipple working away in Fred's garage/office where a number of the crew met throughout the winter to work on railroad projects in preparation for warmer weather train running.

Fred is always a happy camper!

And why not!  The railroad ran like a charm even if we had a skeleton crew for our second operations of the season!

Thanks for checking in on the action.  There will be more to come later in the week from our following session!

All the best, the OVGRS full family

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada