2023 Season In Review Part One

2023 Season in Review - Part One

In Part One of this review blog entry we will look at a handful of images and videos from the first two sessions of our season.

Spring is in the air the the foliage trackside is verdant in nature.

One narrow gauge and one standard gauge session will be shown.

Quite the variety of varnish offers a hint the first session was of the narrow gauge choice.  We are running on May 27th - my birthday!  Yabba dabba doo!  😎😍😃

Our RP&M crew have arrived Stuart and work the newly named town.

Pete is up from Nova Scotia for a visit as he finds joy running 302 with Pat.  They have arrived Craig Leigh with 312 and will be departing town with Train 321.

The friendly ambience in Craig Leigh has lured Father Fred over to the shade on this fine morning as Skipper Sid looks on from behind the Northland Ore Dock.

Dilip and Moe are spotted hanging out around Spruce even though they crew different trains on this day.

We take a look at the office/garage structure which visitors pass by on their way into the backyard.

Nelson Yard is busy with traffic but vacant of operators.  It must be pre-ops meeting time!

Neil and Dilip crew 304 out from Glen Hammond - now arriving Craig Leigh.

Moe and Gerry will run 303 out from the Glen in the early morning sunshine.

RP&M crews work Lilly before departing over to Rat Portage and Stuart.

I believe Steve brought this puppy out to run along RP&M rails as Bill and I man Nelson Yard on this day.

Video taken at the western throat of Nelson Yard.

A highly active area for Session #1 is the pedestrian crossing which was renewed before the season began.

Pedestrian crossing video work.

Len's locomotive builds the passenger train at Firgrove.

Firgrove video work.

Doug has brought out this colourful puppy which is in charge of 301 at The Rockery.

Video from the Rockery.

Session #2 found us now in the month of June.  Chris and his daughter, Olivia, work the RP&M on this morning.

In a case of "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil" the lads have decided to do the former!

Now we understand why!  Just kidding ya, Bernie!  🙉🙈🙊

In Glen Hammond we spot Bernie's TH&B power on the ready track in preparation with the run of Train 304.  Gerry will be his crewmate on this day.

Pat Brennan is running our Ironwood Road switcher down in Rat Portage as the second RP&M crew.

Malcolm has reached the lower section of Peter's Pond where he handles the tail end of his train aboard 302.

Lilly is verdant in the spring with the low growth Lily of the Valley adding a great background to our railfan shots.

Train Master and Dispatcher, Doug, offers advice to our newest train master, Dilip.  We appreciate the work both of you do for us to allow us to enjoy successful sessions!

My Nelson Yard yardmaster mate, Bill.  Bill wonders where this Hamer lad has gotten to...traipsing all over the property to railfan for the blog!  He's a good lad - Bill, that is!  Hehehe!  😎😘😎

Fred enjoys a beverage in the morning's sunlight!

We find our RP&M crew about to depart Nelson Yard for Rat.  Note the coloured chips which will be removed from their consist upon exit from the yard.

Video of the westbound departure of Rat 61.

Pat works the sidings at Lilly before departing over on RP&M rails.

Video work at "The Gap".

Mike's CN switcher (custom painted by none other than Mr. Scobie and weathered by Chris Lyon) handles the chores in the big yard on this day.

Video work at Nelson Yard.

IPP&W 302 makes headway at Bellson with entry into Nelson Yard and clearance through the junction been granted to the crew.

Video of Malcolm's departure from Mercer Siding to Nelson Yard.

Here is a final look at the depot in Glen Hammond which was recently razed.  A new structure will be built out of Jigstones to take its place.

Here are the Jigstones molds where the plaster is cast.

These will certainly come in handy!

The Workday Wednesday Crew will look a little bit different in the fall as Doug has a go at refurbishing and building new structures out of Jigstones in Fred's heated garage/office.

Lawrence will be able to lend a hand at times.

Billy Boy too!

As well as Skipper Fred.  As for me, I can't commit to Wednesday mornings in the fall as my music rehearsals, jams and gigs tend to "ramp up" in the off season.  Should anyone wish to come by any Wednesday morning, simply send Fred an e-mail or give a shout on the phone!

You all know that I have a passion for trains and for guitar.  Someone once sent me this doctored image which I found fascinating nonetheless.

But here is something really special for those who enjoy watching the television show, "The Curse of Oak Island" on the History Channel.  The crew made this electric guitar from wood found deep in the "Money Pit" and sold it on e-Bay as a fundraiser!  They call it the "Templar"Caster.  Now, I own a Fender Stratocaster and a Fender Telecaster...but I would love to have this puppy in my stable!

One of the stars on the show, Laird Niven, is the brother-in-law of one of the members in my nine-piece band.  Laird is the archeological expert.

Laird gave the piece of wood to a woodworking expert to make into a guitar which they went on to call the Templarcaster...as mentioned earlier.

The proceeds from the sale of the guitar were donated to the BMO "Bike Ride for Cancer" initiative with Laird in charge of the project.

The section of wood from the Money Pit.

Tagged and labelled.

Interesting!

Love it!

Here is Laird signing the body of the guitar.

Alex has a go at it.

Gary puts down his metal detector to sign the axe!

Rick's turn!

Next up, Craig!

Finally, Marty!

Finally, it is with deep sadness that we learned earlier this week the passing of Bruce Chapman.  He was a railroader at heart having worked with the real trains.  He will be deeply missed.

Thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry folks.  Bruce loved trains more than you could imagine and I'm sure there is quite the club of model railroaders ready to greet him in heaven.

All the best, Mike, Fred and the entire OVGRS crew

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada