Leap Day Blog Entry

Leap Day in Our 2024 Leap Year

Seeing as the earth's orbit is slightly more that 365 days...actually around 365 days and six hours we have to take into consideration that extra six hours.

So-o-o every four years the six hours x four years accounts for a (6x4=24) additional amount of hours.

These 24 hours make up the extra day we place in our Leap Year.

Mark Shumelda sent me a fun e-mail indicating that we could actually have an "extra" blog entry on this, our Leap Day.

So, here we go...a shorty due to time constraints on my part...but a fun one nonetheless!  I simply took random pics from the year 2016...some of you may or may not appear in them...but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.  No videos in this entry as that is more time consuming and I hadn't really started taking them eight years ago.

Let's travel back in time eight years ago to another Leap Year, 2016...when all of the images in this entry were taken by me and host of our OVGRS railfan friends.  Why not the Leap Year of 2020 - simple - due to COVID which began just a couple of weeks after the 2020 Leap Day, we were not able to host true train operations that summer.

Captions will be more generic in nature as my memory from back then is somewhat foggy!  Heh heh!

A westbound drag reaches Bell in the days when the big fence didn't act as a backdrop.

An RP&M run drifts by the station at Bellamy.

On another day, this railfan was at the same location photographing in a different direction as Passenger 1 reaches the depot at Bellamy.

We are wondering if TH&B unit #73 will take the cutoff to RP&M rails (towards the photographer) or will the crew remain on IPP&W trackage?

Demonstrating the lovely livery of the Canadian Pacific, this locomotive handles a westbound train on departure from Nelson Yard.

In the shade, but no "shady" character our steamer rides the rails beneath Mount St. Helens.

With reefers on the headpin this train will reach Wellington Lake in due course.

This tiny brute has passed the now abandoned and removed siding at Blockhouse.

Steve has to make a good reach to uncouple his car up in Cedar Rock.

Another crew on another day finds the shade at the end of the Cedar Rock Branch most refreshing.

A most unusual sight sees this CN unit on the rarely used trackwork between Ironwood Brick and the tunnel entrance beneath St. Helens.

Another view of the same scene.

Pool Train 33 has arrived Craig Leigh.

Malcolm will continue his morning's work aboard Passenger 1 in short order.

Pat must be in the house as we spot this glorious steam locomotive out from the terminus at Craig Leigh.

Small units combine to handle the heavy hauling in and around Craig Leigh on this Invasion Weekend.

An "over & under" shot!

Here I am in the dispatch booth radioing a crew out on the line.

The caboose track in Douglas Yard.

The Douglas Yardmaster always has a smile for the camera!  Love it Bernie!

Douglas Yard on another day.

Mike pulls his train into the yard with his D&H unit on a morning when he is not dispatching.

Lawrence works Spruce during an invasion weekend.

Colin holds down the duties in Nelson Yard.

My Canadian National unit leads a train out from Nelson Yard bound for points east.

Friends from both countries enjoy running the trains.

My favourite end car!

Paul and Stuart in conversion.  Along with Paul, Stuart was instrumental in the development of our remote control operations and the former Stuart Yard and the new town of Stuart is named in his honour.  He currently resides somewhere near Baltimore I believe.

A lovely tandem of NYC diesels.

Another American friend!

And a most lovely couple from the Montreal area - it's so nice to see you both again - even if it is in pictures!

Spruce with the spruce trees the town is named for in older days.

Meet in "The pond"!

Running through Lilly.

The man himself - Mr. Chandler of "Chandler's Sludge" fame!

We love the industry Bruce!

Our beloved Peter's Pond in better days.

Speaking of liquid!

More wonderful visitors from south of the border.

Splashes of colour abound.

We do enjoy Jim's handiwork.

Love the bobber caboose!

Jim would operate with two locomotives...while one handled the trailing sidings the other handled the facing ones in each town!

The lads fit on the turntable - just barely!

Great friends - forever!

A holiday tourist excursion will get underway shortly.

As always, there are plenty of hangers-around at Nelson Yard.

He-e-e-e-re's Johnny!

A lovely couple!

A lovely family!

Still more invasion fun with friends.

Paul is a happy camper.

My train enters Bell.

Is there ever a time when Bell isn't busy?  Heh heh!

Love the Southern unit!

And...we love this pair idling in the morning sun.

Or...how about this intriguing vehicle!  Ric & Jan must be around.

There's Ric with Johnny & Uncle Fred.

We miss you Ken!  💔💓💔

A busy area in front of the engine house.

Another rare critter.

The old back fence gate!

The tourists will travel the route of the IPP&W very soon.

Ironwood holds many a meet.

Here's Gord!  The area of Bellamy is named in his honour!

Barry & Doug work Spruce.

Here's Doug.

And...here's Doug & Doug or "Doug to the power of two"!

Johnny is chief dispatcher for the afternoon session!

Lilly with the lilies!

Awaiting lunch time.

On another weekend in the summer, it's back to normal operations.

Trains continue to ply the rails in steam times...

...and in diesel times.

Ore begins its run east from Firgrove.

Diesels from the same roads share many things in common - their purpose - to haul traffic along the line.

Mike's #27 pierces the iron at the Fred Mills Trestle.

A TH&B Geep leads a train over the broad gap and into the curve at Lilly.

Glen Hammond is active as well.

Gord wears his RP&M cap as he commands an RP&M assignment - his favourite road!

RS3's from very different areas converge at the eastern throat of Nelson Yard...one long hood forward and the other short hood forward.

The green and the cream of the Southern unit stands out.

Passenger 1 escapes the tunnel beneath Mount St. Helens.

Our Hew York Central brethren lead a caboose hop down from Firgrove.

Earlier, Passenger 1 had been spotted on approach to the depot in Bell.

Ironwood views.  The town is named after the Ironwood trees that grew in this area of Fred's property many years ago.

Ore has reached the junction crossing.

A westbound will terminate shortly up in Firgrove, but first the crew must face the grade at "The Ledges".

Nelson Yard continues to prosper.

Indeed it does!

It's a busy place for sure!

We have a meet between Pool Train 15 and an RP&M way frieght.  In later years, the Pool Train would adopt the number 33.

Spruce looked different way back then.

Ore reaches Spruce and holds for a meet.

The shunter works the eastern throat of Nelson Yard.

The wye at the entrance to Craig Leigh gets a workout.

A lovely view of the depot at Spruce.

Ralph Yard.

Mike snaps a shot as Malcolm holds on the siding at Watkins.

The CN unit switches out a caboose from an incoming train.

Chris & Lela have arrived Bell and begin their work.

An overall view of the western sector of the railroad now dubbed "The Bell Sub".

Nelson, the Glen & Bell are all seen in this low angle shot.

Lads having fun!

Colin's son, Paul, works the big yard as Gord looks on in the distance.

Lovely low angle shot at Spruce taken by Malcolm.

The Pond is a busy junction where the Cedar Rock Branch breaks off from the main.

Henk works the big yard with Gord.

This little critter can handle anything thrown its way!

Love the parallel lines in the trackwork!

Yards atop yards atop yards!

\

A blue Bell!

Mal works Stuart Yard as it was known back then.

Lads enjoying the shade offered by the canopy in the lounge.  We miss the ones who are no longer with us.

This crew is working Cedar Rock.

On warm days we find relieve from the sun and the heat here.

Yes we do.

Spruce was called Spruce at the time because of...

Paul is yardmaster at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh on this day back in 2016 - a Leap Year.

Steve & Seanna have reached St. Helens.

Chris and crewmate have taken the siding at Watkins and their tail end will clear shortly.

More Cedar Rock views.

And, views from St. Helens as Garry & Steve hold a meet.

Are you with Rogers or - Bell.

Low angle view at Nelson.

The ore drag departs the big yard and threads the needle over the gap.

Doug & Moe discuss their next trick as their train will terminated in short order.

It's a busy lounge!

With some lovely pond water!

Ironwood Brick with its stone building back in the days.

More Bell views.

Colin reminds us of the safety protocols.

A lovely Canadian Pacific tandem leads its train into Ironwood.

Brian is in control as the pair of units reach Spruce.

Over and Under...or is it...Under and Over!

Ironwood with Watkins Siding in the distance.

A younger Mason loves to "play trains"!

We must be into the fall as Lawrence is wearing his windbreaker.

More views of the west end.

"It wasn't me!" declares Henk.

Diesel delights.

Steam cream!

Hey, here's Bill.

And...there's Mark.

We miss you laddie!

It must be a 2016 version of Workday Wednesday as Bernie tries out for Cirque de Soleil - finding himself in all sorts of contorted positions!

Mike is at it too!

That's a far better position to be in, Bernie!

Mike's unit up in Cedar Rock.

We bid farewell with #4 leading the way into "The Corners".

I want to thank Mark for offering up the idea of putting out a Leap Day blog entry for the group to enjoy!

And...as always, we thank Father Fred for his hospitality each time we visit his home.

All the best on this "extra day" of the year.

Stay well and stay safe

Mark, Fred, Mike & all the OVGRS family

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada