Previously Unreleased Photos and Vids From Session #8
I'll continue with our review of this past season's train ops while winter still has its grip on us here in the Great White North.
Viewing these images will bring us back to happy outdoor railroad times when we actually can run the trains in the fresh air!
This story comes from our eighth session of the season.
CN Geep 1701 will carry lading eastward aboard Train 304.
CN Geep 4578 in later colours will work Train 301 west out from Craig Leigh
D&H GP 38-2 7316 will hold down Nelson Yard duties.
Algoma Central 168 begins its day aboard westbound 303.
Our Great Northern friend will hold down the Firgrove assignment which includes a few sojourns along the mainline east to Bell.
White Pass 111 will alternate with a CN brother who ran Train 304 taking the second trick assignment aboard Train 313.
This striped puppy will assist the D&H unit in the big yard!
TH&B Geep 73 holds down one of the Rat Portage & Mattawa assignments.
CP 8202 takes care of Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.
CR 2236 will be assigned to passenger duty on this day.
So, let's catch up with 2236 on its second trick of the morning.
These screenshots from video find Pool Train 33 entering the environs to the east of Bell.
Malcolm rolls the train to a slow station stop.
Video activity of Train 33.
As Malcolm approaches Bell from the east, this railfan finds the RP&M train coming into view from the west.
Rat 71 greets traffic in the town of Stuart.
The crew spots the Pool train in the distance and a few cars on the Interchange Track at Bell.
We follow the RP&M train's entry into Bell on video.
Their train enters town on a slow order as they snake through the turnouts and avoid the main.
Further video evidence.
The crew is advised to take Track 4 to facilitate their switching.
Bell video work.
Pool Train 33 departs town.
The crew departs IPP&W rails and heads onto RP&M iron.
It will be a nice run down to Rat Portage for the passengers in this mixed train.
Train 33's departure as seen on video.
Arriving Pratt's Bottom.
This is the location where the RP&M tracks head beneath Firgrove where you see the Great Northern locomotive off in the distance above "sans headlight".
By the station.
We spot a headlight! The Firgrove run will soon be underway bound for Bell!
There she is!
A short train she is - nonetheless she's still a train as shown in this video footage.
Firgrove yardmaster George looks on as his assistant Len departs town.
An aerial view.
A "going away" screenshot.
On coming video.
Still holding interest.
Lovely video work Mike!
The sequence of events continue at Bell as CN unit 4578 holds on Track 3 with Train 311.
With the arrival of the short hop down from Firgrove, the action is about to get heavy.
More interesting video from this "heavily involved" workplace.
Aha...a triple meet! Lovely work by the dispatcher I would say!
Now...who would that be?
Why...it's little ole me! 😍😎😍
All this activity is taking place right in front of my eyes from my perch in the dispatch booth.
Trains on the move...here, there and everywhere!
The excitement builds on this video!
Earlier, before the session began I went around snapping images of the rolling stock. Here we find a handful of cars on the interchange track at Bell.
In Glen Hammond we have two trains blocked and ready to depart once the session gets underway. The closer train is eastbound 304 while the train one track over is westbound 303.
In the town of Stuart we have a string of CN boxcars on the far track.
The Maple Leaf herald is a thing of beauty!
A large version of the herald is seen to the left while a smaller version is seen on the older car in the center.
CNR cars meet CNR cars!
We have an "open door" policy here! 👀
Ditto that last caption!
Seanna handles the blocking and the switching chores in the Glen aboard 303...
...while "hubby" Steve handles the throttle!
A lovely New England specimen.
Such a cool looking paint scheme aboard 111 on loan to the IPP&W from the WP&Y.
111 toils at the eastern (geographical western) end of Spruce.
Unit 111 as captured on video.
My D&H unit is on loan to the Nelson Yard crew as I am busy in the dispatch booth on this day.
She's lifted a tank car from an industry at Lilly.
Henk re-rails a car for Bill as the pair make an excellent crew in the big yard at Nelson.
Doug is seen to the immediate left working the RP&M train.
Off in the distance we spot the "organized" congestion at Bell!
This D&H actor loves being filmed on video!
Grandson Mason is really the brains in Nelson Yard on this day! 😀
Work is being carried out near the Blockhouse overlooking the dry gulch.
Continued video work.
The Pool Train has been cleared out from Glen Hammond for points east.
313 has been granted entry into the big yard. The train is seen departing the main.
The turnout will be thrown in behind 313 to allow 33 access out from the area and through the big trestle.
A morning "pass" of two trains.
33 meets 313 in this video effort.
CR 2236 ducks beneath the foliage...
...with its tail end hauling precious cargo!
Yes, Nelson Yard is ever-changing!
33's departure as captured on video.
There is a short stop for 33 at Blockhouse as the station continues to exist although the siding is long gone.
More video from this sequence.
33 gains the pedestrian crossing.
The RP&M crew has backed out of Nelson Yard and made headways into Glen Hammond.
A brief moment of solace!
Final video from this sequence of events.
Malcolm is all smiles outside my dispatch booth.
Mark is all smiles as well dressed in blue - very similar to that on his White Pass locomotive!
Everyone is all smiles when thye visit the treats on the crew lounge table!
The cooperage down in Peter's Pond finds two cars resting atop its siding track.
Our bread trays which hold the cars when sessions aren't running are stacked neatly near Mount St. Helens.
Steve monitors his train movements in the Glen.
That Hershey's car looks inviting!
It's rare to see triple dome cars as they were phased out many decades ago...
...but we have the credence to run them during our standard gauge sessions!
We gather around the crew lounge table before the ops session begins.
In the box is the lovely blue & black Boston and Maine car Paul gifted me on this special day!
Mason and Paul listen in as the meeting gets underway.
Bill shares with us some fascinating WWII stories.
Our Firgrove crew of Len & George take in the meeting with interest.
One of our WDWD (Workday Wednesday) regulars, Pat, stands at (near) attention.
Moe & Henk are keen observers.
We are all fascinated with what Bill has to share.
Wonderful Bill!
Back to the train running.
We spot Passenger 2 in the early morning hours of the session stopping in Peter's Pond.
As mentioned earlier, the passengers are in good hands with Malcolm in charge of the train.
Much later he reaches the depot in St. Helens with one last stop before wye-ing the train in Craig Leigh and backing into the terminal there.
In the meantime, the action heats up in Nelson Yard.
301 has arrived the eastern throat of the yard and has been granted authority to enter on a far track.
Countless cars fill the yard at this point in time.
Pat is all smiles as Mason looks on. Pat has entered the yard aboard 302 and will depart with Train 312.
Our RP&M crew handle a few items on their work list as Pat's crewmate aboard 302/312, Moe, looks on.
Yessirree! The yardmasters are up to the task of building and breaking down outgoing and incoming trains!
Two trains are spotted in two very different locations along the railroad even if they are in relative proximity to each other!
Gary is at the helm of 311 with his train ascending the grade between Bell and Firgrove.
The train powers by on its uphill climb.
Another look shows it summiting the grade and entering the tracks into Firgrove.
Video footage of 311 finishing its run upon entry into Firgrove.
On a slow order, 311 arrives town.
The yardmaster has routed the crew over to the arrival track.
Our two yardmasters in Firgrove, George & Len.
They work hard to keep the traffic flowing - meeting with success each session!
Video entry into Firgrove.
How does this engine...
...turn to face this way in very short time?
Simple...
...she takes a trip on the "Arm"strong turntable!
Turntable video spins.
We ask our visitor - railroad photographer par extraordinaire - John Soehner to bid us farewell for yet another week!
I just got off the telephone with OVGRS member Chris Lyon now living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with his lovely wife, Lela. This is Chris's latest modeling project.
She's a Clyde Puffer
The kit is from Frenchman River Model Works.
These coal-fired, single-masted cargo ships were built mainly on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
They provided a vital supply link around the West Coast and Hebrides of Scotland.
Chris, you have done a "bang-up" job on these vessels!
Chris, your model brings back memories of some of my marine builds including this clipper vessel.
This vessel was a challenge to build.
I know Chris has this very kit still sitting in a box on his shelf in Nova Scotia. Hmmm...perhaps we'll see it being built sooner than later! Big grin!
I can't take credit for this lovely lobster boat. It was gifted to me from a friend and fellow modeler living in New England.
I had fun creating this tug along with the scratchbuilt "beard" along the bow!
Being "flat bottom" models, I can easily move the vessels around from one location to another.
And...with a smile from Father Fred we bid you farewell for another time.
Thanks to Chris for sending along the fabulous images of his Clyde Puffer vessel.
While some of us like to "Puff" out our chests every now and then, we always do it in jest and in good humour!
All the best, Chris, Fred & the entire OVGRS group
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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