Garden Railroading: More History From Paul Norton

Paul Norton's Views From the Invasion of 2005

Yessirree...it's about time we dig back into the files to check out the happenings in Fred's backyard from nineteen years ago!

Paul's photo files keep digging up great surprises for us!

Thanks, Paul, for taking the time to record history - and to preserve it!

We spot two "invaders" working Nelson Yard which had far fewer tracks back then.

Bruce walks with his train orders near the old interchange tracks to the west of Bell.

His train and he are on a heading up to Firgrove.

Paul tells us this is the renovated freight shed at Ironwood.

My, how different Ironwood is today!

Paul captioned this is as "The Blockhouse at Blue Mountain".

We see Doug's handiwork at the still unfinished station at Craig Leigh.

Tom, Dave, Ric & Bruce are way out past the western outskirts of Ottawa visiting Dave McCurdy's large scale layout.

Dave, Bruce Tom & Ric hold a "meeting on the mound"!

This train is northbound on Dave's RGS railroad.

Laura McCurdy, Jane Bowdler & Jan Golding are found relaxing while "the boys" run their trains.

The RGS train is nearing the end of the line.

Back at Fred's place we find Ric's modified 44-tonner in the yard.

Engine #2 holds court in Craig Leigh.

Another eager beaver is ready to roam the line.

The 2005 Invasion Group Photo.

The lads and lasses take a wee break from running trains to await their luncheon feast!

That's Ken Brunt in the background with Stuart Moxley (Stuart Yard) in the checkered shirt while Bruce (right) engages Bob McCowan in conversation. Bob is from the Boston area and is the owner of the web forum known as Large Scale Central!

Thanks to Doug Matheson for assistance in the identification of some of the lads seeing as I was not involved in large scale way back then!

A double view of the two previously seen locomotives.

Paul offers assistance as he chats up Ric before the session gets underway. During the invasion weekend ops, our regular crew members often observe in order to have our visitors get the opportunity to run the trains and if there is space available they can help crew on a train.

Stuart works Ralph Yard up in Firgrove - a much different looking location today! Check out the yard on a slant off the main line!

Looks like a live steamer is about to run!

And it does! Doug Matheson tells me that the locomotive belongs to him...and that the operator is Roger Caiazza from the Finger Lakes Live Steamer's group. Thanks for the info, Doug!