Rainy Day Saturday Happenings in the Boardroom

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down 

Especially when the rainy day is a Saturday morning in the summertime in Ottawa!

"Why is that?" you ask.

Because we can't get our train ops session in!  That's why!

Well, the next best thing is to visit a few friends in the boardroom at Fred's which is what we did!

While Father Fred was as disappointed as all of us were with Mother Nature on this day, we kept dry indoors in the boardroom and in Fred's workroom.

Bernie continued with the monitoring of the payments for Lawrence's donated items.

Fred will be inspecting these three pieces of rolling stock before they go out on the railroad for our standard gauge operations.

The windmill has been lubricated and is ready for planting back at Windmill Siding in Ironwood.

The CP reefer is also ready for service once more.

Fred, Bernie & I received a rather pleasant surprise when an old friend of Fred's called Fred up to donate this locomotive to our collection which will be up for sale for anybody who wants it.

Fred tells us that it should be in good running order and I believe that the gentleman sent along the throttle with the locomotive.

Fred tells us that it may need a new battery.

Along with the steam locomotive this baggage car came in the mix...

...as did this passenger car fit for the end of the train.

A simple carrying case comes with the engine.

The two cars came in a "Rube Goldberg" cardboard box carrying case.

Fred tells us that the locomotive and two cars are from the Bachman "Big Hauler" set.

This little assembly is quite eye-catching.

Love the royal blue reminiscent of the B&O RR.

A close up view.

She's Number 1332.

This kind gentleman also donated this CNR flatcar with stakes.

We also had another copy of this puppy up for sale as part of Lawrence's collection and apparently a couple of lads bid on it...so now this specimen would be available for purchase from the lad who had earlier lost the bid.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please let Bernie know.

Robin arrived later in the morning to pick up his items which he paid for.  It was great seeing you out, Robin.

Bernie captured this pic of little ole me, Mike, with a single feathered headdress atop "me head" in white and red!

Now, there's a better shot!

Hey, yesterday Lisa and I attended the inspection of the ceremonial guard by the Governor General, Mary Simon.  Afterwards, she and her husband, the renowned author Whit Fraser, conducted a read-aloud with young children in the kick-off to the "United in Literacy" campaign held on the grounds of Rideau Hall.  

I am pictured with Lisa in the upper left corner and you can see the GG & Whit in the midst of all the youngsters in this image taken by the official photographer at Rideau Hall.

We see Mary Simon and Whit Fraser with the president of the United in Literacy campaign...I do not recall her name.

Our daughter Alison was the Master of Ceremonies at the kick-off event at Rideau Hall yesterday.  She is the Manager of Visitors Services at Rideau Hall.  

This is an older image when she received her Masters degree many years ago.  

That's her older sister, Karen, on the right helping to celebrate this fine honour.  Karen is a high school teacher at Nepean High who also has her Masters Degree.

These next two images come from the official website at Rideau Hall showing the inspection of the ceremonial guard.

Quite regal indeed!

Alison's office window is on the upper flow second from the right.  She looks down over the fountain.

The "Fountain of Hope" was built to honour Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope.  

Seventy brass jets spray water around the fountain creating a perfect sphere.  In the image above found on the official website, we note that the Canadian Flag is flying atop Rideau Hall.  

On the day this image was taken, the Governor General was not on the premises.

 This is the Governor General's flag.  It is blue with the crest of the Arms of Canada in its centre.  

A symbol of the sovereignty of Canada, the crest consists of a gold lion wearing the Royal Crown and holding in its right paw a red maple leaf.  The lion stands on a wreath of the official colours of Canada.

The flag was approved by Queen Elizabeth II, on February 23, 1981, and it follows the general pattern of the governor general's flag in use since 1931.

The governor general's flag takes precedence over all other flags in Canada except The King's, and it flies wherever and whenever the incumbent governor general is in residence.

Finally, here is an image of one of the many bands in which I play taken during Stittsville's PorchFest event this past Thursday.  

Some thirty to forty bands and musicians played throughout the many neighbourhoods in Stittsville while raising money for mental health.

It was a joy to "give back" to the community in a fun way.  

Our band raised some $300.00 alone.  

Now multiply that by thirty to forty bands and singers!  Loads of fun!

Thanks for checking in on today's activities in the boardroom at Fred's and out and about in our wonderful city on the two days previous!

All the best, Fred, Bernie, Robin, Mike and the entire OVGRS gang of friends

Here's hoping we can get our operations underway next Saturday!

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Nelson Yard Engine House Gets a New Hat

A New Hat For the Nelson Yard Engine House

Bill sent along his latest images of the developments on the Nelson Yard engine house.

It seems the rain won't harm the locomotives denning inside this building.

Thanks for all your efforts Bill, Doug & Chris!

C-clamps and weights do the trick in keeping the wall sections and interior bracing together as the adhesive sets.

The window locations are clearly seen in this image.  Chris has 3D printed the windows for the engine house.

The door rests on the floor with its latches in evidence.

A "hat" shot.

Latches will ensure the roof stays open for operators to reach inside the engine house.

Great looking work Bill!

Also, thanks to Doug & Chris for their efforts on the project as well!

Indeed we are so fortunate to have creative people like this trio of designers and builders in the group.

Now we await the finishing of the project and the placement of the engine house in Nelson Yard!

WDWD Happenings June 26th

Workday Wednesday Fun June 26th

The WDWD crew gathered once again this week to conduct maintenance and a variety of other interesting tasks.

Chris surprised Fred and the entire work crew with the two grain elevators Lawrence had started and Chris completed.

Steve & Seanna went to town installing the pedestrian crossing signals in the crew lounge.

The rest of the gang, Bernie, Pat, Pat, Fred and Mike worked on yard duty (not Nelson Yard; nor Douglas yard; nor Ralph Yard) but just good clean Back Yard work!

Wow!  Chris, you've done a magnificent job on the two structures named for our dear friend, Lawrence Watkins.

As Chris mentioned to me, "Watkins almost sounds like Wheat Kings" and these structures were definitely Kings of the Prairies...and they fit so beautifully in our territory as well!

As you can see, one elevator will find a home at Bell Junction and the other will be located at Wellington Lake.

Thanks Chris for sending along these two first photos!

Father Fred is our king and he thinks these two structures are "A-OK"!

This is how far Lawrence had got along before his health prevented him from completing the work.

We had placed the two buildings at various locations along the line on a previous Wednesday.

Here is Chris with the two structures in the crew lounge.

They look fabulous!

Chris created depth to Lawrence's build and he also created a base which would allow us to screw the structures down in place.

Here we are testing the clearances with a couple of 40' boxcars at Wellington Lake.

The bonus situation means that we now have two "car spots" at Wellington Lake rather than the single spot.  Some traffic may be designated for spotting or lifting from the Watkins Co-Operative while other cars may be spotted at the Wellington Team Track beyond the grain elevator on the same spur...creating greater switching challenges at this former "easy" location!  Of course the lads in RailOps will have to generate those moves.

Fred looks on as Chris and I continue with our work here.

Fred likes what he sees!

Chris got out the trusty C-clamps out from our tool inventory.

This allowed Chris & me to create an improved "lip" for the grain elevator to be placed upon.

Since I lost a kneecap as a result of a hockey injury back in my early twenties I always use protection on the knee joint when kneeling down to work...or to pray for good weather on the Saturdays!  😎

In the video we see Chris hard at work on the placement of the elevator; this one at the Bell location.

Here's little old me resting atop the benchwork at Bell Junction with the rays of the sun providing sufficient lighting to get the structure aligned properly and screwed down in place.  I handled the left side and Chris put the screws in on the right.

She looks great placed there Chris!

Here's the man himself!

Just as we determined at Wellington Lake, the inclusion of the grain elevator alongside Brunt's Brewery (cousins - grain and brewed products) means that we now have two distinct "spot" locations for freight traffic where the operators may have to remove temporarily a boxcar spotted at the Watkins Co-Operative in order to handle their spots and lifts at the Brunt's Brewery facility.

We've just added to the challenge of railroading but we have also added to the fun!

Outstanding effort Chris!

Over at the pedestrian crossing Steve & Seanna have gotten down to work installing the crossing signals.

They have planted the support post in the southeast corner of our beloved Rust Garden.

Just as Chris has done with the grain elevators, Steve & Seanna have put much time and effort into the project at home alone, not to mention the time involved here on the property...and their combined effort is greatly appreciated by the group.

This project involves the use of sensors which detect the oncoming train which in turn signals the crossing lights to come on.

All wiring will run beneath the walking path at the crossing and will be tucked in by the right of way for safety.

This video showcases blinking signals.

This next video covers the couple hard at work!

And...this video follows Pat as he mows the lawn area nearby Mercer Siding where we spot something new.

"The little shack by the track!"

Hey...that could be a title for a train song!

Pat, by the shack by the track!  Hop on Pop!

Bernie is all smiles in Craig Leigh.

Without the work folks like Bernie and the others in the WDWD crew do, we wouldn't be able to run the trains on the Saturdays as we would be spending all of out time removing natural vegetation trackside!

It's amazing how quickly the greenery grows each week...especially with all the rains we've been having!

Chris gets down and dirty over at the peninsula by Lilly.

Much more garden waste is created.

Check out how much the Hosta at Spruce has spread its wings!

Indeed, she's a real beauty!

Much more foliage that had encroached the right of way was removed in this area.

A verdant looking Spruce!

Pat arrived to drive Fred to the History Circle luncheon.

But...before he left, he also got down and dirty with the weeding as Bernie looks on with a big grin!

Now...them there are lengthy vines!

Lengthy vines and big smiles...sounds like a country song!

Pat digs in deeper with the weeding!

While our other Pat finds lots to occupy his morning as well.

Yet another bucket of garden waste.

Even "The Corners" gets infiltrated with foliage growth.

The greenery at Peter's Pond certainly requires weekly trimming.

Father Fred is not one to sit around all morning...he always finds projects to work on as the lads and lasses move all about him!  Today, it's the windmill which needs attention.

Some video reels interviewing Father Fred.

In a future blog entry I will showcase the happenings at our recent "Moroccan Bazaar" as Bernie dubbed our last Saturday morning's events in the boardroom!  😃

These are the three new additions to our standard gauge fleet.  Once Steve gets them listed into RailOps and Fred checks their road worthiness, we should see them plying the rails in short order!

On our drive home from Fred's, Bernie and I got quite the surprise driving along Baseline Road...bus number 6101.

We drove side by side her all the way to Alta Vista!

Bill will remember this puppy!

I bet Bill; you drove this fella!

Love the mint condition this specimen is in!

My research tells me it was received by the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission in 1961...thus the 61 numbering.

Car driver meet bus driver!

Steve McKenzie sent along this lovely image of OVGRS member Garry's airplane.  Here is Steve's description:

Hi Mike,  attached is this photo of Garry's 1928 Gypsy Moth at the rehearsal for the Canada Day RCAF 100 flypast . It is the oldest former RCAF aircraft still flying. As a result it has the honour of  being the lead flight. There will be 50 aircraft including the Gypsy moth, Harvard, Cornell, Spitfire, Hurricane, Mustang, Lancaster, B25 as well as examples of all current aircraft in the inventory, including examples  of future aircraft on order, the snowbirds and the Hornet demo. 

Nice to see an OVGRS connection to this event thanks to Garry!

Steve

Thanks for sharing the image and the information on Garry's plane, Steve!  

Congrats to you, Garry, on having your aircraft lead our Canada Day Flypast!  Such an honour!

 Finally, thanks to Father Fred as always for hosting the crew on Saturdays and Wednesdays and...really all other days of the week as Fred always welcomes visitors!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada