Session #2 Standard Gauge
The weather cooperated beautifully for our second session of this train running season.
With the Arnprior Train Show taking place to the west of the city, many of our regular operators had set up displays or booths so we knew our numbers would be down for the session.
The St. Lawrence Division of the NMRA also enjoyed its final meeting of the season this Saturday morning where more of our regulars would be in attendance further curtailing our numbers.
As things turned out, we managed to run trains with a near-"Full House" with all things considered!
John's CP SD40-2 diesel locomotive introduces our blog entry from the session today. His engine is captured in care of IPP&W Train 301 in the early morning sun.
Bernie's TH&B Geep prefers the coolness the shade at Douglas Yard offers as its assignment is as the yard switcher here in Craig Leigh.
Doug's Northland Railroad is in foreign territory on the IPP&W finding solace at the far end of the yard lead to the west of Nelson Yard.
Marcel's Santa Fe GE Dash 9 giant seeks work along the rails of our secondary line, the RP&M. The crew is crossing the junction tracks and will find Rat Portage in short order.
Garry's CN Geep has been pressed into service as Seanna and Ron terminate their run in Firgrove aboard 303. The unit will be turned here and the crew will depart back east with IPP&W Train 314.
Garry arrives Glen Hammond aboard Passenger 2 being led by his distinctive Canadian National F-units,
Our very own Ironwood Road RS3 found work on this day aboard 304 out from Glen Hammond bound for Craig Leigh. We note that the engine has been turned on the wye in preparation to run 313 back to Nelson Yard.
The first train out in the day is Passenger 2 making headways downgrade into Bell from Firgrove.
Passengers sitting in the dome car marvel at the scenery found along the right of way of the IPP&W.
Garry shared with me this image of a different Canadian National F-unit painted in the same gold & olive green scheme. Lovely Garry!
Garry and I discuss which buttons to press on the throttle to engage the headlight in this video footage of his train's downward glide at "The Ledges".
Remember, simply click on the white arrow two times; once...then again shortly afterward to engage the video.
Train 302 continues the parade out from FIrgrove in the early morning hours.
Steve tells us that the load on the bulkhead flat was one of Lawrence's beloved vehicles from his extensive collection.
A CP van brings up the rear.
We thank Steve and Seanna for splitting up (for a couple of hours) to run separate trains on this day. Seanna ran with newcomer Ron on 303 and then she was a single person operator when Ron had to leave as was Steve on 302 as witnessed in this video captured up in Firgrove.
A hopper is being pulled from the Fallentree Mine to the east of Nelson Yard.
Train 303 is out from Glen Hammond as Seanna and Ron check the condition of the turnout. As it "turned out" (pardon the pun) the screws had to be tightened on both turnouts through the junction.
Various vignettes around the west end of the line are captured in this video footage.
Canadian National Geep #1707 pulls train 303 into the siding at Mercer for a meet with Passenger 2.
Video of Train 303 heading into the siding.
It's a case of "CN meets CN" at Mercer.
Our passenger train is eastbound while freight travels west.
Back to the time of "pre-ops" the lads and lasses set out all of the equipment in the yards and various siding tracks around the layout. Bill & Doug have things in hand at Nelson Yard.
Pat and Marcel have assisted with the setouts in Glen Hammond and over in Bell.
Garry and Dilip do likewise in Ironwood.
Bernie and Marcel bring the sunshine with their smiles!
Mike has brought out his Boston & Maine 40-footer which Paul Norton gifted him last year. Mike absolutely loves this car!
Sid runs ore out from Firgrove.
He has brought out his newest purchase, the TH&B Geep which he picked up from our friend and fellow OVGRS member, Mark Shumelda. Sid will put the stanchions on in short order.
We find the ore train streaming downgrade in this video at The Ledges.
Ore reaches Bell.
There'll be no sticking around for the ore train as he is passing through.
Sid enters Bell and meets Steve aboard Train 302 in this video segment. Steve and Sid discuss the direction of running for the TH&B Geeps. Sid's unit #73 is a GP7. The Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo ran their 7's short hood forward. They ran their 400 series GP9's long hood forward...distinctive units with their torpedo air tanks atop the long hood making these units quite versatile for freight or for passenger service.
Funnily enough, in another location on the railroad our resident railfan has spotted a 400 series TH&B running "against the grain" short hood forward when they were most often spotted running long hood forward.
Our ore drag has been cleared down to Watkins Siding.
Sid gets underway out from Bell with the sun shining on the flanks of the unit.
Video of ore on the move eastward.
After having worked the yard in Glen Hammond, Train 304 is on the roll east in hot pursuit of Passenger 2. Note the Ontario Northland car on the RP&M train in back.
Pat and Robin have a different numbered version of the ONR car on their train.
In Lawrence's collection this same car exists and will be made available to the group to purchase when the time comes to put all items out for viewing.
Passenger 2 speeds through the pedestrian crossing in the lee of the dispatch hut.
Garry heads over to Spruce to meet his train as some passengers will be detraining at this location.
Plenty of trains fill this video effort.
Ore moves along past Wellington Lake located on the fence line of the property.
Passengers move along eastward into Spruce.
Number 2 comes to a station stop.
We take a short break from our train ops session to check out the wonderful pictures Mark Shumelda sent my way from the Arnprior Train Show.
We love this poster honouring the memory of Gaston Moreau who was instrumental in starting up the Arnprior Train Show many years ago.
Chris Vernell and daughter Robin are great ambassadors to the hobby encouraging young children and their families to join in their passion for model trains.
The venue is well lit and spacious.
There are lots of individual set-ups to grab your attention.
T-Trak I believe.
I recognize this large scale puppy! Gaston once owned either this Canadian Pacific diesel or one just like it!
A large industry.
Love the harbour scene!
Colourful modules.
This is some yard and engine facility!
Looks like downtown Toronto to me!
Some maintenance equipment.
Thanks for sending these images our way Mark!
Some more of Mark's images from the train show will appear later in this blog entry.
Heading back in time to before the session got underway, reefers have been placed at the ice track in Craig Leigh.
Ditto for cars at the Northland Ore Dock.
Aha! Another interloper on this day of diesels...but we'll forgive Garry...seeing as we love his gorgeous Pacific class steam locomotive! Besides, as Garry mentioned, she'll look great pulling Pool Train 33 on the second trick of the morning.
Doug poses for the camera while Bruce relaxes in the shade.
Never one to sit idle, Bill gets the spray can out to work on yet another project as Garry looks on.
The RP&M 71-72 Turn climbs the grade out from Pratt's Bottom with the town of Stuart in sight.
We have a meet of the RP&M with the IPP&W as Trains 71 and 302 work side by side near the town of Stuart.
Trains from both lines appear as captured on video.
Here is a GP9 running long hood forward on lease to the RP&M from the TH&B.
Three bright CP Rail cars add a torrent of colour to the scene!
RP&M video footage through the junction.
Red hues dominate this view in Ironwood as 301 progresses through town.
John has brought out his lovely CP Rail unit.
Lading is moving across the line on this day.
In the video John and I are discussing adding batteries and sound to some of the locomotives Lawrence has donated to the club.
John, out of the goodness of his heart, has offered to do any installs involved in equipping any of the locos folks have purchased from the Lawrence collection with batteries and/or sound.
John wants no payment for his work, simply an additional donation to the club would suffice.
Thanks so much John for your kind offering!.
Our RP&M crew switches out the town of Stuart.
Off in the distance crews work both Ironwood and Spruce.
Steve is aboard 302 and has been cleared down to Watkins Siding.
His next switching opportunity will be further down the line in Peter's Pond.
Steve's Algoma Central Geep is a thing of beauty!
Steve and I are discussing the nuances of opposing IPP&W crews switching out Peter's Pond and heading up the Cedar Rock Branch in this video of his train departing Bell.
Bill has the bell-ringing honours on this morning.
Steve and Seanna visit with Joan, who has delivered a few more items from Lawrence's collection.
Dilip and Bill Williams give a smile to the camera man!
Let's check in on some more of Mark's pics from the Arnprior Train Show.
George and Len have set up their modules. That's Len's Great Northern diesel in the background.
Great weathering job!
Looking good!
Wonderful!
Len and George chat at the central table.
Nice depot.
Passing through town.
More colourful trains in this set-up...Lego perhaps?
Here's Thomas!
This little guy brings in the children!
Very nice!
Yup, you can model as big or as small as you like!
A lovely video of Thomas.
Thanks again Mark for these images and the video from your time in Arnprior!
Looks like the show was a big success!
Meanwhile...back at the ranch...the trains get rolling as Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond spring to life with traffic on the move!
RP&M Train 71 departs Nelson Yard for Anderson, Rat Portage and Stuart.
Bill is but a mere shadow of himself beneath the umbrella at Nelson.
Ron and Seanna aboard 303 meet Sid aboard the ore train down in Peter's Pond.
Up in Spruce the crew aboard 303 deliver traffic to the various sidings.
The newly planted hostas play observer to the passage of Train 302 in The Corners.
The tail end of 302 is pulled along past the two newly laid sidings at Ironwood Brick.
Our videographer has followed 302's progress through this end of the railroad and this video is proof of the hard work of the railroad's maintenance crew!
One of the greatest joys for me as a railfan is to watch crews collaborate and cooperate as in this instance here. Mark and John are aboard 301 heading west. They have just arrived Ironwood and have a great deal of switching to do, and when asked to pull cars from Ironwood Brick facility for the ore train they didn't hesitate to help out even though this slowed their westward progress somewhat.
John backs on to the ore cars which would be a facing move for the engineer of the ore train. He and Mark will place the ore cars on the siding to make an easy pickup for Sid who is in charge of the ore run on this day.
"Thanks kindly!" Sid was heard to say.
Video views of 301's assist for the ore train.
301's power grabs on to the ore cars with ease.
The cars will be spotted on the siding track.
We check all this activity out on video.
Ore enters Ironwood from the west.
Eastbound meets westbound.
The ore is ready for pickup thanks to 301's great assist!
Ore on the move on video.
Sid picks up his ore cars.
We witness a triple meet here in Ironwood between 304, 301 and the Ore Train.
Triple meet video.
301 rolls out from Ironwood bound for Spruce.
The train leans into the big curve.
304 is now able to conduct its work here following the departure of both trains.
Busy times in Ironwood as captured on video.
As John keeps a watchful eye on the progress of his train we say farewell for now.
Before I let you go, I wish to dedicate this blog entry to my good friend and fellow Boston and Maine modeler, David Primeau who passed away in early May following a very brief bout with cancer.
Here we see David with Norm Levert during a Friday night train operating session many years ago.
A man after my own heart, David emulated the train operations of the B&M, the Maine Central, the St. J&LC and the Canadian Pacific in the Northeast Kingdom.
He was a master craftsman who scratchbuilt most of the structures on the layout using his favourite medium of styrene. The landmark round barn at Barnet, Vermont between St. Johnsbury and Wells River is but one example of his dedication to detail.
David set his layout in the fall season even though we operated it across all four seasons!
Trains ran from Sherbrooke, Quebec to Newport, Vermont south of the border then further south to St. Johnsbury, Wells River and into White River Junction. Staged trains from the many railroads arrived various locations along the route rather than simply at the north and south ends of the line.
David blended his painted backdrops in nicely with his scenery.
A lengthy peninsula ranging down the center of his room made maximum use of the space similar to how the IPP&W is laid out in Fred's backyard.
While David ran steam, he also enjoyed watching the diesels make a go of it along the Connecticut River Line...also known as the Newport Line.
This covered bridge ended up coming out to SLD and to OVAR in a box with many other items from David's layout. I took it home and restored it before naming it the Adriana David Bridge.
Steam ruled supreme...
...while diesels delighted.
The ball signal at Wells River contained five balls in total governing the three legs of the wye here.
Back at Fred's the Siberian Irises are in full bloom at the moment.
It was pure joy to be able to take this image of two very important people in the lives of the OVGRS, Seanna and Joan!
And...with Father Fred relaxing in the crew lounge, we bid farewell for the time being.
Be sure to be on the lookout for a second blog entry from this past Saturday's train operation later in the week!
Thanks to all who could make it out to the session to help bring our operations to life!
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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