Session #3 Narrow Gauge
Second Section
In this blog entry I will take you through some of the images and videos I captured during our third session of this season.
As mentioned in my first entry we enjoyed a variety of visitors to the railroad on this fine morning.
It is wonderful seeing steam locomotives ride the high iron once again!
Paul's Rio Grande Southern is steamed up and ready to get down to its chores as the Craig Leigh switcher working the traffic in Douglas Yard.
Chris's Prince Edward Island RR Canadian National inspired steam locomotive handles the switching in Glen Hammond before departing aboard Train 303.
From my perch in the dispatch hut I notice engineer Olivia in control of the PEI engine in the Glen.
The crew works the yard trackage across from the newly re-built Glen Hammond depot.
Before departure, Train 303's orders are to work the interchange tracks at Glen Hammond.
Chris is holding the modern styled transfer van in his hand. In short order we will have an older style caboose ready for their train.
Bruce pays me a visit outside the dispatch booth as he oversees the early activities.
I notice a black railing leaning against the new depot. This will look really nice surrounding the walkways if we have enough length. Of course a gate would have to be installed as well.
The yard in Nelson has been set out with coloured chits placed atop the freight cars.
Each colour denotes a specific train. Notice how the yard masters have already blocked the traffic for soon-to-be outgoing trains seeing as all the colour chits on each track are now of the same colour.
The interchange track at Bell holds about a dozen or so cars. RP&M and IPP&W crews interchange traffic at this location.
We gather in the crew lounge for the pre-ops meeting. Malcolm, Grant and Mark hang out near the gateway to Spruce from Ironwood.
The lads and lasses listen in on the discussions.
Father Fred delivers his weekly sermon.
Mark will be running RP&M 71 out from Nelson Yard with Moe. He checks his orders alongside yard master Doug.
Passenger 2 is the first train out of the gate on this day as Pat slows for a station stop at Bell.
In hot pursuit of Number 2 is IPP&W 302 taking the big curve into Bell. Sid is at the controls with Malcolm conducting the moves.
302 sweeps the curve with the town of Stuart in the foreground.
Now here is an interesting development. Check out the twig that was caught in the wheels of Pat's locomotive on Passenger 2. Before the operations we do a "sweep" of the rails but every now and then Mother Nature intervenes to cause a tad bit of grief. The twig was removed and Pat tells me that the steam engine performed flawlessly afterwards.
Moe & Mark work the west end of Nelson Yard aboard RP&M 71.
With 301's departure from Craig Leigh, yardmaster Paul begins gathering traffic for second trick Train 313. Paul will also have some industrial switching to undertake throughout the morning in and around Craig Leigh. He will also take the short hop down to St. Helens later in the AM hours.
Whether it be Paul, Bernie or Doug Culham as Craig Leigh yardmasters, we are in very capable hands at the easternmost tip of the line!
301 has reached St. Helens and the crew proceeds to run around its train in order to switch out the facing spurs here.
Bernie and Bruce are working the run on this day.
Train 303 has found Peter's Pond and begins its switching.
The crew has taken the far siding seeing as they will not be riding up the Cedar Rock Branch.
They are protected for their meet with Passenger 2 which was delayed slightly due to debris on the track between Firgrove and Bell.
We catch the video action in the early morning hours at Peter's Pond.
Number 2 is cleared to Bellamy and is seen departing "The Pond".
Train 2 is underway eastbound in this video footage.
Ore is on the move east at Watkins Siding.
We spot a carload of lumber in the mix as well.
Mark tells us that Gaston made the logging cars and that John Burden customized the locomotive.
Ore train video at Watkins. Watkins Siding is named after our dear friend Lawrence Watkins who passed away earlier this spring.
Garry is underway from the east aboard Passenger 1.
His power is "stealth" at the moment but the engine will eventually learn its name! Big grin!
The lads enjoyed a snack in the crew lounge a few moments earlier.
304's engineer has his hand on the throttle as the train departs Glen Hammond bound for Spruce.
304 makes the pedestrian crossing.
We gain another look at Passenger 1 meeting 303 down in "The Pond".
The reefer in front of the cows must be containing their milk! And if they were brown cows we'd have chocolate milk...yummy!
301 works the spur sidings at St. Helens from behind their train.
Yet another glance at the activity going on in the pond area.
Chris and Olivia are handling cars on the team track and at the Norton Fishery.
In a previous video you overheard me clear Passenger 1 through the junction to Bellamy. The crew has completed their station stop there and has been cleared into the Glen. Seanna, in the white hat, is snapping photos of this meet of Number 1 with her train, Rat 61.
And...here is the image Seanna had captured which I shared with you in an earlier posting.
Passenger 1 is on approach to the station.
Some video work in the Glen.
Passenger 2 meets Passenger 1.
The two trains arrive at their designated meeting place within moments of each other.
Passengers heading east and west.
Passenger video review.
Ore passes east of Peter's Pond.
The crew ducks beneath the garden wall.
Another glance at the logging cars.
Video work around the ore train.
Paul has reached Bell with the short hop out from Firgrove; Train 40.
Number 40 will work the Bernicky siding and the team track at Bell.
Now this is a real cutie!
Further along the fence line to the east Grant & Marcel (aboard 304) assist the ore train with its lifts at Ironwood Brick.
We glance across Nelson Yard over to Glen Hammond.
Then we glance further over to Bell where 303 and 40 meet.
Ore ascends the grade out from Clarke Canyon onward and upward to Spruce.
The crew aboard 314 has arrived Nelson Yard as Bill aligns their turnout to enable them to reach the far track where their consist for Train 324 awaits.
Their power glides through the shadows.
We have a loaded crew list on this day.
Engine #5 has also arrived Nelson Yard and has work to conduct to the east.
The crew is heading over to the Fallentree Mine to gather up some loaded ore cars.
Lovely loco video.
At the location known in history as Blockhouse, the ore train proceeds forward toward Clarke Canyon.
We particularly enjoy this unique steam locomotive.
Logs travel east at the Rockery.
The tail end!
Railfan video efforts near the Rockery.
A closer view of ore arriving the environs of Spruce.
The crew digs into the curve on a grade.
Across the aisle valley we find 313 reaching Ironwood.
A lovely curve of ore!
Another video view of the ore train.
Marcel & Grant crew westbound 313 at Ironwood.
Malcolm & Sid have also arrived aboard eastbound 312.
313's engine assists 312's crew with some of their facing moves.
Both crews assist each other dealing with their respective facing sidings.
This teamwork allows both crews to get through their assignments at this location in a more expedient fashion.
Later in the morning we find Pool Train 33 making an appearance.
The crew glides eastward into the depot on the curve at Ironwood.
Station stop.
The team track is full as Train 33 slows to a stop.
Back in Nelson Yard 301 announces its arrival. The crew will then continue their westward travels aboard 311.
The crew aboard 301 is found earlier in the day.
They have been instructed to assist the ore train with its facing lifts of a quartet of ore cars.
It was during the filming of this video I twisted and pinched a nerve in my back! Yikes! We are now four days out from the event and I'm still bothered by the pain...an annual occurrence for me! D'uh!
While assisting the ore crew, 301's conductor chooses to lift one of their cars from the inner Ironwood Brick siding.
This is a brilliant move...killing two birds with one stone!
The last car is their lift.
Their efforts as captured on video.
The crew must replace the two cars that were in front of their lift.
Bernie backs the consist in on the near siding.
Bruce handles the uncoupling.
Mike explains to Bruce on this video how he and Bernie worked "from sun-up to sundown" getting these two new sidings into place!
We find ourselves in the western sector of the property known as the Bell Sub.
There is quite a bit of activity up in Bell with the arrival of the Pool Train meeting Steve & Seanna aboard their RP&M run.
A great deal of railroading is "sitting and waiting" as Marcel and Grant exemplify here!
Spruce is being worked by the father & daughter team of Chris and Olivia aboard 324, their third trick of the morning.
Marcel finally is able to work the sidings at Spruce aboard 313.
Engineer Grant offers up a smile.
As does Marcel as Helen snaps a picture of the action in behind.
Pat reaches Glen Hammond with Passenger 3.
The Glen is a busy location as is Bell at the moment.
The Avro Arrow!
As flown by Mr. Bill Sn3 Scobie!
We must be getting near the end of the session as Moe brings out the lunch!
Check out Steve's Bobber caboose.
One of our new operators!
We say good-bye to Steve & Seanna.
And we say farewell to their lovely family!
The penalty box is filling up!
Ralph is a happy camper in the shade.
Ralph's steamer.
Paul has finished up with his various tasks on this fine morning.
Paul's steamer gets ready to go home for another couple of weeks!
Our Craig Leigh yardmaster, Mr. Paul Anderson.
Hey...thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry!
Fred, Moe & Chris say farewell as well!
As does Helen!
As always we thank Padre Frederick for yet another fine operating session in his cathedral knows simply as the IPP&W/RP&M of the OVGRS!
Stay safe and cool in this heat dome!
We'll catch up with everyone next week!
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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