Part Two Views From Session #8
As promised I still had some pictures and videos remaining from our eighth session of the season.
Fred was happy to see so many turn out for the operations seeing as it is still "vacation time" for many.
All trains were able to be run including the passenger and ore assignments which filled up the slate!
Here we are "front and center" in Nelson Yard witnessing CN Geep #1707 assembling its train, Rat 61, for the Rat Portage & Mattawa Railway. The crew will head through the junction to Rat Portage and return before taking lading up to Bell and Stuart. It promises to be a busy day!
CN Geep 4578 in the later simplified livery with the "lazy three" hits the road eastbound to Spruce out from the Glen. The crew's assignment is IPP&W Train 304.
304's counterpart train 303 sneaks out from Glen Hammond with westerly destinations in mind.
301 arrives on schedule down in Mount St. Helens following their departure from Craig Leigh.
In a later railfan shot, Pool Train 33 makes headways through Peter's Pond passing by an IPP&W way freight.
Train 40 arrives Bell from Firgrove with headend traffic for the Pool Train. This train is affectionately known as the "Firgrove Hop".
As always, we attend the pre-ops safety briefing before the proceedings trackside can get underway.
Freight cars abound in Glen Hammond and off in the distance at Nelson Yard.
Our headend brakeman has no need to "duck" as his head resides below the roof line of the TH&B # 401.
The Spruce Sub comes to life as 304 arrives the passing siding at its namesake town of Spruce.
RP&M Train 71 makes an appearance up in Stuart. The crew will drop their entire consist before gathering cars from the interchange at Bell and becoming the return Train 72.
Thank you Lawrence as this is one of the coveted boxcars we retained from your collection for use on IPP&W/RP&M rails. We miss you dearly but you are fondly remembered! 💓💔💖
Who says white isn't colourful? Yes, I know it is a shade and not a colour, but the contrast with the white helps to bring out the other colours from around and the red tones certainly star in this image!
The power for the ore train passes by the factory Lawrence had made out of dominoes!
Such a creative genius Lawrence was! He also created the blue addition to Brunt's Brewery seen in the distance here at Bell.
A colourful white video feast for your eyes!
We know we are somewhere near 2/3 of the way through the session for two reasons: The ore train is returning empties back to the mines and we spot second trick Train 311 working along Track 4 at Bell nearing the end of its run.
We particularly enjoy the weathering on the first ore car.
The SOO LINE locomotive continues to offer superior performance as it hauls loaded ore cars and returns MT's along the line as witnessed in this video.
The feet and lower legs of a "Friendly Giant" organizes the turnouts for an incoming train into Peter's Pond.
That's incoming third trick Train 323 meeting outgoing second trick Train 314.
Just as mentioned in the earlier blog entry from this week, this image showcases the relative "balance" of operations as the second trick Train 314 has completed all of its switching work and will depart for Nelson Yard where they will pick up their third trick Train 324...where their working time and distance travelled on the railroad will be close to that of 323.
Their assignment will then be timed very closely to that of Train 323 that has just arrived "The Pond".
Indeed, both trains will most likely finish their working day within minutes of each other before lunch can be served!
Pond meet video.
This image serves to further hammer down the "balanced operations" argument as Gerry's second trick train (323) is arriving its destination in the foreground while yet another IPP&W run, Seanna's second trick train (311) does likewise in the distance.
Train 323 is coming to its termination point in Nelson Yard while Train 311 is arriving its final destination at Firgrove.
You can see the re-railing tool that Doug Culham made for us just above the long hood of the locomotive. Henk and Bill have their identifying chits in their box atop the re-railer at the moment.
Once again, another "balanced" video for your enjoyment!
Engine 401 is the "Dame of the Ball" on this morning getting a great deal of railfan attention.
In her consist we spot a BC Rail boxcar and a lovely SOO LINE gondola...not to forget the B/A tankcar.
A heavy duty flatcar and a CP gon help the van bring up the rear of the train.
The crew "threads the needle" at the Fred Mills Trestle.
324 is captured in this video effort from Mike's camera.
Over to the west and on our secondary "bridge route" we find Rat 63 arriving Rat Portage.
This is the transfer run from Nelson Yard to Glen Hammond before heading into the wilds of the Lake of the Woods district on the Rat Portage Turn.
Malcolm is alone at the throttle on this day acting as engineer, conductor and brakeman!
On the video you can hear Train 322 seek clearance but I err in responding to the crew as Train 323 - me bad!
Earlier we had viewed Malcolm working the sidings at the end of the Lilly peninsula.
Here we see him having backed out from Nelson Yard to access the yard in Glen Hammond.
He is running long hood forward on the day.
Speaking of Glen Hammond, the Pool Train has made its second appearance here today, this time in the opposite direction.
Malcolm leaves Glen Hammond in the rear view mirror and is bound for Bellamy.
This lovely ONR 40' boxcar sits in the siding at Bell.
The house track in the Glen is full of traffic it seems.
Train 322 (not 323) has reached Bell along Track 3.
Steve & Seanna rescued the flatcar load from Lawrence's collection and it rides along the rails in beautiful fashion! One day we'll have to devise a way to tie it down!
There's no congestion here up on "The Plateau" as Pool Train 33 speeds along eastward to its home in Craig Leigh.
Sid is all smiles at the controls...
...as is conductor Ralph.
Doug & Moe are sandwiched by the tall tree trunks at St. Helen's as they hold in the siding for the passage of Train 33.
Video movements of Train 33.
Sid and Ralph now arrive Craig Leigh and make use of the wye to turn their train in order to back into the terminal area.
Video of their arrival.
It's been another day of successful pooled service along both railroad lines as Sid and Ralph make it back home.
In this video portion, Ralph indicates that "he's pooped"! Anyone would be after spending all day traveling along the rails of not one, but two railroads!
The backup move continues as the crew has now passed Douglas Yard and delivers the cars to the passenger terminal.
In the video Ralph lets Ralph know that he'll need another partner if Sid wishes to run the third trick of the morning...Passenger #1.
Dispatcher Mike is quick to raise his hand seeing as most meets have been met from the dispatcher's perspective. So Mike jumps aboard Passenger 1 with Sid.
They will fly "Visual Flight Rules" seeing as they will certainly meet other way freights along the way...but no problem if crews communicate with each other and Passenger 1 approaches each town with a slow order restriction in place.
Sid and I get underway with Passenger 1 while I continue with some of my dispatch duties although it will be rather easier while running a passenger train as opposed to a freight train with all its switching duties.
Sid had indicated that at times he needed to give his engine a little "shove of assistance" as it pulled six streamlined cars on the earlier passenger run so, to make our lives easier, we removed two of the cars from the consist and she ran beautifully!
Video taken at "The Plateau".
We take another glance at the work being done in Peter's Pond with Train 314.
Aha! There's that lovely SOO LINE car once again!
Who doesn't love a full lumber load on a bulkhead flatcar?
Our RP&M train climbs the hill up into Rat Portage.
The signal protects the oncoming train.
Doug and Moe continue to work the facing sidings at St. Helen's on their third trick of the morning.
They follow through to Ironwood.
We like the look of the BC Rail tanker.
One of the two Watkins Co-operative facilities found along the route is this grain elevator located at Wellington Lake.
Boxcars abound up in Cedar Rock.
The ore train is found once again; this time on the move out from Nelson Yard.
In the video you see the train slow to a stop uncertain as to the configuration of the escape switch out from the big yard near the large trestle.
The SOO LINE engine is very much enjoying its "date" with the ore train!
Ore gets moving once again in this video review.
Train 303's engine crew enjoy the cool, moist air found in the forested area between Peter's Pond and Wellington Lake.
Video evidence of the verdant landscape found in the area.
Andrew hauls ore into Spruce.
Spruce video with ore on the move.
Chris has arrived with Train 304 in Craig Leigh. He must now run around to the wye to turn his locomotive and back onto Train 313 which yardmaster Paul has placed on the ready track in the foreground.
Andrew's ore train is holding back down in St. Helen's and he hasn't been able to contact the Craig Leigh yardmaster so he walks over to Craig Leigh to see where his train is in the queue.
A video performance in Craig Leigh!
Here is another of Lawrence's 40 foot boxcars that we wanted to remain with the railroad seeing as we have never had an ERIE boxcar in the mix before.
Heading out to Spruce we find Steve and Seanna beginning their work here with Train 301.
They are shoving from the rear with cars destined for some of the facing sidings.
Steve & Seanna are sure to be clearing the mainline for the incoming Pool Train. We are at the western side of Ironwood where a dead tree was recently cut down opening up the area to more sunlight.
The tail end of Pool Train 33 is stopped in front of the station on the curve to allow passengers to board or detrain.
Up at the end of the Cedar Rock branch we find the crew of 302 dealing with the challenges this location puts their way.
This area of Cedar Rock was built up by our good friend Lawrence over time.
Yet another example of Lawrence's creativity...this bulkhead flat carrying the buoys.
Chris and Mark are on their second trick train in Ironwood. Train 314 sees them running from Craig Leigh to Nelson Yard.
Love this triple domed tank car!
Malcolm is basking partial sun and enjoying the partial shade in Rat Portage.
Looks like a city of Ottawa work crew to me!
We seem to have had a slight "service interruption" with Passenger 1. Did these objects obstructing the track come from outer space? A future board of inquiry investigation will tell in time.
Hey, let's head back down to Nova Scotia and check in on Pete!
I follow a train around the line.
Video of his railroad.
There's Pete!
Nice video from trackside in Nova Scotia!
I hadn't known that Pete was handy with wood - having built this bench/storage area.
Cool Pete!
Now, check this video of Pete's creativity!
Yet another expressive bench!
And a small dance floor! Heh heh!
Love the tree, Pete!
The man himself!
Back to my passion for gardening.
The climatic zone for Nova Scotia is mid-temperate which is actually very similar to ours here in Ottawa.
Hey Fred, we've got these same lillies growing in our Rust Garden!
Lovely.
Here is a more modern look at businesses and condominiums in Wolfville down by the old railroad tracks.
Ah yes, those good old tracks - sad that they are no longer of use!
Let's check back in at that CN boxcar resting beside the old station.
A view of the "B" end of the boxcar with the brake clearly evident.
A close-up view of the coupler.
The side door.
An artsy shot at the base of the door.
And the side of the door.
The lower grab irons.
The "A" end of the car.
As I mentioned in my early entry, I am impressed with the old style architecture found here in Wolfville!
A scene from the parking lot at our motel in Grand Falls, NB.
Another artsy shot.
The full body of the Harley Davidson.
And...of the Triumph!
Back in Fred's backyard I find this interesting boxcar that has interchanged with Doug Matheson's Railroad.
Indeed, this specimen comes from Doug's wonderful Northland Railroad.
Four IPP&W vans are found on the board room table.
Love the logo on Pat's shirt.
I mustn't forget about lunch!
Mark, Grant & Chris hold court in the crew lounge.
Henk offers his opinion to a gang across at the other side of the patio.
That gang includes skipper Bill!
Yes, a good time was had by all.
And...the rains held off!
Fred's office.
Hey, once again here is my bandmate, Wayne, with that new guitar of his that you could only see at a Queen concert back in the day.
The Brian May signature guitar!
One of our operator's car identifiers was found in the asphalt near the rust garden.
And, finally...here I am with my mother-in-law in an image taken a number of years ago. Marion turns 98 this month!
And finally once more...here is our "Host With the Most" - Father Fred!
Hey Fred, wasn't it a blast gathering at your place this week!
I know you enjoyed yourself as much as we all did!
Cheers from the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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