Views From Session #9 With Steam Locomotives
This past Saturday we recreated the time when steam locomotives ruled the rails.
The odd diesel or two bucked convention and made an appearance.
What is impressive is the variety found in the appearance of the many steamers from the past.
Ralph and Malcolm toiled the morning away aboard RP&M trains with Ralph's diminutive locomotive #5.
This was a purchase from the Lawrence Watkins estate a couple of years back.
It was great seeing Ralph out for the first time this season!
This lovely Heisler was brought out from the Watson stable to run Passenger 2.
Thanks to Steve & Seanna for allowing Bill to run this interesting specimen on this day!
Here we find Steve & Seanna's other locomotive working the facilities in Ironwood aboard second trick Train 312.
They started their morning aboard Train 302 which ran from Firgrove to Nelson Yard where they took hold of 312 bound for Craig Leigh.
Steve offers up a fun smile pre-ops!
Earlier in the morning I found both Steve & Seanna working the Cedar Rock Branch nearby the facility named in their honour...aboard Train 302.
There's their locomotive in front of the S&S Electric facility.
Phil's Pontiac Pacific Junction steamer heads up Train 303 about to run westbound towards Bellamy and points beyond.
This RGS locomotive #25 has held down the job as the Douglas Yard switcher throughout the summer of 2026.
Paul has held down the role as the Douglas yardmaster in Craig Leigh throughout this time.
Doug's steam locomotive has run around its train, third trick run #323 and makes use of the trackage at Watkins Siding to conduct its work at the eastern front of Bell.
Dilip sent along these next four images.
Above we see folks having gathered for the pre-ops meeting in the crew lounge.
We hold a brief 'briefing' - with few words spoken as we wish to board our locomotives and get the trains on the go!
Bernie & I co-dispatched on this day and I was able to sneak away from the dispatch cabin to railfan the IPP&W.
That's Bill in the background hauling 'cushion sitters' into Spruce in the process of making his station stop.
Dilip managed to capture me capturing him! 😎😄😎
Thanks for the four images Dilip!
Henk peers into the dispatch booth.
"That man doesn't look like Mike!" Henk wonders.
Certainly not!
Why...it's the Bernie Man!
Thanks for creating the new Train Numbers for the board markers Bernie!
The first train out on the morning is Passenger 2 seen departing Firgrove for Bell.
The parade commences with Train 302 hot on Number 2's tail.
Marcel & George run the yards in Firgrove as Steve keeps a keen eye on his eastbound train, now underway.
This video 'capture' of the two trains follows their departure from the western terminal of the line.
In convoy fashion, the ore train descends the grade behind Trains 2 and 302.
What a surprise to railfans to see this 'triple header' in action!
In the lead locomotive is engineer Bob Clarke; a renowned railroader in these parts!
He is running on a 'slow order' keeping a safe distance behind the two trains ahead of him.
Ore train video characters!
Not long after the ore train departed Firgrove along the Bell Subdivision, I spot Train 304 making headways up the grade into the town of Spruce along the subdivision named in this town's honour.
The town is known for both its low growth and its high growth Spruce trees which dominate the landscape.
It would appear that a maintenance crew will have to trim the foliage around the full length of the curve.
304 glides into the siding at Spruce.
We spot a headend car on the house track and a string of cars along the Charlie's Fuels siding.
304's entry into Spruce is found in this video attempt by railfan Mike.
A locomotive working for the RP&M on this day is spotted once again in Stuart outside of Bell.
Robin is aboard Train 72, employed by the Rat Portage & Mattawa Railway.
Train 311 on the second track over (Track 3) is running along the Ironwood, Peter's Pond & Western Railway.
Video shots in and around the town of Stuart.
An early generation diesel is brought into service for IPP&W Train 311.
Robin focuses on the couplers as he will move his drovers' caboose to the rear of his train for the eventual return trip to Nelson Yard.
Video effort of the two railways working side-by-side.
Earlier, Pool Train 33 passed IPP&W Train 311 in an arranged meet at Watkins Siding.
Grant's Denver, South Park & Pacific steam locomotive hauls headend traffic into Bell along the IPP&W in a westbound tack before heading onto RP&M rails,
Bell is busy at the moment, but all crews have protected themselves against the oncoming Pool Train.
Bill slows to a stop at the massive Bell depot.
In back we see the crew aboard second trick Train 314 working the western end of town alongside an RP&M train...resulting in a triple meet at this location.
Hot action at Bell is captured on video.
Bill & Grant in the foreground discuss their setouts and lifts here along the house track aboard the Pool Train.
In back we spot the crews aboard IPP&W 314 and RP&M 72 handling their chores in a highly cooperative manner.
Bell video activities abound!
A fourth crew has requested clearance into Bell, but are instructed to hold at Watkins Siding.
Wisdom abounds - as Dilip & Mark...rather than waiting in the siding for Bell to clear...decide to make use of the 'runaround' capability this lengthy siding offers to run around their train in order to shunt the boxcar into the eastern industry at Bell without interfering with the three other trains there at the moment.
And...voila...they shove the car into the desired siding...making for a 'quadruple meet' at Bell!
Now that's 'thinking'! 👍👍👌👌👍👍
While we see eight bodies here, the motion of all trains is fluid and soon the town of Bell will clear as the crews will continue on their merry way around the railway!
Video proof of the quadruple meet at Bell.
Grant & Bill are engaged in conversation pre-ops...
...as are Robin & Henk.
George & Phil share some stories as Bob pulls his locomotive from its carrying case.
Marcel & Mark discuss their work for the morning.
The railway is a very busy place with folks pitching in all over to get the system ready for the train operations.
Here is a clip containing the orders for the crew aboard 302.
The coloured clips are for labelling the cars they must attend to while in their various towns - their setouts and their pickups.
And...these poker chips act as labels for all of the cars placed in the expansive Nelson Yard both before the session gets underway and then again throughout the session as trains drop off traffic that must go out on other runs.
This billboard reefer is one of my favourite cars on the system.
Yet another classy looking freight car if you can call a rail gondola classy! 😁😆😁💪💪
Train 2 squirrels around the curve to the west of Bell.
Grant slows the train for its station stop along the station track.
Video of the train's approach into Bell.
Seanna pilots 302 in onto Track 3...
...as Passenger 2 keeps to its schedule up ahead departing for Wellington Lake...
...while across the valley 303 continues to drill the western end of Glen Hammond...
...and 304 finishes up its work at the eastern end of the Glen!
Lots happening for sure!
Here is a four-train video for your enjoyment!
While not a 'true' meet of the two passenger runs...I imagine you could call this an 'image' meet!
Cool video of our two passenger runs keeping apart by the valley between Ironwood and Watkins Siding leading into Wellington Lake.
Train 304 exits Spruce eastbound.
The crew enters Ironwood where they encounter 301 working the northernmost sidings of town.
Spruce/Ironwood video effort.
Grant hauls Passenger 2 into the Glen for a meet with Bill who is running Passenger 1.
Due to congestion at Bellamy, Passenger 2 had been held back at Mercer Siding for a considerable amount of time.
To add insult to injury, it's a 15 minute stop at Glen Hammond for the two trains (imaginary though).
The eastbound has now met the westbound and both trains are cleared out of Glen Hammond.
The eastbound will travel on to Spruce and the westbound will head to Bellamy and then through the junction to Peter's Pond.
The meet takes place in this video footage.
Train 2 gets underway while Train 1 holds for Bellamy to clear.
I'm not sure which is more colourful; Grant's locomotive with yellow & orange passenger cars or Grant's yellow & orange shirt! 😄😎😄
Which reminds me of one of my favourite cars on the railway.
(Mike couldn't resist showing this image once again!)
Here's a video look at all that yellow & orange!
I spot this express reefer over in Craig Leigh.
And...I spot many trains up in Bell!
Here's an earlier shot of Train 301 at St. Helens.
Dilip & Mark have all things under control here in the eastern sector of the line.
This business car is found hanging out on the house track in the Glen.
It will be picked up by Pool Train 33 later in the AM hours.
Grant lends a helping hand in putting away the cars following the end of the session.
The sausages have just been placed on the BBQ!
Hey...if only they could cook this fast in real time!
Marcel managed the cooking chores on this day!
Thanks Marcel!!! 👦👧
While the rest of us hang out in the crew lounge awaiting our grub!
My oh my...how Peter's Pond has grown!
Marcel consoles George and tells him that the sausages will be ready at any moment.
Marcel, you'd better get those sausages cooked 'pronto' as I hear Henk and Bill barking at you in this video from the crew lounge!
Of course, these past few images and that fun video came from my daughter Karen who was visiting the Galapagos Islands!
Thanks so much Karen!
Pat sent this image our way while on vacation in New Brunswick.
Pat tells us that this is the VIA Ocean leaving Bathurst yesterday around 11:40 a.m. Atlantic Daylight time.
It was 19 cars long.
Thanks for the photo Pat!
Jeff chose to participate as an 'observer' on this day where he spent considerable time in conversation with Father Fred.
And...Father Fred can tell you stories for hours and hours!
He has so much wisdom to share.
And we love how he shares his hospitality with us each and every Saturday morning as we ply trains along the routes of the IPP&W and RP&M railways.
I've got to head out now as my band is playing the Perley Veterans Health Centre early this afternoon for the seniors.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
