First Views of Session #18
A total of 27 operators made it out for our final session of the season.
Seeing as we operate during the transition years between steam and diesel, you will notice a 'hodge podge' of equipment in this entry.
We thank Bernie & Pat Brewer for heading over to Fred's on Friday morning to clean off the rails from natural debris which falls from the trees and for lubricating the turnout cables.
Thanks also to Pat Brennan for sending in some images and videos from the session.
You will see them partway down the blog posting.
You can enlarge images by clicking on them and return to the default look of the page by clicking outside them.
First of all...seeing as it is Thanksgiving weekend up here in Canada, engineer Fred Mills sends along this "Happy Thanksgiving Greeting" to all of our OVGRS friends and families along the route of the IPP&W.
Not to be outdone by the IPP&W, the crew with Fred on the RP&M train also wishes all of our Canadian friends a "Happy Thanksgiving".
For on this day we shall consider the RP&M as the Rat Portage and "Fred Mills-tone" Railway!
This image testifies to the true case of transition times on the railway.
Steve & Seanna's Ontarion Northland power on the westbound train meets Craig & Joanne's steam powered locomotive currently driving east.
As Steve pointed out to this railfan it is also a case of ON power meeting an ON boxcar...both dressed in blue & yellow!
That's Train 303 under diesel power and 302 under steam.
None of this rail action could have taken place if it were not for the dedication of Pat & Bernie the day before...
...as these scenes from Bernie's camera attest to the fact that Mother Nature can be obstinate at times!
So-o-o the good ole blower comes out of the shed!
Pat certainly made the rounds of the railway!
He also repaired the western turnout at Mercer Siding...
...and lubricated the choke cables.
Thanks to Bernie and Pat for their efforts and the photos! 👍👍
When I arrived at 7:45 AM this morning I noticed the frost atop the rails!
In fact, some of the turnouts thrown by cables were actually frozen shut!
Check out the frost here! Yikes!
Everyone was dressed for the weather in jackets, gloves and hats...
...everyone except Gerry...who must have a roaring furnace inside his body!
In this video you will note the steam rising off the BBQ cover as the rays of the morning sun hit the material.
Folks assemble for the pre-ops briefing and safety speech.
Ralph Yard is populated with cars up in Firgrove.
A view from the other side.
Ore cars have once again found a home at the Firgrove mine track.
Doug's AB Northland Railroad units have drawn the assignment aboard Passenger 2 this day.
Passenger 2 video star!
Continued video up in Firgrove with Train 2.
The crews aboard 303 and 304 share the 'Thanksgiving Table" at Glen Hammond.
Before each crew can depart, they both have work to conduct in the Glen.
We hope to have them out from the neighbourhood in due course as Passenger trains #1 & #2 will soon be holding their meet here.
304's power is Garry's gorgeous steam locomotive.
303's power is Steve & Seanna's acquisition from the McKenzie shops earlier this spring!
The crew continues to drill the sidings from the west of the Glen.
Across the valley Train 2 follows the 'glide slope' heading for Bell.
The crew slows for its attack of the big curve outside the town of Stuart.
Video efforts on the western front of Fred's property.
303 is cleared into Bellamy.
Train 2 reaches Bell.
Western end video work goes on.
Train 2 is cleared east to Wellington Lake and gets underway out from Bell.
Train 302 has been cleared into Bell on Track 3.
Track 3 parallels the interchange track here at Bell.
Video work at Bell.
304 navigates the big bend in the road to the west of Spruce.
Over at Bell Train 50 has made an appearance.
This is the short hop that departed Firgrove earlier in its run.
Video around town!
Passenger 1 glides along 'The Plateau'.
She's a steam powered operation on this day.
Passenger 1 shines bright in this video take.
Train 2 finds Peter's Pond 'all to itself'!
Pond activated video!
Early morning frost remains atop the roof of the green structure as 303 meets Train 2 down in the Pond.
Frosty video fun!
The ore train is a 'shorty' out from Firgrove on this day.
302's power is working along Track 3 as ore moves by on the main.
Ore train video scenes at Bell.
Let's take a look at Pat's pics from the session.
The following are his words:
My partner in crime at the start of the session is Steve...seen here in the red cap.
He will soon be my daughter Alexa's father-in-law as his son Evan will marry Alexa in September 2027
Bernie is one of our maintenance gurus!
Seanna is found outside Mike's dispatch cabin.
Note the winter-ready clothing!
Indeed it seems that there is no transition season this year...aka...no autumn 'feel' as it certainly seems like we left summer temps and ran right into winter ones!
It's pre-ops time and the yards are filled with traffic ready and raring to depart town!
Moe & Doug shrug off the temps...or at least they try to!
Pat & Bob feel the temperature drop as they leave a sunny area and enter a shaded portion of the property.
No 'Long Johns' for Freddie (he hates wearin' em) but he is pretty relaxed in his jacket in the crew lounge with all of that paper work to keep him occupied.
Chris can't wait until the warmer weather arrives once more next spring!
It seems that John has some homework to do...ie...repairing a few locomotives.
Here he is with Steve in Craig Leigh.
Pat's guest also named Steve is eager to get the trains moving!
And...going they get!
Pat has found the sun's glare pointing his camera to the south...but at least it is burning off the frosty ice which had accumulated on the rails.
Pat and Steve are departing Craig Leigh bound for St. Helens where they will have some switching to do.
Pat tells us that..."Upon arrival at Mount St. Helens passenger Train 1, operated by John Fedak,
overtakes us."
Passenger 1 drops downgrade out into the countryside between St. Helens and Ironwood.
The train is running along the Spruce Sub while the track below and in behind makes up a section of the Bell Sub.
Aha!
We spot Passenger 2 running along the Bell Sub at this very moment!
I imagine you could term this as a "distant meet"! 😎😄😎
Dual passenger video from Pat.
When passenger 1 leaves mount St. Helens headed to
Ironwood, the crew finds passenger 2 tooting his own horn on his way to Peter's
Pond.
Bill was at the throttle of number 2.
After 301's work is completed at Mount St. Helens they enter Ironwood with three cars
to set out, and...yes they are blocked.
The team aboard 301 works with Doug and Bernie to
set out their cars and to pick up what they need to proceed to Spruce.
Over in Spruce Garry works the sidings aboard eastbound 304.
Steve & Mark are all smiles on this cool but clear morning!
The crew works collaboratively with the IS team at Ironwood as witnessed in this video effort!
In Spruce, Passenger 2 makes its presence known.
And it is known in a 'big way'!
The AB pairing is led by unit #4055 belonging to Doug Matheson...one of the two Ironwood Switcher crew members on this day.
Once Train 2 departed Pat's crew had to hold the siding for the passage of the ore train.
The video of the Passenger train riding through Spruce was too large for Blogger, but we do have a short video of the ore train as seen in the image above.
Short video of the ore train running past 301.
Pat continues with the story: "Then
we switch at Spruce followed by a run down the hill towards Nelson
Yard."
A very 'camouflaged' Steve relaxes in the chair and blends in with the colours on the BBQ cover!
He is checking off all of the moves 301 makes in order to ensure a successful run!
The headend crew is on their train...but are they really coupled? Yikes!Note the schoolhouse off to the upper right of the image.
It was found in Fred's house and Bernie took it home to repair the structure and put it back together again.
It truly was a form of Humpty Dumpty.
Retired school teacher Mike is pleased to see a schoolhouse at Spruce overlooking the plateau where Clarke Grade descends.
Video views at Spruce with 301.
301 rides the grade out from Spruce.
Pat continues...after hearing Mike showing enthusiasm with his "other foot".
"Fortunately Mike didn't kick our train at the crossing...or any other location for that matter." 🙈🙉🙉🙊
Editor's Note: We'll have to remember that Mike still has his other "Big Foot" that hasn't been used as of "Yet-i"! Get it! 😎😉😎
One version of the Ontario Northland's 40 foot boxcars holds tight to the locomotive...
...as a cousin trails behind!
Note the eagerness in Mike's voice as 301 descends the grade towards the pedestrian crossing adjacent to his dispatch booth on the audio for the video!
301 is on approach to Nelson Yard...
...or...
...are they?
Malcolm points out the turnout the conductor aboard 301 should've thrown.
Pat explains:
A switch was not thrown properly and I threw my conductor under the bus for missing that (Big Grin) - so we ended up having to backtrack from heading to Glen Hammond by mistake.
301's fun approach into Nelson Yard as captured in this video moment!
From Nelson Yard, the crew aboard 301 picked up their second train of the morning, Train 311.
311 enters Bell along Track 3 as John navigates the Pool Train out of town.
Moments earlier 311 met 314 at Watkins siding.
The Pool Train was finishing up its switching chores at the east house track at Bell.
Pool Train 33 has been cleared out from Bell and will chase down 314 at Wellington Lake.
Bill and John are the two-men crew aboard this train.
Pat continues with his story..."Once at Bell it's a busy time but we collaborate with the RPM crew who are also working here."
We are drilling Henk's Dutchman's Store's warehouse trackside at Bell in this moment.
Next thing you know we're 322 and working at Cedar Rock.
Steve is posing beside the train as it climbs up to 'the rock'.
At the end of the ops session Bill takes a picture of the crew of 301/311/322 - (from L-R) Steve, Pat & Mark.
Another
shot of Steve on the right with Bill wearing a railway shirt with a Rio
Grande Southern Goose and a baseball cap for locomotive 315.
Last shot is Steve posing with 322 at its destination, Glen Hammond, along with some cars in the Interchange tracks.
Thanks for joining us today Steve!
Signed Pat.
And...thanks to you, Pat, for sharing these awesome images and videos with us!
Bernie's TH&B Geep hustles around the curve at Ironwood continuing with its switching chores.
We finish off with our images from the session of Train 312 about to move out from Nelson Yard on a beautiful fall Saturday morning!
Our dear friend, Doug Hayes, says "Hi" to everyone.Corinne & I performed at his seniors' residence once again.
Here is the locomotive he donated to the residence which I showcased last summer in a blog entry.
She's a beauty Doug!
We started off with Father Fred driving a couple of steam locomotives.
So, how about we have him wish every one of our Canadian friends a "Happy Thanksgiving" while driving a diesel locomotive.
And...why not have him run another train under diesel power through the town of Peter's Pond!
Indeed, Freddie's RP&M cap matches one of the main colours of autumn up here in Canada.
We managed to get in 18 operating sessions this season which is near to our average of dates.
Soon we'll be closing up the railway and putting 'er to bed!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
