Fallentree Mine Now Reopened on WDWD

August 5th "Workday Wednesday"

The WDWD crew worked diligently once again this morning.

The fruits of their efforts means that the right of way has been shorn of overgrown weeds.

All choke cables have been oiled.

Nelson Yard now has throws on every distant turnout.

Fallentree Mine is now back in operation!

The Lawrence Watkins Trestle has been leveled with the rails adhered with track ties.

We could even work the sidings at Lilly, but alas, I informed our rail master, Steve, that I didn't anticipate its opening for at least another week...thus no trains will traverse the wooden trestle to deliver goods there.

The trestle can now be used as a 'lead' into the mine though...so Bob...feel free to have fun setting out empties and lifting loads from there as you have always done in the past!

"Before"

Another "Before" image.

"After" image 'sans' mine.

"After" image with mine.

When I arrived, Father Fred had the tea and the coffee on in the kitchen.

Freddie's cap!

Shortly thereafter, a deer somehow managed to find its way into the kitchen...perhaps searching for some grub!

Well, it's a dear alright...why, it's "Dear Doug" our dearest dispatcher of the railway!

Then trouble arrived!

Errr...I mean...Bill!

But where is his sidekick?

More trouble!

There he is...all out of focus!

Henk did work hard this morning...but I had no further images of the lad...so here he is on another WDWD assisting Bill with the turnout throws.

Chris kept the weeds at bay across the vast expanse of both railways.

Mark arrived and got down to business right away.

He oiled all of the choke cables around the entire system of both railways.

Bernie also arrived following his appointment with a cute looking dental hygienist but I had no images of him from today...thus this one from several WDWD's ago!

Doug & I discuss how we will deal with the turnouts leading into the two mine spurs.

As things turned out, with the two turnouts placed as you see, we were able to use curved trackage to 'sneak' onto the two boards.

The far track of the mine actually hugs the edge of the board which is fine.

The near track comes closer to the center of its board.

I have placed a straight track atop the nearer curved section to determine where exactly the straight area of rail begins.

I then marked this location on the curved section of track and took the piece over to Fred for cutting.

Father Fred did a masterful job with the cutting of the rail and the filing to ensure a perfect fit!

It will work out well, Freddie!

Here you see me moments later tucking the straight section into the curved one.

For Bob's information, we can fit six ore cars on the front track at the mine and five on the back track.

A perfect fit I say!

And...the Fallentree Mine is happy to be home once again!

Looking good!

While I was busy getting laid at the mine...errr...I mean...laying track at the mine, Bill was occupied over at the western front of Nelson Yard.

Seeing as we used brand new choke cables for the mine reno, Bill 'recycled' the old ones and added distant throws to the other far-off tracks in Nelson Yard.

 In the past he used to have to reach a long way to turn the switch or ask someone on the other side of the yard to do so for him...and often times there was nobody on the far side of the yard!

Great job Bill!

In the upcoming video you will see me throw the distant turnout.

The reason Bill is pressing on the choke cable is because we had no more fittings or even staples to hold it down.

In the end...after the video, we improvised with two track nails to handle the job.

Video of the throw action.

Chris snagged these next three shots of me in action spiking down the rails on the Lawrence Watkins Trestle.

The trestle was so solidly built by Lawrence that it can take my full weight as I sit atop it to place the nails alongside the rails.

Here are the tools of the trade.

The two silver metallic templates keep the rails at the perfect distance from each other in parallel as I spike down the rails.

The pliers have a special indent to hold the top of the spikes which I can use to turn the spike heads atop the base of the rail.

No need to hammer anything down...just pressure from the blunt end of the pliers does the trick.

Finally, the hundreds of tiny spikes can be seen inside the plastic container.

A June bug is happily climbing the outer ridge of the wall above the far window as loaded ore cars are awaiting pickup from the mine.

And...the empties will be replenished in short order!

Chris has just lifted the trestle and rested it on some stones to take the 'bow' out it and all is level now!

So Chris & I play a game of "Pitch & Catch" or "Rock & Roll" with the two cars!

Video fun at the Fallentree Mine and the Lawrence Watkins Trestle over to Lilly!

So...from this...

...to this...we are ready to rumble on Saturday at the mine!!!  💪💪👌👌👍👍💪💪

Chris & Mark take a much needed rest in the shade found in the patio area.

And...when I get home I get out my trusty Martin Guitar and play a few tunes as a form of relaxation following a hard day's 'morning' working on the railway!

And Fred heads back indoors to get out of the heat found in the great outdoors.

He is smiling as he sees the railway coming back to form once again.

By the following session after this Saturday's one, we will once again be able to switch out Lilly as well as the Fallentree Mine!

We are the "Workday Wednesday" crew of the OVGRS and we are proud to call Ottawa, Ontario, Canada our home!

Views From Our Narrow Gauge Session #9

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