Inaugural Session for 2017 (Part Two)

 

Seeing as our first session of the season was standard gauge, it is only right that we would serve witness to a plethora of diesel locomotives.

This is the Part Two account of our Inaugural Session of the 2017 season.
To view Part One go to:
http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/05/inaugural-session-for-2017-part-one.html

To see video footage Malcolm shot, go to:
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AEaDqlHVz033fjE&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2110301&parId=4275D0234272929B%2110300&o=OneUp

 

 

We spot Bernie's Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo engine working Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

 

 

I'm fond of rolling stock so here's a limited gander at a few selections on the railroad.

 

 

Two tankers await future movements in the yard.

 

 

Speaking of yards, Nelson Yard (to the right) along with the smaller yard in Glen Hammond (to the left) anchor the two railroads.

 

 

In this lovely May morning shot, Paul is working Nelson Yard (left) while Doug has brought in his passenger train to Glen Hammond where he has a bit of work to do.

 

 

If I were to snap a photograph every few minutes, the yard would take on a different persona. 

That's Lawrence and Steve aboard 312 working the siding at Blockhouse.

 

 

The two yards are beauties to behold.

 

 

It's fun to follow the colourful crews on the RP&M.

Henk and Brian have their train upgrade from Pratt's Bottom where they will arrive the interchange area at Bell Junction in short order.

 

 

A transfer caboose along with a Drover caboose certainly add colour here.

 

 

Brian and Henk returning to Nelson Yard have just crossed the diamond with the IPP&W.

 

 

Rounding the bend in front of the stations at Bellamy and Bellson.

 

 

Love those shots on the curves.

 

 

Arriving Nelson Yard.

 

 

Paul and Malcolm are assigned 301 on this day.

 

 

They are using my D&H locomotive seeing as Paul has replaced the innards for me!

I still require the front footsteps.

This location is between Mound St. Helens and Ironwood.

 

 

In Ironwood.  Malcolm is in the process of shoring up the large retaining wall stones.

Some of the crew gather on Wednesdays for work sessions.

Being a school teacher, I am only available over the summer holidays, but I look forward to the Wednesday work sessions as much as I do the Saturday operations.

 

 

Malcolm, Doug and Paul enjoying a chitchat.

 

 

In spruce, the crew runs around their train to drill the facing industries at Mackenzie Lumber.

 

 

Malcolm and Paul pierce the trestle.

 

 

They contact the Nelson Yard master for clearance into the yard.

 

 

They've been given a track to come in on.  They will leave 301's cut of cars here and grab the cut of the adjacent siding and continue westward as 311.

 

 

Steve and Lawrence arrived Nelson Yard in the opposing direction on 302.  Like Paul and Malcolm with 301/311, they have arrived Nelson Yard as 302 where they will exchange all traffic and continue eastbound as 312.

 

 

312 arriving Spruce.

 

 

With their work completed at Spruce, the crew of 312 take a well-deserved breather as they await 318 to complete its moves at Ironwood.

 

 

312 eventually arrived Craig Leigh where they became train 319 for a run back to Glen Hammond.

The combined train of 302/312/319 meant that the crew ran a run that is 50% longer than those run in previous years.

 

 

Garry and Peter have already run trains 327 and 304 and they are on their final leg aboard train 314 from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.  We see them piercing the newly added trestle at Blockhouse!  Hehehe!

 

 

They are upgrade into Spruce.

 

 

They meet train 303 at Spruce.

 

 

A shot of 328 approaching Peter's Pond with a CN locomotive on the point as the D&H unit remained in Firgrove.

 

 

Garry and Pete work the sidings in Ironwood aboard 314.

 

 

A rare occurrence is seeing a husband and wife enjoying our great hobby together as a team.

.

 

Seanna and Steve bring a lot to the sessions.  They both handle a lot of the electrical having to do with signalling and Steve has organized the train ops using a computer program.

 

 

Meets are fun for railfans to capture and this one between 303 and 312 meets all of the criteria for a great one...with two very handsome and colourful diesels.

 

 

We mustn't forget Train 15, the Pool Train.

Doug has been given the green to clear the diamond.

 

 

Earlier, train 15 was spotted in Pratt's Bottom along the RP&M.

 

 

Train 15 through Glen Hammond.

 

 

Into Spruce.

 

 

On the curve to the west of Ironwood.

 

 

Up the grade into Craig Leigh.

 

 

Arriving Craig Leigh.

 

 

Where we spot this dark and handsome beauty of a locomotive.

 

 

Steve has hauled out his Ottawa Central unit that he painted and lettered.

It has the honours on 319, the third leg of Steve and Lawrence's workload on the day.

 

 

Out of Mount St. Helens.

 

 

On its approach to Ironwood.

 

 

Malcolm sent along the next few images of some of the great looking diesels that made an appearance.

 

 

Ralph Yard in Firgrove.

 

 

The outskirts of Nelson Yard.

 

 

Hansome Steve in Ironwood.

 

 

Along with his equally handsome crewmate, Lawrence.

 

 

Yup, ya can't argue with the colour of diesels be they alone...

 

 

...or together!

 

 

...in the shade.

 

 

...or above the gut.

 

 

Our D&H unit earlier in the day now on the point of 311 westbound out of Nelson Yard.

 

 

At Bell.

 

 

328, the replacement locomotive awaiting its run in Ralph Yard.

 

 

328 on Track 4 in Bell.

 

 

Awaiting clearance to Peter's Pond.

 

Indeed, railroading is full of colourful characters and these wonderful diesel locomotive are but a few of the many that can be found each alternate Saturday morning riding the rails of the Ironwood, Peter's Pond and Western and the Rat Portage and Mattawa Railways!

 

Have a great week everyone!

Mike Hamer

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada