Indeed, the image above certainly portrays the situation Skipper Fred experiences on a Friday evening when the weather forecast warns of severe weather bands entering the region for the upcoming weekend. At some point, the decision on "whether the weather" will be suitable for train ops must be made based on the forecast...and the session was cancelled for this weekend although the rain never did materialize in the end. Fred has to take into consideration that many of the operators drive a great distance to make it to the train sessions when he makes the call. We're with ya all the way, Fred!
Fortunately, I have a library of images from earlier sessions that were not posted seeing as I take nearly 400 shots a session! Here, Pat shares a laugh with my friend, Bill, who recently moved to Ottawa.
Fred checks out some equipment with Stewart.
Then he shares the track schematic with Bill. (Due to the cancellation this week, I picked Bill up and showed him my HO scale layout and then toured him around the nation's capital as he has recently moved here. You'll see a few pics from our day later on.)
Earlier in the season, on June 9th of this year, it was narrow gauge.
We catch up with Pat and Malcolm's train, 301, as it enters the sprawling Nelson Yard.
From Nelson Yard, Pat and Malcolm change trains. We catch them in Cedar Rock aboard their new train, 311. To the right we find Moe and George in Spruce with Train 314.
Additional industries were added in Cedar Rock last season.
Which makes the switching at the end of the branch more challenging.
Love that White Pass locomotive.
Looks like there is a lift here or perhaps the track is used as a momentary lead.
311 climbs the grade out of Watkins Siding.
Then on into Bell.
The schematic of the railroad will once again have to be updated with all of the recent changes made this spring.
Malcolm has finished railfanning his train holding a meet with a westbound.
We backtrack in time slightly to find Moe and George eastbound with 314.
Through Blockhouse.
Up into Spruce.
Ironwood.
In the shade at Mount St. Helens.
Determining their moves.
Bill Sn3 Scobie, Paul and Fred sit comfortably at the table.
Chris and Bill share a conversation around the table.
At the eastern end of the line we catch Steve and Doug with 312 arriving Craig Leigh.
Bernie ensures the turnouts are aligned to bring 312 into Douglas Yard.
Doug and Steve are now aboard their final run of the day, Train 319. They are being held in Mount St. Helens were they enjoy some respite from the sun.
319 has been cleared into Ironwood where they meet George and Moe aboard 314.
Train 319.
Meets train 314.
We catch up with 303 between Spruce and Nelson Yard.
Bypassing Blockhouse, Pat and Lawrence will soon find themselves taking the curve at Lilly.
Then through the trestle.
Rounding the bend.
On into Nelson Yard.
I still had some pics left over from Bill and Paul aboard their RP&M trains.
We catch them in Nelson Yard.
Later, up the grade from Pratt's Bottom to the interchange in Bell.
Much later as Rat 71 in Glen Hammond.
Departing the Glen.
Rounding the bend.
Through the junction.
In this previously shared image we see Paul's beautiful locomotive.
Attacking the hill into Rat Portage.
Here's Paul and Bill!
We change our attention to Nelson Yard.
Henk works with extreme diligence to keep the yard organized.
While train crews arrive and depart...
...Henk remains in the yard.
With its ever-changing appearance.
Henk meets all of the crews throughout a session.
Where he shares camaraderie.
And...a short rest now and then!
His short little center cab does yeoman's service in the yard.
A visitor in Rat Portage.
Our crew assignment list.
My quarters on the morning.
Malcolm in Firgrove.
Fred, Brian and Don share some table talk.
Paul.
Fred and Don.
Bill.
Some rolling stock of the passenger variety.
And...of the freight variety.
Thanks for checking in! Seeing as how our session this weekend was cancelled, I'll now share with you some other railroad activities I was involved in over the past three days which are none garden related.
On Thursday and Friday evening I hosted the families of the students in my class over to my home to visit my HO Scale model railroad. I am able to share these pics as I have not named any of the children nor their family members.
It was a joy to see the keen interest on the faces of our visitors.
As they checked out the various scenes along the line.
After each student was given the opportunity to run the trains, blow the road crossings, use the bell on approach to yards and stations, they were given a checklist of twenty items to find on the layout. Here we catch a "sister act".
The lady with the blonde hair is my next door neighbour who spent a week in my classroom this year as she is in university and wants to become a teacher. All of the school children were really excited to see her once again in my basement!
The scene the family above was looking at.
Even grandparents came by.
Our little friend with her wounded wing enjoyed looking for a little HO girl holding a teddy bear.
Hiding somewhere in the urban area of the layout...on the station platform.
Fun group shots.
Of great families.
And super students.
They certainly keep me young.
Tons of fun.
A few more pics of what they saw during their visit.
A Maine Central train arriving North Dover outbound.
A Boston and Maine train rounding the bend in the yard at North Dover, NH.
A 44-tonner bring a short local across the New England River Bridge.
The Salmon River acts as the border between New Hampshire on the right and the state of Maine on the left.
Saying "good-bye" to our last two families of the night.
Dad gave me a test drive in his Tesla...how cool is that!
Then Saturday morning when I learned that the train ops were cancelled, I picked up my new friend, Bill, and brought him over to see the layout.
He really enjoyed the visit.
Even if it isn't garden railroading.
Then my wife, Lisa, and I took Bill for a short tour around Ottawa seeing as he recently moved here.
We're at Hog's Back Falls where the Rideau River drops just north of Mooney's Bay.
The falls.
We walked down river a bit.
To see the falls from a different perspective.
The falls looking south.
Then, back into the vehicle for a tour along the Rideau Canal. That's the Bank Street bridge you see out the front window...my favourite bridge in Ottawa.
A nice looking boat navigating the canal.
Into the market area where we find the big Ottawa sign.
The central area of the market.
Lots of cool establishments here.
We drive past Maman, the giant spider outside the National Art Gallery of Canada.
The larger Ottawa River.
At the location where the Rideau River falls into the Ottawa. When Samuel de Champlain first travelled up the Ottawa River and saw the falls, he thought they resembled a "curtain" of water. The French word for "curtain" is "rideau"...thus the name of the falls and the river itself.
Lisa and Bill on the section right above the falls.
Checking out the rails.
For this lifting device.
For the large timbers.
The far rail.
At this spot where the two rivers meet I discovered a new restaurant that overlooks the Ottawa River. I'll have to come back another day for lunch!
My daughter works for the Governor General so we drove Bill past her residence located just outside the gates to Rideau Hall. She is living here for the time being until her residence at Rideau Hall is refurbished. Our prime minister also lives on the grounds of Rideau Hall while 24 Sussex is renovated over the next ten years.
Michael Potter's house in Rockliffe Park.
Michael Copeland's home on the same street.
I tried to convince Bill that I had sold the home to Mr. Copeland, the founder of Corel.
But my wife was having none of that.
As she wouldn't want to live in something so audacious!
Back to Fred's place.
Indeed, we must wonder if the weatherman (or woman) really can predict the weather for us.
But...one thing's for certain...we'll try our best to get back at it with Skipper Fred next week!
Have a great week everyone! Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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