A trio of RS3's await their call to duty.
Such fine looking road units they are. These images follow the many great ones shared by Bernie and Mark in the previous two postings. To visit their images, simply click on the link in the archive to the right.
This posting is a continuation of images and stories from our sixth session of the season.
Paul and Bill set out cars to their respective tracks before the ops begin.
Doug and Fred at the main table. That list in front of Fred indicates where each car is to be placed on the railroad.
Most cars from the previous session are in their proper carrying cases, but sometimes a car has to be referenced against the master list. Paul Norton, Andrew and Paul Anderson refer to the list while Fred looks over my way.
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Len and Chris help out around Glen Hammond to the left while Pat and Henk sort cars in the big Nelson Yard.
Mark and George up in Firgrove. Mark will take the first train of the morning out from this location.
Manny and George are our Firgrove Yard Masters.
I've brought my CN road switcher out even though I will be dispatching the railroad.
It's smart to have an extra locomotive on hand just in case.
It's already a very warm morning, so Henk dips his small towel into the bowl of cold water.
He washes his face...
...and peeks at the camera.
The lads enjoy some companionship before ops begins.
Meaningful discussions occur.
Bernie notices me.
Like a fisherman, he got me!
The morning is bright and sunny.
As is the disposition of our captain...skipper Fred!
"Time for talk is over!" announces Mr. Scobie. "Let the trains begin running!"
Indeed, we get an earlier start to the ops.
Henk works the industries to the east of Nelson Yard...
...in his role as Nelson Yard Master.
Pat and Moe begin their work in Glen Hammond on Train 327.
Mark does some garden maintenance as he and Bill drift into Bell aboard 302.
Mark is thrilled to be running his recent acquisition...this lovely CPR RS3.
The blue Conrail GP30 tells me Malcolm is somewhere near.
Ah ha! There he is working the western side of Nelson classifying traffic for future outgoing trains.
Malcolm's crew mate on the day is Andrew, seen to the left. Once they have assisted the Nelson Yard Master with organizing the big yard, they will leave on a journey through RP&M territory aboard RP&M Train 65-66, the turn up to Bell Junction.
It's early on in the session so my board is relatively clean. It won't remain this way for too long!
Chris will man the other RP&M train with his crew mate, Pat (out of the picture). Currently, they assist the Nelson Yard Master with chores at the eastern end of the big yard. They will depart Nelson Yard later on aboard the train we call Rat 70.
On Rat 70, they will have to back their train out of Nelson Yard and head forward into Glen Hammond before setting out for Rat Portage. When they complete their work at Rat, they will return to Nelson Yard after working some industries between Rat and Nelson.
In the above image, we spot Len sending instructions to Paul in the distance as their train reaches Blockhouse. Len and Paul work 318 east from Glen Hammond to Craig Leigh..
This lovely blue diesel locomotive belongs to Brian.
He navigates the station track in Ironwood with Pool Train 15.
Back in Bell, the gardening has been completed and 302 winds its way through the crossing down to the yard.
They will have to clear the mainline for Passenger 2 which is lensed just to the west of Bell.
Ah...Garry's CN Geep...another thing of beauty.
He and Paul work the facing tracks in Mount St. Helens.
Pat and Moe study their work orders for Peter's Pond. They are looking to see if they have any traffic up the branch in Cedar Rock.
Hey Bernie! You look cool in the shade at Douglas Yard.
Len uncouples his train to either set out a car at Blockhouse or to pick up the container flat.
Lawrence with Passenger 2.
A good looking guy...
...with a good looking train. It's smooth sailing through Watkins, the siding named in his honour.
Passenger 2 has disappeared around "The Corners" so we take a quick glance at the new siding at Wellington Lake, named in honour of our Firgrove Yard Master, George Wellington.
318 finds daylight at the pedestrian crossing.
Paul and Len round the bend outside of Spruce.
Paul's GP30 is a real looker.
318 meets 15.
Looking down the tracks at Spruce.
Len and Paul. The car Len is holding has run aground a few times. The possible problems could be light car weight, a low or high coupler or wheels not in gauge. We believe the former to be the issue in this case.
Henk, as always, has everything under control and working lickity-split at Nelson Yard.
Hi Chris!
There's Pat, Chris's crew mate.
They continue their blocking of cars at the eastern fringe of Nelson Yard.
301 has had to run around it's train in order to handle the facing sidings at Mount St. Helens.
They will be on their train in no time.
Indeed...dispatch has cleared them into Ironwood where they first deal with their facing sidings before tackling the trailing ones.
Looks like Brian has the Pool Train arriving Glen Hammond along the bypass track near Nelson Yard.
The view from my perch in the dispatch hut shows Bell to the left, Glen Hammond straight on and Nelson Yard to the right.
The power, once again, for Train 15.
Henk and Chris work side-by-side.
Henk has many a story to tell or instruction to give.
Pat gets a kick out of the experience.
New York Central power will be the motor of choice for their RP&M train on this day as Passenger 2 glides by.
Passenger 2 is through the trestle...
...and gliding down the hill at Lilly.
Lawrence observes his train from the pedestrian crossing.
Passenger 2 at Blockhouse.
Underneath the eastern throat of Nelson Yard.
As we figured, 318 does have work at the end of the Cedar Rock Branch. No need to worry as Pat and Moe will handle the tricky manoeuvers in short order with great dexterity.
The two Pauls...Paul Anderson to the left in Spruce with 318 and Paul Norton to the right in Ironwood with 301.
Hey, Bill...love the smile!
Bill and Mark continue with their switching at Bell.
Hi Chris! This shot was taken right outside my dispatch hut window.
Brian has completed his exchange of traffic at Glen Hammond and will soon request clearance through the junction and into Peter's Pond.
Highly specialized cargo aboard 318.
Pat and Chris continue to work Nelson Yard. By design, one RP&M train departs quite early in the session while the other crew continues to assist the Nelson Yard master before departing for RP&M rails.
Clearance granted, Brian is underway coming into the station at Bellamy.
Meanwhile, down in Rat Portage, Andrew and Malcolm work the yard aboard Train 65.
They take the siding.
The siding will act as their lead.
As the must set out and pick up traffic in the industrial area out of sight just below where the camera man is standing.
George keeps things flowing up in Firgrove.
Paul and Lawrence enjoy their discussion as 301 meets Passenger 2.
While in the background Mark and Paul finish up their work with 18 at Spruce.
The lads in Nelson Yard...
...offer great entertainment for the dispatcher.
Ah ha! Trains are moving about the system everywhere. As the previous few images showcased, on the eastern front of the railroad, we have that meet with 301 and Passenger 2 in Ironwood and we have 318 working Spruce. Once Passenger 2 departs for Mount St. Helens, 301 and 318 will swap positions. What typically occurs in this swap situation is that one of the two crews occupies the main in a gentlemanly agreement to allow the other train to come into town and head directly onto the siding for ease of switching. Once protected on the siding, the other crews departs for the next town which was just cleared of traffic. While these movements would typically be orchestrated by the dispatcher, the two towns are close together in proximity and the two crews typically hammer out the details on their own...but they must request clearance from dispatch to move ahead on the high iron!
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Let's examine the western half of the railroad. Notice RP&M 65 working in Rat Portage. Now look at Watkins Siding. 302 has recently completed its work at Bell and has been cleared to Watkins Siding. Their instructions are to take the siding and await a meet with 327 and 15. Train 327 also recently completed its work in Cedar Rock and Peter's Pond and has been cleared to Watkins Siding along the main. This crew will eventually work the new spur at Wellington Lake. Pool Train 15 is currently in Peter's Pond. Dispatch has cleared Train 15 to Wellington Lake and beyond to Bell. Aha! We will witness the three-way meet of trains that was highlighted through Mark's images in the previous posting!
302 has just come out of Bell and has taken the crossovers. In short order, the train will reverse onto the siding nearest the camera man. Train 327 has just arrived Wellington Lake and the crew is in the process of slowing down to a stop just beyond the turnout to protect their train on the main.
327's crew are protected as they await the meet with Pool Train 15.
15 round the bend at "The Corners".
15 passes the new siding at Wellington Lake.
Lots of railfans are present to witness the meet.
The train is on slow order to navigate the turnout.
A brief station stop at Wellington Lake.
15 passes 327.
Brian is at the throttle of 15.
15 meets 302.
Still on a slow order, the pool train heads back onto the main that will lead him onto the station track in Bell.
Like scissors cutting paper, the meet is met!
The locomotive engineer aboard 15 waves to the conductor in the caboose aboard 302.
15 slows to its station stop in Bell.
302 is cleared past 327 to Peter's Pond and the conductors aboard both trains give a salute as their cabeese pass each other.
327 begins its work at Wellington Lake. Indeed a "Triple Play" of the highest order!
Three crews in one picture...another triple play! There's 301 in Spruce to the left, 318 in Ironwood in the center and 327 at Wellington Lake to the right.
Paul and Garry discuss their moves in Spruce.
327 is cleared into Bell while Pool Train 15 works the west house track up by the station. 15 will then be granted clearance onto RP&M iron for Rat Portage and 327 will be cleared up to Firgrove along IPP&W rails.
Thanks for checking in on the early part of our operating session. I will create another posting later showcasing more great action from this wonderful July Saturday morning!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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