Session #6 Final Departure

For our final installment from our sixth session of the season we will follow the trains as they finish up their first run of the day and we will continue with them for their second and third.  Bill offers up a nice smile as the session is moving along at great speed.  His crew mate, Mark, is off in the distance snapping an image of us which appeared in the earlier segment showcasing his photo contributions.

Bill waves good-bye to this intrepid railfan/dispatcher.

I see a Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Geep.

This means Bernie is hanging around somewhere!  Here he is with the Mount St. Helens turn from Craig Leigh.

Bill and Mark finish up in Peter's Pond.

302's power.

Garry and Paul have a little more work to conduct in Spruce.  Then they will be cleared to Nelson Yard where they will put 302 to bed.

Paul looks after the turnouts at the eastern end of Spruce while the other Paul works his train in Ironwood.

There's the "other" Paul with Len uncoupling the caboose in order to tuck a car onto their train.  Ironwood is a location that presents a host of switching challenges.  All of the crews on this day managed just fine!

Pat and Chris have finished up their work assembling many trains in Nelson Yard.  They are now aboard RP&M Train 70.  This is the train they backed out from Nelson Yard and forwarded into Glen Hammond.  With their switching done in the Glen, they are underway.

There first line of business is to switch out the team track at Bellamy before gaining clearance from dispatch through the junction.

The "Bell Hop" from Firgrove has arrived the outskirts of Bell.

George and Manny take care of the head-end business with this train.

Hi Manny!

That's a good looking short train, George!

Note the activity at Rat Portage.  We will be holding another "three way" meet momentarily!  Yeah!  The RP&M crew aboard Train 65 has tucked into the team track directly below the photographer with its blue Conrail GP30 locomotive.  The crew aboard RP&M 70 have taken the siding off in the distance.  Both crews await the arrival of Train 15.

Videographer Malcolm is at the ready.

I'm catching a shot of Malcolm catching a shot!

Can't wait to see the video, Malcolm!

Train 15 slows for a station stop in Rat Portage.

The crews exchange pleasantries.

Train 15 later arrives Glen Hammond where the locomotive must run around its train in order to service the cars on the house track in behind the station.

Paul and Len have some set outs in Ironwood with 318.

301 arrived Nelson and has now departed as 311.  The train is crossing the junction tracks.

Doug enjoys a seat for a moment before I ask him to take over for me as dispatcher while I tour a friend who has come to visit the layout.

Train 327 is on Track 4 to the right in Bell while 304 arrives town in care of a steam locomotive.  Isn't it fun when an old-fashioned steamer comes to the rescue of one of those danged modern diesels!

RP&M 65 has arrived Bell.  They will interchange traffic before returning along home rails as RP&M 66.

327 navigates the big curve to the west of Bell on its homeward journey up to Firgrove where the crew will turn their locomotive and board Train 304 for its journey back to Nelson Yard.

311 is cleared only as far as Mercer Siding as Peter's Pond is occupied at the moment.

My friend, Ed, arrives and I take him on a tour of the railroad.

Ed has dropped off skipper Bill for a visit.  It's great seeing Bill make it out again!

318 works the trailing sidings at Mount St. Helens.

Bernie aligns their route into Craig Leigh where the train will terminate in Douglas Yard, named for our chief dispatcher, Doug Matheson.

Speaking of Doug...

...there he is as my relief pitcher!

Len and Paul are now aboard 303 eastbound at Spruce.

Henk enjoys a breather...

...as do Fred and Lawrence.

303 works Bell.

With that lovely CP engine.

Skipper Bill...

...and his sailor mate, Mark.

They, too, have switched out locomotives due to battery failure aboard Mark's engine.  Fortunately for the crew, there is this little beauty offered up in relief!

We spot the Craig Leigh yardmaster doing his little jaunt down to Mount St. Helens.

This offers Bernie the opportunity to get his "high iron" fix each session.

Pat and Chris have arrived Rat Portage aboard Rat 70.

They pass the depot...

...in order to drill the yard tracks.

That's a great looking switcher, Pat!

Moe and the "other" Pat complete their work near the interchange tracks at Bell.

CN and CP cousins.  Looks like the CP crew chose to run their diesel long hood forward.

Lots can be accomplished in this busy junction simultaneously thanks to Henk's idea of installing a second turnout for the interchange crews.

311 has it in notch eight on the steep grade up to Firgrove.

No railfans were harmed in the taking of this photo as Canadian National approved the setup for the company photographer.  The engine crew enjoyed posing their train for the pic.

With company photos complete, Garry brings 311 into Firgrove.

He glides alongside the train he will take out in short order, Train 328.

311 has arrived.

Paul breaks off the motive power.

He drives onto the turntable.

With a spin and a whirl their loco will be facing eastward.

George and Manny work with great diligence at Firgrove.

Meanwhile, back at the junction, we spot RP&M 66 on its return journey back to Nelson Yard.  It must first switch out the trailing industries at Anderson.

We catch up with 303 in Ironwood.

While 312 works Mount St. Helens.

They, too, are running short hood forward.

Mark is enjoying himself.

Lots of activity at Bell and Glen Hammond.  In fact, that's another three way meet at Bell with Two IPP&W trains and an RP&M crew in the mix.

Malcolm and Andrew have already worked the Rat Portage run with trains 65 and 66.  They have now boarded RP&M Train 71 which they backed out of Nelson Yard and brought into Glen Hammond.

We catch them departing Glen Hammond.

Garry, Paul and Moe all enjoy the shade...Moe with his cap and cape.

303 makes its way downgrade out of Spruce.

Through the crossing.

Up to Blockhouse.

Bypassing Blockhouse.

Entering Nelson Yard.

On a slow order.

303 terminates here.

The lads get on their new consist and will depart shortly as Train 313.

Thanks, Doug, for taking over for me while I showed my friends around the railroad.

Now, it's time to get back to work!

I review my board to get back up to speed with traffic on the railroad.  Looks like I have four trains active on the western end.

Only two to the east.

Henk enjoys a recess from the action.

Lawrence must have his train in Glen Hammond directly below my booth.

Garry's CN Geep 1707 in Bell.

The engine has hauled Train 328 down from Firgrove.

Dispatch brings them in on Track 4 in order to exchange traffic at the interchange area in Bell.

319 finishes up its work at Spruce,

With my CN road switcher handling the chores.

Mark and Bill work this train.

The locomotive is sandwiched between two freight cars.

Moments before they had been in Ironwood.

While Bill takes a glance at his orders, Moe and Pat work Cedar Rock in behind.

Their diesel morphed into a steamer!

Spruce.

Cedar Rock.

The trailing tracks up in Cedar Rock.

Chris and Pat enjoy a chat in Firgrove.

While Malcolm and Andrew continue to work in the same location.

Switching out Golding Grains.

313 in the hole at Mercer.

In the shade of Mount St. Helens.

Some nice examples...

...of rolling stock.

Speaking of stock...here's some livestock.

Rat 71 returns to Nelson Yard.

Dispatch receives notice that the junction is cleared.  "Thank you RP&M 71".



Shutting down after a successful run.

Bill and Mark continue  in Spruce.

Bill finds some down time for a visit.

Love the hat, Bill.

Henk and Doug "made in the shade."

So is Mike!

A big grin from me!

With their work complete in Spruce, 319 is cleared through Blockhouse and on into Glen Hammond via the bypass track at Nelson Yard.

We catch up with Paul and Len in Peter's Pond.

Our company videographer gets to work...something we all appreciate!

313 has already lifted some cars from the team track in Peter's Pond and has now protected its train on the main in order to head up the Cedar Rock Branch.

328 in "The Corners."

Under dappled shade.

Henk and Fred.

313 climbing the hill at Watkins Siding.

Paul's locomotive.

Paul!

Len and Paul head for the shade in Bell.

From Bell, they make their way up to Firgrove.

Arriving Firgrove.

With the caboose appearing, it is time to say "Farewell for another day!"

Bernie and the lads prepare for lunch.

Malcolm, Bill and Paul await the BBQ.

Some fresh ones!

Head chef Moe!

His assistant, Fred!

Thanks so much Fred for hosting yet another fabulous operating session along the IPP&W and RP&M railroads!  See everyone next week!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada