Session #11 Final Views

We left off section two with an image of the three amigos...errr...the three dispatchers.

We certainly enjoy keeping the trains running.  That's Doug, Bill and me.

This aerial shot captures Passenger 1 upon arrival in Peter's Pond.

Our Algonquin and Ottawa crew delivers Train 303 to Nelson Yard.

The crew will soon depart for Firgrove as Train 313.

Passenger 1 faces west as it pulls in for a station stop at Wellington Lake.

328 holds for Train 1.

As the tail end of Train 1 clears the turnout, 328 is given the main.

328 slows through the turnout and will be at speed in short order.

328 arrives the outskirts of Peter's Pond.

Engineer Lukash glides his train into the Pond.

Three reefers today!  Business appears brisk at the fishery!

Our consist fits perfectly along the main line.  Our crew takes quick note of the fact that there are three reefers currently being processed at the fishery.  These cars are blocking our move up the Cedar Rock Branch and will have to be dealt with.

We quickly determine our moves for Cedar Rock and sort and place our cars in their respective positions with regard to the locomotive.  We must make these arrangements down in Peter's Pond as there is no runaround track up in Cedar Rock at the end of the branch.

Any cars that must be placed on "trailing" sidings at the end of the branch must be placed in a "facing" position on our locomotive.

Any cars that are deposited on "facing" sidings up in Cedar Rock must be placed in a "trailing" position in reference to the locomotive.

Our crew has contacted an old friend who works in Cedar Rock because we have to decide if we want to leave the three reefers back in Peter's Pond (meaning more switching moves) or if there is room on the team track in Cedar Rock for us to deposit the three cars while we conduct our moves there.  The photo provides the answer...we are taking the three reefers with us up the branch.

The branch itself acts as the lead to the small yard.

We work our final set out and lift.  The red gon must be spotted where the grey one currently resides.  They grey is a lift, so this move is rather easy.  We spot the red car on the track over.

We grab the grey gon, back up, push forward to pin it onto the red gon, back up then set the red gon on the near track and take the grey one with us.

All moves complete, we grab the the three reefers and our lifts...

...then head back down the branch...

...passing by the red gondola car.  We thank our friend up in Cedar Rock for his "recon" and promise to see him a week away.

We reassemble our train back in Peter's Pond.

We grab our caboose first then pick up our lifts.

We are on the road again!

Manny enjoyed watching Lukash and me doing this "switching dance" down in the Pond.

George and Manny have had a fun day as has Lukash who is spotted stepping carefully over the tracks at the pedestrian (or is pedestrain - get the pun) crosswalk.

The crossing!

313 holds for our train at Mercer.  They must have had an earlier meet with another train as they are awaiting us on the left hand track.

We run past them onward to Glen Hammond.

We are cleared across the junction.

Lukash notches up as we climb the grade out of Mercer...

...and take the approach track into...

...Nelson Yard!

Mr. Hamer was so elated that his run was almost "said and done" that he inadvertently set the junction turnout for Nelson Yard instead of Glen Hammond!  A couple of brownie points there!  Hehehe!

I say to the Nelson Yard crew,"We can simply bring our trays over to the big yard at Nelson."  
But it would be more fun for our engineer to back through the crossing again and take the approach into Glen Hammond.

And that's what we did!  Lukash, you are an awesome engineer!  (And a great conductor from our second run of the day!)

314 is making headways on its journey from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.  We spot the crew in Mount St. Helens.

Mark's locomotive has the honours on this leg of the crew's journey.

Arriving Craig Leigh.

Mark and Pat are all smiles after a job well done!

The train stops short of the big curve so Pat can store the cars in the bin.

Back in Cedar Rock, another crew ensures this small dot on the map "remains on the map" with commerce and lading taking place on a regular basis.  They are aboard Train 313.

Time to pack away my locomotive.  Lukash gathers the carrying case and sets it out for me at the end of the track alongside the engine house in Craig Leigh.

We steam right in.

"Looking good," Lukash announces.  
I have a small rectangular opening on the other side of the case which allows easy access to the controls on the locomotive.  I simply reach in and turn off the power.

Hey!  Those three reefers!  
I think they saw more mileage along the Cedar Rock Branch on this day than they see along the IPP&W!  (big grin)

Lawrence sets the turnouts and follows his train's progress.

With no more trains arriving Mount St. Helens, Peter's Pond and Cedar Rock, the cars can be packed away before the Lawrence and Len depart westward.  We see Mark lending a helping hand as he deposits some cars from Mount St. Helens into a tray.

Lawrence holds his train so it will not be a "runaway" down the hill and into "The Corners" as he and Len switch out Wellington Lake.

The crew of 313.

With the operations complete, Mark gets out a little surprise.

I notice him in the distance at Bell.

He's got a big smile on his face!

That's because Ruby has made an appearance!

Indeed, live steam!

Mark has turned Ruby and her passengers to enable her to run down RP&M rails.

Ruby is "deep" (and I mean deep) into RP&M territory tunnelling beneath Firgrove.

She's a coming...

...waiting...

...still waiting...so I catch a glimpse of Lawrence's locomotive which has terminated in Firgrove.

Lawrence spins his power on the manual turntable.

He faces the locomotive in the direction required for entry into his carrying case.

Ah...here comes Ruby!

She's a classic!

We love her!

Doug, Pat and Len await their sausages as we enjoy a meal together post ops.

The tail end indicates the ending of this final posting from our eleventh session of the season!

Andrew's big grin from ear to ear while holding his glass in honour of Mr. Nelson (a wonderful friend who is now with us in spirit and memories) is testament to the great camaraderie and friendship which abounds in this wonderful gathering of people who run trains at Fred's place each week.  Thanks to Fred for allowing us to run the railroad in his absence.  We'll see everybody next Saturday morning when the train operations will be of the standard gauge variety!

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada