Session #12 Second Section Of Trains and Planes!

Just catching up with the "Second Section" from our 12th train ops of the season.

Henk, the Nelson Yardmaster admires that great looking Canadian National RS3 of mine!

Andrew, his assistant, is at the controls of the locomotive.  I snagged these two shots from my perch in the dispatch booth.

Henk and Andrew.

Our visitor, skipper Bill.

Doug's Northland Railroad units lead a shortened version of 327 upgrade toward Firgrove.

It would appear we are "Into the Woods" as Cedar Rock is handled by the crew of 312 while Spruce awaits the appearance of 301 to the right.

Moe ensures his drops make the correct industry in Mount St. Helens aboard 318.

Lawrence has terminated Passenger 2.

He now has Pool Train 15 edging out of Craig Leigh near the Northland spur.

The remainder of Train 15 eases by the wye.

Passenger 2 is parked and all passengers are in the terminal building.

Paul has his second wave of trains already made so he takes a seat.

Train 301 is captured to the east of Nelson Yard.

Resplendent in the black and white striped scheme with red cab, the crew takes the yard turnout near Fallentree Mine.

Research indicates that the black and "grey" stripes were first applied to cab units around 1961-62 and later to freight units in the 1970's.

Black and White or Black and Grey...the stripes certainly improve visibility for railfans...

...and the bright front orange (or red) certainly aids in safety at road crossings.

301 has terminated in the big yard.

In short order, the crew will board Train 311.

311 will be the continuation of 301 in the westward direction.

I glance out my window of the dispatch hut and notice a train underway through the pedestrian crosswalk.

Paul and Malcolm at Mercer.

Bill, outside my hut, provides a great visual distraction!

In a typical train operating session, the dispatcher will be contacted over 110 times.

Today was less busy as the ore train was annulled.  With 110 clearances to be granted, you can well imagine that trains meet often in both opposing and similar directions.  In the above photograph Garry studies his orders for Bell as Steve (out of the image) navigates their train in on Track 3.  Their train, 311, cuts the alley between the Stuart Yard track holding a quintet of freight cars and track 4 where we catch an opposing train, 304, awaiting the meet in order to depart for points east. 

Hi Pat!

Pat's friend, Don, pays me a visit in the dispatch tower as our other dispatcher, Doug, looks on.

The view out my window catches 304 now on the roll out of Bell.

Meanwhile, my road unit continues to earn its keep on the railroad working for the RP&M this day.

Drilling the yard...yet another window view.

Train 15 arrives Glen Hammond below my booth.

Say, somebody must have cleaned the windows!  Normally I have to perch my camera outside the building for an image.

314 in Peter's Pond.

303 arrives Ironwood.

Fred and Bill share a story or two.

George and Manny take a well deserved break to watch Pat work the interchange with his RP&M train, 65.

Brian has Rat 70 down in Rat Portage.

Another look at the "Rust Garden."

304 has taken the branch from the main line at Peter's Pond...

...where the crew works Cedar Rock.

Doug's units up in Cedar Rock.

Another side of 303.

Three trains in Bell.

Pool Train 15, 311 and RP&M 65.

Two Canadian National paint schemes...two lovely liveries!

The modern meets the old.

Pat sent me this cool picture of the meet.
He also sent a great video link.  Simply copy and paste it into your browser.

https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AC3otoFEdcA1f3g&cid=4B0BE5524C72C451&id=4B0BE5524C72C451%21293&parId=4B0BE5524C72C451%21272&o=OneUp

A distant view of Bell.

Triple dome cars...you rarely see them anymore.  They may very well have carried varying grades of the same commodity in their separate compartments.

We spot an interesting train down in Rat Portage.

Hamer Manufactoring!

Don and Mike.

328 grips the iron with the aid of sand on its uphill struggle out of Bell.

Don checks out the action in Bell...

...when he notices a couple of heavyweight passenger cars.

"My wife is from Shawinigan Falls!" he states. 

Small world!

Train 15.

Lawrence at the helm.

Doug has completed his run aboard 304.  He uncouples from his train in order to tag onto Train 314.

Don and Lawrence in conversation.

George has Train 20 on the station track at Bell.

Doug points to one of the finer locomotives on the railroad.

Why...it's that CN RS3!

Train 20.

Andrew continues to enjoy his work at Nelson Yard.

Henk's New York Central switcher handles the switching chores with ease.

Trains from two railroads get along just fine!

Steve brings 328 around the curve.

Down into Bell.

Looking good there Steve!

Bell is one long yard!

314 is granted clearance out of Nelson Yard.

Bound for Blockhouse and Spruce.

Bill looks on.

A great looking boxcar from the northeast.

303 is six cars heavy at Spruce.

Len is having a blast.

Paul and Malcolm with 312 in the shade.

Moe takes a break.

A look across the backyard.

This week we have enjoyed watching F units switch out Cedar Rock, so why not have another pairing do the same in Rat Portage!

Brian has the Nelson Yard - Bell Turn 67-68 holding the grade outside of Rat Portage.

Lovely units Brian!

314 enters Ironwood along the siding track.

With Andrew, Brian and Pat congregating around the yard in Rat Portage...something must be happening.

Indeed, I see Lawrence in the distance.

This can mean only one thing.

The Pool Train is arriving Rat Portage for a meet with both RP&M locals.

Indeed, a three-way meet happens once again...just like the week before!

Well choreographed, I say!

314 drills Larabie Fuels.

Doug handles the throttle with a delicate touch.

Lots of action at this end of the line as well.

Malcolm videos his train's (319) meet with 314.

It would appear my diesel locomotive has been hauled into mainline service aboard Train 313.

Indeed, engine failure accounted for the shift.

She looks good running through Mercer Siding.

George and Manny!

Looking good, you two!

The crew of 319 get quickly to work in Ironwood.

Hi Paul!

319's power works the opposing sidings.

Over in Spruce, Train 15 has breezed through...

...and arrives shortly in Ironwood...

...for a meet with 319.

Steve and Fred.

Len and Moe in Peter's Pond.

The yard in Mount St. Helens.

314 arrives Craig Leigh.

Paul, Bill and Doug.

Looks like 314 is coming all the way into Douglas Yard under its own power.

They take the crossover turnout.

Douglas Yard is named after...well, you see him right here...Douglas!

Train terminated.

Don't we all love to play with trains?

328, holding at Watkins...

...allows this railfan to get a few close-up shots.

Rat 71 returns to Nelson Yard.

Garry takes a break in the shadows of those patio umbrellas.

A comparative shot...

...of similar power.  Beauties, both tandems are!

319 departs Spruce...

...to find the downhill slide...

...through the canyon...

...and through the pedestrian crossing...

...then on into Blockhouse beneath Henk Tunnel.

Pat looks on as 319 terminates in Glen Hammond and Doug prepares to pack away his F's.

While...off in the distance...

...we spot an interesting pair...

...of Bills!

A review of the new trackage down in Rat Portage.

Can't wait to see traffic at the new industry!

Doug's carrying case...

...or should I say...cases!

Still plenty of action in Bell with RP&M Train 67.

Looking good, Brian!

Still action in Cedar Rock as well...with 313.

328 departs Watkins Siding at Wellington Lake and proceeds down to Cedar Rock on a slow order with instructions to hold to the west of town.

My dispatch board is clear on the eastern sector of the railroad while a few trains are still on the line to the west.

Let's take a "commercial break" for a moment.  The day following our train session, a friend offered to pick me up to take a drive down to Brockville for "Ribfest".

Luckily, he likes trains like I do!  Here we capture a local serving industries just to the east of town.

Is it a steam locomotive?

VIA at speed from Montreal to Toronto.

This "going away" shot of a CN train captures some graffiti on the grain cars.  This train was a funny one as it was a TOFC train, but had a dozen or so grain cars on the headend.  Hadn't seen that before.

My "artsy" shot of the day!

A "tri-coloured" mast indicates more trains on many tracks!

VIA coming in off the Ottawa track.

The tail end...yes...a "Push-Pull" operation.

Check out the location of the bell.

We enjoyed a blue sky day with Simpsons clouds abounding.

A visit to Brockville isn't a visit unless you walk the former train tunnel.

With its cool light show...

...the tunnel takes on a different experience...

...every twenty seconds or so.

This feat of engineering was Canada's first railroad tunnel.

It was completed in 1860 for the Brockville and Ottawa Railway.

The tunnel was later owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Outside the tunnel, you get to visit the lovely parkland around the waterfront along the St. Lawrence River.  (Lawrence happens to be my middle name!)

Michael Lawrence Hamer isn't a big lad at all!

I could live here!

Love the Sabre.

Speaking of airplanes...my daughter, Karen, snapped these great shots for me today downtown.

These are the British Red Arrows.

Karen had seen them in Halifax last week when her plane landed from London, England.  She was thrilled to see them again in her home town of Ottawa.  Thanks for the three great pics, Karen!

Back to trains!  Don, it was a distinct pleasure meeting you at Fred's place this past Saturday morning.

And...as always...a great big note of thanks to Fred for hosting us all.

Have a great week, everyone!  Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada