Session #12 Standard Gauge August 10

Session #12 of the season finds us in the second week of August.

Chris and Lela Lyon have donated these great railfanning photos Chris has captured over the years and has had framed.

Paul displays the one he selected to take home.

That's better, Paul.  Hahaha!

Henk oversees the setout of equipment in Nelson Yard.  Pat hauls another bread tray of cars while Brian places his locomotive carriers on the track in the distance.

This scenic shot was sent my way by Malcolm!  Indeed nothing gets past our railfans!

Coloured chips indicate the specific train a car will be involved with.

Pat sets out cars with coloured chips to tracks of a different colour to ensure the yard crews have a "shuffled deck" before the operations begin.

We have a special visitor from halfway around the planet.  Skipper Bill has ensured he is well covered.

Henk!  We missed you!  So glad you are back from your vacation overseas!

Malcolm sent this video link from the session for you to copy and paste in your browser.
https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21ANcPEwTvikOS1GI&cid=4275D0234272929B&id=4275D0234272929B%2145353&parId=4275D0234272929B%2145352&o=OneUp

A view of Cedar Rock pre-ops.

More of Cedar Rock.

Stock cars in Mount St. Helens.

A large meteorite landed recently.

Doug and Len are well entertained by...

...Paul!

Speaking of Paul...

...this locomotive...

...belongs to our other Paul!

Here's Paul...

...working Craig Leigh.

While Paul works the nearby industries, the crew of 301 decides to make up their own train.

301's power on this day.

You've got to love those sergeant stripes!

These four tank cars make up 80% of their consist.

The crew will place a reefer on the headpin and allow the molasses car to ride ahead of the cabin car.

Douglas Yard.

Ditto.

A couple of cabins.

Paul at work.

That lovely diesel of his.

Did we say it was a standard gauge operation?

Yes we did.

In my dispatch hut I have fired up the signals.

All four locations are red.

Moe in Nelson Yard.

Firgrove and Rat Portage.

Manny and George will be our Firgrove yard masters for the session.

The new Comber industry in Rat Portage.

Thanks to Lawrence (pictured above)...and Garry.

One CN switcher in Ralph Yard.

The other in Firgrove.

The tail end of Passenger 2.

Tankers in Ralph.

Passenger 2 being readied for its eastbound run to Craig Leigh.

A reefer in Firgrove.

Another look at that new industry.  Lawrence tells us he will work on a new loading platform that will conform to the angled track.

The yard in Rat Portage.

A nice looking center depressed flat car.

Smiles abound around Nelson Yard.

Indeed they do!  Looking good, Andrew!

We love F-units!  Doesn't everybody!

Resplendent in the green and gold of his home road...

...we catch up with Doug's Northland Railroad AB pairing of F's.

Doug, Bill, Steve and Paul with some of Chris's railfan pictures on the table.

Fred engages the masses.

We review some operational procedures.

Bill puts a punctuation mark on the proceedings.

We are "all ears!"

Bill kindly gives up his seat for our visitor...yet another Bill!

301 is the first train out on the day.

They have arrived Mount St. Helens with their locomotive protected by the reefer in behind.

They will have to run around their consist in order to handle the facing moves here.

Off in Craig Leigh, Paul goes about his business making up more trains.

301's crew switches out Mount St. Helens in a most creative manner.

It would appear that there is a new siding in Mount St. Helens located somewhere far away to the east!  (You'll have to touch base with a crew member to get the lowdown on this move!)

Len inspects an RP&M endcar as a favour to the Nelson Yard crew.

Our second train out on the morning is Passenger 2...followed closely by...

...302.

Malcolm videos the action as his train departs the boundary of Firgrove.

Train 2 has gained a clear entry into Bell as it sails downgrade.

Lawrence slows to a stop along the station track in Bell.

327 works the west end of Glen Hammond...

...with 302 on final approach to Bell.

Malcolm has lined his route through the yard...

...and down the ladder with Track 4 in his sights.

The Nelson Yard crew traverses the gut on the wooden trestle as 318 does the same on the metal span.

318 is outbound from Glen Hammond...

...long hood forward.

A CN sandwich!

The "Rust Garden" seems to change its appearance with each passing session.

Bicoloured lilies.

Offer a lovely splash of red and yellow.

A more exotic version offers peace...

...and tranquillity.

I spot my locomotive (on loan to the RP&M) working the east throat of Nelson Yard on the upper level while 318 passes at ground level through Blockhouse en route to Spruce.

Dispatch has given 327 its green signal allowing safe passage through the junction.

Bill and Doug are in command of this lovely train.

The opposing red aspect ensures the safety of 327.

Doug is the proud papa of this AB pairing.

Train 327 rolls through Mercer onward to Peter's Pond.

The CN RS3 continues to toil up in the big yard.

We have our first meet of the day down in Peter's Pond.

As 327 advances into "The Pond" from the east, Passenger 2 approaches from the west.

301's power towers above the trackage leading out of Peter's Pond.

327 plays "hide and seek" with this railfan, but I got him!

Lawrence inspects the trucks on his locomotive as his train departs "The Pond".

We have a visit from Grant Knowles!

Bill looks over some of Chris's railfan pictures.

Brian readies his train for departure from Nelson Yard to Rat Portage aboard Rat 70.

Malcolm and Paul switch out Stuart Yard from Track 3.

Passenger 2 crosses the interlocking while Rat 70 continues to build its train.

Station stop at Bellamy.

Nelson Yard continues to build traffic for incoming trains.

Some beautiful power!

Those coloured poker chips are a Godsend...not that God gambles.

Pat looks over the proceedings at the far end of the yard.

301 arrives Ironwood.

The crew comes into town along the siding track.

318 is across the aisle in Spruce.

The crew plans their switching moves.

Train 2 in Glenn Hammond.

CN 7831 is a workhorse handling the chores in Nelson Yard without breaking a sweat!

A look over top Peter's Pond named in the honour of Fred's brother finds Bill and Doug working the siding.

4789 handles 301 with ease.

Train 2 is eastbound out of Glen Hammond.

Next station stop will be Blockhouse, with its structure seen in the distance beyond the bridge.

Train 20 begins its hop from Firgrove down to Bell..

This train is a turn.

The Firgrove switcher will return home as Train 21.

Train 2 accelerates uphill just west of Spruce.

318 has protected itself for its meet with the passenger train,

Bill and Moe in the lounge.

Lawrence brings her into Spruce.

No station stop required as there happens to be...no station!

327 encounters daylight as it emerges from the darkness of the forested area known as "The Corners."

The crew of 302 continue their work at the east end of Bell as 327 crawls up the siding track at Watkins in the distance.

327 holding at Watkins.

Andrew is enjoying the challenge of blocking trains in Nelson Yard.

Such a lovely livery for the CN switchers.

Passenger 2 radios dispatch for clearance out of Ironwood to Mount St. Helens.

327 awaits Bell's availability.

With 302 underway, 327 will soon have a clear alley into Bell.

Two IPP&W trains passing in the morning hours.

Henk gets a kick out of...

...Brian's two F-units switching his yard.

Indeed...we get a kick out of Henk!

Sandwiched between its hind quarter and a stockcar, this CN striped beauty seems to be enjoying its role aboard 301.

The two trains in Spruce and Ironwood are swapping locations.  Above we see 318 underway into Ironwood...

...followed shortly thereafter by the exit of 301 from said location.

Who said curves aren't pretty?

The previous crew purposely left the siding turnout open for 301 to gain appropriate access into Spruce.

Looks like the power is on the train...

...and the train is in Glen Hammond...

...which means this must be Rat 70 which had earlier backed out of Nelson Yard and entered into Glenn Hammond to conduct some work.

With the work now completed in "The Glen", Rat 70 is cleared to Bellamy.

Down in Rat Portage, Pat works RP&M Train 65.

He must run around his train to deposit some cars to trailing spurs.

Hey Manny and George.  You both do a great job looking after Firgrove for us!

Super work, indeed!

Check in early next week for the "Second Session" of this report which will include pics and video sent my way from Pat!  And...by the way...I love taking pics from each session and spending time at the computer to put the blog together.  In essence, this pleasurable task extends the operating session for me!  (Thanks to Malcolm for the above image!)

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

PS:  Chris and Lela, the crew offers up a great big note of thanks for the framed railfanning pics!