Session #13 Narrow Gauge August 17 The Score OVGRS 1, the Weather Gods 0

Rio Grande Ten-Wheeler #25 sends the message that our operations for this week are of the narrow minded variety.

An old flatcar resides on the siding at Ironwood Brick.

This rail photographer was granted special permission to scale the windmill in Ironwood to capture this company photo showcasing a meet between a freight and a passenger train.

The recent addition of a new siding in Rat Portage has created a buzz in the local railfan community.  With no sign on the building, rail photographers make various attempts to determine just which business is housed here.  Is it the Comber Canoe Company or will it be Comber's Chairs?  

Indeed, steam rules supreme on the IPP&W in the third week of August, 2019.

A low ceiling of clouds cannot reduce the beauty of this rail specimen residing outside the Firgrove engine house.

Malcolm's video link can be found by pasting this link into your browser:

https://1drv.ms/v/s!ApuSckIj0HVCguRqFlrTvmb7I5oRNw

"Holy Hats, Batman!" Robin is heard to say!

Yes, skipper Bill enjoys the shade provided by his "out of the ordinary" hat.

We enjoy the stitched picture on his shirt...the lovely Dominion of Canada locomotive!

Malcolm shared this image of "said" locomotive he captured at ExpoRail.

Thanks, Malcolm, for the previous image as well as these next four to come.

Yup, Malcolm managed to capture this railfan in the process of...well...railfanning!

Later, Mike and Fred are spotted in the crew lounge.

Before we visit the lounge, Malcolm shares this image with us.  "Who could it be now?" we all wonder as to which member of the group erected this sign with such a great message!

I managed to snag this Connie in Craig Leigh pre-ops.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup with 56 +1 varieties!

Len has the honours on this day!

With the bell rung, we gather in the lounge.

It's great to have Steve and Seanna back with us...although Steve is in a tad bit of pain.  Get that back back into shape, Steve!

Fred reminds us of the latest changes along the railroad.

The crowd listens in.

The dynamic duo!

Plus one!

Let the action begin.  My radio crackles in the dispatch hut..."Dispatch, Passenger 2 in Firgrove...requesting clearance into Bell."  I respond, "Passenger 2, you are cleared to Bell along the station track,."  Doug rogers me and is soon underway with his train.

Train 2 leans into the curve on a slow approach at the western fringe of Bell.

The brakes are applied as Train 2 slows to a stop.

Passengers destined for points east board the train.

Following on the heels of Passenger 2 we find 302 taking the same curve the earlier train had navigated.  Pat is at the controls while his conductor, Doug, reviews his switching needs for Bell.

A nameless ten-wheeler holds the honours on 302 this day.

Glenn Hammond witnesses the departure of 318 bound for Craig Leigh with stops en route at Blockhouse, Spruce, Ironwood and Mount St. Helens.  Malcolm and Brian man the train on this day.

RP&M crews assist the Nelson Yardmaster with the classification of trains.

That's Andrew on the left with Lawrence in the black shirt.  Garry bends to throw a turnout.  Off in the distance we see Steve and Seanna discussing their roles.

Bells are ringing as Train 327 steps across the pedestrian crossing.

This lovely rust garden borders the iron near the crew lounge.

301's crew has arrived Mount St. Helens.  Paul uncouples his locomotive while Len looks on.

With precious cargo aboard the train, the crew runs around their consist in order to deal with the local industries.

We all agree...Elsie's milk is wholesome!



Doug, aboard 302, delivers a car to Stuart Yard at Bell.  Where is his engineer?
(Picture taken by Pat.)

A strange figure has been spotted between Wellington Lake and Bell.  Why...it's our good friend, Pat...Doug's lost engineer.  It seems he is multi-tasking at the moment!

Copy and paste this link into your browser to watch Pat's video footage which you see him taking in the above image.  It is of "our other " Doug's passenger train rolling through Watkins.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JAZCiQsBKUUGBWq-5Ma6SgF_0OIDt3aM/view

This other link showcases Pat's footage of the passenger train much later heading into Ironwood for a meet with an opposing IPP&W manifest freight.  You can see it  at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1by0WPckyP0lF2uTO3bUhgELTPjef3xIv/view

Thanks so much for the great video, Pat.  Now, back to the stills. 
 Doug departs Bell aboard Passenger 2.  (Picture taken by Pat.)

The locals have no need to worry as it is just one of those crazy railfans who will do anything to grab a photo or a video of a train.  The local denizens wonder what's so great about that...they see these trains everyday!

302 works the Stuart Yard lead as Passenger 2 is underway out of Bell.

Heavy with head-end cars, Train 2 rolls past the dispatcher's booth en route to the scenic area known as Wellington Lake.

Train 2 glides downhill at Watkins.

Consolidation #45 has no trouble hauling this train.

The vicinity around Wellington Lake draws summer tourists by the thousands.

Pat also snapped this image of me checking out the action at the western entrance to Nelson Yard.

The western sector of the line is heavy in the early morning hours.

We have a keen crew in Peter's Pond.  Henk is all smiles while Bill is fully protected from the UV rays of this August morning.

Unnumbered "Carleton Woods and Prescott"4-6-0 begins its work in Peter's Pond traversing the lane way into the lounge area.

The black and white of the Rio Grande complement the black and white freight cars resting on the spur track in Spruce.

A glance down the line finds 318 already at work.

The crew handles the two trailing tracks at Spruce with ease.

Train 2 has emerged from the depths below Mount St. Helens and has arrived the station in Peter's Pond.

327's locomotive is protected on the team track.  The crew awaits the departure of Passenger 2 before resuming their chores here.

Drummer Henk wishes to join a rock'n'roll band!

318's power is spotted entering Ironwood.

Taking the siding track, 318 lumbers along.

Their cabin car is about to clear the main as the crew tucks their train safely away.

Nelson Yard continues to be a hive of activity.

Mercer Siding is found by Passenger 2 on its eastward direction.

With the aspect showing green, Train 2 targets the junction crossing.

Station stop at Bellamy.

Three trains on the road between Glen Hammond and Craig Leigh at the moment.

Glenn Hammond sees four passenger train visits each session when all three trains are run.  (Train 15 visits twice.)

The view beneath my window.

45's engineer enjoys the scenery from his perch above the mainline leading to Blockhouse.

Our Nelson yardmaster oversees the making up of trains in the early morning hours.

His assistant walks the line between Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond.

Using the runaround track at Watkins, 302 is able to drill the facing track at Wellington Lake.

Wellington Lake sees three passenger trains a day and six freight trains a day.

On this day, only five freights passed the depot as no ore trains were running.

Wellington Lake is named after the great George Wellington, our Firgrove yardmaster.

Steve pays a visit.  It's a situation of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles!"

Steve will soon depart in his car from our train operations to the airport in Gatineau for an air event.

The RIP track finds Lawrence hard at work.

Doug looks in on what Lawrence has on the go.

While at the same time he commandeers his train through the canyon walls between Blockhouse and Spruce.

A little miracle!

318's crew works the sidings in Ironwood.

302 is held at Watkins.

Train 2 steams into Spruce.

The train slows for a "ghost" station stop.

Made in the shade.

301 continues its efforts in Mount St. Helens.

Discussions abound outside Nelson Yard.

The crew of Rat 70 has backed out of Nelson Yard and is on approach to Glen Hammond.

302 holds the siding for a meet with 327.

Passenger 2 exits the shade of the foliage on approach to Ironwood.

Both trains now on the roll.

Young Henk is contacted by his lovely wife..."Bring home some sandwiches from the store."  "Yes dear!" is Henk's reply.  Indeed...it's always "Yes dear" in all our books!

302 at Hayes' Falls.  (A long story...ask the locals.)

Elevated above the previous train, 301 finishes up its work in Mount St. Helens.

This portrait of Ironwood shows the appearance of the passenger service which calls to town four times a day.

The crew stops to take on some headend lading.

The IPP&W local is oblivious to the proximity of the passenger train as its crew focuses on its switching tasks.  Pictured is the engineer of the passenger train.  Looking good, Doug!

A telephoto view from the top of Mount St. Helens looking over to Ironwood.

This previously witnessed image taken from the windmill tower showcases a lovely meet. 

Perched atop the ledge, the elevated passenger train will find the station in Mount St. Helens within mere minutes.

A number of trains calling into Peter's Pond find themselves taking the Cedar Rock Branch for some further work. 302 is no exception on this day.  Pat and Doug have just arrived the end of the branch.

Paul and Len have their train protected in Mount St. Helens and await clearance further west to Ironwood.

Passenger 2 meets 301.

Train 2 is given its green and proceeds geographically north (railroad east) towards Craig Leigh.

With the passenger train long gone, 318 is asked to take the station track in Ironwood to offer up the siding track to an opposing train soon to arrive.

That opposing train is 301 out of Mount St. Helens.

With clear tracks ahead, 301 pulls away.

The yard master up in Craig Leigh lines the routing for the arriving passenger train.

The engineer comes in on a slow order.

Bernie tosses a treat to this railfan.

Train 2's power hugs the engine house.

Just enough clearance!

Doug reverses his locomotive.

Train 2 backs down the wye.

Through Northland.

Around Big Tree Bend.

Bernie is most certainly a relaxed yard master!

Meanwhile, up in Bell 327 toggles into the yard with a visual on Track 3.

A view from my perch showcases the yard tracks in Glen Hammond and Nelson.

Off in the distance, Pat brings 302 into Mercer Siding.

With the green target he is cleared through the junction.

Aha!  The first crew to switch out the industry is Rat 70!

Caps mark the setouts and the lifts.

A very effective way of keeping track of the switching moves.

Here's Manny!  Manny is the Firgrove yardmaster's assistant and she always does a great job in her role!

Steve and Seanna continue their moves.

Rat Portage has witnessed some new developments in the recent years.

The new siding is the most recent of changes.

We must thank Lawrence for the industry.

Rat 70 passes in front of the Comber facility.

The crew currently works the tracks in front of Golding Grains.

Their caboose resides momentarily on the team track.

It would appear they have a lift at Golding Grains as well.

The dedicated locomotive for Ralph Yard up in Firgrove.

Bill in Bell.

Along Track 4.

Hey Bob!  Really nice seeing you out today!  We've missed you greatly!

Over near Spruce 312 is spotted tackling the hill.

Conductor Doug has set up the route for his train.

301 arrives Ironwood.

A look down the alley in Spruce.  That's Len looking on from the right.

With their van momentarily parked on the main, 312 prepares to work the two spurs in behind their consist.

318 holds the siding for Pool Train 15.

Malcolm, our renowned videographer, captures the meet for us all to enjoy!

Train 15 pulls in on the main.

With the arrival of Train 15, 318 is given its green.

Meets are a joy to capture on film for any railfan.

Both trains are now on the roll.

The eastern end of the line is a beehive of activity at the moment.

Off in the distance Train 15 is spotted gliding into Ironwood while 301 holds the siding.

This train is pooled between the two railroads.

The crew has a long run ahead.

15 makes its rendezvous with 301.

Two colourful locomotives even though they are black!

15 is cleared out of Ironwood.

Lensed by a railfan on the inside of the curve.

Au revoir!

301 will play tag behind 15.

When 15 departs Spruce, the way freight there will back out onto the main to allow 301 clear access to the siding.

15 takes the curve out of Spruce.

Three trains in one shot...312 in Spruce, 15 out from Spruce and 301 departing Ironwood.

A full view of the Pool Train.

The public is held at the pedestrian crossing for the train.

301 has found safety in the siding now allowing 312 clear passage into Ironwood.

312 underway.

No time to idle.  301's crew attacks its switch list.

Here's Malcolm.

First mate Bill.

With skipper Henk.

Thanks to Malcolm for these next three shots.  Here I am seated in the dispatch booth having a great conversation with my band mate, Chris.  (Our band will be performing next Saturday!)

We talk of music.  We talk of modelling.  We talk of moving.

We're really going to miss Chris and Lela when they move next month!

Our conversation is momentarily interrupted with the crackle of the radio.

Lawrence takes RP&M 65 across the junction in order to switch out the Lyon Supply Co.

Note how he has split his train so as to keep the junction clear.  His van is peeking out just above the Bellamy station roof line below the green signal.

65 is now on RP&M rails.

Working Lyon Supply.

The Algonquin & Ottawa is a lovely looking engine Lawrence!

Train 65 must battle (and be aided by) gravity as it switches out Lyon Supply.

Glancing over his shoulder, this railfan spots the power for Ralph Yard.

Its crew is busy marshaling cars in the yard.

Lawrence and George.

Ralph Yard.

Judging by the time it is in the morning, we assume the yardmaster is making up Train 304.

.

While George may be considered as the yard master in Firgrove we all know who really calls the shots!  (Big smile for Manny!)

Thanks, as always, to Father Fred for allowing us to have so much fun each Saturday morning at his home here in Ottawa!

Check in later in the week for the second section from Session #13 when the "Members of the OVGRS" held on to defeat the "Weather Gods" by a score of 1-0.

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