Garden Railroading: Session #13 Second Section "Of Train Ops and Machine Shops!"

Henk radios into Dispatch, "Dispatch, this is 304. Mike tells us we are the first image for the second section of the blog. Is this correct?"

With an affirmative on that topic, 304 begins to roll.

They have contacted dispatch and the Nelson Yardmaster.

With the big yard in sight, they navigate the crossing.

The chief in charge at Nelson keeps a watchful eye on the unsuspecting crew.

Love the shirt, Garry! Indeed, Fred Eaglesmith's song "I Like Trains" is a favourite of mine and of Chris Lyon.

Pat controls the train movements of 312 in Ironwood while his crewmate, Doug, chats it up with Malcolm off in the distance.

Two RP&M runs are in Rat Portage at the moment as Steve looks over the proceedings.

Seanna confirms their moves in Rat.

While Rat Portage is a small "out of the way" location...it manages to drum up quite a bit of business for the railroad.

Perched high on the trestle, we capture Pool Train 15 heading towards Glen Hammond.

Ironwood can offer up plenty a challenge for the train crews, but this tandem has things well in control.

Malcolm surveys the situation...

...as he and his crewmate, Brian, "hold their horses" back in Mount St. Helens awaiting clearance westward.

Here's Brian!

Love the logo!

An industry of renowned repute, named after our very own dispatcher, engineer and conductor par excellence...Mr. Bill "Sn3" Scobie! (That's quite the build-up, in my books!)

This railfan likes to capture images of interesting and colourful rail cars.

These next few have managed to grab his attention.

An "MT".

A "load".

This is offered up in Craig Leigh!

Bernie hadn't recalled seeing this car on the line before...this pic's for you, Bern!

The "Protector of Craig Leigh!"

Crews meet and greet in Nelson Yard.

High atop the retaining wall, 303 is finally cleared into Ironwood.

"We'll take one of those and two of these!"

Mr. Chris...

...and lovely wife, Lela! We are going to miss you both around here!

Mount St. Helens witnesses the appearance from the west of Train 312.

Moments earlier the train was spotted taking on the grade outside of town.

Moves are reviewed and calculated...then the work begins for 303.

Over in Spruce it would appear that 301 has completed its work.

With clearance granted, they are underway.

The crew leans into the curve...

...and is away from Spruce in little time.

The horns are blasting as 301 greets the pedestrian crossing.

Bill and Chris.

Fred and Lela.

Len and Paul inspect their train as it makes the pedestrian crossing.

Back in St. Helens, the crew has climbed the Mount and drills the sidings.

This railfan has ventured out to "The Ledges" to find Train 20 tracking eastward to Bell out of Firgrove.

With a reefer and some baggage and express (and other trains) to contend with, the crew should be in Bell for awhile.

They require the station track in order to reach the house tracks.

The camera man is delighted to find this little beauty following up the rear of the train.

When their work is done, the engine will be turned and they will depart back to Firgrove as Train 21.

It's a station stop for Train 15 at Bellamy as 311 is given the junction.

311 advances slowly.

The crew takes IPP&W tracks further west as the Pool Train holds back in Bellamy.

Sstandard procedure...crews in the vicinity of other moving trains assist the railroad by inspecting the passing consists.

Doug determines 311's train has passed the test. He follows 303 through the junction westward to Peter's Pond.

A meeting of the minds...and cookies to boot!

Train 20 continues its work in Bell. Young Manny has everything in control as George handles the locomotive.

She verifies her work as dad proceeds east with their train.

Their orders call for a setout.

They back onto their train.

It would appear that RP&M Train 65 has already departed for Bell leaving RP&M 67 alone to work the local industries.

Onward and upward they proceed.

Another fine example of the colour of those old "Billboard Reefers."

The reefer is in the care of 311's crew.

303 has found Spruce.

George has turned his locomotive in preparation for the return trip back up to Firgrove. Lawrence gives him "time and space" to do the move then Lawrence will finish up his work aboard RP&M 65. 65 will return to RP&M rails as Train 66.

From my perch in the dispatcher's hut, I see Andrew off in the distance hard at work as the Nelson Yardmaster's assistant.

Train 15 has gained on 311 and reaches Peter's Pond.

311 is protected on the main while 15 takes the station track.

303 is about to complete its work at Spruce.

An "artsy" shot of the crew of 303.

Malcolm's orange shirt offers a dash of colour as Bryan works the engine.

Working hard on the long but gentle climb out of the shallows in "The Corners", Train 15 finds Wellington Lake.

Station stop in Wellington Lake.

The ascent will continue for Train 15 as the grade is a long one up to Bell.

Moments earlier, an overly enthusiastic railfan climbed a tall timber to snag this shot of 15 emerging into daylight beneath Mount St. Helens.

With their assignments complete in Spruce, 303 will be cleared shortly into Nelson Yard.

Nelson Yard has seen the arrival of other trains and we take note of the imminent departure of another along the center track. This is Train 314. The crew has already placed their locomotive on the front end while the Nelson Yard crew gave an assist with the caboose. 314's crew had arrived a few minutes earlier aboard 304. They will be continuing their eastbound journey at any moment now.

"It's fun to dispatch the railroad," I say with an agreeing smile on my face!

Garry tests out the new yard ladder he and Lawrence had worked on this past "Workday Wednesday."

Lawrence makes some fine adjustments en route.

"Mike, it goes like this..." Henk begins while Bill offers up an attentive ear.

Bill, in the engineer's seat, follows the movement of his train, 314, riding the slope out of Blockhouse.

This was the scene moments before.

"It's so refreshing to have a clean yard," Garry whispers to himself.

Standing to the east of Spruce in an earlier view, 313's crew is lensed once again.

A nice overall shot of the landscape along the IPP&W.

Marooned in the hole at Watkins, the crew aboard 311 discuss their anticipated moves up in Bell.

The Bell Turn, RP&M Train 67-68 arrives the western portal to Bell. They hold outside the interchange yard for their other company train, RP&M 65-66, to complete its moves. 65-66 had been delayed on this morning due to locomotive issues.

The dedicated Firgrove switcher drifts atop the ledges as Train 15 makes a "flying stop" in Pratt's Bottom!

The track in front of Golding Grains down in Rat Portage.

15 arrives Rat.

Railfans of all ages abound trackside along the IPP&W.

RP&M 66 descends the hill out of Bell down through Pratt's Bottom.

Indeed, RP&M rail heads get polished quite frequently.

Doug awaits clearance into Glen Hammond from Rat Portage.

The passengers can see lots of ferns in this area of the railroad.

Oblivious to the eager railfans, Doug goes about his work at the facing sidings in Ironwood.

His engineer, Pat, responds to his commands and they will have their work completed in short order.

Train 15 arrives Glen Hammond following a station stop at Bellamy.

Malcolm pays Andrew a visit.

A look out my side window.

Train 15 with its typical consist on the day.

Moments early...

...15 used all the power it could muster to manage the grade up to Spruce. The engine handled the task magnificently.

Almost done!

313 has found the siding at Mercer.

15 enters the yard limits at Spruce.

15 meets 314.

Lovely!

Indeed, many railfans!

Bernie brings Train 31 down to Mount St. Helens. It's the short hop and the train will return to Craig Leigh as number Train 30.

Lawrence radios dispatch that Rat 71 has terminated its run.

313 blocks its traffic for Bell in advance while being in the hole at Watkins Siding. A brilliant idea in my books!

Bob and Garry enjoy a chat while the crew of 313 is found in Cedar Rock off in the distance.

Many visitors come to see the trains!

Malcolm resets the turnouts as his train departs the branch terminal and heads back to Peter's Pond.

313 meets 328 at Bell as Brian checks out the cars in Stuart Yard.

328's power.

Lawrence has gained clearance to back out of Nelson Yard in order to head into Glen Hammond.

71 enters the Glen.

Lawrence keeps his eyes on his train to ensure the turnouts are set in the appropriate manner.

He surveys the yard for his cars.

319 sachets down the grade.

I lens Doug from my dispatch perch.

Bill operates 314 in Ironwood.

It's a "Full House" at Bell.

Skipper Pat.

319 at ground level.

Attacking the hill at Blockhouse.

Lawrence continues with his tasks in the Glen.

328.

Over in Mount St. Helen's 314 drills the far siding.

Bill and Henk.

Manny "pond"ers things at the pond!

Still more visitors.

319 on final approach.

Being railfanned!

Almost home there, 319!

To watch Pat's video of his train running through the trestle, copy and paste the link below into your browser. (Pat I can right click from my e-mail account, but I cannot from the blog.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iWLn27IXKSsYQwNIQVxxB_ZJzSAb0L4e/view?usp=drive_web

Just a few more miles to go!

Taking the outer track around Nelson Yard.

Doug surveys his destination.

Checklists are reviewed as 319 finds itself on final approach.

The crew of 319 have completed all three of their runs...bravo!

Two opposing trains.

Lots of concern, it seems.

No problem...the two trains "just" clear their tail ends.

Incoming RP&M.

A look out my front window.

A proud engineer! Great job, Pat and Doug!

Artsy view.

Nice rolling stock.

The "rust" in the garden.

Some daisies.

Lawrence's fine quality work.

Lots of great structures...

...are found around the railroad.

A dash of colour.

Still more visitors...Doug's lovely wife, Barbara.

Time for refreshments.

Almost time for lunch!

Doug and Barbara!

Again!

Who's this...is it Skipper Fred?

Paul works the BBQ as Skipper Fred readies the plates.

Another great looking couple...Chris and Lela.

Yet another visitor...David Welsh.

It's great seeing you again, David!

I sent you a link to my blog entries showcasing David's amazing garden railroad in the first posting for this week.

David made the layout by himself.

The trestles, waterfall and gardens are magnificent.

If you ever get down to Picton, you will have to look him up.

A little commercial break from the garden railroad. Our honourable dispatcher, Doug, asked me to build a number of O-scale machines for a machine shop he wishes to build. He had already completed a couple and then asked me to build the rest. The image above showcases the 24" engine lathe I completed last year for Doug.

This is the 36" vertical drill. Many, many hours go into the construction of each model.

The crank shaper was a joy to build, paint and weather.

The pairing together.

Doug had already built the two machines to the right, the pedestal grinder and the bolt cutter.

A low angle view of five of the eight machines which will be included in the machine shop.

The 18" drill press which I recently completed..

The power hacksaw was finished earlier this month.

The universal miller...a stunning machine in my books!

As seen from the other side.

Even though the models are in O Scale, check out the height of this little puppy...just over an inch high! Tons of details to boot!

This week I completed the single cylinder mill engine.

It was a joy to build.

Doug came by this morning and we laid out all of the machines on the floor plan he created. Note the boiler in the top left-hand corner. Doug had completed that model a while back.