Workday Wednesday August 7th

Wednesday is "hump day" for those who work 9-5 weekdays.

For this school school teacher on summer break, there is no need to worry which day it is.

But Wednesday gets me excited because I can head out to Fred's and meet some of the lads.

And...get some gardening done to boot!

The rust garden is doing very well.

We catch Garry and Fred down in Rat Portage...

...with Lawrence.

The topic of discussion is a new siding in Rat Portage.

It will come off the passing siding and head back around to the area of Golding Grains.

Last Wednesday's work saw the removal of the three-way turnout in Ralph Yard.

While the threat of rain means the "hard work" won't get done today, Lawrence is still able to lay the trackage out temporarily to get some vision of how the siding will (or will not) work.

Tolerances are close...

...yet acceptable.

The "test fit" looks fine.

I see a lumberjack mug...that means a RedBlacks fan is in the house.

And...so he is...skipper Bernie!

Lawrence and Garry head over to Nelson Yard.

Where we find Andrew and Bernie.

A look down the trackage with the new turnouts installed a few weeks prior.

We notice a couple of black-eyed Susans across the aisle.

Bernie "The Tool Man" Goodman!

A further look down the tracks.

The crew discusses turnouts.

While Andrew finds an important task to work on.

He's cleaning the natural build-up of leaf, hedge and foliage material which finds its way between the timbers, accumulates and leads eventually to wood rot.  This is a job that would typically go unnoticed but is greatly appreciated by all who believe in the solid maintenance and upkeep of the railroad.  Great job, Andrew!

Bernie, standing at attention.

The discussion deepens.

I have to look busy, so I pose as if I am checking out the turnouts.

Silly me! I had better get back to some real work!

A glance back at Rat Portage.  We spot the large Golding Grains facility named in honour of our wonderful Invasion visitors, Ric and Jan Golding.  Note the quickly "laid in place" siding off in the distance which will be installed the next opportune Wednesday when the weather allows.

During our last few operations I had begun to notice that freight cars residing on the team track in Spruce were leaning over at quite the cant.

I quickly got to work lifting the siding and removing stones from one side of the 2x6 while adding stones to the other.

Bernie came along to snag this shot of me...so I quickly asked for his assistance with the job.

Two sets of hands are better than one set.  While I worked stones in, Bernie lifted the timber for me and when he worked them in, I did the same for him.

We eliminated most of the cant in the siding, although the timber itself is slightly warped so we couldn't get it all...but we are satisfied that we ameliorated the situation as best as possible.

Last minute clean-up.

The blower dusts off the rest.

A final check.

Bernie gives us the "thumbs up!"

Ah...much better!  As Bernie said, "We've spruced up Spruce!"

Following our work in Spruce, Bernie and I felt that we could get that siding in before the rains came.

In under an hour we had the new siding in!  Great job, Bernie!

"Hey wait a minute there, you two!" Garry calls over to us.

"That's fake news!"

"You can't post that on the blog!"

Hehehe!  Indeed, Garry is correct.  It is "fake news!"

For you see...

...it was really Garry and Lawrence who put all that work in to install the new siding!

And now...you know the rest of the story!

Still time to sit and discuss further potential developments along the line.

But for now, we will enjoy a new siding in Rat Portage that can hold up to four freight cars.

Fred is the chief inspector along the line.

A perfect fit!

Thanks, Andrew, for the cookies!  They were great!

In deep thought.

The rose between two thorns...

...or is it the thorn between two roses!  Hehehe!

As always, thanks to Father Fred for allowing deep discussions that percolate over time as to how to continually improve the railroad with the input from the operators.  Some planned ideas sit on the shelf for awhile and others get acted upon when the participants feel the time is right.  This new siding is one that has been seen to fruition.  All that is left is for Garry to come up with the name of an industry in the Comber name!

See everyone this coming Saturday morning!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

PS.  This e-mail just in from Garry!

Hi All,

First, thanks to whoever suggested that this siding/industry be named after me.

Second,I have been thinking more about possible industry names that involve alliteration.
After consulting various model RR books, I offer the following - with notes.

A)  Not likely:

1. Comber's Chemicals - not much room for appropriate loading/unloading pipes
and not a good idea next to a grain industry;
2.  Comber's Coal - track should be elevated for unloading and once again, not
much room for unloading dock and not a good idea next to a grain industry.

B)  More likely:
3.  Comber's Candies - I have a sweet tooth and I guess this industry could take
reefers and boxcars;
4.  Comber's Creamery- We have milk related industries on the IPP&W. Does it
make sense for more interchange traffic?
5.  Comber's Canoes- That was my Wife's idea. I guess this would take wood in 
and boxcars out?
6.  Comber's Chairs - Like the one above, this would take the occasional load of 
wood and maybe boxcars in and boxcars out.

I think the last is my first choice,but I think that Lawrence should pick whatever seems most
appropriate given for the freight cars that we have or, perhaps, that are underused.

Thanks,
Garry

Final notes:  Garry...I noticed how you capitalised the word "Wife".  Indeed she must be very important in your world.  I think having a manufacturer of canoes along the railroad line down in Rat Portage would be most fitting as this area of Ontario is filled with lakes.  Not only would freight cars be bringing in wood, varnishes and paints would also be required. Besides, chairs would imply you sit around a lot...which I rarely see you do in Nelson Yard! (big grin)  

Ultimately, the choice is yours and whichever industry name gets chosen, it will be a joy and a privilege to switch out this location named in your honour.  All the best, Mike.