Standard gauge operations took place on the weekend before the Autumnal Equinox.
For those new to the blog format, you can enlarge the images by clicking on them. You can then return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.
For those new to the blog format, you can enlarge the images by clicking on them. You can then return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.
September 21st saw diesels in action.
Working both railroads.
We headed into Mr. Peabody's Time Machine whenever we spotted a passenger train en route on this day.
A strong variety in paint schemes was noted.
Some original lines came through our territory.
We also spotted some recent local railroad engines as well.
Chris and Pete take a seat before the session begins. They will crew 327 out from Glen Hammond on this day.
Hats are becoming dearer and Bill shows off a recent purchase.
Paul takes a seat beside Chris while Steve looks on in the background.
Love Seanna's shirt!
We gather for the morning news.
The lads can't wait to get started. Note the treats on the table compliments of Henk. He celebrates his birthday this coming week. Happy birthday, Henk!
The first train out on the day is Passenger 2 with Pat at the helm. Seeing as I am dispatching, I am able to catch a much greater variety of the action across the entire railroad than when I am crewing a particular train where you see my train mostly along with the trains I meet en route.
Pat brings Passenger 2 into Bell.
Station stop.
318 is on the roll out from Glen Hammond as an RP&M crew works Nelson Yard in behind.
Steve and Seanna commandeer 318 this morning.
Lawrence and Brian bring 302 in on Track 4 after following in Passenger 2's footsteps down the ledge from Firgrove.
We catch up with 327 at the pedestrian crossing. Chris and Pete are heading into Peter's Pond in short order.
At the eastern terminus of Craig Leigh 301 gets underway.
Locomotive 5576 hauls the lading on 301.
Bernie, the Craig Leigh yard master gets back to work after making up Train 301.
327 arrives the pond.
318 finds Spruce in the morning light.
Train 2 with its handsome engineer picks up passengers at Wellington Lake.
302 gets down to business along Track 4 in Bell.
301 is cleared down to Mount St. Helens and tiptoes out of the yard at Northland.
The Nelson crews continue to make up trains at the eastern opening to the yard.
The other Nelson crew does the same at the western portal of the yard.
Some handsome units to boot!
A pairing of F's will cover the ore train on this day.
The two Neils will control this unit train after George aligns their turnouts.
The ore train backs onto its van.
George re-aligns the routing for the train's departure from Firgrove.
Continued work in and around Nelson Yard.
302 works to the east of Bell.
Passenger 2 finds the siding at Mercer.
Green means "Go!" and Pat is a happy man.
Through the junction.
\
Neil rolls downhill with the ore train.
It's a shorty out of Firgrove.
The other Neil checks out the passenger train in behind him.
The ore train arrives Bell territory.
The two Neils!
Coming in no the main line.
By the station.
Bypassing Stuart Yard.
Downhill at Watkins Siding.
RP&M train 65 heads out from Nelson Yard.
65 takes the junction and will head onto RP&M iron in short order.
327 in Peter's Pond. That's Chris and Peter on board.
327 is protected as the ore train arrives the pond in an easterly direction.
327 has work to conduct up in Cedar Rock.
Passenger 2 catches up and passes 318 in Spruce.
Seanna and Steve hold the siding in Spruce and await clearance into Ironwood where we catch Len and Doug hard at work aboard westbound 301.
Henk's birthday treat! Thanks, Henk...it sure is yummy! Happy Birthday to you later in the week!
302 holds the siding at Watkins as 327 climbs out of Wellington Lake.
327 has work to complete at Wellington Lake, but the crew comes ahead to Watkins Siding to offer passage for the waiting opposing train.
302 rolls past the depot at Wellington Lake.
301 in Ironwood.
Wheels roll the train into the curve to the west of Ironwood.
That's some string of stock cars Len and Doug have on their train.
With 302 now gone to the east, 327's crew backs their train back into Wellington Lake.
Neil navigates Nelson Yard with the ore train.
301 has allowed 318 into Ironwood. 318's crew works the far end of town as 301 departs for Spruce.
Pete has 327 out from Wellington Lake.
Into Spruce.
Downhill out from Spruce.
Into Blockhouse.
Dispatch appreciates Steve and Seanna aboard 318 as they use up some of their valuable time lifting the ore cars for the impending ore train.
The ore train arrives Nelson Yard.
301 is on final approach to Nelson.
Under the umbrella.
Finding daylight.
Smile Neil!
The ore is ready to roll once again!
Exiting the big yard.
Eastbound at the big trestle.
Train 65 climbs the grade out of Pratt's Bottom.
Love the headend.
Love the tail end too!
It's a double header!
The ore train finds Spruce while the crew of 302 reach Cedar Rock off Peter's Pond.
Scenic Cedar Rock. Indeed, Cedar "Rocks and Rolls!"
A glorious scene!
The action heats up in Ironwood.
318 has collected the ore cars. The locomotive from the ore train has cut off from its consist and has run ahead to grab its cars. The ore train crew acknowledges the efforts of 318's crew in assisting with the lift of their cars.
Neil monitors his train from afar.
RP&M 65 reaches Bell.
The ore train reaches Mount St. Helens.
318 is able to get back to its own work in Ironwood.
A handsome lad...
...with a handsome train...
...with an equally handsome locomotive.
"Neil Squared!"
Videographer Pat.
Cool car up in Cedar Rock.
Nelson Yard.
327 on the station track in Bell.
Looking good.
This already seen image shows 65 working the interchange.
The OCR locomotive looks great along with the red CP boxes.
302 nears its termination point at Nelson Yard.
Nice hat Pete!
Seanna works the sidings in Ironwood...
...with hubby, Steve.
Pool Train 15 arrives Spruce.
312 is underway near the pedestrian crossing out from Blockhouse.
311 arranges its cars for the run up to Cedar Rock near Peter's Pond.
The Northland Ore Dock appears quite busy at the moment.
Neil lines up his route...
...while his crewmate, the other Neil, hauls the A-B tandem in reverse mode onto the ore dock.
Love the parallel nature of the rails!
Love the low angle view!
312's crew determines their plan of attack as they line up on the siding in Spruce.
Up in Firgrove, George and Paul have a cleaned out yard at Ralph.
Paul reviews his switching orders.
A couple of cars are handled with care.
Bill and Moe work the sidings at Anderson...
...while in behind, Train 15 tackles the upgrade curve at Lilly.
Destination...Glen Hammond.
Under green foliage.
Henk continues with his work at Nelson.
Red is the colour of our operators hair in the morning...when the sun shines...in the morniing...when the sun shines...that's the time...that's the time...we love the best! Thanks Donovan!
Rat Portage is quiet at the moment.
Bill has a front row seat for all of the action!
327 makes Firgrove.
With Chris and Pete as crew.
Time for a turning!
Chris's elegant switcher is up to the task...
...after surviving a brush with some renegade chipmunks!
The ore train returns to Ironwood, this time along a westerly tack.
They will meet the crew aboard 312.
Neil uncouples some cars that will require setting out at Ironwood Brick.
Brian and Lawrence review their assignment while on hold in the siding.
The ore train pulls forward.
In behind we have 311 climbing out of the valley up to Wellington Lake.
With the ore train on the main, 312's crew is able to continue their work in Ironwood using the siding as their lead.
The crew of the ore train has temporarily removed the tankcar from the siding in order to tuck the ore cars in behind it at the big Ironwood Brick complex.
312's CP locomotive.
304 has arrived Bell along Track 3.
They wait for the crew of 65 to finish up their moves at the interchange.
CN - head end and hind end brethren.
Love this previously seen image!
Still more CN power. The crew aboard 311 is holding at Watkins to the east of Bell to await clearance into the yard. Rather than sit around and wait, they are able to run around their train and deposit a facing car at Henk's Stores siding located at the easterly extremity of Bell. Now, that's using your waiting time wisely!
Ironwood continues to be a busy locale.
The crews work around each other with ease.
Neil has returned the tankcar to the siding and will have his crewmate, the other Neil, bring their locomotive back onto their train.
312 holds the siding for the passage of ore.
Pool Train 15 makes a stop at Wellington Lake.
The train will be cleared past 311 at Watkins...
...and proceed on...
...into Bell...
...along the station track...
...which should be a clear alley...
...and it is!
Coffee is great fuel for the ore train.
In the shade of Mount St. Helens we find 312 meeting 303.
303 lifts itself along the ledge...
...then it is downgrade into Ironwood...
...and onto the siding.
Love this trio of cars!
The sun bakes...which also makes...
...for some crazy situations.
It would appear...
...that a Galloping Goose...
...has blocked the tracks down in Rat Portage! Indeed, as Steve's outstretched arms indicate...there is nowhere for Train 66 to go!
Meanwhile, in another area of town...this train isn't interfered with at all.
It's Mark's son, Olie, taking a glance at the train passing below him from his perch!
Thanks, Mark, for sending these two great images along!
Speaking of galloping gooses...I had to gallop along quickly after our train session and get set up for a barn dance to take place later that evening.
With my Fender and Hamer guitars.
Here's Pete,our train crew mate and sax player extraordinaire during the sound check before the dance.
Not only does he run trains so proficiently...
...he sure lets that sax wail...
Blues, jazz, soul, rock...anything...
...Pete can play it all!
That's Mark, me, Pete, Richard and Gerry all set up with our singer, Adrienne, snapping the picture before the show begins. Some of our model railroaders may recognize Gerry as he works on weekends at the hobby shop in Nepean when he is not at his other job on weekdays. Richard, on the drums, teaches at the University of Ottawa and Mark on guitar and vocals is a software/hardware wizard! What a day...trains in the AM and music in the late PM! Ah...everybody needs a few hobbies in their life!
Here's Fred with Doug. Do we get some "brownie points" for eating Steve's wife's delicious brownies each Saturday? Check in later in the week for the "Second Section" of this week's blog where you will learn about more great antics found along the IPP&W and RP&M rails!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment