Session #21 Our Final Session of the Season

As Train 327 departs Blockhouse, we are amazed that our season has come to a conclusion for yet another year!

While Pool Train 15 reaches Wellington Lake, we are thankful for good weather this season in allowing us to hold 21 operating sessions.

While these two previously shown trains gather together at the eastern end of Nelson Yard, we appreciate the wonderful camaraderie we have experienced once again this season.
I would like to take this time to thank Father Fred on behalf of the entire gang for his generous hospitality shown throughout the entire season!  You're the best, Fred!

As these cars indicate...

...our final session of the year was a narrow gauge one.

We started the session an hour later on purpose due to the lateness in the year.  Henk made the suggestion and we sure are glad he did as the rising sun warmed our hands and our hearts thanks to the later morning start!

Thanks to Mark and to Andrew for delivering some unexpected treats to the crew lounge pre-ops!

Brian digs in...followed by a host of others!

Andrew and Fred are sunny spirits!

Paul, Garry, Neil and Bill are backlit by the sun.

Moe and Steve join in.

Seanna offers a smile in the background.

The session begins and Nelson Yard proves to be a busy place, as always.

My crewmate, Paul, and I are underway with 327 out from Glen Hammond.

We break our train in order to lift the boxcar from the trailing siding at Bellamy.

We bypass Nelson Yard.

Through the junction.  "Dispatch, 327 has cleared the junction!"

Oops!  Forgot to call that in as we were distracted by a good looking feller up in Firgrove!

And...there he is!  Good morning, George!

We run through Mercer on the right hand track.

(When I run a train I have to stay with my crew mate, thus more images of our train than others.  Other crews will be shown as we meet them trackside.)

We arrive Peter's Pond.

The ever-happy Pat with a great message!

We pre-determined our Cedar Rock moves before we departed Glen Hammond earlier in the morning and we have now run around our train...

...where we are found heading up the Cedar Rock branch.

Working Cedar Rock.

Conducting our facing moves.

Here's Paul.

Then...handling our trailing moves.

Back down at the junction in Peter's Pond we meet opposing train 302 with a Canadian Pacific S2 holding the honours.

With 302 protected, we are cleared out of the Pond.

We're underway in the distance!

We head under Mount St. Helens where a number of crews seem busy.

Len and Moe head up to Cedar Rock to check in on their work here.

Garry and Andrew have some clear alleys present in Nelson Yard.

I spot a train in Ironwood as I walk around to Wellington Lake.  It must be Train 318. our counterpart out of Glen Hammond earlier in the morning.

Our handsome dispatcher, skipper Bill Sn3 Scobie!

I uncouple the tail end from my train...

...in order to lift that boxcar at Wellington Lake.

The moon is still on its transit across the bright blue sky as Paul offers up a lunar smile!

Lawrence draws 318 our of Ironwood...

...bound for Mount St. Helens.

327 is cleared through Watkins to Bell.

Locomotive #27 is our power on this day.  (I numbered my unit #27 as I was born on May 27th.  Did you know that 27 is a perfect cube..."3 cubed"  3x3x3=27?  Also...if you take the digits between the "2" and the "7" and add them all together, what is your sum?  Yes....27!  

Indeed 2+3+4+5+6+7=27)  Ahhhh...such a great number in my books at least!  Big smile!

We take the crossovers in order to arrive Track 3 in Bell.

I turn around to find Doug and Brian with Rat 70 in Glen Hammond.

Paul and I work the western end of Bell...

...while Rat 70 prepares to depart Glen Hammond.

The tail end...

...is a beauty!

Doug radios dispatch for his green.

Paul and I drill the interchange and oil tracks in Bell.

Some lovely looking specimens.

RP&M 65 climbs out of Pratt's Bottom.

We will share the vicinity around Bell with the RP&M crew.

Not a problem, though...

...as that new turnout we installed last season has allowed the two crews to work independent of each other while remaining in close proximity...another great idea offered up by Henk!

Our work is done here...

...so we get underway after gaining clearance...

...westward bound...

...our of Bell for Firgrove.

George and Andrew chat it up in Firgrove.

Garry offers up a great looking smile.

Golding Grains in Rat Portage.

Brian and Doug crew Rat 70.

Their power has already run around their train...

...and prepares to handle the Hamer Manufactoring (sic) facility.  (Hee Hee!)
...or...they have run around their train in order to head back to Nelson yard tender first.

Paul and I return to Bell aboard our second run of the day...Train 304.

(Paul, the pics I took of you at the turntable were blanched out by the bright sunshine!)

The two crews working side by side once again.

We've floated through the yard...

\

...and prepare to set out a car at Henk's Stores.

I turn around to find Neil...

...with Train 15...

...in Glen Hammond.

Nelson Yard continues with its activities...

...while Doug and Brian depart the yard aboard Train 67.

304 departs Bell in an easterly direction.

Over in Spruce we spot Pat, Ken and Mark as Lawrence awaits clearance out of Ironwood.

Train 303 awaits 301's completion of duties in Spruce.

301's power...

...belonging to Pat.  She's a real looker, Pat!
Here we have Mark snapping a picture of little ole me!

Ken and Mark share a smile.

The pond hasn't frozen over  yet!

The Pool Train...

...will be cleared shortly up to Wellington Lake.

303 arrives Spruce.

Henk checks out which cars he and Lawrence must concentrate their efforts on while their train resides on the siding track.

Ironwood Brick.

From my vantage point at Wellington Lake, the sun offers a better angle for photos in Spruce.

Some colourful cars.

Looking good lads!

Train 15 emerges from "The Corners."

The train bypasses the siding at Wellington Lake.

The Pool Train pulls ahead at Watkins to allow 304 to exit the siding.

The crew of 304 is appreciative of this generous maneuver.

Mark and Ken bring 301 into Nelson Yard as Andrew and Moe deal with their own lists.

RP&M 67 has arrived Bell.

Garry and Pat.

Dispatcher Bill...

...ahh...now that's a clearer image!

With 304's eastward departure, the Pool Train backs into the station at Wellington Lake.

Jean is dressed for the weather...

...as Sid chats it up with Uncle Fred.

304 rounds the curve outside of Peter's Pond and pierces the canyon walls.

With a quick set-out and lift in the pond, 304 continues east to Nelson Yard.

303 exits the iron over the large gap.

The train is held outside of Nelson Yard awaiting track availability.

The crew in Nelson Yard.

An RP&M train returns to Nelson Yard.

Two trains holding at both ends of Nelson Yard...304 at Mercer and 303 at the trestle.

The yard crew has an audience...

...but they are not frazzled.

Steve looks over the yard.

Train 15...

...working Bell.

Another RP&M train works Bell...

...with engine man Brian.

Garry conducts the action as Lawrence looks on.

A crowded house.

We'll make it through.

Eventually.

  

303 rolls in first...

...with their tail end captured by my camera.

Henk enjoys watching his engineer handle the controls with great acumen...

while my crewmate, Paul, takes advantage of the "hold up" to honour the sun gods!

Check in later in the week for Section Two...not tomorrow evening though as it is election day and I will be following the action on the "tele" after I visit the Mayfair for a showing of a movie about the life of "Dr. Ruth."...yes, "The" Dr. Ruth Westheimer.  I will meet her during a Q&A following the film's showing as I have met her son a couple of times.  He teaches at the University of Ottawa.  (No...I don't need any advice from Dr. Ruth!  Hehehe!)

Thanks, Fred, for hosting our final session!  

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