Garden Railroading in Pandemic Times
Blog Entry for June 20
The dappled shade offers up an analogy to these strange times we are living in at the moment. Just when you think things are going to change for the "sunshiny better" the news "shades" things over with statistics from all across the country and around the globe with regard to pandemic pandemonium.
(For the blog this year I am enlarging the images and enlarging the font size. Remember, you can further enlarge the images simply by clicking on them. To return to the default look of the page, click outside the image.)
What these Covid-19 times mean for the OVGRS is a halt on "true" operations with twenty plus crew members sharing aisle ways in close proximity to each other.
This does not mean that we cannot congregate in a much smaller group setting with a single handful of train enthusiasts willing to take great care to "social distance" as each one runs a train across the well-known rails of the IPP&W and RP&M lines. While not "true" train operations, this allows members to stay a safe distance away from each other and still find joy in riding the rails while no two trains trade off or share rail cars and other equipment.
The railroad is meant to run, and run it will!
As my contribution on the day, I offered to be "Railfan for the Day" and not run a train. The only thing I touched all morning was the button atop my good old "point and shoot" camera!
It's great to be back with "Father Fred" in the crew lounge!
Pat's all smiles...
...as is our good friend, Bill Sn3 Scobie!
Moe arrived...
...followed by the Bernie man!
Later, George made an appearance...
...as did Andrew!
I'll be officially retired after 40 years of teaching next Thursday, which is the final day of the school year.
Many thanks to Pat for the gift of these two amazing railroad lanterns.
They are actually from the railroad that I model in HO Scale in my own basement! The B&M!
Yes, the Boston and Maine Railroad!
Pat, what a special retirement gift! These two B&M lanterns will join my other two in a prominent location in my crew lounge at home! Thank you so very much...I am deeply touched!
Pat's first up to bat.
The lights in the stadium are on!
He gets her out of the dugout...
...and on to the field!
Indeed, it's a field of dreams!
Meanwhile, we catch a glimpse of a newer breed of locomotive awaiting its turn at the Northland Ore Dock.
Moe with his SD40 MAC.
Two generations of diesels seem to get along very well.
Bernie and his TH&B Geep.
She's a "looker" Bernie!
Meanwhile, Pat is in the process of wye-ing his locomotive for his run.
Bernie sets the turnout in order to depart the ore dock.
Two handsome gents!
Bernie has wyed his locomotive as well and these two brethren, also from different generations, share the tracks near the engine house.
Pat's consist of the day...a short four car local with caboose.
Clearance is given and he's on his way!
Through the south leg of the wye...
...out from Craig Leigh and onto the high iron.
He is downgrade bound for Mount St. Helens where Moe has already arrived.
Back at Northland, Bernie will grab his consist and follow Pat down the hill.
Three lads keeping well enough apart!
Moe had departed Craig Leigh the earliest and now holds the main in Mount St. Helens.
He has left the station track available for Pat.
Pat arrives, gives a wave to Moe...
...and is on his way!
Looking good, Pat!
Heading into Ironwood.
That Canadian Pacific loco is a real "purdy" one too!
Moe has gained clearance and the brakes are released.
He notches up tentatively as it is downgrade from here on into Ironwood.
He's on a slow order as there is a train ahead of him.
The red diesel tells us that Canada Day must be coming up shortly.
Lovely diesel there Moe!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...we spot Fred running a train?
Fred is actually at the helm of a train...we love it!
He's got that gas electric in top running order.
He enters Douglas Yard.
Two handsome items...one of which the ladies would swoon over!
Fred has backed the RP&M passenger train near the engine terminus in Craig Leigh.
The schedule tells us that it's time to depart.
Fred hostles the train back to Douglas Yard...
...where Bill takes over for the run.
Rounding the bend and into Northland.
Arriving Mount St. Helens...but...where is the station?
"No station...no stop!" says engineer Bill with a big grin.
Enjoying the shade?
Yes we are!
Out from the Mount and on the way westbound to Ironwood and Spruce.
The CP Extra has cleared Spruce.
The crew hugs the ledge west of Spruce on approach to the pedestrian crossing.
The engineer's handling of the brakes keeps the train's movement smooth and fluid.
Bernie jaunts through Ironwood...
...and rounds the curve...
...into Spruce.
Fred and George survey the situation...
...as Bernie commandeers his train around another big bend on the far side of Spruce.
Looking good Bernie!
Say, where's the forest that used to be here?
Our TH&B crew finds daylight.
The gas electric's test run is proving fruitful.
The shop mechanics did a fine job getting her back into tiptop shape!
Pat tackles the grade at Lilly as the CP Extra holds back a touch.
We believe the spray crew needs to get out to this sector of the line.
Why, it's no problem for "Pat of the Jungle!"
He's wise to take this curve on a slow order.
Railfans abound everywhere along the route of the IPP&W.
Say!
Check out this little Mack!
We thank Andrew for bringing this little puppy out!
It's now Moe's turn to attempt the grade.
He tiptoes onto the bridge which spans the gut.
Check ahead, Moe!
Have plenty of sand ready for the slippery rails!
Next in line...
Bernie!
Like the two previous trains, our TH&B crew find no challenge here on this day!
A lovely sight!
Another lovely sight!
And, yet another!
(This is as far as I got before Lisa came to pick me up! The action most likely continued as far as the west end of the railroad line!)
Pat, thank you so much for these two beautiful B&M lanterns.
Such a wonderful retirement surprise for me!
They fit nicely with another B&M lantern I already own which is a slightly different model.
As well as my Boston and Maine classification light for the buggy at the end of the train.
Cool!
The four go together so well.
And...here is little old me...on-line at my retirement "Zoom" party with my staff...two full screens of colleagues!
This coming Thursday will be the final day of my 40 year career in teaching! Yabba dabba doo!
They gave me a ton of wonderful gifts including...
...this sweatshirt...
...and this custom engraved suede guitar strap...
...which will fit beautifully on my "Hamer" guitar!
Yes, I own some Martins, Gibsons and Fenders in the guitar line...but the most precious of all is my custom made Hamer guitar our of Chicago! Many famous musicians play Hamers!
A lovely little retirement wooden box with a lovely cheque hidden inside to be spent at Long & McQuade...my favourite music store.
(Also, thanks for all of your wonderful e-mails of congrats as well. They mean so much to me!)
Well, enough about me. We thank Father Fred for hosting us on a sunny, Saturday morning of train running before the humidity got out of hand.
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Blog Entry for June 20
The dappled shade offers up an analogy to these strange times we are living in at the moment. Just when you think things are going to change for the "sunshiny better" the news "shades" things over with statistics from all across the country and around the globe with regard to pandemic pandemonium.
(For the blog this year I am enlarging the images and enlarging the font size. Remember, you can further enlarge the images simply by clicking on them. To return to the default look of the page, click outside the image.)
What these Covid-19 times mean for the OVGRS is a halt on "true" operations with twenty plus crew members sharing aisle ways in close proximity to each other.
This does not mean that we cannot congregate in a much smaller group setting with a single handful of train enthusiasts willing to take great care to "social distance" as each one runs a train across the well-known rails of the IPP&W and RP&M lines. While not "true" train operations, this allows members to stay a safe distance away from each other and still find joy in riding the rails while no two trains trade off or share rail cars and other equipment.
The railroad is meant to run, and run it will!
As my contribution on the day, I offered to be "Railfan for the Day" and not run a train. The only thing I touched all morning was the button atop my good old "point and shoot" camera!
It's great to be back with "Father Fred" in the crew lounge!
Pat's all smiles...
...as is our good friend, Bill Sn3 Scobie!
Moe arrived...
...followed by the Bernie man!
Later, George made an appearance...
...as did Andrew!
I'll be officially retired after 40 years of teaching next Thursday, which is the final day of the school year.
Many thanks to Pat for the gift of these two amazing railroad lanterns.
They are actually from the railroad that I model in HO Scale in my own basement! The B&M!
Yes, the Boston and Maine Railroad!
Pat, what a special retirement gift! These two B&M lanterns will join my other two in a prominent location in my crew lounge at home! Thank you so very much...I am deeply touched!
Pat's first up to bat.
The lights in the stadium are on!
He gets her out of the dugout...
...and on to the field!
Indeed, it's a field of dreams!
Meanwhile, we catch a glimpse of a newer breed of locomotive awaiting its turn at the Northland Ore Dock.
Moe with his SD40 MAC.
Two generations of diesels seem to get along very well.
Bernie and his TH&B Geep.
She's a "looker" Bernie!
Meanwhile, Pat is in the process of wye-ing his locomotive for his run.
Bernie sets the turnout in order to depart the ore dock.
Two handsome gents!
Bernie has wyed his locomotive as well and these two brethren, also from different generations, share the tracks near the engine house.
Pat's consist of the day...a short four car local with caboose.
Clearance is given and he's on his way!
Through the south leg of the wye...
...out from Craig Leigh and onto the high iron.
He is downgrade bound for Mount St. Helens where Moe has already arrived.
Back at Northland, Bernie will grab his consist and follow Pat down the hill.
Three lads keeping well enough apart!
Moe had departed Craig Leigh the earliest and now holds the main in Mount St. Helens.
He has left the station track available for Pat.
Pat arrives, gives a wave to Moe...
...and is on his way!
Looking good, Pat!
Heading into Ironwood.
That Canadian Pacific loco is a real "purdy" one too!
Moe has gained clearance and the brakes are released.
He notches up tentatively as it is downgrade from here on into Ironwood.
He's on a slow order as there is a train ahead of him.
The red diesel tells us that Canada Day must be coming up shortly.
Lovely diesel there Moe!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...we spot Fred running a train?
Fred is actually at the helm of a train...we love it!
He's got that gas electric in top running order.
He enters Douglas Yard.
Two handsome items...one of which the ladies would swoon over!
Fred has backed the RP&M passenger train near the engine terminus in Craig Leigh.
The schedule tells us that it's time to depart.
Fred hostles the train back to Douglas Yard...
...where Bill takes over for the run.
Rounding the bend and into Northland.
Arriving Mount St. Helens...but...where is the station?
"No station...no stop!" says engineer Bill with a big grin.
Enjoying the shade?
Yes we are!
Out from the Mount and on the way westbound to Ironwood and Spruce.
The CP Extra has cleared Spruce.
The crew hugs the ledge west of Spruce on approach to the pedestrian crossing.
The engineer's handling of the brakes keeps the train's movement smooth and fluid.
Bernie jaunts through Ironwood...
...and rounds the curve...
...into Spruce.
Fred and George survey the situation...
...as Bernie commandeers his train around another big bend on the far side of Spruce.
Looking good Bernie!
Say, where's the forest that used to be here?
Our TH&B crew finds daylight.
The gas electric's test run is proving fruitful.
The shop mechanics did a fine job getting her back into tiptop shape!
Pat tackles the grade at Lilly as the CP Extra holds back a touch.
We believe the spray crew needs to get out to this sector of the line.
Why, it's no problem for "Pat of the Jungle!"
He's wise to take this curve on a slow order.
Railfans abound everywhere along the route of the IPP&W.
Say!
Check out this little Mack!
We thank Andrew for bringing this little puppy out!
It's now Moe's turn to attempt the grade.
He tiptoes onto the bridge which spans the gut.
Check ahead, Moe!
Have plenty of sand ready for the slippery rails!
Next in line...
Bernie!
Like the two previous trains, our TH&B crew find no challenge here on this day!
A lovely sight!
Another lovely sight!
And, yet another!
(This is as far as I got before Lisa came to pick me up! The action most likely continued as far as the west end of the railroad line!)
Pat, thank you so much for these two beautiful B&M lanterns.
Such a wonderful retirement surprise for me!
They fit nicely with another B&M lantern I already own which is a slightly different model.
As well as my Boston and Maine classification light for the buggy at the end of the train.
Cool!
The four go together so well.
And...here is little old me...on-line at my retirement "Zoom" party with my staff...two full screens of colleagues!
This coming Thursday will be the final day of my 40 year career in teaching! Yabba dabba doo!
They gave me a ton of wonderful gifts including...
...this sweatshirt...
...and this custom engraved suede guitar strap...
...which will fit beautifully on my "Hamer" guitar!
Yes, I own some Martins, Gibsons and Fenders in the guitar line...but the most precious of all is my custom made Hamer guitar our of Chicago! Many famous musicians play Hamers!
A lovely little retirement wooden box with a lovely cheque hidden inside to be spent at Long & McQuade...my favourite music store.
(Also, thanks for all of your wonderful e-mails of congrats as well. They mean so much to me!)
Well, enough about me. We thank Father Fred for hosting us on a sunny, Saturday morning of train running before the humidity got out of hand.
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
May you enjoy many happy retirement days ahead, Mike, and thank you so much for posting this blog. I only wish I could join everybody at Fred's! It was great to see so many smiling, happy faces in today's blog entry. As you get together over the rest of the operating season may everyone continue to be very careful about your social distancing, hand washing, and face touching, and remain happy and virus-free for yourselves, your friends and your families. God bless, and choose happiness always!!! -Johnnychuffchuff
ReplyDeleteThis was my first experience with the blog. I am truly impressed with the presentations within. I am only sad because I couldn't be there to meet and enjoy the comeradery of all. Next time...
ReplyDeleteLooked like a really great morning of just running trains with everyone having a good time. Congrats to Mike for retiring at the right time and for "surviving" 40 years of hard work. Hope to see you all at the "tent" soon. Working on renos in the house and that is taking time at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to all.
Robin Allardyce
Thank you for your lovely words, Johnny and Robyn...as well as our unknown visitor who is very welcome! Yes, 40 years is a long time. My wish is that I will be alive to see 40 years of retirement! Hehehe! Let's see, I'm 62 so 62 + 40 = 102! If the Queen Mother can make it to 101 and Dame Vera Lynn can hold on until 103, I may just make it! All the best, Mike...with a big smile on his face!
ReplyDelete