The Little Red Engine That Could

The Little Red Engine That Could

Mark brought his beautiful son, Oliver, out for some train running fun this past Saturday.  He recently sent along these images and captions for me to post to the blog.

What follows in Mark's own words is the story of "Oliver and the Little Red Engine That Could".

Oliver and I arrive to see our very own “company photographer,” the one and only Mike Hamer, operating his train up the grade to Blockhouse.  This being the era of COVID-19, Mike is properly decked out in the uniform of the day (mask) and observing proper physical distancing.

Oh wow, what a gorgeous train!  That is Paul’s very own Canadian Pacific GP35 if I am not mistaken…  What a lovely treat to start the day.

Our friends Lawrence, Bernie and Fred must be discussing something very important… but they fail to notice a new visitor to the IPP&W… check out the box on the table.  More on this mysterious character later...

Peter’s Pond sadly reduced to “gumbo” as expressed so eloquently by our very own Steve Watson.  The fish and beautiful water lilies have been safely transported to a new home.  Yet out of the ashes (or mud in this case) shall rise a new landscape feature, as yet to be determined, to occupy a place of pride on the IPP&W.  Peter’s Pond will always live on - after all, it’s in the name of the railroad!

Ah… so here is the new visitor that we were talking about earlier.  And no, I don’t mean Oliver.  He’s a seasoned veteran of operating sessions on the IPP&W after all!  What I mean is that cute little red locomotive pulling a short train on its way out of the Northland Ore dock.  They must have just arrived by ferry and will be delivering goods somewhere down the line.  Let’s follow that train!

Oliver is acting Yardmaster for the day and is dutifully clearing the right of way for little red.

Here we get our first close-up look at this new visitor.  It is a PIKO GE25 ton switcher.  Normally a track cleaner (conveniently powered by battery R/C right out of the box) it has been pressed into service today, cleaning shoes removed, to haul a short consist of tank cars.  A big important job for a little loco!

Ollie has tried to catch up to “little red” but she is running fast down the main line, right on through Mt. St. Helens.

Here we get a nice shot of little red running past the ore mine.  I don’t think that’s where we are delivering these tanker cars though… even Oliver knows that!

Little red has caught the attention of Mike, the company photographer.

Action happening on all the new spurs at Spruce.

Mike capturing the action as the tank cars roll on through Spruce.  I guess their destination must be elsewhere today.

The “new Spruce” is a very busy place today.  Father Fred comes on over to check out the action, while Bernie looks on as little red makes her first trip down the IPP&W.  Paul is busy performing switching manouvers on the new sidings.  (I think that’s Mike running to catch a better view)

And here is that “better view.”

Rolling downgrade is easy - any train can do that.  But the real test will come later on as we proceed uphill in a few places down the line… will little red be able to handle the grade?  We shall see.

Gorgeous meeting of two trains in three dimensions.

Mike captures this epic train meet from up close while I look on from afar.

Oliver loves it too.

So does Father Fred - let’s see what the action is about.  It’s not every day that two trains cross over “on top” of each other!

Don’t run away now Ollie!  You’ve got an important job to do!

Much like in the Goldilocks story, the two tank cars and short caboose look “just right” pulled by the red GE25 ton switcher.

And we made it up the grade past the Blockhouse onwards to the trestle!  This locomotive is truly the little red engine that could!

Meanwhile, there seems to have been trouble further back along the line.  A derailment has led to the tail end of Paul’s train becoming uncoupled.  Nevermind, engineer Oliver has been dispatched to the rescue!

The "little red engine that could" enters Glenn Hammond on the east interchange track.  Yes, I would say this picture looks “just right”.

Oliver, full of smiles, completely agrees!

What’s this?  Ah yes, I’ve forgotten.  Oliver has been tasked with performing all of the necessary safety inspections today on the railroad.  Here he is checking the tank cars for leaks, and finding none, gives the “all clear” to proceed down the line.

Job done at Glenn Hammond, Oliver turns his attention over to the Rat Portage & Mattawa side of the railway… what could possibly be going on there?

Oh, I see!  We have a train running through to the outside world!  My, it’s a jungle out there with all the rain and sun we’ve been getting lately - lots of thick, lush vegetation.  Mike captures his train from a rare “outside” angle while his wife Lisa patiently awaits him in their car in the background.  Hold on Lisa, Mike still has an important job to finish!

Mike’s last shot of the day is to take a picture of me taking a picture of him… this is starting to feel like a hall of mirrors!

Oliver carefully inspects Mike’s train as it heads back up the hill towards Bell.

Followed by the little red engine that could.

Or maybe it finally couldn’t… Oliver lends a helping hand to push the tank cars on to their final destination.

… which is Bell of course!  Now this makes total sense.  The tank cars have been delivered safe and sound to the huge grain elevators at Golding Grains.  I have no idea what’s inside the tank cars today, but at least the cylindrical shape matches the huge towers, right?  The "little engine that could” has finished her maiden run on the IPP&W and established her worth as a compact, yet powerful, switcher that can even handle a short train for just-in-time delivery to important industries on the big main line!

Sorry, I forgot to add this one!  It’s actually the best shot of the day I think!!

Well, Mark and Oliver...what a great story you both have wound from beginning to end.  As for the best shot of the day...any picture with Ollie and a train in it is the best in my books!  Thanks, Mark and Ollie, for a great experience trackside!

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