A Plow Extra in Late September?

Late September Hi-Jinx...a Plow Extra!
No, we don't want to see winter yet...we've only arrived autumn!

Yes, it is with pure joy that we are able to arrive our railroad at Fred's place in late September and enjoy the great weather, fabulous train running and amazing camaraderie!

Did I just write "great weather" on the blog?  Why then do I see a double header plow extra in September?  Is this an omen of the winter we are about to experience?

No omen!  It' just Lawrence experimenting with multiple uniting a train powered by steam!

Say! With the new version of Blogger, it is really easy for me to put up a video.  This is my first attempt.  The video showcases Lawrence's plow extra heading into Ironwood from Mount St. Helens.  
Just click on the white arrow first, then again on the white arrow inside the red circle and the video should run for you.

Here's Lawrence assembling his train for its morning run.

Camelback #5 sure is a looker!

So is A&O #2!

Nothing beats the look of a beautiful steam locomotive.

Love those side rods!

So does the engineer.

Good old #5.

It's always hard labour when you work on the railroad...

...as these gents will attest!

But...hey, it's a day's pay!

Our plow extra sidles out of Northland.

The train holds the western leg of the wye (geographical southern leg)...

...in anticipation of...

...an oncoming train out from Mount St. Helens.

The signal protects the UP train...

...as she enters the vicinity of Craig Leigh...

...and motors on towards Northland.

The unit tank train, dubbed "The Oil Can" will clear in a moment...

...as her tail end appears.

On through the "Gates of Northland"...or was that "Graceland"?

The tail end clears the switch and the signal aspect offers up clearance for the plow extra.

As we scurry along to meet the plow train in Mount St. Helens, we grab this racing shot as it descends the long grade out from Craig Leigh.

The signal protects the train on its approach to "The Mount".

It would appear we have a work crew labouring in Mount St. Helens.  One of the crew stops what he is doing to conduct a pass-by inspection.

The yellow beak on the plow draws our attention...

...as the train descends the slope between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.

She's left Ironwood in the dust...

...and enters the eastern sector of Spruce.

This most unusual looking train continues to draw spectators from near and far, but this photographer is more interested in the train than the spectators!

Bypassing Spruce.

We say "good-bye" to our plow train as it descends the longest grade on the line located between Spruce and Blockhouse.  The grade is commonly referred to as "Clarke's Hill" in honour of the gentleman who is known to run some of the longest trains along the line, Bob Clarke.  Patrick Brennan has dubbed the small stone house with the gabled roof that is situated trackside in this location (out of the picture) as "Clarke's Gable"!  Bob and I concur Pat...quite the quip!  It's a keeper.

Enjoy this video of the plow train rounding the curve out from Spruce as it strolls down Clarke's Hill toward Blockhouse.
Keep checking in throughout the week for more excerpts from a fun day of train running in late September!
Stay healthy and stay safe!  
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada