A Tale of Two (Black) Beauties

A Tale of Two (Black) Beauties

Thanks once again to Mark for sending us these great pictures and story line from our first train running adventure in September.  The words come from Mark.

We arrive to see a lovely new engine in black - all decked out for the IPP&W and ready to go!  Maybe the executives of the railroad are riding in that smart-looking RP&M coach behind?

(Click on the images to enlarge and outside them to shrink.)

Nope, they are outside, listening intently to Bill Scobie explaining the work on his latest creation.

Here’s a closer look at this Black Beauty.  I love the detail work on the Government of Canada decals - this special RS3 loco is perfectly decorated by Bill Scobie.

And here she is pulling a mixed passenger-goods train over the handsome "Fred Mills" trestle.

None other than Mike Hamer, company photographer, is manning the switches at Firgrove this morning.  We are in good hands with Mike at the controls!  (He is, after all, one of our esteemed dispatchers!)

Paul Anderson switches up his usual freight train for a gorgeous aluminum coach consist.

And here is the other Black Beauty for the day - my Winona Garden Railway Shay.  My, she looks fine getting ready to pull that string of narrow-gauge ore cars!

Here is the Shay approaching her destination for the day: switching out loads for empties at the coal mine.

We tuck into the siding at Ironwood to let Paul’s passenger express through… look, there is even room for a third train if one were to run by at this moment!

We take a break to find Bernie hard at work on Maintenance of Way projects.

Switching the mine.

Our crew allows Grant (at the controls of the IPP&W RS3 special) to pass on by (hard to see in the shade, though I can clearly make out the headlights!).

Len looks on...

...as we rumble on through. 

We see the other mine, but note that it is not yet in service (though that will soon change… keep reading!)

We pass Bernie, who continues his important work (thank you Bernie!) keeping the IPP&W in top shape for both trains and crews.

This Black Beauty is almost hidden completely through Lily.

But manages to make the trestle.

Here is a gorgeous view!

That’s a good long line of ore cars!

Lawrence is busy at work with the railway’s latest addition.  Many thanks to all who built this new bridge together!

Speaking of building, I will have to build a new coupler pocket for my Shay, as it turns out the rear coupler is mounted kind of high and the cars keep detaching.

But we nevertheless make it to Peter’s Pond, where we end our run for the day.

Mike here - when I showed that crazy picture of me from the "way back" years playing guitar on my front steps, it reminded Mark of one of his favourite songs.  Here are the words Mark wrote to me..."Mike, thanks so much for this posting!!  I absolutely LOVE the last photograph of you playing the guitar.  I don’t know why, but it TOTALLY reminded me of "The End of the Line" by the Travelling Wilburys.  Something magical about the band/guitar playing in a moving baggage car (or is it a combine? can’t really tell)."  Anyway, click on the video link below to check out that amazing song performed inside a moving train car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM

The musicians in the video are George Harrison, Jeff Lynne (co-founder of ELO the Electic Light Orchestra), Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, with Jim Keltner on drums.  The late Roy Orbison is honoured with his picture standing up near the wall of the train car and his guitar a rocking away in the rocking chair.  

The musicians in the photo above from left to right are George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison...only Jim Keltner is missing.  George Harrison and Tom Petty have since sadly passed on to that great stage in the sky joining Roy in the ultimate jam session!  

Note the great looking passenger consist atop the album cover!  Gulf, Mobile & Ohio E7A hauls the passenger train.  The locomotive was built in 1945...and is of the same vintage as all of these famous rock and rollers!

 In the picture from the train car we see George Harrison and Jeff Lynne playing while Roy Orbison's image is superimposed.

The Gretsch Guitar Company is happy with this image of Bob, Jeff, Tom, George and Roy!

How about we'll let Olie take us out today as he hums the lines to this amazing song...The End of the Line!

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze

Well it's all right, if you live the life you please

Well it's all right, doing the best you can

Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring 

(end of the line)

Waiting for someone to tell you everything (end of the line)

Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring 

(end of the line)

Maybe a diamond ring

Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong

Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong

Well it's all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay

Well it's all right, everyday is judgment day

Maybe somewhere down the road aways (end of the line)

You'll think of me, wonder where I am these days 

(end of the line)

Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays (end of the line)

Purple haze

Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove

Well it's all right, if you got someone to love

Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine

Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

Don't have to be ashamed of the car I drive (end of the line)

I'm just glad to be here, happy to be alive (end of the line)

It don't matter if you're by my side (end of the line)

I'm satisfied

Well it's all right, even if you're old and grey

Well it's all right, you still got something to say

Well it's all right, remember to live and let live

Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze

Well it's all right, if you live the life you please

Well it's all right, even if the sun don't shine

Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line

And with special thanks to Mark and Olie for yet another great blog posting we call it "The End of the Line" for this entry!  Have a great day and always remember that music helps to unite the world!

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