Paul the Tankcar Man
We are nearing the end of our train running season. Today was grey and overcast but that did not deter a group of enthusiasts from coming out!
We are nearing the end of our train running season. Today was grey and overcast but that did not deter a group of enthusiasts from coming out!
Paul chose to run the longest tanker train ever assembled down the line.
To enlarge images, click on them.
To return, click outside them.
His trusty GP30 would prove itself up to the test.
Northland ore dock was chock-a-block full of tanker traffic.
We catch up with Paul assembling his train in this video.
Click on the white arrow once, then again when it appears over the red circle.
Click on the white arrow once, then again when it appears over the red circle.
The video footage must be short enough to enable me to download it to the blog. The video above shows Paul's locomotive conducting the initial yard work.
Paul's locomotive heads out on the wye...
...as he works the line-up of cars.
With four tracks holding the traffic, it is a lot of "back and forth" for the crew...as seen in the video above.
We're getting there!
But...we still have a ways to go!
Nice railfan perspective.
"Three cars to the hitch."
"On the pin."
The video shows us heading out from Craig Leigh.
The unit train shuffles down the grade...
...and gains St. Helens...
...with no work required.
She's a mighty fine looking train as this movie showcases!
Riding atop the ridge...
...we follow the single dome cars...
...and the triple domes...
..with the buffer car in front of the van.
Running smooth, Paul...in live action!
Paul has chosen to stop at some of the towns en route...
...where he will set out a couple of cars.
Then it will be back on to his train...
...for a runby for the railfans.
There's some colour in those cars.
His train remains lengthy...
...as he arrives Spruce...
...and takes to the spur tracks immediately.
Check out the movement as the train arrives Spruce.
Paul has set out his two drops to the Spruce Spur.
One of the industrial spurs acts as a lead for him.
Check out the switching maneuvers.
Steve and Seanna visited Fred a short while ago...
...where they sped up the rotational speed of the light...
...in our friendly lighthouse.
The "moving" light brightens our day in this short film clip.
Even if our dispatch booth appears lonely, it enjoyed the visit from some of the lads.
I finish off this first installment from today's running with this fine photo of a handsome Ontario Northland pairing sent my way from Terrry overseas. Terry tells the story of these units in this way..."Hey, Mike & Lisa - thought you might like to see this (you can take the boy out of Ontario, but you can't take Ontario out of the boy....) One of John Burden's custom jobs from a while back. Still goes like a train...................."
Thanks for sending that great looking photo our way, Terry.
And...thanks everyone for checking in on some fun action Paul and I enjoyed this morning! I'll be posting more action from the day in the not too distant future!
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
That was wonderful - way to go, Paul. I have a dozen or so tankcars myself - I wonder whether if I'd brought them along that train could have been even longer !!!! Also congrats to Steve and Seanna. The lighthouse looks great! You could market that, and I'd buy one for my lighthouse! Needless to say, this posting was a lot of fun for me!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Johnny! So good to hear from you! You'll just have to bring along some tankcars next time you come down this way! Indeed, Steve and Seanna did a fabulous job with the LED's to create the illusion of the rotating lamp! All the best, Mike.
ReplyDelete