Paul's Tanker Train - Part Two

Paul's Tanker Train 
Part Two

Indeed, time to check in again on the action from this past week on the railroad.

I sure had fun creating yesterday's blog as we followed CP Train Extra 8202 on its rounds from Craig Leigh to Spruce.

You'll recall the beginning of Paul's shift back in Craig Leigh.

A myriad of tanker cars adorned the Northland Ore Dock.

You've gotta love those parallel lines!

It took considerable time to create the train as air hoses had to be set and a brake test had to be completed.

All was done in short order and we found the train already through St. Helens and on into Ironwood.

Paul chose to use two hopper cars as his buffer cars one between the diesel locomotive and the other between the caboose and the rest of the tanker consist.

Paul felt that hopper cars are more rigid than boxcars and would be more up to the task.

Peering through the pines, we find the train arriving Ironwood.

She's one lengthy looking train, Paul!

Paul chose to set out two tank cars in each town along the route.

While Paul and I were having fun, we found Bernie hard at work clearing the railroad of leaves.

Lawrence kept himself busy with the installment of abutment rocks below the area where the trestle meets the land.

Robin arrived the property with a great big smile on his face!

Fred's all a-smile as well!  (Big grin!)

We left off yesterday with Paul in Spruce.

The traffic, albeit all tankers, offers variety in...

...colour...

...and dome configuration.

The van says good-bye to Spruce.

Meanwhile, CP Extra 8202 finds itself perched atop Clarke Hill leading down to Blockhouse.

The building with the gabled end roof is now known as Clarke's Gable...hehehe!

Our train passes Clarke's Gable and begins the long descent of the hill.

The locomotive power finds itself below the two tankcars its train has just deposited in Spruce.

Then it's through Clarke Canyon and on into Blockhouse.

We have very short video footage from the beginning of this run to the grade.

The CP train has bottomed out at the pedestrian crossing...

...and now tackles the uphill ascent to Lilly.

Crossing Brennan Gap on the Patrick Brennan Bridge, we find the crew has everything in control...

...while the conductor in the van passes the rockery at Blockhouse.

This film footage captures the uphill battle into Lilly.

Out from Lilly, the train continues to climb...

...before leveling off on approach to the Fred Mills Trestle.

On a slow order due to the presence of a nearby work crew the train graces itself on the trestle.

The locomotive is nicely framed entangled in the ironwork.

Finding a clear ceiling, our tank train slows once more for the turnout into Nelson Yard.

Engineer Paul acts as brakeman and gets the switch for the yard.

Off his train travels in the distance...

...while the conductor prepares the paperwork he will hand off to the Nelson Yardmaster.

Arriving Nelson Yard...

...we spot Fred off in the distance.

The train enters Nelson Yard in this motion picture.

Paul works the locomotive back and forth...

...as he drills Nelson Yard...

...with some added ballast now found in the lead hopper car.

With this final video segment of Paul's train, we thank Paul for allowing us to tag along for the run!

Now if only these tankcars were cleansed thoroughly and filled with all sorts of "spirits" for us to imbibe!  Hehehe!

All the best as we head into the fall season!

Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada