First Session of the Season - 2021
Fifteen members signed up for our inaugural train operating session of the narrow minded variety.
All trains were run except the ore train which was annulled.
This is the first of a number of postings which will detail the comings and goings along the line of both railroads, the IPP&W and the RP&M.
Being "narrow-minded" this week, we find a plethora of steamers at our disposal, including Moe's bumblebee in care of all passenger trains on this day.
Paul's Rio Grande Southern unit will haul 301 out from Craig Leigh in short order.
Lawrence's Algonquin and Ottawa is in charge of 327 awaiting its assignment westbound out of Glen Hammond.
Doug's #7 beauty awaits clearance eastbound from the Glen. She carries the markings of the Simcoe & Southern Ontario.
Marcel is aboard 302 with his CN end cab.
An unnamed locomotive we may very well call "Connie".
Speaking of Connie, we find Len's unit purchased from Doug Matheson awaiting orders for 303, the crew's second run of the day.
Steve works RP&M rails with his Pontiac Pacific Junction #4, a beautiful climax working the train known as Rat 70.
This "ghost" locomotive must be Pat's...yet unlettered and unnamed. He's arriving the interchange at Bell aboard RP&M train #65.
Thankfully we have our Ironwood Road RS3 which came to the rescue for the crew of 327 found here to the west of Bell.
George's #3 has brought down a short train from Firgrove to Bell where he has a few switching maneuvers to complete.
It's fun to gather once again for yet another season...
...where we can see the latest acquisitions...
...such as this Canadian Pacific road switcher Len has purchased...
...which Paul Norton set up for him. This unit will certainly add a "splash' of colour to our standard gauge sessions.
That's Larry, Curly and Moe...aka Marcel, Ron and Bernie. We welcome Ron to the group. He and Fred have known each other for many a year!
The red shirt I am wearing was purchased in support of the Streetcar 696 Restoration Project a number of years back.
Hey, Marcel...you handsome lad with that "fu manchu" stash!
Editor's note: All the ladies were waiting at the gate for his autograph!
Indeed, he is cleverly disguised as a responsible adult. Yes, there's a kid in all of us...especially those who run trains.
This is Bernie's domain!
And...#22.
The crew's first town enroute westbound will be Mount St. Helens.
The morning sun reflects nicely off that Pabst reefer.
This videographer has managed to capture the action in moving images.
Meanwhile at the far end of the line way off to the west we catch up with Train 302 just made up by the Firgrove Yardmaster. The red umbrella offers the reddish glow you see atop the rails. Marcel will command the train on this day.
The tail end hugs the trackage at a location known for its extreme vertical nature; "The Ledges".
This railfan has his video camera at the ready to capture Train 302 on its exit from Firgrove.
Before Doug and his crew mate, Len, can depart Glen Hammond, they have a number of switching moves to complete as there is no yardmaster assigned at this location.
S&SO #7 handles her chores dutifully at Spruce.
Later the crew is occupied with some trailing moves at Ironwood.
Evidence of some of their work.
318 rounds the big curve between Spruce and Ironwood.
The red of her window frame matches up nicely with the structure in the background.
Doug surveys his locomotive from his perch up high.
Ironwood video action.
Paul, Lawrence and Moe are all smiles as their two trains meet in Peter's Pond following a few delays due to engine replacements.
Moe arrives the pond with Passenger #1 heading in a westerly direction bound for Firgrove.
He meets Lawrence and Paul with their train protected along the main.
Arriving the station.
The old meets the new as a steamer "steams" past the diesel road unit.
A busy place with lots of action, for sure.
Peter's Pond meet of #1 and 327 captured on video.
Following the pass of #1 back in the pond, the crew aboard 327 meet 302 holding at Watkins Siding.
327 is upgrade to Bell with 302 waiting to shove a car onto the siding track at Wellington Lake.
Marcel has held tight as both the passenger and the freight train have passed him by.
More video meets to behold!
We find Steve's climax working RP&M train "Rat 70".
He has just departed Glen Hammond on his way to Bellamy.
Rat 70 will reach Rat Portage before returning to Nelson Yard.
The Rat Portage & Mattawa train captured on video for the crew to review!
Earlier we had caught up with Steve drilling the spurs at Lilly.
Before Pat can work the RP&M "Bell Turn" (Trains #65-66), he must assist Henk with yard classification duties.
And...a handsome lad he is!
...and will return as Train 66.
This video finds him working the interchange area to the west of Bell.
George has his unit #3 breaking down Passenger #1 at Firgrove.
Moe had brought this train across the entire IPP&W line from Craig Leigh.
Altogether, Moe made 11 stops en route.
George in the engineer's seat as witnessed on this video.
While I wasn't able to grab much video of Bernie in action...
...I was able to catch others running their engines in and around the territory he controls as the Craig Leigh Yardmaster.
This video captures Len backing his Connie onto his train. We find him at the wye.
Len makes his way to the ready track at Douglas Yard.
Bernie has already made up train 303 that Len and Doug will take west.
They had just arrived aboard eastbound 318.
Len loves his new Connie, Doug! (I recognized the logo on the side of the tender!)
303...as readied by our trusty Yardmaster.
Let's check out the video where you hear Bernie offering one final instruction before his train departs Craig Leigh.
Rolling stock review as we near the end of this posting.
We find Moe's baggage car at the terminal in Craig Leigh.
Nearby, this Mobilgas tankcar with its double Pegasus logo appears on a siding sandwiched between two brethren tankers.
My favourite piece of rolling stock on the entire railroad, our RP&M drover's caboose! "What is a drover's caboose?" you ask. Well, this caboose would be placed on a train carrying livestock. The livestock handlers...aka...stockmen...or "drovers" rode in this car. A drover's car was required on longer hauls due to the fact that every so often the "stock" had to be unloaded from the train, grazed, rested then reloaded aboard. It was the drovers who performed all of these duties. The car had a larger kitchen and modified bunks for the crew. It often rode midway in the train's consist for greater access to the stockcars placed in front and behind the car. (Now you know...the rest of the story!)
It's always wonderful when you can add levity...
...during these pandemic times.
And...seeing as all participants were notified that it was narrow gauge, steam engines would rule the day...and...we see Marcel has brought out his steam engine...this CN little brute of a thing. What's that you say? It's not a steam locomotive! Well...Marcel and I beg to differ.
The proof is in the video pudding!
Continuing on a humourus track...pardon the railroad pun...
...while I wear two hats...
...that of dispatcher and official photographer of the railroad...
...check out this humourous video segment!
Finally...we always thank Father Fred for offering up this fine opportunity to meet with friends, converse, run a few trains, and have fun in a serious, yet lighthearted manner every Saturday morning!
I hope you enjoyed this first of many segments from our Saturday, July 10th inaugural train ops session.
All the best and stay safe everyone!
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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