New Papa Mark's Pics From Saturday

Our New Papa Has Sent Some Pics From Saturday's Trains

Thanks so much to Mark for sending along these great pics from Saturday's Train Operating session.

With a new baby in the family, Mark must've snuck away to his computer on our behalf!  (Just teasin' ya, Mark!)

The IPP&W is a busy place Saturday mornings… the wood-sided reefers in Peter’s Pond tell us it’s a Narrow Gauge session.

Classic passenger coaches in beautiful autumn colours abound near the eastern terminal.

Paul holding court at Craig Leigh…with a special visitor about to appear on the strategically-placed iPad. (more on that later).

The silence of the early-morning is about to be shattered by a busy day on the railroad.

A full consist of empty ore cars on the rail dock...ready to be delivered to the mines on the line.

A hardworking diesel switcher adding flavour to an otherwise steam-heavy day.

Bernie taking in the long view of very busy yards at Nelson, Glen Hammond and Bell. I think we’re about to start!

All quiet over at Fir Grove, but boy the yard looks packed too. Bernie’s passenger train will start off the session from this end of the line.

Ahh, there they are! The matching White Pass Alco loco and caboose set that I’ve brought out to run the ore train on the IPP&W. I can get away with this diesel unit today because the White Pass is a narrow gauge line of course… and the Alco unit would be quite familiar hauling long consists of ore and mineral hoppers from the mines in the Yukon over the mountain pass down to the docks in Skagway, Alaska.

Father Fred dutifully delivering the Saturday Sermon, with a focus on safety. All in attendance listen with rapt attention.

The ore train begins its run for the day under the watchful eye of George, the Firgrove Yardmaster.

Yes yes, I know… these are standard gauge ore cars… but I couldn’t find enough loads in the narrow gauge so I took the liberty of mixing the sets together for a combined longer run. Looks great in the shade at the ledges.

Here are some narrow gauge full loads awaiting pickup at Ironwood Brick. The ore train can be seen in the background. We’ll come by for them once we are on the other side of Nelson Yard later in the morning...

The ore train receives priority clearance through Peter’s Pond...

...and on through Mercer’s… hot on the heels of Bernie’s passenger train, which you can see up the line.

Surgeon Yardmaster Henk (Fijne verjaardag!) detaches the loco so we can go on to the Fallentree mine to pick up loads.

Bernie, a handsome lad indeed, is busy railfanning the pickup of more ore loads.

And Father Fred is all smiles as he takes in the White Pass Alco.

We head down through Lilly pulling a much longer consist.

Some fancy head-and-tail moves required in Ironwood to pull out the loads on the facing siding.

A nice view from the other side.

Just a little imagination and you can picture this long consist snaking its way up the mountain grades on the White Pass, delivering ore from Yukon mines to destinations around the world by rail and ship… a handsome sight on any railroad.

Craig Leigh Yardmaster Paul skillfully orchestrates the drop off of our loads and pickups of empties on the Ore Dock. 

Let’s count them all just to make sure… one, two, three… oh, enough already, I give up, there are too many of them!!!

Heading down from Craig Leigh with a trainful of empties to distribute on the line.

First stop, Ironwood… our job is done, on we go.

Hey Mike, is that you sneaking for a Timbit or two?! Great to see you! Mike has worked up a healthy appetite after delivering an informative instructional session at the NRMA St. Lawrence Division meeting… we saw you on Paul’s iPad, Mike, but it’s so much nicer to see you in person! And there’s no such thing as a “virtual” Timbit after all...

After that brief distraction, we pick up the ore train at Spruce.

Under the watchful eye of Fred and Dispatcher Bill… wake up Nelson Yard, we’re coming in!

Great trestle shot.

A gorgeous consist in fall colours.

Mike enthusiastically back at one of his many talents: RAILFANNING!!!

That White Pass loco sure looks like a treat, but I’d rather have a taste of that hazelnut birthday cake (thanks Henk!) Lookin great, Mike! 

I think we can just squeeze by on the siding at Peter’s Pond.

Great shot at Bell.

Up through the Ledges where we terminate the ore train’s run at Fir Grove. A great day with some great friends - both the “people” and “locomotive” variety.

Thanks so much Mark for all these awesome images and story line!

Let's spend a short while checking in on other action around the railroad.

We find our visitor, Bernie, with his 2-6-0 Mogul...

...hauling a shorty passenger train.

The baggage car.

The passengers' nest.

Video action between Mount St. Helens and Ironwood.

Mark has sent along a number of video links for us to enjoy.

For each link, copy and paste it into your computer's browser and you will be good to go!

Video #1:  White Pass Alco start-up sequence.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aggigbkmhsqwj72/StartUp.MOV?dl=0

Video #2:  Moving through Bell with a train of empties.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ynzw8yzjw3l10c3/BellEmpties.MOV?dl=0

Video #3:  Crossing Bell with a train full of ore loads.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ucy3k52nmimue5r/BellJunct.MOV?dl=0

Video #4:  Diesel meets steam at Mount St. Helens.  (Listen to both sets of bells saying hello to each other!)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zynclxybuc6uji7/Meetup.MOV?dl=0

Video #5:  A long view of the ore train.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2o5hji2zzro983k/OreTrain.MOV?dl=0

Video #6:  Trestle shot #1.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lz9771vdy6n4mkd/Trestle.MOV?dl=0

Video #7:  Trestle shot #2.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h60fa4r17nlfq83/Trestle2.MOV?dl=0

Wow!  Great videos, Mark!  Thanks again for sharing all this with us!

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

Bernie's Saturday Session Pics

Pics From Saturday From Bernie

Congrats to Mark and Family!!!

We thank Bernie for taking a ton of photos from this past Saturday's session and sending them my way.  

Thanks for all the captions as well, Bernie.  Great job!

Also, congrats go out to Mark and family...see below!

Fred is found early in the morning getting his paper work ready.

At the top of our list is a note of congratulations to Mark and his entire family...

...upon the arrival of Baby Leo this week.  Such a cutie, Mark!

Len and George populating Fir Grove.

Paul N. carrying a tray of cars for Iron Wood.

The birthday boy arrives with a big smile.

Bill has a laugh as Henk looks a little bewildered.

With the sun behind them, Pat and Robin get ready to help Bill at Nelson Yard.

Paul N. checks his orders for 302 as Len watches Mark put his loco on the tracks at Fir Grove.

Pat B. bringing flat 115 to Bernie at Bell. 

Sid setting up Mert’s Fish at Peter’s Pond.

A tray of passenger cars await Paul A. at Craig Leigh.

There’s Paul A. 

Douglas Yard appears ready for the morning ops.

Tank cars at Eastern Oil.

Pool 15 and No. 1 are ready for the arrival of No. 2 from Fir Grove.

Robin ready to frizbee the birthday cake to Bernie

 Sid, Pat B. and Pat B. enjoying their cake while Mark anxiously awaits his piece from Henk.

Fred giving his Saturday morning sermon while Bill listens.

…or does he?

Chris and Paul N. bring 302 into Bell.

Bernie brings a quite long passenger No. 2 into Bell while Chris and Paul work 302.

Chris and Paul working 302 at Bell while Moe works 327 at the Glenn.

Passenger 2 is too long for the Peter’s Pond station track.

Passenger 2 had to back up to let 327 into Mount St Helens.

No. 2 chuffs past 70 at Glenn Hammond.

 Bill is all smiles sitting on the throne in the tower.

 Mark’s WP&Y 111 hauls ore loads over Brennan’s Pass

  There’s Mark

 Passenger No. 2 traverses the Fred Mills bridge.

 No. 318 holds at Spruce for Passenger # 2 

 Pat and Sid switching Iron Wood as No. 2 waits at the passenger station.

Spruce is very active at the moment.

 Ore empties reside on the Northland Ore Dock. 

 No. 2 is too long to wye so it has to be broken up to complete the turn.

 Paul guides No. 2 into the Craig Leigh passenger track.  

 Pool 15 is ready on the outside track for Bernie’s next run. 

Power has backed onto Pool 15 and is ready to depart.

 A few engineers had to work their trains on their own. Robin is seen here switching 318 at Iron Wood. A long train for one operator to work.

IPP&W No. 15 leads 318.

 Train 318 arrives at Mount St Helens as Pool 15 holds the station track.

Robin has moved onto Mount St Helens as Mark is ready to bring the ore train through on the main.

 The Pool stops at Spruce station before heading to Glen Hammond.

 Back at Mount St Helens, Mark brings the ore train past 318.

 Pat Brewer has switched Lilly and is returning to Nelson Yard.

 Pool 15 crosses Brennan’s Pass on the Fred Mills bridge.

 Moe is at Bell as Pat brings his loco into Nelson Yard. Sid and Pat wait patiently for Henk to prepare their train.

Len and George waiting patiently for the next arrival.

 Apologies for cutting Moe’s head off. His colourful steamer has 304 ready to depart Bell while the Pool on the station track has some work to do before parting. 

Pat's RP&M run arrives Bell from Rat Portage.

 A thing of beauty!

Mike has arrived and got right to work photographing Len switching Fir Grove 

Bernie Geiger watches Sid and Pat switch Cedar Rock.

 The Pool and 303 at Iron Wood as 312 climbs the grade into Spruce.

Moe’s 304 descends Watkins Siding.

Billy checks up on Henk to make sure he is doing things right in Nelson Yard.

  Pat is all alone at Bell as he switches the interchange. 

 Fred and Bill watch the action in Nelson Yard.

 Marcel takes a break as Henk puts Marcel’s train together. Pat is working Bell in the background.

Paul has brought No. 30 down to Mount St Helens from Craig Leigh.

 The Pool interrupts Paul’s switching as it stops at the Mount St Helen’s station.

Bernie’s Pool 15 approaches the wye at Craig Leigh without any hint of what is about to happen.

Disaster...as the combine and coach roll onto their sides!  A close look shows the switch is not fully closed. Fortunately, there were no injuries and the five-finger crane had the cars back on the track in no time.

Passenger No. 1 has departed Craig Leigh and has arrived at Mount St Helens with a nice colour matched set.

Chris and Paul work Iron Wood while Pat and Sid appear to be attending to a problem on Watkin’s siding.

That is Robin uncoupling at Spruce.

 Len has brought another train from Fir Grove into Bell.

Bernie will no longer be allowed to run passenger trains! But Sir, four cars made it through the switch before this one went on its side. Doesn’t matter, you’re fired...after you finish the run of course.

Busy at Peter’s Pond.

Heavy activity in Mount St. Helens.

 Pat and Sid are all smiles as Pat ensures there are no runaway cars heading down Watkins Siding.

 Following a wonderful day of railroading, it is time to put the railway away until next weekend. 

We thank Bernie for all of these amazing images and captions!  So much appreciated, Bernie!

The White Pass locomotive Mark brought out for our enjoyment is a Bombardier Class 111.

She's a 1200 horsepower C-C wheel arrangement.

Between 1982-1993, she was stored about an hour east of Ottawa at Les Cedres, Quebec near the Ontario/Quebec border.

We love her in this video, Mark!

Moments earlier, 111 had departed Nelson Yard...

...with a string of empties in tow.

She's westward bound...

...where she meets an RP&M drag at Anderson.

Video of the ore train's escape from Nelson Yard!

We catch up with the Firgrove Yard operators, Len and George.

Number 48 is earning her keep on this day...

...with engineer Len at the helm.

Nice video up in Firgrove!

The crew aboard 312 tidy up in Spruce...

...before seeking clearance eastward to Ironwood.

They must hold for the time being...

...as another crew is occupying their targeted destination.  Indeed, train running does involve a "waiting game" at times!

Some video of 312 occupying Spruce.

We find 311 in "The Corners" about to ascend the grade beginning at Wellington Lake.

A rather interesting consist we glimpse!

Skipper Pat with his train!

Moe, aboard 304, is holding in the siding awaiting the meet with 311.  Then he will be granted clearance down to Peter's Pond.  Oblivious to all this action is Robin, working Train 303 in Ironwood.

A video review of the proceedings!

With 311 now in the rearview mirror...

...304 is full steam ahead...

...passing the Wellington Lake depot...

...onward to Peter's Pond!

304 as captured on video camera!

312 has finally been cleared into Ironwood.

They switch out the eastern side of town.

Those empty ore cars are situated on the Ironwood Brick siding.

Paul regales us with his interesting stories about his dad's work on the railroad.  Great sharing, Paul!

Ironwood video footage.

Bernie hauls Passenger 1 into Ironwood on its westerly heading.

Paul continues with his very interesting story.

Throughout a morning's session with some 22 trains running, it must be amazing the number of meets that occur!

Looking down the line in Ironwood.

Bernie's train as seen in this video segment.

Thanks again to Bernie for sending in all these amazing images to entertain us!  Thanks as well to all of our followers and viewers.  It is fun to celebrate train running each week plus the birth of a new engineer!

Congrats again, Mark and family!!!

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