September Gets Underway at Fred's Place
Yes, we have reached the ninth month of the year already and Mr. Golden Sun finally made an appearance after playing "Hide'n'Seek" with us last weekend.
Some 24 railroad kinfolk made an appearance at our eighth operating session of the season with all crews fully assembled along with assistants in all three big yards.
Diesel locomotives were the "dish of the day" as the 2021 calendar indicated this Saturday as playing host to the standard gauge variety of equipment.
While we may not be a maritime railroad, it is quite conceivable that this load could pass our way along the rails of the IPP&W.
(Click on the image to enlarge and click outside the image to return to the default look of the page.)
This car could very well be destined for the east (or west) coast.
We thank Lawrence for the creation of this fascinating load.
With the "Dog Days of August" now in the rearview mirror, we look forward to travelling along that "highway of ops sessions" deemed to come our way under the cooler skies of September.
This triple dome tankcar agrees with that previous statement.
Bill teases Bernie during the pre-ops set-up.
Bernie will run three RP&M trains on this day with Robin as a crewmate.
The shade trees begin to bloom around Nelson Yard! (Big grin!)
No need for them here in Craig Leigh as Paul has enough trees to offer up dappled shade all morning long.
Paul has 301 set on the ready track in front of Douglas Yard.
The eastern caboose track.
Doug and Pete will crew 301 when the session commences.
The Northland Ore Dock sees ore empties awaiting their run later in the morning.
To the west in Firgrove we find George and Len.
Passenger 2 is nearing its departure time in Firgrove.
Ralph Yard will be dealt with throughout the session.
Love that dome car on Passenger 2.
Conrail power must mean that Malcolm is in our midst. He will crew 302 with Pat Brewer.
This Warbonnet beauty means that Bob has arrived the scene.
It's "first visits" for Grant and Norm on this fine September morning.
Norm and Malcolm pre-ops! Say Norm...I have two daughters...so I never get scared! (Check out Norm's shirt!)
Moe will run 318 when the session gets underway. For now he visits Firgrove to offer a hand in the setup.
The bell has been rung and the lads and lasses gather around the crew lounge table.
Time to hear what Father Fred has to tell us.
Fred reminds us that OVAR is gathering on the second Tuesday of the Month. If you wish to have further information about the meeting, just give Fred a call!
Henk rules his kingdom from afar!
It's great having you back following your holiday, Henk!
My dispatch board is an organized as it will be for the entire morning as the trains are all set up and ready to roll along their respective routes.
302 settles in on Track 4 at Bell.
Lawrence will run Rat 70 along the RP&M rails. His power is found in Glen Hammond.
Lawrence monitors the progress of his diesel.
His crewmate, Andrew, is spotted "post"-ops in relax mode! It would appear the session was a success based on the expression of joy evident on his face!
Bob and Grant are in care of the ore train as they arrive "The Pond" from the west.
Grant drives the train through the pedestrian crossing as 301 works Mount St. Helens in the distance on the upper level.
Pete is visiting from his home in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
Sid and Fred discuss the up-coming election as they try to determine which party will be the best for the railroads of Canada!
Len has brought Train 20 down from Firgrove with his CP road unit. He takes Track 3 as Malcolm commandeers Train 302 along Track 4.
Paul follows the progress of Passenger 2 out from Glen Hammond.
His crewmate, Marcel, runs ahead to ensure the turnouts are in their favour. They will keep a safe distance behind the ore train.
The ore train enters the canyon after crossing the pedestrian link with the railroad.
The crew of 301 work the trackage at Spruce as 318 is found in Ironwood off in the distance. Doug is the conductor while Pete drives the locomotive. For the crew in the distance we see Pat conducting Moe's moves.
The ore train arrives Ironwood and conducts their own switching which is a pleasant surprise for them. "We love having to do the switching ourselves!" Bob is heard to say.
Here's a new visitor to the railroad.
CN endcab 8152.
Here's the proud owner of the switcher, Mr. Mark!
Mark displays his RailPro throttle. Marcel has one out on this day as well.
The crew of the ore train has everything under control.
318 has taken the siding in Mount St. Helens as the crew will work the trailing sidings.
Moe has uncoupled from his train in advance of his work.
Henk and Bill continue to build trains and break down sets of cars brought in on earlier runs.
Bell Turn 65-66 works the eastern sector of Bell.
Robin follows the routing his crewmate Bernie has lined up.
Marcel guzzles down the hot liquid as Paul lines the routing for their train.
Passenger 2 marches into Bell as the first train on the roll on this September morning.
The CN diesel hauls the cars in front of the large Brunt's Brewery facility.
The dome car stands out among the other gorgeous cars for this railfan.
Some video footage of the action at Bell.
(Remember to click on the white arrow in the center of the video image two times to activate the video.)
Malcolm and Pat advance on Bell from the west in short succession of the parade from Firgrove.
That lovely Conrail unit offers up a touch of sky colour to the scene.
Let's check their train's approach on video, shall we!
They flow through the western ladder. Note the white bar dangling from the front of the unit. The Consolidated Rail Corporation perhaps was not as consolidated as we think! (Big grin!)
They come to a stop along Track 4.
Continued video reels of 302's journey into Bell as Passenger 2 departs Bell for Wellington Lake.
I spotted the bulkhead flat containing the buoys below my perch in the dispatch booth.
Trains are a-movin!
Let's take a video gander.
Bob is in control of the ore train at The Ledges.
The train is the third in the parade from Firgrove down to Bell.
It has followed Passenger 2 and 302 down the same garden path.
We wonder if the camera aboard the Rio Grande Southern caboose will work this week?
The ore train captured on video.
The gorgeous Warbonnet unit arrives Bell.
Train 302 has begun switching out the interchange tracks.
This will be a run-through train at Bell.
The ore train captured on our video camera running eastward through Bell.
A few moments later, we catch up with 301 in Mount St. Helens.
I'm telling Pete that his crewmate, Doug, is an amazing operator...but it seems every time I press the video button on my camera when I film his train...something strange occurs! Big grin!
Let's listen in on the video.
Steve and Seanna have reached Cedar Rock aboard Train 327.
They have a few moves to make at the end of the branch.
Their switching is captured on video tape.
Much later they are spotted arriving Nelson Yard aboard their second run of the day, Train 304.
We have managed to capture 304's arrival at the big yard via video linkage.
Up in Firgrove Len and George go about their business of making up consists for outgoing trains and breaking down blocks of cars that have arrived from incoming drags.
They make a great team!
Len lines up his turnout at the yard throat.
His CP RS3 handles the work handily!
Let's watch that road switcher in action through the video lens.
In Rat Portage we find Rat 70 working the sidings.
The crew is running around their train.
They still have a bit of work to do before heading back to Nelson Yard.
Let's view the video of their moves.
Down in Craig Leigh we find CN locomotive 8152 shoving train 31 down to Mount St. Helens.
They will return to Craig Leigh as Train 30.
Mark is very happy with the performance of his locomotive.
She's a true beauty, Mark!
Video action of the run down the grade.
Earlier in Mount St. Helens 318 requested clearance from the Craig Leigh Yardmaster to ascend the grade up to Douglas Yard.
Video footage of 318 awaiting clearance into Douglas Yard.
With communication attempts finally realized...
...318 was able to notch the throttle...
...and depart the Mount.
Their tail end leaves the eastern end of Mount St. Helens.
Let's review the video tape!
We return to Cedar Rock to find Pat and Malcolm busy in the neighbourhood.
Malcolm gears up...
...and the tankcar is shoved safely into the siding.
Job well done, lads!
Let's sneak a peek at their work via the process of video.
The Bell Turn puts on a run-by demonstration for a hoard of railfans.
I managed to climb a tree for an aerial shot of the run-past.
Bernie and Robin aim to please!
And...that's just what they've done for this eager rail photographer!
It's a video reminder.
As always, the crews gather post ops for a wonderful lunch put on by Moe, Paul and Fred.
"I'll take a half dozen!" someone is overheard kibbutzing around.
"Cheers, Fred, for another great session now in the basket!" we all say.
Bill seconds that notion with a toast with his "Crystal Bheer!"
Nothing could be better we all agree!
It was nice to return back to Ottawa and enjoy a great day of train running with our OVGRS friends following my weeklong sojourn to Nova Scotia.
We are on the Bay of Fundy side of the province and the tide is obviously out!
Mr. Chris Lyon, now a Nova Scotia resident, met up with me at Hall's Harbour for a lovely lunch with his wife Lela and my wife Lisa.
Chris snagged this image of me with the model of a dragger I had made over the last week or so.
And, if you believe that...then...you must have been drinkin' all that wonderful wine from the many vineyards found in the Annapolis region!
Chris brought up two guitars for us to jam with.
We had a ball singing a bunch of Maritime tunes for Lisa's sister and family.
Here's a wee short video snippit!
As always, we must thank Fred for being an ever so gracious host...
...always willing to share his expertise in the hobby with anyone willing to learn, like our ardent pupil, Sid.
It was a joy to run trains once again in the ninth month of the year with the weather forecasters being most cooperative.
Touch base later in the week for a "second section" of the blog from this Saturday's train ops.
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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