Our Garden Ops From 2021
The Year That Was
Well, here we are on the eve of a new year. This past one certainly played a few tricks on us...but we were able to persevere and get through with heads held high!
I hope you will enjoy this little "Year at a Glance" poem.
January brings the snow...
...makes it hard for trains to go!
February brings messages of love...
...and Moe's YouTube "Art" rises far above!
March finds us still in winter's grip...
...while we follow Marcel on his Arizona trip!
April's first day is a time to "fool"...
...but remember to follow all "dispatchers" rules!...
("Not!" Bill is heard to mutter!)
May brings our "rust" garden many flowers...
...and Grant's hard work has taken hours and hours!
June celebrates a "birthday boy"...
...a man who brings us so much joy!
(I couldn't resist adding this previously doctored image of our Friar Fred along with his thoughts and ours! Big grin!)
July brings us invaders galore...
...but the %$#@%$ pandemic again shut the door!
So we drink our woes away!!! (Big grin!!!)
But August brought us a trip to Barry's...
...where we ran trains and we felt Merry!
(Heck...Mike even got to run with two great gentlemen...Marcel in the AM and Bernie in the PM!)
September "buoyed" us with classic train running weather...
...and on Wednesdays the "work crew" gathered together...
...where ideas were shared both silly and clever!
October brought thanks for a Thanksgiving rhyme...
...while the lads all gathered for our seasonal "shut down" time!
November's the time we remember those who served...
December brings our train activities indoors...
Thank you for taking the time aside to read this poem.
(Fred tells us that his semaphore has been restored back to "new" with the help of some of our OVGRS friends.)
Now, let's check out some of the train running we were able to accomplish in 2021 in these "for the most part" unpublished photos and videos from the past year!
For this entry, we'll examine our first two sessions of the season covering both gauges.
Session #1
Our first "official" gathering occurred on Saturday, July 10th. It was a narrow gauge session.
Narrow gauge cars dot the landscape around Cedar Rock.
Remember, you can enlarge the images by clicking on them. You can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.
Marcel and Henk in deep conversation...
...or "Just For Laughs"!
Love those narrow gauge steamers. Lawrence and Paul N. will handle 327 on this day.
We gather for the pre-ops "spin"!
And...the lads listen in!
We've got a good crowd for our first gathering pandemic aside!
Moe handles the passenger runs today.
Love that bumble bee, Moe!
I've "snipped" these next three images from a video of Moe's train arriving Spruce...so their clarity is not as good as the regular shots.
He has rounded the bend out from Ironwood.
Meeting more traffic at Spruce.
Video action of Moe running Passenger #1 into Spruce.
Remember to click two times on the arrow to engage the video.
Moe has navigated the big curve at Lilly.
Into the iron hole.
Finding daylight once more!
More video of Moe's train piercing the trestle on his way into Glen Hammond.
There's Moe on the far right hauling passengers into Peter's Pond where he meets Paul and Lawrence.
Marcel switches to the east of Bell.
He is in control of 302 out from Firgrove bound for Craig Leigh.
The appearance of this Drover's caboose is far from commonplace but this railfan doesn't mind its intrusion...a rare sight for sure!
Henk handles the large Nelson Yard...a task he will assume for the remainder of the operating season.
His sidekick, Pat, assists in the big yard before departing aboard RP&M 65-66 up to Bell and return.
Here is Len's locomotive.
He and Doug are beginning their westward journey.
Through Northland.
Some nice video footage of Len and Doug departing Craig Leigh aboard Train 303, their second run of the morning.
Len is enjoying the run.
He and Doug continue to switch out St. Helens as Train 15, the Pool Train arrives the station track.
A lovely meet!
318 works St. Helens as Pool Train 15 arrives on the station track in this video.
Meanwhile, in the dispatch hut Mike has two westbounds already underway with an eastbound holding Spruce for a meet with Passenger 1. (Typically we run Passenger 2 first...but we are mixing things up on this day!)
Marcel's diesel switcher handles the chores at Bell with ease.
That's Brunt's Brewery off in the distance.
The light blue structure is named after our good friend, Ken Brunt, who passed away recently.
My Delaware & Hudson GP38 matches the colour tones found on the Brunt's Brewery facility in this shot taken in earlier years before the fence went up.
How the facility looks with a nice fenced backdrop.
A lovely quartet of gentlemen gather in front of Brunt's Brewery with Ken on the right enjoying the camaraderie.
Ken always enjoyed our invasion sessions including this one at Barry's and Bonnie's home in Belleville. We'll miss ya, Ken!
Steve also assists Henk on this morning. When he completes his moves over at Lilly, he will run up to Rat Portage aboard RP&M 70.
Bernie, our Craig Leigh yardmaster takes a break from his role to check in on Doug and Len who are working 318 at Ironwood. They are on schedule and should reach Craig Leigh following a set-out at Mount St. Helens a short time from now.
With a "service interruption" involving a steam engine, the Ironwood Road RS3 is brought in to save the day aboard westbound 327. In the image above, 327 is protected on the mainline in Peter's Pond for a meet (in fact a pass) with Passenger #1.
Steve works the industries across Brennan Gap.
His diminutive steamer sandwiches itself in amongst the freight cars.
She's a lovely locomotive, Steve!
Here's Steve in action!
Steve arrives Bellamy during his Rat 70 run.
He asks me to inspect his cab.
There he is! It's Steve's dog named Mike resting in the cab on a warm July day!
There is a white arrow in the middle of the image. It is simply camouflaged against the roof of the station canopy!
George is found up in Firgrove where he hustles cars in and out of Ralph Yard, a task he will take on throughout the season.
Special note from Mike: During our Workday Wednesday sessions, I'd often ask Fred a bunch of questions regarding the origin of the place names on the railroad. Fred tells me, "Firgrove was named for our family's summer cottage/camp."
"The cottage/camp originally belonged to my grandfather on my father's side of the family and was located near Terrebonne, Quebec."
"We also know that Ralph Yard was named for the late Ralph Dipple who manned the post on a regular basis in the earlier years."
Garry is in the process of compiling a complete history of the OVGRS which is a very time-consuming project. We will learn a great deal more of the history of the entire railroad in due course.
Paul has been signed up to run westbound 310 out from Craig Leigh. Visitor Ron is his crewmate.
301 has reached Ironwood and works the siding tracks.
Ron is enjoying himself and our other Paul is enjoying watching Ron enjoying himself!
While our steamers may be dressed in shades of black and silver, they are indeed quite colourful characters.
Paul and Ron speed 301 forward to Blockhouse while Marcel works 302 above.
Rounding the bend at Blockhouse.
Onward into Lilly.
Paul and Ron bring 301 upgrade at Blockhouse in this video action.
Later, we find Marcel near Windmill Siding in Ironwood.
He runs around his train.
Bernie offers an assist.
Looking good Marcel!
While I still have many more unpublished images from Session #1, I'll save them for sharing at a later date in the New Year! Mike.
Session #2
Our second operating session of the year involved Standard Gauge equipment.
Paul Norton is hauling precious passenger cargo upgrade into Lilly from Blockhouse.
Paul Anderson drills the trailing sidings in Mount St. Helens.
Our eager crew is busily setting out equipment prior to the session.
We arrive for 9:00 AM, our "set-out" call time and we get down to business. As per usual, our affable Nelson Yardmaster Henk begins setting out cars on the various yard tracks in random order.
Inside Fred's home we find this wonderful specimen from a station from long ago.
Bernie must be working Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh, his usual haunt.
Passenger cars are readied here for their runs.
Craig Leigh is the eastern terminal of the IPP&W line.
Special note from Mike: In our weekly conversations Fred tells me that Craig Leigh is named after Bob Craig and that there is also a location in southwestern Ontario not far from Wasago Beach/Owen Sound named Craig Leigh...near "Blue Mountain Pottery" and "St. Marie Among the Hurons".
Fred goes on to say, "Bob Craig was big into model railroading in the Ottawa region..."
"...and he was instrumental in my model railroad experience."
Just a few more images of Craig Leigh from sessions in other seasons.
Of course, this is one of the narrow gauge variety.
Fred credits our good friend, Bill "Sn3" Scobie, for his assist with the original design of the entire backyard layout in the early years. We catch Bill in another year working the passenger terminal at Craig Leigh.
Fred continues: "Douglas Yard is named for our great friend and renowned dispatcher, Doug Matheson."
"Douglas Yard is meant to offer an 'interchange' with Doug's own railroad line, The Ontario Northland."
We catch Steve working the yard a couple of summer's ago.
Fred continues: "And...of course...Northland is based on Doug Matheson's railroad.
I've snipped these three images from video at Craig Leigh featuring the young and handsome Bernie!
As Craig Leigh yardmaster he has many duties to consider each shift.
Today he is working some reefers into the mix.
A nice video subject Craig Leigh is!
Bernie's TH&B GP7 sure looks nice nestled between the freight cars and the buildings.
This little puppy was built at the General Motors Diesel Division in London, Ontario in October of 1950.
I can't tell you the date Bernie was built...you'll have to ask him yourself! (Big grin!)
Some nice video footage of that lovely Geep.
As per usual, it is fun to showcase some of the rolling stock each week.
After all, they are the actors on the big stage known as the IPP&W/RP&M railways.
A triple dome car with three distinct and separate tanks.
The pair look nice up against the latticed backdrop.
Some more interesting rolling stock.
The lower end of Rat Portage where we find the Comber Chair Company and Golding Grains.
These next three images are snippits I cut from video I took of Pat with his RP&M run at the location of Rat Portage.
That's a beauty of a switcher, Pat!
The Hamer Manufacturing Facility.
Hmmm...do they actually manufacture Hamers there!
(Big grin!)
Len's distinctive road switcher in CP Action Red, a new paint scheme introduced by the Canadian Pacific with the universal Multi-Mark logo in 1968.
Freight cars are set out and ready for action at Anderson.
And at Lyon Supply.
Up in Cedar Rock we've got the crusher.
An interesting side note here. While a large group of us were in Belleville running trains at Barry's home a few seasons back, Lawrence devoted the entire day back in Ottawa creating the benchwork and laying the track for the two trailing industries in this location. Now, I call that dedication!
We love the depot at Spruce based on the prototype located an hour's drive from Ottawa along the St. Lawrence River.
Ironwood Brick appears to be making money!
As are the sidings at the west end of Ironwood.
A heavily loaded gondola up in Cedar Rock.
Just to the west of Wellington Lake we catch up with Marcel and Len aboard 327 bound for Bell.
The crew is taking the crossover to align their train into Track 3 at Bell.
Arrival on Track 3 as Pat works RP&M 65-66 over at the interchange.
Low angle video of 327 in action.
Let's head over to the interchange between the IPP&W and the RP&M lines.
We spot Pat's NYC switcher.
He must lift a few cars here.
In the video Pat tells us a bit of his family's history.
In this image we find Doug with Rat 70 heading up to Rat Portage.
While Moe and Lawrence bring 302 down to Watkins Siding holding for a meet with 327.
Off in St. Helens, Robin borrows Mike's Canadian National RS3 and is about to run around his train aboard 301.
Up in Firgrove we now have Passenger 2 and 302 gone.
Yardmaster George now takes on a new task.
He will assemble the cars for Train 304.
George is captured on video!
Nelson Yard seems to be quite organized as usual.
Paul is spotted in Ironwood with 318 while far off in the distance we see Malcolm in his orange shirt with 301 in St. Helens.
Paul and Jim inspect a turnout.
Paul's GP30 Canadian Pacific locomotive handles its chores with ease.
Looking west from Ironwood we spot Passenger 1 downgrade on Clarke Hill.
318 is underway to St. Helens.
We've managed to capture the train on video tape.
The CP diesel on approach to St. Helens.
A successful meet between 318 and 301.
With 318's arrival, 301 is cleared to Ironwood.
More video action.
Paul inspects his orders before heading out from Craig Leigh with his passenger train.
Bernie keeps all things organized in Douglas Yard and environs.
We head back down to Rat Portage.
Doug is occupied with train "Rat 70".
He is working the team track in front of Golding Grains.
Doug's train on video.
Here's another photograph of Pat's Lightning Striped New York Central endcab.
Paul drifts into Ironwood aboard the passenger run as Malcolm and Robin look on.
Bernie sets the routing for 318 as Paul and Jim arrive Northland with a final destination of Douglas Yard.
Short trains are still trains and Doug's consist does not disappoint!
301 hits the crossing before climbing the grade up to Nelson Yard.
Fred peers out over the action in Nelson Yard.
Can't get enough of that tiny switcher!
RP&M 66 holds the junction for 311, just out from Nelson Yard.
With a service interruption, Marcel's UP behemoth takes over a train at Peter's Pond.
The crew will eventually make it up to Cedar Rock with this enormous power.
Lawrence and Moe work Spruce while Jim and Paul are found in Ironwood.
Bernie visits St. Helens with his local run down from Craig Leigh.
Nice aerial view of the depot at Bruce.
As I have said many a time, Nelson Yard's appearance changes on a regular basis as each session progresses.
Doug finds his train on Track 4 in Bell allowing him to work the interchange trackage to the west of the yard.
Here's Doug!
Len's loco in Nelson.
Lovely low angle shot of the yard.
Off in the distance we catch Pool Train 15 having taken RP&M rails.
The train is arriving Pratt's Bottom, named for the area in England where Colin Churcher was born.
Paul checks his orders.
At another time in the morning, Paul banks into the curve at Lilly.
Such a gorgeous looking locomotive, Paul!
Henk keeps a watchful eye on Paul's train.
Video review of the action.
Len and Marcel haul Train 314 into Ironwood from the west. This is their third trick of the morning.
Train 15 departs Rat Portage.
Doug has arrived Rat and gets down to business with the switching.
It's a lot of fun running Rat Portage and Mattawa trains.
I'll take you on a brief tour of my home throughout most sessions of the season...the dispatcher's hut.
The board showcases the railroad in a linear fashion.
I am offered a great view of the yards at Nelson, Glen Hammond and Bell from my perch.
A video tour.
Pat looks over the scene as George aligns his turnouts at the yard throat for Ralph Yard.
Paul and Jim examine their next moves in Peter's Pond.
They are on their third run of the morning aboard Train 313.
The yellow CP 40-foot boxcar is at the Norton Fishery.
Marcel's UP unit is eastbound at Watkins Siding.
301 arrives Nelson Yard.
Fred looks on as Robin and Malcolm arrive on time.
Note from Mike: These images are not necessarily in order of the events of the morning's operations.
Malcolm brings the speed down and is ringing the bell on the locomotive as the train enters the yard.
Their entry into Nelson Yard is captured on video.
A gander down the length of Nelson Yard.
And...over to Stuart Yard in Bell.
Henk says to his mates, "Robin, you eliminate Covid-19, Malcolm, you get rid of the Delta Variant and I'll deal with Omicron."
"Will they be successful in their worldly endeavours?" Moe wonders.
Our two RP&M crews captured in a single image with Pat in the foreground and Doug in back.
Train 313 navigates the crossovers to the east of Bell.
Hey...let's check out the Union Pacific gang heading up to Cedar Rock!
Climbing the grade.
Taking the curve into Cedar Rock.
As captured on video.
Paul takes a breather as he has just brought Train 313 in on Track 4 at Bell before starting his work.
He'll wait for 311's crew to complete their assignment in Stuart Yard.
Earlier, Paul's train was spotted departing Spruce.
Lots of powder blue in this photo!
Slipping down the hill.
Video work of Paul's train.
Another check-in at Nelson Yard.
The chits placed atop some of the freight cars help keep things in order.
A look across the three main yards in this region.
Pat follows his train at Nelson Yard.
The video attests to the fact that this is a busy location!
Time for lunch thanks to Moe and Paul N.
Lawrence and George are deep in conversation as Bernie snaps an image in the distance.
The crew gathers for lunch.
Jim with me sharing fun stories.
Skipper Fred!
Train running is super!
A big grin!
Waving goodbye!
What does Fred have to say on video?
As always, we thank Father Fred for hosting us to his home each week.
On behalf of Fred, I would like to take this time to wish all of our OVGRS friends a Happy New Year!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
