Inaugural Session of 2022
A group of seventeen individuals found their way to Fred's backyard for our first session of the season.
With other train-related activities occurring around the region we still managed to find sufficient numbers to get the season underway.
We welcome Steve Adamson to the group! Steve was the instrumental person in getting HOTrak up off the ground many years ago along with our very own Pat Brewer. Steve is such a great ambassador to the hobby. Rather than attend the HOTrak set-up, he made his way over to Fred's to support our operations knowing that our numbers would be down. We appreciate your support immensely Steve!
We find Steve on the left chatting with Paul as Malcolm and Bernie relax before the session.
Just a reminder that you can enlarge the images simply by clicking on them. You can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.
We enjoyed Petya's company on this day. Welcome Petya. You're a great operator!
We catch Petya with his dad, Neil, up in Cedar Rock.
I brought out my "Ironwood & New England" steamer.
She had to be turned after exiting her carrying case.
Doug brought along locomotive #67.
It is lettered in his home road, the Northland Railroad.
Here's our good friend, Bernie! He's like the "Ever Ready Battery"...always working hard on the railroad and never stopping. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Bernie!
Sid looks on in Ralph yard along with two railfans, Matthew & Ollie.
Glen Hammond is prepared for the operations as is Nelson Yard in the distance.
A closer look at the big yard in Nelson.
The sidings at Anderson are popular with these freight cars...
...just as interesting loads are popular with this railfan!
Father and sons!
Bill handles Nelson Yard with acumen.
Doug relaxes pre-ops.
As does Mark.
Lawrence and Fred haven't noticed the timbits and other treats yet!
Pete, from Wolfville, Nova Scotia holds the "bell ringing" honours on this day.
Here's Bill and Doug!
Steve and Malcolm study their orders before setting out with eastbound Train 304 out from Glen Hammond. Paul will run their westbound counterpart, Train 303. The "zero" in the second digit of the train number indicates this as being their first trick of the day.
Lawrence assists with the blocking of traffic in Nelson Yard before heading over to Rat Portage aboard Rat 62. He managed to be the first person to use the new turntable recently installed in Rat.
Now...this lad has found the goodies...or is he checking his radio?
Our passenger train has reached Bell in the early morning hours.
Passenger 32 meets the new industry in Bell named in Henk's honour.
We thank Lawrence for creating this magnificent structure during the off-season.
This shot snipped from the video shows Passenger 32 underway out from Firgrove.
A look at the headend.
And...the tail end.
Our passenger run departs Firgrove on video.
To activate the video simply click on the white arrow in the center of the image above two times.
Our RP&M crew drills the industries at Lilly.
Hovering atop the Lawrence Watkins trestle.
A snippit from the video finds us at Blockhouse.
Lawrence works the facilities at Lilly.
Brennan Gap video work.
Our ore train begins to roll.
Mark and sons will be in control here.
I'm dispatching but also working Ralph Yard in Firgrove. I've captured this shot of Mark capturing a shot of my locomotive!
Who doesn't love the colour of railroading!
Yes, we have to look after nature to ensure we have many bumblebees to pollinate the world!
It's a "Sid Sandwich" between the youngsters!
A video view of the ore train!
The "Nelson Yard - Bell Turn" drifts into Rat Portage.
The train will have some work to conduct here before heading up to the interchange at Bell.
Some video pics of Train 301 on the roll out from Ironwood bound for Spruce.
Bernie's locomotive navigates the big curve with ease.
Steve checks his switch list for Ironwood as his partner, Malcolm, arrives the neighbourhood. They are in control of Train 304.
301's departure out from Ironwood as seen on video tape.
Neil and Petya are found up in Cedar Rock.
"My first time switching here!" Neil announces.
They make for a great looking crew!
We catch the crew leaving Peter's Pond to ascend the grade up to Cedar Rock. Note the new industry in the distance.
Climbing the grade along the branch.
Their train as captured by Mike's video camera.
We find Pool Train 33 reaching the Fred Mills Trestle.
The train will bypass Nelson Yard for the station at Glen Hammond.
Some video work of the Pool Train. Sorry for the shaky start!
We observe a meet between Train 32 and Train 301 at Spruce.
The ore train will arrive shortly having been given orders to follow Passenger 32 into Spruce on a slow order.
Spruce in the foreground with Ironwood in the distance.
Another glance of the meet from the other end of Spruce.
Why...it's "Doug Squared" in front of "Douglas Yard"!
Doug Culham's diminutive switcher is great for working Douglas Yard.
Doug Matheson's behemoth takes the turnout into Douglas Yard.
The yardmaster will wye the passenger consist after the engineer of the passenger train wyes his locomotive.
Fred and friends enjoyed a lovely musical soiree last evening in the crew lounge...even though the weather did not cooperate all that well.
Seeing as we had to squeeze in under the canopy when the rains came, Adrienne and I had fun leading the assembled couples in a sing song with acoustic instruments once we put the amplifiers and electric guitars away in our cars.
It was great seeing Paul & Marilyn once again. They used to live in the small bungalow across the street from Fred's place.
It was also fun enjoying a glass of wine made by Fred's wonderful neighbours, Mike & Lorraine. Mike had once won a competition among a couple of thousand sommeliers Canada wide. In that year he was Canada's top sommelier!
It was also great singing along with Malcolm and his lovely wife, Ruth! The week before it was fun jamming with Jean & Sid and Steve & Judie! The whole crew lounge was singing in harmony to Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer"...Lie di die....Lie, di, die, die, die, die, die...lie de die..."
Hopefully, Fred, we'll get one more chance to put on a "jam session" before Pete heads back to Wolfville, Nova Scotia!
In the morning we certainly found favour with the weather.
I'll post another set of pics and vids later in the week when I get some in from Bernie, Mark and Pat!
As always, we thank Father Fred for hosting one heckuva great operating session!
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