Garden Railroading: Session #2 Second Section

Session #2 Second Section

What follows is the second section of images and videos from our most recent operating session.

The IPP&W and RP&M railroads saw a large influx of folks trackside on this day.

Thanks go out to all of the operators and volunteers who helped make this day a huge success.

While I dispatched on this day, I always bring out a locomotive as a spare...and good thing...as my D&H GP38-2 was brought into service first thing in the AM in Nelson Yard.

Fred and Pat organizing the set-out of cars to towns, yards and industries.

It's "all hands on deck" in the wee hours of the morning.

Many hands make light work!

No...there is no mist in the neighbourhood, just the rays of the sun illuminating the good side of Pete!

Fred & Seanna brighten up the morning!

Lots of trays of cars that require setting out.

George, the "Master of Firgrove!"

Ore cars are readied for their run from the west.

The set-out continues.

It's a warm day so I air out the dispatch booth.

Sir Henk in his new OVGRS shirt and shades!

The engineman is in the cab and ready to work the big yard.

We've temporarily installed this umbrella to offer shade to the eastern portion of Nelson Yard.

The lads are quite busy before ops begin.

Fred takes a call just as we are about to get underway for the safety briefing.

A stool!

Say...we all know that you...nah...we won't go there!

Fred dispenses the news of the day as we are all ears.

Great to see you out this day, Steve!

Paul checks his throttle before getting underway with Train 304. His partner on the day will be Chris.

Seanna and Steve will operate 303 out from Glen Hammond in an easterly direction.

Things are heating up as the action gets underway!

The first train out on the morning encounters a service interruption on the big curve.

Pete comes to the rescue hauling the car out from the depths of the corner!

303's power works back and forth as the crew assembles their train in the Glen.

Passenger run #32 departs Firgrove.

She's on a heading downgrade into Bell.

Passengers enjoy the view as this railfan takes a video of the action.

302 trails Passenger 32 downgrade keeping a visual out for the tail end of 32. Good thing they did!

32 drifts into Peter's Pond for a station stop...

...before accelerating eastward (geographical west).

Through the big iron over Brennan Gap.

The RP&M "Bell Turn" begins as Train 61 out from Nelson Yard.

Pat is conductor and engineer on this day. When he completes his work up in Bell, he will turn his locomotive and return as RP&M Train 72 to Glen Hammond.

Some video footage of Pat's train at Anderson.

Much later in the morning Steve has 314 up in Cedar Rock...

...with his lovely engineer wife, Seanna!

Their train hauls into the Rock.

As is usually the case, the locomotive is sandwiched between cars "fore and aft"!

We catch 314's arrival in the Pond moments earlier.

Fred looks on while Steve and Andrew discuss the imminent meet of 314 with the ore train.

The arrival captured by Mike on video.

Andrew and Bob have the ore train on approach to Peter's Pond.

314 is protected on the main as the ore train navigates around the consist.

We're calling this the "Sweep" as Bob and Andrew have created an extra run to pick up all of the loads.

The crew admires the newly installed cooperage located on the eastern fringe of Peter's Pond.

The sweep heads on its merry way! This is a great idea rather than simply walking around the grounds and packing up the ore cars in their boxes. Why not deliver them to the Northland Ore Dock in Craig Leigh instead? Great idea lads!

An ore video segments "sweeps" us off our feet!

Meanwhile, the crews congregate in Ironwood. 301 works the sidings while 32 conducts a station stop and 304 holds in Spruce awaiting clearance into this location.

The crew of 304, Chris and Paul (in the background).

We are in Nelson Yard.

The ore train crew will head over and capture the string of cars from the Fallentree Mine.

As captured on video tape.

Bill offers an assist at the Fallentree Mine.

Video reels of the move.

Aha! The ore train makes a grand appearance with this lovely Santa Fe unit adorned in the Warbonnet livery.

Train 313 reaches the pedestrian crossing.

We actually have working signals installed!

Great job Paul...you're our new video star!

While all three may appear somewhat puzzled in the photo...rest assured...they all know what they are doing!

Indeed, 302's crew has things in total control in Peter's Pond!

The lovely new cooperage built by Lawrence!

Bernie and Marcel ham it up for the company photographer!

Pool Train 33 is getting ready to depart Craig Leigh for a tour of both railroads as soon as Marcel finishes making up the train by backing his headend onto a brace of passenger cars in the distance.

Fully loaded...

...and ready to rumble!

Douglas Yard with the yardmaster backing the consist of 32 into the terminal area in short order.

Bernie readies his run for St. Helens.

On the video you will hear me ask if this is Train 30.

Under our new designations, this is now called Train 41 which I have managed to video for a short moment.

Over in Nelson, skipper Bill assembles the next outgoing train.

Blue on Blue!

Looking good, Bill!

The coloured chits indicate the various trains to go out.

Chris and Paul are on their third trick of the morning, Train 323 and they begin their trek up the Cedar Rock Branch.

It's a heavy train but the diminutive switcher is up to the job.

Some video footage from the area.

Pete looks on as the "The Sweep" arrives the eastern terminus of the line.

Skipper Bob is at the controls as Andrew lines the turnouts on the ore dock.

She's in reverse.

Pat has a front row "sweep".

Laughter abounds as the crew nears completion.

As captured by the video camera.

Pat continues to view the proceedings from his perch...

...as Andrew continues to line up the ore traffic.

Director Pat, as he calls himself...big grin!

Sid gets a chuckle from this group of railrodders!

Great job Andrew, Bob, Pat, Pete & Sid!

Still more video movements!

With the sweep having been swept away...

...Pat and Pete can now get underway.

They are on their third run of the morning aboard Train 321 bound for Glen Hammond.

Great paint job on the road switcher, Bill!

The lads are all smiles...

...as their tail end clears the area.

Onward ho on video, you know!

As Pat and Pete descend the grade behind the sheds bound for Mount St. Helens, Seanna and Steve approach the same destination from the opposing direction.

They ascend the grade up into St. Helens.

Sometimes a video may be short, but it sure is sweet as we capture Seanna in command of her consist aboard Train 324, the crew's third trick of the morning!

324 holds the station track as a train extra passes by.

321 has already been through having "no work" assigned at St. Helens.

Extra 7427, the museum "ore" excursion is hot on its tail.

Through St. Helens...

...the train is bound for Ironwood with railfan Seanna snagging some video footage.

Video of the activities in St. Helens.

We encounter a meet in Spruce.

The Nelson Yard-Bell Turn has arrived the interchange and Pat busies himself with the exchange of traffic between the two roads.

A lot of railroading time is taken up by "sitting and waiting".

Two unit trains meet in Ironwood!

Train 33 departs as the ore train works Ironwood Brick.

Andrew has tagged along with Bob on this day.

Love the heritage CN colours of olive green and gold!

Sometimes zebra stripes adorn locomotives and sometimes they don't!

312 has just departed Nelson Yard with the crew working their second trick of the day.

The crew arrives Blockhouse.

Some work is required here...

...before heading into Spruce.

Yet another meet in Spruce.

And another for the crew of 312.

312's lads offer up a runby inspection as Train 33 gets underway for Ironwood.

Chris investigates the car numbers in Ironwood for the traffic on the team track and on the freight shed spur.

Paul clears unwanted debris off the main.

The crew discusses their next moves.

Henk has Nelson Yard in "Ship Shape".

My little guy continues to toil in the yard.

Bill finds the shade of the umbrella!

"Ah, relief from the sun!" he tells dispatch.

Steve and Seanna, with Donald aboard their Algoma Central unit are just getting underway aboard their third trick of the morning, Train 324 bound for Craig Leigh as another train enters the yard in their opposing direction.