Session #7 Narrow Gauge - July 23rd
Another full crew assignment list saw 22 operators in attendance on the 23rd day in July for a fun train operating session.
The heat did not sway the crews as both railroads kept the bills being paid with most trains completing their three cycles.
With many "regulars" away on summer vacations, most crews contained a long-time member with a relatively new member.
The cattle are wondering if and when the crews will be opening the doors on the stockcars.
Remember: You can enlarge the images by clicking on them and you can reduce them by clicking outside them.
Billy Boy runs a great establishment, for sure! Not only is this a distribution centre, apparently there is fine dining with the best of beverages on the other side of the building!
Some headend equipment awaits its turn to run on the system.
A lovely locomotive awaits its first assignment out from Firgrove.
The "PEI" Railroad was lettered by our good friend Chris who ran the ore train with his son, Jonah!
A cool carrying case hanging around in Ralph Yard.
Sid is getting a workout setting out cars in Ironwood pre-ops.
Sid's efforts in the set-out and the post ops pick-up are greatly appreciated.
Here we see the newly relocated team track and fishery in Peter's Pond.
Love this Denver and Rio Grande Western 40-footer found in Mount St. Helens.
Pat sent along this beachside image taken on his recent vacation to the Maritimes! He is relaxing at a cottage in New Brunswick.
Mark caught this train in the act in the Charlevoix region east of Quebec City on his family vacation.
Another view of the TRAIN de Charlevoix as taken by Mark.
The train runs right along the beach beside the St. Lawrence River.
Here's Mark in front of CN 1762.Mark tells us, "This elegant lady started off life as an RS-18 but got converted to a six axle
version. MR-14 or something like that. I think unique to Atlantic Canada.
Persevered nicely in Kensington, PEI. Trains have not run on the island since
the late ‘80s I believe."
To view Mark's video, copy and paste the link below into your computer's browser.
https://www.icloud.com/photos/#00dV6PrPXrFwuOgboNiO--W0A
This dynamic duo is reunited for a few minutes in conversation...
...while Doug replaces Bill as Henk's "sidekick" for the session.
Chris and Jonah have the ore train assembled in front of the depot at Firgrove.
Once the session gets underway they will seek clearance down to Bell right out of the hopper!
Speaking of hoppers, here is a lovely example painted and lettered for the Colorado Southern.
Locomotives and rolling stock bask in the morning sunlight in Glen Hammond.
My silhouette is in evidence as I fan across Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard.
The lads appear ready for the session to begin.
Yet another view of the newly located tracks. A single reefer is at the new Norton Fishery spur while a trio of cars resides on the new team track.
We encountered no delays or operational issues here on this day thanks to the newly situated tracks.
A variety of cars reside on the front track at St. Helens.
Love those billboard reefers!
Another example of advertising on the car sides.
Skipper Moe surrounded by a halo of sunlight.
Paul examines his car list to determine set-out locations in Craig Leigh.
Locomotives in carriers and rolling stock in bread trays.
Our passenger runs are awaiting some power to pull them from the yard.
Some headend gear.
Andrew must be here as I recognize his locomotive.
Father and son!
An overall look at the big yard and two others in the distance.
Getting organized.
Sid and Bernie!
Bernie and Sid!
Bill is an amazing model railroader, but he is also a renowned model aircraft modeler.
Skipper Garry...fresh off a nice family vacation. Welcome back Garry!
Sid and Moe.
Robin joins the fray!
Bernie gets into the act...on guard!
Stretching like an expanding elastic band, the two yards at the center of the railroad seem to go on forever.
Westbound 303 awaits clearance before departing out from Glen Hammond.
Its counterpart, Train 304, faces eastward and will also depart in short order.
Two of our newest members of the group, Dilip and Mark. Welcome aboard fellas!
Sid, Bernie and Doug await Fred's messages at the pre-ops briefing.
Grant, Seanna, Steve and Mark hang out near the crew lounge.
My locomotive is underway and will pass the depot at Glen Hammond.
We are "6 cars out" as we begin our journey.
Let's follow along on video as 304 is now under steam.
We thread the needle at the Fred Mills Trestle.
More video of our train.
With our work at Blockhouse and Spruce complete, we sailed through Ironwood where our orders showed no cars to lift or spot...so we are on our way into St. Helens.
While on the other side of the canyon we find Passenger 32 arriving Spruce.
Let's check that video out!
My crewmate Sid and I arrive the outskirts of Craig Leigh.
We meet 301 here.
Andrew and Mark will crew 301 on this day.
Our head end takes the far track which runs around Douglas Yard while 301's tail end departs the scene.
Yardmaster Paul has set the turnout which steers our train into Douglas Yard.
Craig Leigh video maneuvers.
A short while later Passenger 32 enters Craig Leigh and takes the western leg of the wye.
This will allow the crew to wye its train and back into the terminal.
Grant's locomotive is certainly up to the task on this day.
Sid railfans the entry of Train 32 into Craig Leigh.
Taking the spur onto the Northland Ore Dock.
Grant slows his train down in anticipation of his reverse move.
Passenger video covering the entry into Craig Leigh.
My locomotive assists the Craig Leigh yardmaster in lifting cars for our next train, Train 313, as the passenger consist begins its backup move.
Two locomotives...two crews!
Taking the S-curve on a slow order.
Looking good there, Grant!
Hey, we captured that on video as well!
Steve, Seanna, Bernie and Garry are found at the western end of Bell.
IPP&W Train 303 is working the main line while RP&M 61 works the interchange tracks.
Some video of that action.
301 has reached Mount St. Helens.
They are protected for a meet with Pool Train 33.
Some St. Helens video footage.
We find the ore train pressing through St. Helens.
Our train, 313, is now found in the Mount, protected on the siding track as well.
Let's check that video out!
Pat reaches the turntable in Rat Portage.
He is aboard Rat 62 with crewmate Dilip.
This is the turntable Lawrence built and installed earlier this season.
Looking good Pat!
Looking good, Lawrence!
Alas, my video was slightly too long to appear on the blog! Oh well!
We find George's steamer being kept busy in Ralph Yard.
Grant finds himself sandwiched between two trains.
RP&M 72 is found downgrade out from Bell.
Reaching Pratt's Bottom.
While...Grant crosses the junction and heads toward Peter's Pond.
Sliding through Mercer Siding.
Let's watch that on video tape!
Chris and Jonah roll the ore train down the grade at "The Ledges".
My train, 304, reaches out for St. Helens having breezed through Ironwood with no work at that location!
301 holds for our train to arrive.
Later, I have wyed my locomotive in readiness for the departure of Train 313.
Grant is found near the passenger terminal.
Andrew and Mark are now underway and work the facing sidings at St. Helens.
They will have a few setouts and lifts to deal with.
Meanwhile, this little puppy pulls its weight in Nelson Yard.
This is Doug's Northland #3.
Doug works the western throat at Nelson Yard.
Nelson Yard video footage.
Another look at #3.
We really get to see this little one in action from this side of the locomotive.
Looking good, Doug!
Still more video of Doug's locomotive.
Garry drives Train 314 on Track 3 at Bell.
This is the second run of his day crewing with Bernie.
They will have some work to do in Stuart Yard.
The east house track contains two cars at the moment.
Bernie follows the progress of his train.
Some video work at Bell.
The Pool Train is spotted in "The Corners" mid-morning.
313 parallels the Pool Train elevated on the upper track.
Let's follow the two trains on video.
Jonah mans the ore train as it exits St. Helens.
His dad, Chris, lettered his steam locomotive for the PEI Railroad.
A nice "going away" shot of the ore train.
There's Chris.
We spot Bernie up in Cedar Rock.
Bernie shows his diagram for this location.
A closer view.
There train departs Cedar Rock under dappled shade.
Heading down the hill back to Peter's Pond.
More video work here.
Earlier Robin and Moe were found in the same location aboard 302.
Dispatcher Bill is on a short umbilical cord from his dispatch hut as he follows the process of the ore train in Ironwood.
Bernie snaps a picture of me snapping a picture of him and his crewmate, Garry.
Pat and Dilip will commandeer Rat 62 starting out from Glen Hammond.
The crew at Nelson Yard have an easy time of it at this moment in the session.
Train 62 is underway.
The ore train never loses photographic appeal as it is once again spotted facing east in Ironwood.
Our skipper, Fred, finds time to perform some track maintenance.
The sun is unfiltered in this scene at Cedar Rock.
Rat 62 makes Rat Portage.
Dispatcher Bill finds a moment of peace in all of this action!
Here's George!
George and Grant are found in Firgrove.
The pool train has reached Rat Portage and will soon leave RP&M rails for IPP&W iron.
Lovely locomotive, Grant!
In Cedar Rock, Garry guides his locomotive onto the aggregates track with the crusher in the background.
A closer view of his train.
The ore train as it appeared westbound in St. Helens.
301 barrels around the big curve to the west of Spruce.
Many crews are spotted in this overview scene at the end of the Spruce peninsula.
Paul has brought Train 41 down from Craig Leigh. It is the short hop down to St. Helens.
Paul's locomotive.
Crews regard the turnouts carefully where Lilly joins the Glen Hammond/Nelson Yard cutoff.
Grant guides the passenger train through Peter's Pond.
The two new sidings in the Pond have proven beneficial to our operations already!
Here's Grant post-ops! What's in the big box, Grant?
What's this little gem Grant is holding in his hands?
Along with an interesting conductor!
It's Grant's waycar!
Grant is a master model railroader who has earned his MMR and he is also a tremendous ambassador to the hobby.
Looking good there Grant!
Jean and Sid enjoy the post-ops socializing.
As does my friend, Gerry Berrigan.
Andrew apprises Jean and Sid of his experiences of his recent journey to Poland and the Ukraine.
Mike is thrilled to show off his new OVGRS shirt in Boston and Maine colours.
The red bumpers look great on the new trackage in Peter's Pond.
The lads enjoy the shade post-ops.
Bernie and Moe.
Pat, Robin and Mark.
Yesterday Doug and I paid a visit to Upper Canada Village down on the St. Lawrence River.
Here's Doug in front of the sawmill.
Each building has a nice information stand for visitors to learn a bit more about the history and purpose of the structure.
Beach's sawmill was built in 1846...many moons ago!
Water flow powers the mill.
Modeler Mike enjoys snapping interesting "detail" images.
Hey "Workday Wednesday" crew! Do ya think this saw would fit atop Fred's workbench outside Craig Leigh? Not!
The workers in the mill.
Doug chats up one of the lads.
The sawblade in action.
He tells us that the logs they are cutting are small in comparison to the ones drawn from trees such as these.
He point out the human figure in among the tall timbers!
The millpond.
The sluice way.
The sluice gate.
From another angle.
A lovely structure in and of itself!
Looking down the sluiceway.
Some timbers waiting to be cut. Doug estimated they were 16 inches or so in diameter.
Here Doug and I are down below in the lower deck of the mill.
The water power as built up from gravity.
Check out the timbers above Doug's head!
Video from the lower floor of the sawmill.
The gentlemen move about the machinery in a cautious manner.
Here we see the saw blade being drawn back for another pass at the log.
Keeping a clean workspace is essential.
The pulley near the end of the cradle.
Video of the saw returning for its next pass.
The lads are shuffling the log over for the next run of the blade. He is showing us his "measuring stick".
Doug had thought that they might roll the log over to square it.
Love all the wooden walls and timbers!
Amazing!
These lads work diligently throughout their day as captured on video tape!
The sawblade takes its next run.
Doug shares some queries and comments with our Upper Canada Village friend.
Let's watch video of the blade in action.
Total concentration!
It's making its way through the lumber.
We listen in on the video.
Mike was thrilled to find this farmer's wagon!
It is very similar to the one he built in O-scale for Doug!
A nice detail shot.
Farmer Doug and his wagon!
Mike's version in O-scale long before the diorama materialized.
A "going away" shot!
A couple of wagons; the farmer's wagon and the buckboard wagon.
The farmer is heading out of town.
As always we thank Father Fred for letting us enjoy running the trains in his backyard each Saturday morning!
We look forward to doing it again next Saturday, Fred!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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