Garden Railroading: Bernie's Pictures From Session #10

Session #10 Pics From Bernie

We thank Bernie for taking the time to snap and share these images with us.

Also, thanks Bernie for the captions as well.

Our tenth session of the season was of the standard gauge variety.

The session is underway. Mike is spotted in Glen Hammond conducting a move on the west interchange track while contacting dispatch for clearance out for Peter's Pond. Mike's engineer Pat is controlling that gorgeous New York Central switch engine from a distance. To the left, Chris has arrived Bell with Train 302 and to the right Andrew works Nelson Yard aboard an RP&M train. Lots of activity in one image for sure!

Garry prepares a train in NY as Malcolm looks on. Garry assembles outgoing traffic as Malcolm returns to the big yard after working Lilly and the Fallentree Mine area.

The A-Team in Ironwood. Henk and Bill crew 301 and have arrived Ironwood. They have already run around their train to begin their facing switching moves. In the distance we spot 302 now in Wellington Lake.

The dispatcher hassling the A-Team. Yes, Dispatcher Doug peeks out from his dispatch hut to follow the action in Ironwood.

Moe takes a break in the cool shade. He is about to arrive Spruce with Passenger 32.

The A-team is still in Ironwood. The lads consider their next move...

...as Moe pulls out from Spruce...

...headed their way! 304 awaits the passenger train at Spruce.

As the passenger train conducts its station stop at the newly relocated depot in Ironwood, 304's diesel locomotive uses the main as a switching lead back in Spruce. The crew then follows 32 into Ironwood.

Later, the ore train makes its appearance as Marcel hauls this commodity into Spruce.

Marcel is engineer and conductor on the ore run. The ore train picks up the cars set out by 304 here in Ironwood.

304 has already found its way to Ironwood as the ore train requests clearance to depart Ironwood for Mount St. Helens and Craig Leigh.

304 awaits the passenger train to arrive St. Helens. Pool Train 33 arrives the town as Bernie drills the trailing sidings aboard 304.

304 holds the siding awaiting clearance up to Craig Leigh. When the ore train passes, the aspect will turn green and Bernie will be on his way east.

312 meets 313 in Ironwood. Chris is eastbound with some colourful cars in his consist aboard 312 as Bernie has already made his way into Ironwood with 313 in the distance. 313 is found on the new siding before heading over to Spruce.

Underway past the Ironwood Brick facility, Chris will arrive the Mount in short order.

Pat and Mike conduct a runby inspection of the passenger train train as Moe arrives Spruce on an easterly tack. Railfan Hamer has managed to grab a shot of the train at that lovely station, an exact replica of the one found down in Gananoque.

Speaking of lovely stations, we take in the view of the newly relocated depot at Ironwood as the pool train comes to a stop at this location.

Bernie's TH&B GP-7 idles away in Ironwood with 313 basking in the morning sun as we look across the new trackage here in Ironwood.

Pat and Mike bring 324 into Spruce where they meet an opposing train.

With 324 finished its work in Spruce, the crew can see the end of their third shift coming up shortly with only Ironwood and St. Helens to be worked before terminating at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

Thanks a ton, Bernie for these great images! I'll include a few pics I took to tag on to yours!

I managed to snag Andrew's SOO LINE road switcher working Nelson Yard as part of the Rat Portage and Mattawa team.

Bernie's TH&B locomotive is ready to depart Glen Hammond once the bell is rung and the pre-ops meeting is concluded.

She's a looker, Bernie!

Marcel has all gear ready for his run aboard the ore train.

Henk is rattling the cookie jar! "Pay up, lads...that is if you wish to have lunch!"

The lower team track and fishery in Peter's Pond.

The lads gather for the briefing.

Earlier I spotted my crewmate, Pat, along with our good buddy, Bernie!

Marcel and Sid are all smiles following yet another great joke as told by Marcel.

We're underway and Pat and I commandeer 303 out from Glen Hammond and into Peter's Pond. Against the grain we take the center main as the passenger train and the ore train both have yet to be set up in Firgrove and we notice 302 still working at Bell off in the distance. All we have to do here is switch out the lower section of town which won't take long at all.

The new stone yard currently under ownership by the two Pats, Brewer and Brennan.

A lower angle shot of our work here.

Meanwhile, we note Chris's wonderful CN van back up in Bell.

Henk and Bill hold down in Ironwood as our train trickles up the grade at Watkins Siding in behind Bill.

Bernie works 304 in Spruce.

Spruce offers up three trailing and a single facing siding for Bernie on this run.

302 has reached Watkins Siding and holds for a meet with the ore train.

The armour yellow indicates that this must be Marcel's locomotive.

Near the interchange in Bell we find Rat 62 hauling in cargo to be exchanged with the IPP&W.

Our train, 303, arrives Firgrove.

We are lined up by the yardmaster who goes to work blocking our next train out, Train 314.

Across the aisle, Malcolm is found working Rat Portage.

His Conrail diesel is a real looker as well!

Our diesel is uncoupled and heads onto the turntable.

The Firgrove crew removes our caboose and places it on the tail end of our outgoing train.

In the meantime, Rat 62 makes its way back to Rat Portage and eventually Glen Hammond.

These next three snippits from video showcase the movements of Passenger 32 in Peter's Pond.

Our train, 303, has completed its work here so we clear the main well in advance of the arrival of the passengers.

The elevated station will be lowered in due course.

We have managed to capture some video footage of the arrival of Passenger 32.

Train 303 departs Peter's Pond for Bell.

We have been cleared to Bell with the understanding that we may have to sort out our arrival track with the crew of 302.

Listen to the audio conversation between 303 and dispatch in this video version of events.

We follow our train through "The Corners".

We reach beyond the large Ironwood Brick facility.

Heading into Wellington Lake.

Our tail end.

Some video footage of our train's passage.

303 meets the ore train at Watkins.

Following our passage, the ore train can now get underway.

Video action of the Watkins meet.

The ore train continues its easterly trek.

Marcel has things under control.

More video from Watkins Siding.

302 throttles up as it departs Bell.

303 has already arrived on Track 3.

The tail end of 302.

The departure as captured on video. Listen in as Fred conducts a radio check and as our passenger engineer attempts to contact dispatch.

Train 40 makes its way into Bell down from Firgrove.

The crew runs along the main line.

Listen in on this video as the crew of 303 attempts to locate its traffic in Bell. None of its cars were available and all were discovered eventually on the interchange tracks!