Session #10 Second Section

Session #10 Second  Section

This past week we assembled at Fred's for our tenth session of the season.

20 folks arrived Fred's backyard and the set-up was underway well before 9:00 AM.

With the pre-ops briefing complete, we were running trains on the high iron by 9:30!

My crewmate, Pat, brought along his New York Central switcher which was the engine of choice for our runs on this day.

Moe was in charge of the passenger trains and we watch the pool train navigate the big curve on which the depot resides as he is westbound out from Ironwood.

Paul's Canadian Pacific is a "regular" employee at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

Sid examines his CP diesel unit while it is still in its carrying case.

Paul is the "Man of the Hour"...or two or three hours...in Craig Leigh.  He is a true yard "master"!

Two trains meet in Peter's Pond.  Train 311 is switching out the two industries on the western fringe of "The Pond" as 314 waits patiently for the runaround track to become available.

The crusher and aggregates tracks contain some traffic on this day up in Cedar Rock.

Garry keeps Nelson Yard very well organized as Henk works 311 up in Bell.

Garry uncouples our locomotive off Train 314 which enables us to head over to another track to pick up our consist for our third run of the morning, Train 324.

Bernie is found on his third trick of the morning navigating the sidings down in "The Pond".

Moe hauls Passenger 32 around the big curve at Bellamy aiming his sights on Glenn Hammond earlier in the day.

"Big Red" is up front leading the charge into "The Glen".

Let's check out some video footage of Passenger 32.

We encounter a meet of two crews from two railroads.

The nearer train is our IPP&W westbound as we drill the interchange tracks as our RP&M cousins arrive town.

Twin ON 40-footers are dealt with swiftly.

Let's examine some of the video from around Bell.

Back up in Firgrove to the west we find CN 8146 working diligently with yard master George in charge.

We spot yet another ON 40-footer along with a BC rail brother.

This flatcar carries with it a heavy load.

A video moment with George.

George uses the main at "The Ledges" as his switching lead.

His diminutive endcab is up to the task even if he is on a grade at this point in time.

George handles the turnout as Len offers up instructions in back.

Still more video elements from this neighbourhood.

Pat pulls our diesel to the front of the bracket of cars set out by Len and George.

Across the aisle, Malcolm works Rat Portage with Rat 62 in the early morning hours.

Our second trick of the morning is eager to depart for Bell.

We are underway as witnessed in this video footage.

There is nothing more pleasing than to watch trains take on the many sensuous curves found along the lines of the IPP&W and the RP&M railways!

Two trains running parallel to each other...yet another creative sight!

The crews aboard 314 and 61 share a moment of camaraderie.

Let's see all of that on video!

Len is all smiles as Fred and Chris hold court under the canopy in the crew lounge.

In a typical scene we spot the SOO LINE road switcher working the western end of Nelson Yard.

Bill and Malcolm focus on the pre-ops tasks before the bell is rung to begin the weekly briefing.

Photography certainly can be difficult with this old "point and shoot" when you have bright sun and dark shade to contend with.

The lads gather around the patio.

Stories are shared...

...and then Fred calls the meeting to order.  Chris waits patiently nearby.

Our handsome minister, Andrew, with his lovely smile!

The cooperage appears busy at the moment.

Aha...the number in the bottom left corner tells me this is a snippit from an upcoming video.

Pat and I have cleared the main with our train, 324, as we make way for Passenger 35.  Both crews are on their third and final run of the day.  Bernie is spotted off in the distance in Ironwood.  He, like us, is holding for a meet with the passenger train.

Station stop in Spruce.

Our engineer carrying precious cargo...passengers!  Hi Moe!

Video of the events foreseen in the previous pictures!

Bernie has made it through to Spruce and is now underway to Nelson Yard aboard 313.

Pat and Chris and a big Hosta plant in Spruce.

313 dances downgrade on its journey west.

321 hauls into Ironwood where 324 sits patiently.

Let's view the video of all these trains and their travels.

The tail end of 321 reaches the outskirts of Ironwood.

A closer view of Chris's caboose.

321 is captured on Mike's video camera.

Someone in the neighbourhood is handling a chainsaw!

Here is a still image of an earlier meet with the ore train and 302 as the main characters in the play.

The lovely blue of this Conrail diesel tells us that Malcolm is in the vicinity of Rat Portage.

Andrew and Bill confer as Chris checks the orders for his new train.

Andrew, Garry and Malcolm congregate around the big yard.

Typically eastbounds come in on Track 4 at Bell, but upon our arrival a few moments earlier there was another train occupying the track...alas, we visit Track 3.

The switching lead to the east of Bell finds our crew drilling Stuart Yard.

Pool Train 33 finds its way into Ironwood with ease.

Dispatcher Doug keeps the traffic flowing in an orderly manner.

Lawrence observes the action down in Peter's Pond.

Our train arrives and takes the siding nearest to the aisle but we have to wait to do our switching as the earlier crew occupies the main and we have no runaround.

311 lifts a car from the team track.

Laughter abounds when this group assembles!

More snippets with my crewmate Pat taking a breather on this rather hot day.

Our train makes its way upgrade behind "Pat Mountain" and it is onward to St. Helens.

Arrival in the dappled shade at St. Helens.

Let's observe the video recap of these images.

A drone shot finds us tucked in and working "The Mount".

Wouldn't you know it...

...our "lift" happens to be the last one in this long string of cars!

Let's capture that on video for posterity.

Here's that last car we are waiting for!

Out to our train it goes!

More video action.

Time to put that long string back where it belongs.

Just a few more moves...

...and then our morning's work will be done!

Let's take in that video as well.

The ore dock at Northland.

Another view down in "The Pond".

It's pretty full.

Henk controls the turnout on its elevated stand.

My crewmate, Pat, uncouples the cars from the locomotive.

Doing a great job there Pat!

We're up in Cedar Rock.

I take a break on the lawn chair as I control the movements aboard 314

Moe aims the Pool Train toward the tunnel opening under Mount St. Helens.

Pat and I proceed back to the lower environs at Peter's Pond.

Meanwhile Gerry follows his train's progress as the Rat crew drill Anderson.

His engineer Pat keeps things moving.

Looking good there lads!

They have cleared the junction track crossing for us.  Thanks boys!

Now I call that teamwork!

We make our way to the throat of the big yard from the west.

We take the arrival/departure track.

Then its onto another track to pick up our final consist of the morning.

Hey...now that's a cool looking shirt...

...for a cool looking man!

Even with a mouthful this lads stays cool!

Wow, this sure looks like a busy scene...but, trust me, there is no chaos taking place here as Garry has all things "in hand"!

324 is cleared out from Spruce.

They proceed into the forest between Spruce and Ironwood.

Our power finds daylight once more.

Passing the depot.

We run around our cars...

...and return.

Bernie's locomotive pushes back into the siding near the team track in Peter's Pond.

Chris arrives Spruce...

...along with his tail end.

Spruce is pummeled with sunshine at this moment in time.

We capture all that on video.

Eastbound 322 enters Peter's Pond on a slow order as it meets its opposing counterpart, 323.

Once 322 comes to a stop, Bernie will get the turnout and depart up to Wellington Lake.

Two handsome lads.

Some video coverage of the meet.

323 accelerates out from "The Pond" and takes to the pedestrian crossing before tunneling under Mount St. Helens.

Bernie throws the turnout back to the main following the passage of his tail end.

322 has come to a stop.

More video of the action.

Moe packs it in for another day with the passenger runs now complete.

Pat terminates Train 324 in Craig Leigh.

His little switcher was most definitely the "Engine That Could"!  Big grin!

321 rises high above the canyon as it passes over IPP&W trackage in advance of admission into Spruce.

Looking good, Chris!

Chris pulls his train into the siding to clear the main for any further traffic that may speed through town.

I turn around to find this precious piece of rolling stock up in Cedar Rock at the sludge factory!

Sid, Moe & George are well entertained by Marcel.

An earlier shot of Bernie's Geep on the closer track in Peter's Pond.

Bernie's smile tells the whole story...running trains at Fred's is a ton of fun!

He has reached Wellington Lake.

He crawls to a stop as he must work the siding here.

There's Chris off in Spruce.

His CN Geep keeps this railfan well entertained.

The 4578 is a real looker in this railfan's books.

A nice 40-footer found in St. Helens.

Alongside the 40-footer is this triple dome tankcar.

Let's check in on Bernie's switching.

It would appear he has a set-out or two here at "The Lake".

Looking good, Bernie!

A relaxed video of Bernie hard at work.  (That's an oxymoronic statement, Mike!)

Another look back at Chris's efforts in Spruce.

His diesel finds the sunshine.  "Sunshine...on my shoulders..."

The Spruce Spur is on an incline in the tracks and a "stopper" clamp is in effect here.

More video from Spruce.

Let's keep our sights in this town for a moment or two.

Bright colours abound!

Chris is doing a newly developed yoga step...the kind you require when you are both engineer and brakeman!

Some yoga video action!

We look over to Craig Leigh and the new facility Lawrence has built.

We can't get enough of Lawrence's great modeling.

Here's Fred's real time shed structure in some need of repair!

Gerry and Pat pose for a pic!

Narrow gauge and standard gauge power co-exists in the enginehouse.

Hey!  Lookee here!

Some of the new equipment delivered from south of the border!

My lunch was delivered by head chef Moe!  Thanks, Moe!  Your cooking efforts are greatly appreciated.

Some views from inside.

Outstanding!

Lovely locos!

European in nature.

We love "Freddie"!

This center cab also garners our devotion.

As does #5!

Love the close-up!

Hey...look up...way up!

It's the plane, boss!  It's the plane!  On video to boot!

Being on the flight path for runway 32 offers up some cool sights overhead!

More video from above!

As always, we thank our skipper for keeping this boat afloat!

Our next blog entry will showcase footage from session #11.

Check in later in the week for updates.

All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada