Garden Railroading: Session #9 Pics From Henk, Bill & Dilip.

Session #9 August 13th

Our ninth session of the season is of the Narrow Gauge variety with the appropriate fleet operating.

Mike was away in Nova Scotia, but Henk, Bill & Dilip came through with plenty of images from the day.

I will share the images in the order they entered my inbox.

This first batch is from skipper Henk, our affable Nelson Yardmaster. Speaking of Nelson Yard, he seems to have it under control right off the bat!

Dispatcher Bill controls all train movements on this day! The handsome lad has the seat all to himself!

Garry commandeers Rat 62 out from Glen Hammond while Pat and Mark work the interchange in Bell aboard 303. It would appear Garry has some work to conduct at Bellamy before heading across the junction.

Here's Mark and his able-bodied double assistants working the ore dock at Firgrove before their departure with loads in an eastward direction.

Len and George work Firgrove and Ralph Yard as the crew aboard the ore train awaits clearance out from this western terminal.

Lovely new stone yard. I wonder if the two Pat's have a few "diamonds in the rough" yet to be discovered here!

Pat is in control of all passenger equipment on this day as he checks his orders in Craig Leigh.

Doug works the tracks at Lilly aboard RP&M 61-72. Once his work is completed here he will depart for Rat Portage and Bell.

Later in the AM hours, we spot this short consist on the move out from Nelson Yard bound for Craig Leigh.

With Pat at the helm, this would be Train 324, his third trick of the day. Mr. Brennan crosses Brennan Gap!

Thanks, Henk, for these great looking images captured throughout the morning!

Passenger 32 is the first train to take advantage of the new trackwork recently completed in Ironwood. I would like to thank Bill for these next few pics of this historic moment.

If it is early in the morning, then the opposing train ought to be 301.

The crew aboard 301 is able to switch to its heart's content while Passenger 32 navigates around it.

Remember, the depot is now located on the curve leading out from Ironwood toward Spruce. With it's passenger stop now complete, the train is eastward bound to Mount St. Helens.

Thanks, Bill, for the marvelous pics of that first meet!

Dilip sent along the following images, many of the taken during the pre-ops setup. It would appear we have a nest of operators hanging around Nelson Yard.

George and Len have all cars placed to their proper tracks as Malcolm readies his locomotive off in the distance. He will crew 302 with Dilip on this day.

The pre-ops lounge is a-buzz with activity.

A cool "low-angle" shot of the new facilities down in Peter's Pond.

The western fringe of Peter's Pond holds the team track and Norton Fishery.

The eastern end contains these new facilities...the cooperage and the stone yard.

Some cool looking "stitched together" shots of Peter's Pond.

Very creative photography, Dilip!

Cedar Rock from above.

Chris and Andrew work 301 in Ironwood.

Malcolm is now out from Bell aboard 302.

Pat laughs it up with Henk in Nelson Yard.

Mark has brought the boys out to run trains creating some of that great "father and son" bonding!

Our other Mark (also in yellow - must've telephoned each other before they got dressed this morning!) hanging out with crewmate, Pat (our other Pat) that is! This would be Train 324 they are working in Spruce.

Earlier, they were spotted hamming it up down in Peter's Pond while meeting an opposing train!

Thanks, Dilip, for these wonderful images.

I'll share just a few images from my journey to the "Merry Times".

Just out from Quebec City I spotted this TOFC train holding the siding.

Some colourful containers for sure!

Lisa and I chose Grand Falls, New Brunswick as our "halfway" stopping off point.

The Rodeway Inn offered some very nice rooms, hot tub, swimming pool and a huge "trucker's breakfast" buffet style which kept my tummy full for the entire second day of the journey!

Outside our room was this duck pond.

A lovely covered bridge.

Pretty cool.

At one of those Irving gas stations I met Captain Fred...apparently related to our very own Skipper Fred!

Now...hmmm...which two OVGRS members are these lads?

We stopped off at the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia border facilities to find these three dogs. Coincidently, none are related as one is from New Brunswick, the other from Nova Scotia and the third from Wisconsin!

We are reaching our final destination of Wolfville as we pass under the Freddie Wilson Overpass. Ever since he was 16 years old, Freddie Wilson would spend most of his leisure time waving to motorists on Highway 101...so much so that folks started looking for him up top the bridge any time they drove below. I have seen Freddie a number of times over the years when I have spent time in this part of the country. Famous singers have written songs about Freddie and an Alex Colville painting was inspired by his dedication to this single spot on earth.

To learn more about Freddie Wilson, copy and paste the link below into your computer's browser.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/freddie-wilson-overpass-alive-waving-cars-1.4707090

Moments later I spy Cape Blomidon off in the distance keeping an eye on the waters of the Minas Basin.

Hey...I got to jam with OVGRS member, Chris Lyon!

And OVGRS member Pete Conroy too!

We are in bass player Wayne's studio about fifteen minutes west of Wolfville.

Drummer Earl.

And wing beat drummer, Hummer!

I would watch these hummingbirds for hours on end!

Hey, that looks like Pete's car...and he lives on the same street in Wolfville as the home where Lisa and I are staying...her cousin's place...yes, another Pete!