Session #12 September 3rd

Session #12 September 3rd 

While the calendar shifts to the ninth month of the year, good old mother nature must be watching us turn those calendar pages.

For the weather has cooled off considerably and we were able to run trains in relative comfort for our 12th session of this season.

Diesel engines were the main "draw" on the day with standard gauge equipment attached to the drawbar...with the single exception of a steamer coming to the rescue of a younger diesel sibling!

Three of our OVGRS members arrived early to set out freight cars, but they seem to be in deep discussion.  I don't see any work being done here!

Fred has decided to move to Spruce.  He will live in the house with the turquoise trim and we will hold our annual OVGRS meetings in the house next door with the blue trim.

Thanks to Dilip for these two introductory images!

Marcel is a man after my own heart!  Indeed, the Boston and Maine rules the railroad on this day!

"Not a chance the B&M is in control!" calls out the 1707.  "It's the Canadian National in charge!"

"But...what about little ole' me?  Doesn't the New York Central have a say in matters of leadership?"

Of course, Fred's railroad offers operators the chance to "run what ya brung" and diesels of all stripes can be found trackside for our avid railfans.  Hey, check out the bright lights around St. Helens!

If "camo" is your thing...how about this Grand Trunk beauty resting in front of a similar coloured brewery?

And...speaking of beauties...nah...we won't go there!

Ah, that's better...not!

How about these lads instead?

Enough of this tom-foolery...they're all good looking lads...in their own way!

The rule is:  whoever runs the passenger trains must bring out the depot for Spruce from the garage shed.  Marcel holds the honours today!

Glen Hammond seems to attract a gathering of souls pre-ops.

While Nelson Yard tends to attract a gathering of rolling stock!

A more expedient method of transportation...tele-porting...as Len so aptly demonstrates!

While it looks like "The Corporation", we are just a bunch of fun loving train addicts!

Henk holds court with his "crewdom".

301 has gained clearance out from Douglas Yard bound for St. Helens.

Engineer Dilip has already adjusted to the intricacies of the throttle as our train gets underway.

Craig Leigh produces a number of trains throughout a session with 301 being the first out of the gate.

Clad in the same colours as his locomotive, Dilip has everything under control.

This video details the action upon our departure.

To engage any videos, simply click on the white arrow in the center of the video once and then again a second time.

Someone's diesel locomotive has schemed up thoughts of its own...

...and has decided that it didn't want to play by the rules on this day...

...thus this video offering up a most unusual train movement for the time period.

Diesel 7316 speeds by this railfan on the upper shelf.

Seeing this grey and blue beauty is well worth the wait for this photographer.

We spot the engineer in the cab.

Although a rather large engine, she is dwarfed by the old Ironwood Brick mine structure.

We manage to capture the passage of the train on video.

313 discovers Spruce on its second trick of the morning.

303 reaches beyond Wellington Lake finding itself at Watkins Siding.

Cedar Rock isn't exclusive to these two lads, but it is for the moment.  Henk and Doug shove a car into the Watson facility named for our good friends, Steve and Seanna Watson.

An essential ingredient in being a yardmaster is to remain cool under pressure and Andrew and Garry do just that as Bob pulls into the big yard with a ton or two of ore.

A bonus feature of my run with Dilip this morning was "no work" at Wellington Lake.  Don't worry though, we more than made up with it with "many a move" in most of our other locations enroute.

Aha...we spot the Boston and Maine Dayliner.

It's wonderful to catch a glimpse of this little puppy detouring over IPP&W trackage.

The B&M owned more rail diesel cars than any other railroad in North America.

The handsome skipper of this commuter service...Mr. Marcel!

Interesting video footage of the train.

A short ore train of loads indicates we are still early in the morning.

The train started in Firgrove where it picked up the four cars.

It will grow in size when it reaches Nelson Yard.

Ore train video movements.

301 holds for 304's arrival in Ironwood.

304 comes to a stop at the far end of the siding.

Once 304 is in the clear, 301 is routed out of the yard by Dilip.

Nice video footage of the meet.

We scan over to Spruce to find a handful of cars on the two industry tracks in this area.  The middle track acts as a layover for excess cars when switching.

The Ironwood Brick facility sees a tankcar and a flatcar residing on the spur.

The GP38-2 sure looks elegant in that magnificent lightning stripe scheme offered by the D&H!

Len has routed the ore train on the upper track and he will soon bring us in on the nearer one.

One of the unique features of our ore train is the heavy power Bob brings out both in diesel and in steam each week.

Paul looks on from a distance as Grant and Pat drill Ironwood Brick.

Pool Train 33 arrives Spruce...

...where it meets 301 working the siding tracks.

Marcel is aiming for the depot...

...situated beautifully on a curve in the tracks.

Pool train video reels.

304 rides along the shelf between Ironwood and St. Helens.

The triple dome tankcar is situated safely in the consist.

An IPP&W van brings up the rear.

A look back at Spruce.

304 as captured on video tape.

Henk is silhouetted in the shade offered up by the foliage in Cedar Rock.

His and Doug's power aboard 302.

His crewmate Doug has already made his way back to "The Pond".

Action up in Cedar Rock captured on video.

The lads are looking up...way up...

...to find skipper Pat under the pines!

Yum yum!

Our taste buds are coming to life!

Thanks, Marcel, for the great tasting burgers!

Thanks, Dilip, for the previous three images.

We enjoyed a special visit from a family at our session this morning.  Herman Beals came up from Freeville, New York to take in our operations.

More wonderful members of the Beals family.  Welcome to Ottawa!

As always, we thank our very own "Leader of the Pack"...skipper Fred for hosting us once again.

When I run a train, I don't have the same opportunity to photograph other crews as much as I do when I dispatch the railroad...but it's always fun to share the pics I do take!

There will be a "Second Section" later in the week, so keep an eye out for it.  It promises to be as action packed as this blog entry!

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