Garden Railroading: Session #18 Final Ops of the Season

Final Train Ops of the Season - Session #18

Indeed, we gathered for our last time this train operating season.

We were blessed with decent weather most of the weekends this operating year.

Eighteen sessions is a pretty good number!

Diesels rule supreme on this day...

...as our operations are of the standard gauge variety.

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Torpedo tubes up top are found.

Lovely liveries appear.

Lightning stripes ignite a passion in us.

F units too!

Even a doodlebug!

Some weathering applied.

An experimental scheme.

Similar engines from the same road...although slightly different.

Additional details applied...horn and mount, spark arresters and re-railer.

Some from south of the border.

304 has conducted its work in Glenn Hammond and has received clearance to Spruce with a stop at Blockhouse.

Taking the outer track around Nelson Yard, the crew will reach the Fred Mills Trestle in due course.

The yards contain many a car in the early hours of the morning.

304's video appearance.

The wayfreight composed of a variety of cars reaches the earlier mentioned trestle.

Hovering atop Brennan Gap.

Engine 7831 fills the lens as it sweeps into the curve at Lilly.

The train's review on video.

This CN sergeant striped beauty truly stands out in Nelson Yard. While originally applied to cab units, the sergeant stripes began to be applied to road switcher hoods in the early 70's.

Earlier units had the wet noodle scheme that can be seen on the boxcar in the upper right corner of the image.

304 departs Blockhouse while an RP&M train rolls on the rails above.

More video action from the area.

Speaking of the wet noodle scheme, we catch this CN Geep leading an early morning coal drag out from Firgrove.

The foliated hedge acts as a wonderful backdrop for the train.

Our camera train rushes through the junction as RP&M 61 holds at the signal.

Junction video work.

We are surprised to find Marcel on the property. Alas, he only stayed for a short period of time to say farewell to the gang before beginning his journey with his lovely wife back to Arizona for the winter. We'll miss you Marcel!

Ever hardworking, we catch Bernie setting out equipment at Bell and Glen Hammond with Pat doing the same in the background.

A quick glance over to Nelson Yard shows how full it can get pre-ops.

Some colourful specimens on the siding at Wellington Lake.

Doug and Grant are found in Craig Leigh.

Tank cars are always found at Northland.

A CN road switcher in heritage colours rounds the bend leading into Spruce.

In its attractive livery, the train will take the siding at this eastern location along the line.

Grant has the brakes on as we slow to a stop.

Some Spruce video scenes.

A "train extra" explodes out from the forested area between Spruce and Ironwood.

This specialty train is videoing the railroad as part of a safety undertaking.

Train crews in Ironwood hold their sidings for the passage of this most interesting of trains.

Video of the "video" train!

In succession, Passenger 32 follows the extra at a safe distance.

A unique experimental scheme makes an appearance on the railroad.

Foreign power also is found on the stage in this diminutive switcher of New York Central heritage.

Passengers enjoy the scenery as much as we do on this video!

"All Aboard" is heard as the train crew accelerates along the main.

An aerial view of the distinctive locomotive.

Farewell!

On the roll out from Ironwood on video.

Yardmaster Doug has 301's consist set out on the ready track in Craig Leigh. The crew will couple onto their train and back onto their caboose resting on the caboose track.

Doug's other power "still in bed".

The Pool Train's consist awaits its assignment in the terminal area of Craig Leigh.

Dilip and Chris enjoy a chat before the session gets underway.

Nelson Yardmaster Doug talks it up with Steve who will be working for the Rat Portage & Mattawa on this day.

Pat is alone as his crewmate is videotaping the proceedings.

An earlier shot of the passenger run over in Spruce.

We have changed our power in Ironwood.

The ore train arrives and we have been asked to lift the ore cars on the train's behalf.

"No problem!" we say...after assisting our opposing IPP&W crew with their lifts at Ironwood Brick.

We will be able to get back to our own assignment at some point, but we'd rather you enjoy this video of the ore train's arrival.

Ironwood in the morning.

Video of Ironwood in the morning.

We throttle up to tuck the ore cars onto the CN power.

Almost there.

Still more video of all that action!

Off in the distance, 302 reaches Watkins Siding with Seanna in the cab.

With all ore cars on the train we tuck the remaining cars back onto the Ironwood Brick spur.

Job well done!

Check it out on video.

The CN crew thanks us for our efforts...

...and then gets underway in an easterly direction.

There's nothing like the appearance of a unit train snaking around the railroad's curves.

Ore train video work.

301 slithers down the grade out from Spruce.

Our power is finally able to get back to work on our train order sheet. It has been enjoyable assisting the two other crews.

Video of us!

Now aboard Train 313 we once again reach Ironwood. We have just set out the CPRail gondola to the Ironwood Brick facility and now pull the rest of our train into the yard.

Ore MTY's dominate the scene to the east of Ironwood.

302 has arrived Nelson Yard and will depart as 312.

313 has also arrived the big yard and will depart as 323, the third run of the morning for their crew.

Editor's note: How can you tell which run an IPP&W crew is on? Simple...just examine the middle number of the train. If it is "0" then the crew is on their first trick of the day. If the middle number of their train is "1" then they are on their second trick and a "2" denotes their third trick.

Ralph is a quick learner in Nelson Yard as he classifies traffic at the western end of the yard while Garry does the same to the east.

Still more foreign power makes an appearance on the line.

313 increases speed as it departs Ironwood for Spruce.

Look! An RP&M van brings up the rear of the IPP&W train!

Let's see that on video, shall we?

Doug has reached Mount St. Helens with the Craig Leigh Run.

1707 holds the honours hauling the varnish on this day.

Nice to see another RP&M specimen atop IPP&W rails!

Video action down low in Peter's Pond.

Grant runs our power back around our train after handling a car at Spruce.

Coming to the front.

Spruce video of 313.

Our departure out from Spruce.

Passing the elegant depot.

we are at the summit of Clarke Grade about to drift downhill toward Blockhouse and beyond.

313 as captured on video tape.

Fred and Lawrence hold court in the crew lounge.

Grant and Moe are found in Peter's Pond.

Doug goes about his yard duties at Nelson.

Rat 62 has reached Bell and has taken to Track 4.

It's a power play of colour in this scene at Spruce.

This unit runs long hood forward.

Autumn colours dominate the scene near the junction out from Mercer Siding.

The signal aspect has obediently gone red with the passage of the power aboard the pool train.

313 follows the landscape and dances gingerly onto the big trestle to the east of Nelson Yard.

The crew has been cleared into the big yard on the A/D track as recorded in this video effort.

Train 33 has found the same trackage a little later as she rounds the big bend at Lilly.

Some lovely looking equipment is found on the Pool Train.

This heavyweight brings up the rear of the train.

Lilly video.

Hot on the heels of Train 33 we find 312 marching along the same railhead.

Some nice examples of Canadian Content here!

The tail end departs the curve.

More video moments at Lilly.

Our other RP&M crew works the trackage just outside Nelson Yard to the west.

Some of the amazing power found on the railroad on this day.

Video of the RP&M train controlled by skipper Bernie.

Entering the yard framed by the handrail supports.

Along the arrival/departure track.

Still more video work at Nelson Yard.

With clearance given, 323 accelerates out of Nelson Yard travelling down the ladder.

At the throat of the yard...

...and on their way!

Their tail end.

Video evidence of their departure.

Through the junction.

The tail end clears.

Right-hand running through Mercer.

323 travels west on video.

We reach Peter's Pond and are surprised to find our opposing IPP&W brethren must work Cedar Rock. It turns out they are on the second run while we are on our third...thus two trains needing to work the branch at the same time. No problem, we let the other crew head up the branch and we took a nice break allowing me to photograph and video other trains on the network.

Peter's Pond video footage.