In the Environs of Craig Leigh

In the Environs of Craig Leigh

Bernie Goodman is our Craig Leigh Yard Master.  He has graciously sent along this wonderful group of images from our most recent narrow gauge session.  Bernie also included the captions.  Thanks, Bernie!

Craig Leigh acts as the easternmost terminus of the IPP&W.

Douglas Yard is the large classification area where freight is handled.

The wye here is for turning locomotives and two trains, the ore train and the passenger runs.

Passenger trains must wye in order to back their consists into the station terminal area.

Craig Leigh passenger terminal ready for the morning runs.

Men in blue, in fact five men in blue. Robin and Pete are all smiles.

Spruce station and the repaired shed by Mike.

Dilip sent along this image separate from Bernie's group of pics of Mike returning the structure to Father Fred.

Attention everyone, the bell has been rung.

Fred said: “Bernie, anything to say?” Bernie: “No”. Fred: “Good!” Every one laughs.

Mike has something to say though.

Ironwood and Larabie Fuels ready for morning ops.

Nelson Yard is full. A couple of trains ready to go.

Glenn Hammond and Bell / Stuart ready to go.

Bill, Grant and Ralph will handle 301 this morning.

Grant’s loco will be a pusher on 301.  Ralph will commandeer the trailing steamer.

301 snaking its way out of Craig Leigh.

Douglas yard has enough cars to make up 313.

Seanna brings 304 into Craig Leigh. 

Seanna and Steve wye their locomotive.

313 ready to depart Douglas Yard.

Gerry and Bob have dropped their loaded gons and will pick up a string of empties.

Steve measuring Northland Interchange to determine how many cars it will accommodate - information required for the RailOps program.

Bob’s loco backs onto the empties on the Northland Ore Dock as crewmate Gerry looks on.

The crew is leading the empties out of Northland down to Mount St Helens.

Bob has left another pusher he used for the loaded hoppers at the engine facility.

Oh, oh. 

Marcel brings the Pool Train out of Craig Leigh. 

Grant was having a little trouble with his bobber.

More blue shirts! Bill looks on as Ralph mans the controller. Grant is ready to throw the switches at the east (geographical west) end of Peters Pond.

Felicity instructs Chris which cars he has to pull from Pelkola Packers.

Chris has a green target as he takes 312 out of Mount St Helens to Craig Leigh. Felicity is ready to align the switches to the main.

Pete and Robin seen switching Cedar Rock. 

Mike will tag on a few videos and video snippits from in and around Craig Leigh.

Bernie's steamer is holding court in Douglas Yard on this day.

Douglas Yard video footage.

We catch Bernie driving his engine between Douglas Yard and Craig Leigh proper.

We spot some empty stock cars.

Gramps but no Grammas!

Some more video of Bernie's steamer in action.

While Marcel is a "diesel kind of a guy" he has gone out and purchased a steam locomotive so that he can bring out power to all of Fred's sessions.

And we're sure glad he did...for this one's a charm.  Note the yellow reflection coming off the wood - that's from Mike's bumblebee yellow T-shirt!

Marcel is lined up for the first leg of the wye in order to turn the train.

There's the man himself - Mr. Marcel!

Marcel's train "makes the grade" as evidenced in this video film!

After having brought Passenger 2 into Craig Leigh, the crew departs with The Pool Train.

A colourful consist indeed.

A "going away" shot along the back fence.

Mr. Pat Brennan himself!

This video attests to the fact that Mike had awakened the "Sleeping Dragon" by getting to close to its lair!

Before we let you go, Mike would like to introduce to the gang Fred's brother Ted who flew in from Vancouver Island to visit Father Fred.  Ted mentioned that while he has visited the railroad countless times, he had never seen it "in action" through the lens of an operating session.  All he had ever witnessed was a backyard full of tracks!  Indeed, the railroad truly came alive for Ted as 24 folks spent a fine morning on the property of the IPP&W/RP&M!  Photo snapped by Dilip.

Thanks for checking in on these fine pics and captions as sent my way from the Bernie Man!

There will be more to come from this session in the days ahead!

All the best, Bernie, Mike and the OVGRS clan of railroaders!

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada