Session #6 Another Full House

Session #6 Yet Another Full House

With summer temps heating up, so are our operating sessions which are seeing a full slate of operators out to run the trains.

This past weekend continued the parade of full houses for the group.

With visitors joining from far and near, we all enjoyed a pleasant morning trackside.

While lightning did strike our region in the past couple of days along with two twisters which touched down just a few kilometers from Uncle Fred's property, the only lightning strikes we encountered on this morning were of the lightning "stripe" variety on this gorgeous two-toned diesel switcher engine.

Yes, diesels ruled the Starwood Kingdom on this fine morning!

Just a reminder to new visitors to the blog, you can enlarge any image by clicking on it.  Then, you can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside the image.

Simply put...it was a plaque of diesel motors...but we're good with that any day!

As long as they were up to the task at hand, we would be an appreciative crowd of operators!

In order for the diesel brethren to earn their keep, they require lading to haul across the system.

And...to this extent...plenty of lading abounds in the various yards, terminals and sidings along the route...including Nelson Yard.  

It would appear that we have two interlopers sneaking on the Nelson Yard property.  Where are the rail police officers when you need them???!!!  🙈🙉🙊

Here they are...officer Gerry and deputy Chris!

Hey...I thought you needed a haircut to patrol the railroad territory!  Hehehe!  Just kiddin' ya, Gerry!  💫

Railing all of the cars beforehand can be a tedious job...made all the more easier with this rail ramp.  I'll have to ask the lads and lasses how they like it.

This load never fails to capture my fancy!  Thanks to our dear friend Lawrence for creating the buoys and the crib in which they rest!

Some more rolling stock is found in the town of Stuart.

Still more examples found at Anderson.

A trio of 40 footers celebrate the morning sunshine in Ralph Yard.

Yardmaster George ensures all cars are in their correct locations before the session begins.

Didn't I say already that railing the cars can be a tedious job?

But...George's guest, John, doesn't mind at all...for you see - he worked on the real railroads where re-railing freight cars was another matter altogether different from the technique he just demonstrated!  

His smile tells us that we will be having a great deal of fun on this morning!

Andrew, Paul and Gerry assist with the early morning organizing of equipment.  Note the wonderful wooden ore dock Lawrence built for us resting on the crew lounge table.

Also take note of these two great looking silos Chris 3D-printed for Barry to take back to Belleville with him.  Outstanding work Chris!

Not to be outdone...we have "The Old Man of the Ferns" residing in the area near the old Peter's Pond.  Fred's artist brother, Ted, created him!

Indeed, creativity abounds in our group as Steve and Seanna's efforts with this "lit" lighthouse continue to bring joy to all in the OVGRS family and visitors alike!

The set-out of equipment continues as lists are checked and double-checked to ensure all cars are placed in their proper locations.  The umbrellas protect the yard crews and train crews from the "ever present" rays of the sun found on this day.

Robin and Chris assemble in the crew lounge for the pre-ops rendezvous.

Mr. Scobie looks great in pink!  

Now that's a real man in my books!  😎💪👨

Bill advises us that a visit to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie is a must!

When I taught eight years in Canada's North I would fly in the DeHavilland Beaver many a time.  I have even piloted one for a few brief minutes!  These are up there with my all time list of favourite aircraft!

Below is the link to the museum.  Simply copy and paste it into your computer's browser.

https://bushplane.com/

Paul is just as happy remaining on the ground and watching the trains run...although he enjoyed another motorized machine for much of his life - his beloved motorcycle!  😀😁😃

And...our beloved rust garden is looking - well...rather rusty!  Which is precisely the point!  These are old rusted out railroad relics which are found in abundance trackside.

Marcel and the two Dougs are sitting patiently in the good old penalty box.

Sid and Ralph look on from behind.  We really appreciate the fact that Ralph drives all the way from Cornwall, Ontario to make our operating sessions!  Thanks for introducing Ralph to the group, Sid!

My research tells me that the distance between Cornwall and Ottawa is 103 kms and takes just a couple of minutes over an hour to drive.

It's great to see Steve making it out to the session as he is often away on Saturdays!

Steve is one of the founding members of Ottawa Valley HOTRAK...if not the originator of the group.  Good on you, Steve!  You've made a tremendous impact on the hobby in our region!

Fred gets the pre-ops safety meeting underway following the ringing of the bell.

Henk offers up a stern looking face for the camera following some humour around the table.

"Mike!"  Henk calls out, "Get a good shot of this look on my face!"  Hehehe!

Yes, it's a rather large assembly on this day!

Henk examines Malcolm's throttle which seems to have a pad that has worn down.

While we are not breaking any new ground here, the railroad's infrastructure continues to amaze as multiple crews work a multitude of trains simultaneously as witnessed in this scene spanning three major locations; Nelson Yard, Glen Hammond and Bell.

Likewise, the western terminal of the line plays host to eastbound departures in the early morning hours as our secondary line to the right witnesses an early RP&M train's arrival - hiding behind Sid the Kid!

Passenger 2 is "off to the races" if any small railroad such as the IPP&W can be considered a "race track".

Trains 303 and 304 begin their day in Glen Hammond with 303 assembling its cars for its westbound sojourn across the line.

At the other end of the Glen, 304 is being made up and will soon be underway to points east.

RP&M Train "Rat 63" has gathered its belongings and is ready to launch.  With work to conduct before the junction, the crew will then seek clearance across the old diamond into Rat Portage.

Yardmasters Bill and Henk are happy to have the yard all to themselves with the departure of the RP&M crews.

The lower Peter's Pond area is witness to a meet of trains 303 and the local ore job.

Train 63 has made Rat Portage with switching chores very much underway.

A snippet or two of Passenger 2's escape from Firgrove finds TH&B #73 in charge.

The tail end is half in shadow as a few passengers make their way to the end car of the train.

Passenger 2 as captured on video making its exit out from Firgrove.

Number 2 arrives the junction area of the IPP&W and RP&M lines.

Two CNR 40 footers greet the crew as the train leans into the bend.

On by Brunt's Brewing.

Number 2's arrival into Bell is captured on the video camera.

Rat 63 finds work just to the west of Nelson Yard ahead of the junction trackage.

CP and CN running simultaneously.

The yards are a bustle of activity in the wee hours of the session.

Paul's engine handles the chores magnificently.

Video review of the hive of activity.

A short while later, Train 304 is found departing the Glen and making its approach to the Fred Mills Trestle with the Blockhouse standing sentinel over the scene.

Trapped in a web of iron.

Making an escape!

A broader view illustrating the glory of 40 foot boxcars.

Taking on the curve at Lilly on the downhill grade.

A video scene of 304 on the move.

Captured on its descent, 304 passes the location of the old Blockhouse siding.

The crew ducks under the rail overpass at the dispatchers' pedestrian crossing.

A bright and shiny consist is evident on this day!

Some video footage of 304 making its way across the IPP&W.

It is definitive...303 is through the junction and heading toward Mercer Siding.

With the red aspect protecting its forward movement, 303 is through Anderson.

Another choreographed meets is brought to life once more.

Let's check it all out on video!

At another place at another time we find our passenger run ascending Clarke Grade to the west of Spruce.

A request for footage of the operations at Ironwood came in and this image captures the crew of 304 with work well underway.  Note the narrow aisleway between Ironwood and Wellington Lake.

The crew at Wellington Lake has things well in control as they handle the trailing spur.

The business of the railroad is discussed in the crew lounge as Fred, Paul and Doug tend to important items of interest.

Some video tape of a number of locations along the line.

Having found Spruce, more passengers arrive for the eastward journey to Craig Leigh.

Construction bidders battled it out for the honour of creating the new yard at this location and the "Workday Wednesday Association of Railroad Brothers and Sisters" won the bid with the lowest price offered - free!  

The new yard tracks were completed under budget (big grin) and the work was completed months ahead of time back in the summer of the pandemic.

Number 2 is on the roll after being cleared eastward to Ironwood.

Over in Ironwood we have two other train crews working side by side.

Our video captures these passenger train movements.

The lovely depot at Spruce.

The railroad's main office is located here.

Some of the resident houses sit well established up on the hill at Spruce.

The new yard area.

Some of the industries found at this location.

We welcome Barry back from his home in Belleville as he visits his second home here in Ottawa...the IPP&W/RP&M railways!  Great smile there, Barry!

Barry acted as yardmaster assistant to Bernie in Craig Leigh.

A CP road switcher takes the curve outside Douglas Yard.

The little switch engine that could!

Bernie and Barry have the next outgoing train on the ready track in Craig Leigh.

We segue over to the western front where we spot George, John and Sid deep in conversation.  Hey...I notice that Sid has a throttle in his hands!  Good on'ya Sid!

George and his buddy, John have patrolled Ralph Yard for the better part of the morning.

Here is their engine on the day...a lovely early CN end cab.

It was nice to see Mark and his little one out for part of the morning!  He and Ralph are deep in conversation as Steve and Seanna are kept busy down in Peter's Pond.

Meanwhile, up from the pond we spot Andrew and Marcel with 302 working the Cedar Rock Branch.

Judging by the "long hood forward" appearance of their power, I denote that Steve and Doug are now on their second trick of the morning working the Interchange track at Bell aboard Train 314.

We encounter a meet of three trains in Ironwood as organized by our roving dispatcher.

The westbound takes the siding with the eastbound already working the spurs.

This allows our passenger train to head into town along the main.

TH&B GP7 or GP9?  The units with the torpedo tubes atop were the 9's and ran long hood forward.  They were numbered in the 400 series.  Those without the tubes ran short hood forward and were the 7's.  They were numbered in the 70 series.

Video monitoring of the triple meet in Ironwood.

Meets are a common occurrence in the big yard and these two CP cousins hold one right before our eyes.

From my perch in my dispatch hut (where I remain for the majority of the session - not!) I am able to glimpse the comings and goings which take place at the eastern entrance to Nelson Yard.

Yardmaster Bill has lined the routing for Ralph and his ore consist to exit the yard in an expedient manner.

With the ore crew finally on their way Bill is able to get back to the business at hand!

Let's follow that Nelson Yard action on video.

Henk's center cab unit plays an important role in Nelson Yard's proceedings throughout the session.

Let's see if Henk can uncouple his locomotive with ease and expediency shall we!

Doug looks on from his seat outside the dispatch booth - helping to create tension for Henk!

While...off in the distance our RP&M train "makes the grade"!

What have we here?  An IPP&W crew is held outside Firgrove...a most unusual situation.

Henks plays the lead role in this Nelson Yard video footage.

We continue with our study of Nelson Yard.  Bill works the CP unit as Doug watches the festivities!

Trains continuously are assembled and broken down in the yard.

With Skipper Henk and Sidekick Bill overseeing the central yard, the railroad is in good hands!

Continued Nelson Yard video proceedings.

Two great smiles tell us that it has been another successful morning!

Train Master Dilip is found inside the office at the computer terminal putting the finishing touches on next week's train operations.

Yet another great looking smile!

Cool silhouette of an F-unit on Fred's windowsill.

Time for bed!

We love Steve and Seanna's matching carrying case for their TH&B diesel!

Barry is pleased as punch with the work Chris put in on the two silos for his railroad in Belleville!

Lunch time!

The lads are a hungry (and thirsty) bunch!

Chef Moe and assistant Paul work diligently to keep the masses fed!

A quartet of OVGRS brothers await their plate!

Paul took home two of these "Warbird" boxcar beauties...a P-40 Warhawk...

...and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

Fred and John...deep in conversation.

Thanks Bernie for mentoring Barry in Craig Leigh.  I know he appreciated your efforts.

There I am...the rarely seen group photographer!  Bernie snapped these last few images and sent them my way.

Bernie captured the assembled crowd pre-ops.

Seanna and Steve are found at the wye in Craig Leigh.

Ralph steers the ore train around the big bend by "Big Tree" while Barry and Moe observe the action.

Robin and Chris get a chuckle out of cameraman Bernie.  Bernie tells us that it got really hectic when Passenger 2, the Ore Train and 312 all showed up at the same time.

Barry keeps things moving in and around Craig Leigh.

Mike is enjoying his banana as Bell checks out his "go-fasters"...Mike's pet name for running shoes.

Here I am putting together this blog entry with Bernie on the screen in back in Craig Leigh and me holding "Little Red"...my Gibson ES339 hollow bodied electric guitar.

Father Fred offers up a sermon to the weather gods asking for pleasant skies next Saturday morning!

Thanks, Bernie, for the handful of images sent my way.

Here's to a good week for all and we'll catch up with more blog entries over the next few days.

All the best, Mike, Bernie, Fred and the entire OVGRS clan

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada