Garden Railroading: Session #8 Second Section

Session #8 Second Section

With loads of images and videos, we have sufficient items to create a full second section.

This means that we'll be flying the green flags on these blog entries.

Diesels ruled the kingdom this past week on the IPP&W/RP&M railways!

We lead off with this lovely image of Mark's White Pass beauty. The rooftop detailing is rather unique on this locomotive built from Bombardier.

CN 1701 heads west (geo east) through Peter's Pond.

As does CN 4578 in different dress.

TH&B #73 - hey that rhymes! She is hauling an RP&M train out of the big yard bound for Rat Portage and Stuart.

CP 8202 slogs away in Douglas Yard, its home.

Our pocket sized CW&P brute handles similar chores in Nelson Yard.

Mike's D&H 7316 was once in the stable of the Lehigh Valley. She ran in LV's colours for an amount of time before being repainted into this handsome lightning stripe scheme. Unfortunately she fell prey to cutbacks and later received the "blue dip" livery with the fortunate (at least) addition of zebra stripes on her front and back faces.

This unique image shows the 7316 in Lehigh Valley paint with "D&H" lettering on the front lower hood and body sides. The second D&H unit of the trio is the cost saving blue dip scheme with zebra striping for protection and heightened visibility at railroad crossings. The third unit in the mix is Mike's favourite and the scheme in which his locomotive is attired.

It's always very interesting to see new power visit the IPP&W as evidenced in this image showcasing Len's diesel locomotive. Good on ya, Len!

Talk about handsome liveries! Seanna and Steve love running this puppy and I love taming it in pictures!

Malcolm's GP30 showcases those interesting roof lines and side body framing.

Yet another lovely lightning stripe scheme brought to you by the New York Central! Thanks to Pat for bringing this little guy out on standard gauge Saturdays.

Time to bring the freight cars into daylight from their storage sheds. These four brethren (or sisters) will run with Malcolm at the helm of our passenger trains. We spot Strathcona, Kamloops, Skyline and Banff Park in the mix.

The Pac-Man scheme stands out on this bright and cheerful CP Rail 40-footer resting at the foot of the towering Brunt's Brewery.

Logos must stand out from a distance and grab the attention of by-passers and this British American Oil logo does just that.

A little history of the British American Oil Company for your reading interest.

We are in the lower Peter's Pond area where we spot two reefers at the Norton Fishery track and a gon and 40-footer on the team track. Lots of business going on here!

Two more gons, one of the covered variety, are found in Ralph Yard at Firgrove.

An MT hopper car and a 40-footer with an open door manage to grab this railfan's attention in the yard down in Rat Portage.

Triple dome tank cars always interest me. I often wonder what three liquids they are carrying in their three individual compartments!

BCOL in dark green dress.

BCOL in light green attire.

Gons and more 40-footers are found all around the railroad with these two residing on the Lyon Supply track in Anderson. This spur is handled by our RP&M crews.

Two more cars awaiting placement in Ralph Yard.

Who doesn't appreciate the look of four similar cars lining up in a row?

Love those triple domes!

Another glance at the Brewer facility with two cars keeping the business going.

Here's the boxcar red livery of the Ontario Northland.

The railroad is "helping to develop our fine province."

The snazzier version from the same railroad!

Two cabeese await assignments up in Firgrove.

And...two gentlemen await assignments on the open road!

Doug, Garry & Bernie check things over in Nelson Yard adjacent to my dispatch chambers.

Speaking of Lord Nelson...here we see Bill, Doug and Henk beginning the pre-ops setting out of equipment in the big yard.

Paul is the Craig Leigh yardmaster on this day and he has gone astray from the yard in search of the odd errant car or two.

"Good morning Mike!" Mark announces upon arrival in the crew lounge as he doffs his cap.

Fred and Chris are smiles as we know we will be able to get the session in before any trickle of rain decides to drop from the clouds.

Doug is all smiles too!

There's our Workday Wednesday Pat on a fine Saturday morning.

Steve prepares Train 303 in "The Glen" pre-ops.

Seanna is as cheerful as ever as the session is about to get underway.

Garry spots an issue over in Craig Leigh.

With screwdriver in hand...it may very well be a "quick fix".

Or...perhaps the issue of too many cars on the siding in advance of the session can be dealt with through the RailOps program!

Grandson Mason will offer Henk some handy advice throughout the day!

Chris and Moe glance out over the big yard.

Check out the coloured chits atop the car roofs. Indeed, some of these fall off the cars and slink down below Nelson Yard as Mike showed in the recent Workday Wednesday blog.

Traffic for the various cars is assembled.

The two RP&M runs are actually staged and not made up by the yard crew as they must go out immediately following the pre-ops meeting when the session gets underway.

Andrew and Bernie will run Rat 61 when things start to percolate.

Steve has arrived with some gear and visits with Garry and Chris.

Two good looking items are spotted here...Mark and that White Pass diesel!

As shown in an earlier blog, Mason has been designated as the "bell ringer" which will call the meeting to order.

Len and George relax pre-ops.

We listen in on Fred's early morning speech.

There's Pat!

And...the two Firgrove lads once more.

Quite the assembly of personnel. You need a crowd of at least 20 to really operate the railroad to its fullest potential and we seem to get those numbers (or more) each Saturday.

Doug will run the Bell Turn in short order.

Train 303 is westbound (geo east) at Mercer Siding with the crew's aim on Peter's Pond. They will work the lower pond area only on their first trick of the morning. When they return from Firgrove as Train 314 they will have to work the Cedar Rock Branch, an offshoot from the pond.

Another glance at Len's gorgeous new diesel locomotive purchase!

Passenger 2 meets 303 in Peter's Pond. The passenger run has had to take the siding in order to bypass the wayfreight.

Typically wayfreights in Peter's Pond take the siding and leave the main open for passenger and ore traffic. There must've been some reason for the crew holding on the main.

Len must deposit the baggage car on the house track so he has run around it in order to cover that move.

Mason works the eastern side of Nelson Yard leaving the west to Grandpa!

A photo snapped through the glass of the dispatch hut shows two crews and one yardmaster hard at work.

301 handles its chores down in Ironwood.

Passenger 2 is nearing the end of its run with this last stop in Mount St. Helens before terminating up in Craig Leigh.

With all first trick trains made up, the Nelson crew relaxes in the lounge. Henk has a wee little nap before things begin to build up in the big yard with arriving traffic.

He explains how much more Mason knows about the job than he does! 😎😋😎

301 finds Spruce as 304 makes headways in Ironwood.

Here's our good friend, Paul! We love having you out every Saturday Paul!

The crew in Firgrove get time to relax before incoming trains begin to arrive.

Our RP&M crewmate, Bill, "ties one on"!

Love that T-shirt Doug. Florida is a long way from Rat Portage!

A contented pair waiting for room to get into Rat Portage!

Bernie and Andrew work Hamer Manufacturing, an industry which requires the far yard track as an industrial lead...creating some interesting moves!

The crew has things easily under control!

Train 302 is found up in Cedar Rock working the Watson Electric facility.

The crew has set out a boxcar there and will now proceed ahead to cover their trailing moves at the crusher and aggregates industries.

They are taking the siding that will get them to their destination.

While first appearing nondescript, this image tells a wonderful story of just how busy the railroad can get...and we are really viewing the east end in the distance with a portion of the west end of the line sandwiching the scene both down below and above over by the fence. Let's begin in the foreground. Below us is Cedar Rock (in the west sector of the railroad) where Pat and Moe are toiling aboard eastbound Train 302. Let's jump the aisle where we see the "wet noodle" logo on Chris's diesel in care of westbound Train 301 in Spruce located in the eastern sector of the line. Further still is the town of Ironwood (still in the eastern portion of the railroad) where Marcel is running the green and gold CN power in behind the windmill aboard Train 304 heading east. Finally, we spot Seanna over by the fence heading west in the western part of the line at Wellington Lake aboard Train 303. And this is only half the trains on the line at the moment with plenty of action taking place elsewhere.

Remember...a total of some 25 trains are run each morning with the possibility of having as many as 10 crews in motion on the dispatch board at any given time.

Let's get to some video work now.

302 as captured on the video camera.

Without our yardmasters the railroad would not run anywhere near the level of efficiency it does each Saturday morning. Paul is the Craig Leigh yardmaster at the easternmost point on the line.

While Paul goes about his switching chores, he has aligned the turnouts to allow Malcolm to back into the station terminal.

Earlier, Malcolm wyed his train near the entrance to Craig Leigh.

This backup maneuver mirrors that of earlier Ottawa trains when they had to back alongside the Rideau Canal to reach the downtown station.

Passenger 2's movements as captured through Mike's videos.

303 puts in an appearance at Bell taking Track 3 as advised by dispatch.

While this appears to be an "all maroon" image, the colour tones are known in railroad parlance as "boxcar red".

Bill offers a wave and Doug; a smile, as Train 72 departs back along RP&M rails.

"Just in time too!" Steve and Seanna figure...as they now have the full yard in Bell all to themselves. Bonus!

More video of the action - now in Bell.

When Bill waved farewell to the IPP&W crew back in Stuart/Bell, his train crossed over to RP&M rails and drifted down the descending grade that would eventually take them into Rat Portage.

Train 72 bids us adieu as it will soon enter the subterranean world beneath Firgrove.

And...they're off to the races!

Train 72 meets 61 over in Rat in this rather blurry image.

72's departure and descent as seen on video.

Do we have the "Subterranean Homesick Blues" as Mr. Zimmerman wrote in his song?

The crew spots daylight in the near distance where all will be well once more.

The train is tracking well even though it has managed to pull along some debris in front of the CP Rail gondola!

The tail end.

Who was Mr. Zimmerman, someone was heard to ask...why...Bob Dylan of course!

Video from "Down Under".

72's arrival in Rat is announced with a loud wall of sound.

The crew slows for its meet with its RP&M cousins.

Hamer's engine in front of Hamer's industry! Who-da-thunk!

Bill has fun on the throttle adding some sound for the videographer.

Arrival video in Rat.

301 splits the canyon walls as the train levels off from its downward dip out from Clarke Grade.

The crew traverses the pedestrian crossing and makes haste for Nelson Yard.

Passing beneath the western throat of the yard, they will arrive in mere moments.

They have a final ascent up the hill at Blockhouse where they will level off through the big iron trestle.

302 stars in this video photoplay.

Arrival at last!

But...will they be allowed in...and...will they already be lined up for a track?

Henk seems to have something to say about their arrival!

Bernie oversees the action!

Some fun verbal video bantering taking place here!

Steve hustles 303 uphill as Seanna flips her train orders. They will be terminating here in Firgrove and will depart shortly afterwards aboard their new train; 314.

303 enters the yard under the watchful eyes of George and Len.

Len directs the crew down the arrival track as their train will parallel the departure track which holds the consist of their next offering.

Firgrove video views.

Train 314 comes into view back at Bell.

The crew is now arriving this location in the opposing direction from the way they did on their first "trick" of the morning.

In a quirk in their train orders, the crew has no work at Bell...nor at Wellington Lake.

As dispatcher I am as surprised as they are. They have been cleared further east to Peter's Pond. Being Train 314, they should have work to conduct up the branch out from "The Pond".

Seanna clarifies the fact that they will be rather busy up the Cedar Rock branch in this video moment showcasing their passing train!

They reach "The Corners" posthaste!

Paralleling the route 314 has just taken (only at an elevated level) we find Train 304 in motion eastbound into St. Helens.

Video of 314's and 304's progress; both in an easterly direction.

We reconnect with Chris and Garry having gained a new train in Nelson Yard.

They proceed through Bellamy on their way out of the yard with Train 311.

Leading their way across the junction they will notify dispatch when their tail end clears the intersection.

Away they head on to Mercer Siding, Peter's Pond, Wellington Lake, Bell, and...finally Firgrove.

Video analysis of their passage through the junction.

A quick glance across Nelson Yard reveals two trains over in Glen Hammond.

RP&M 73 is holding there as Pool Train 33 departs the scene.

Indeed, there is a load of headend traffic on Train 33 this day.

Malcolm slows for a station stop at Bellamy where he will require the green target in order to foul the crossing momentarily while he makes his station stop with the passengers tied on to the rear of his train.

Video evidence of their departure out from Glen Hammond.

A while later "in a place far away" we find the crew of 304 dealing with the trailing sidings that make up the yard in St. Helens.

Mark does his calisthenics as he couples onto a car.

The crew pulls out onto the main.

Note the switch as being closed to the main and open to the yard.

Now it appears the other way. The brake cables allow the turnout to be thrown from the main yard area where the operators stand. There is a rather large tree that hinders the simple throwing of this turnout...thus the distance between the action and the result!

St. Helens video moments with 304.

Our trusty railfan spins around in the aisle at St. Helens to find the crew along with Train 314 working their way up the Cedar Rock Branch in a "diesel sandwich" configuration.

With no runaround possibilities up top, Seanna and Steve must squeeze their locomotive in between their trailing and facing setouts as predetermined back down in Peter's Pond.

They make use of the overflow track to deposit their caboose and then begin the task of placing all the cars to the required industries.

Of course, some will have to be lifted as well as I note the little clothes pin on the CP Rail gondola marking the car as a lift.

Video measures of their activities at the end of the Cedar Rock Branch.

With a change of locomotives and of trains upon arrival in Craig Leigh the crew of 304 now mans Train 313 and is found at the eastern end (geo west) of Spruce.

Mark's White Pass 111 is dolled up in this handsome livery.

Off in the distance we spot the Larabie Fuels facility at Ironwood from where we are standing in Spruce.

Spruced up video from Spruce!

With work completed at Spruce, 313 requested clearance down to Nelson Yard.

Dropping down Clarke Grade, the train is making good time.

Nestled in amongst the stone bricks the train continues its downward grade while a trio of cars stand sentinel above on the team track at the eastern end of Spruce.

The clatter of the locomotives engines reverberate as the power enters Clarke Canyon.

We say goodbye to the tail end before meeting up once more outside of Nelson Yard.

Clarke Grade video work with Train 313.

Mike takes a video of Mark taking a video!

Indeed, Train 313 reaches the Fred Mills Trestle and slows to a stop.

Mark is all smiles as his White Pass diesel handled 313 beautifully even if the image is a slight blur!

Marcel wears this outfit that holds all the required elements for train running. He also calls over to the Nelson crew to ensure his train is lined up to come into the yard.

They hold outside on the main in advance of the far turnout which will lead them into the big yard.

Video capture of a video capture!

Thanks for checking in on my latest blog entry.

On the Tuesday before this week's Workday Wednesday session, my R&B band gathered at my fellow guitarist's cottage for a rehearsal and recording session. If you'll indulge me, I'll show you the members of this great sounding 9-piece band.

My guitar buddy Gerry...a retired lawyer who owns the cottage. Gerry played in an "all lawyer" band called "The Verdict" for a couple of decades. They raised tons of money for charities over the years.

Molly is one of our two lead vocalists although we have five singers in the band with lots of harmonies and backing vocals. She is an amazing sax player and she can play any wind instrument. She is also a percussionist. Molly is the daughter of our keyboard player. I taught Molly in Grade 4 and she was in my junior choir at our elementary school for three years running before graduating to high school. She is now 25 and a successful employee in the government.

Mike is our bass player (yes...two Mikes in the band) and he was my dentist for many years before he retired. He is also a wicked sax player.

Our other lead singer, Lui, has great vocal pipes. He worked in radio and communications and has sung with a few of us in church for decades.

Maureen and hubby Steve, along with Molly (and sometimes Mike) make up our horn section in the band. Maureen is a retired high school music teacher and Steve enjoys tinkering with all things electronics for the band. Maureen plays trumpet and Steve works the trombone.

Chris is our band's keyboard player and the band's producer and creator of song arrangements...kinda like renowned producer David Foster.

I have been making music with our drummer Mark for over a decade now. Not only is he an amazing drummer, he is also a wicked rhythm guitarist!

The cottage acts as a great studio for the band.

Maureen also plays keys when not on the trumpet or harmonica.

Sometimes Mike puts the bass guitar down in order to handle a sax solo or two!

That's when Gerry puts his six-string down and picks up his four sting bass!

Just like the smiles we share when running the trains at Fred's, the smiles abound in the studio!

While making the music is fun...the setting up and tearing down of equipment is akin to us arriving Fred's early in the morning to set out cars and then packing them away in the sheds afterwards!

Father and daughter in this photo taken from another day. Chris retired a few years ago. He and trumpeter Maureen taught high school music together for many a year. I find it amazing how those high school music teachers can take young students who know nothing about the instruments and turn them into a performing band in short order. My admiration goes out to them!

Not to be outdone...on another cottage visit last year Molly lent a hand on percussion along with our regular drummer Mark.

While I have a few electric guitars, this one has been with me the longest. I purchased my Fender Stratocaster off a friend when I was in high school. It used to be a cream colour but I sanded it down to the woodgrain as I preferred that look. Had I left it alone, the guitar would be worth somewhere around twelve thousand dollars today...as it was the Jimi Hendrix model cream Strat! But I don't mind...I'll never sell this baby anyway!

My drummer buddy, Mark, brought me back this mug from he and his wife's trip to Prince Edward Island! The coffee and tea taste real good out of this lovely specimen! Thanks for allowing me to indulge you with some band pics from this week!