Session #9 August 5th Henk, Trains, Fast Cars & Burgers

Session #9 August 5th Henk, Trains, Fast Cars & Burgers 

A rather large contingent of operators and visitors graced the IPP&W this weekend.

Fred was pleased to see such a great turnout of fine folk.

To top it all off...burgers were on the menu for lunch!

Being a narrow gauge session, steam locomotives were the railfans' target of choice this day.

Doug's little Porter has brought much pride to the terminal area agencies.  Doug tells us the battery is in the tender, the speaker is hidden below and there are weights in the tanks flanking the main body.

Bernie's brute of a beauty drifts down the slope along "The Ledges".

Our other Doug has this wee little puppy running 304 on this day!  😎😜

Bill will be pleased to see the Rio Grande Southern on loan to the railroad as spotted in Nelson Yard.

George works the tracks at the western end of the line with this petite specimen!

Chris's Prince Edward Island RR #32 handles our early morning RP&M run, Train 71.

Steve and Seanna give their engine a good workout on Passenger 2.

Pat is ready to depart the Glen with his Canadian Northern #28.

Hmmm...what have we here!  An interloper!!!  Later...things would work out differently for this funny shaped "steam" locomotive!!!  👀👀👀

For that little interloper had would have to be rescued by Mike's Ironwood & Peter's Pond #27.  👍💗👍

Yet another of the smaller locomotives spotted on this day.

Love the colours here!  😀😛😄

Our "Rolling Stock Review" section showcases this flat car with a load of pipes and this magnificent Rio Grande 40-footer at Watson Electric up in Cedar Rock.

Yet another pipe load sharing the siding with a gon full of railroad ties and a tankcar at Spruce.

Two cars are found resting outside the crusher in Cedar Rock.

In Ironwood West we find these five fine examples of freight cars.  Who doesn't love the appearance of those old style billboard reefers?  💘

Outside the Hamer Manufacturing Facility we spot an MT gon ready to be loaded down in Rat Portage..

Yet another billboard beauty is found in Ralph Yard.

And...another green specimen located to boot!

Cars for the pool train sit idly by in the lee of the towering buildings in Craig Leigh as they await their next assignment.

We discover one cool cucumber of a combine!

Love it!!! "Tedge Mills - Pond Express"!!!

There's gotta be a story behind the name of this gorgeous car!  Fill us in Fred!

During our pre-ops setout of equipment, our guest visitor, Kris (in red cap), lends a helping hand over in Nelson Yard.

Garry's carrying case and other paraphernalia adorn the yard along with some of the freight cars ready to be placed at their respective locations.

Glen Hammond, directly in front of my dispatch booth, holds two staging tracks (East and West Staging) and two interchange tracks (East and West Interchange).

Robin brings a car over to Fred for the purpose of either pointing out a maintenance issue or to see from the master list where it is to be placed on the railroad.

I've aligned all my westbound trains on my schematic board here in the dispatch booth.  They will all depart from Craig Leigh throughout the morning.

Ditto for my eastbound runs.  There are still many other trains to run which originate at the midpoint of the railroad.

Gerry is all decked out in his "Kansas" shirt and VIA cap!

Love the cap, Gerry!

I wonder how many of the 2019 members are originals?  Big smile.

Later in the morning I find Gerry down in Rat Portage on his RP&M run aboard Train 71 with Chris.

This offers me the opportunity to grab a photo of the 2019 tour dates and locations for the band Kansas.

In the crew lounge, some of the lads who have finished with setting out the gear assemble.  Here Henk, Mark & Dilip share some friendship.

We'll certainly miss skipper Henk as he is leaving for Europe and won't be with us for the remainder of the season!  Yikes!  We will miss his morning greeting, "Good Morning Beautiful People!" or "Goedemorgen mooie mensen!" as written and spoken in Dutch!  (Thanks Chris for that!)

Robin joins the trio to make a quartet.

Dilip sent along a wonderful video which is too large for me to share here...so I re-videoed his video!

What follows are some snippets from Dilip's recording.

In these images we find Robin performing the "violin charade" seeing as Henk is leaving us!

Henk points out that he will be with us in spirit every Saturday morning even though it will be afternoon for him in The Netherlands!

Mike, Chris, Bill and Fred are captured in this image.

I'm asking Moe if he received my last minute e-mail regarding a crew assignment change while Sid and Gerry engage in conversation in the background and Chris and I enjoy Fred's coffee.

Moe listens in on my query.

When one of the other lads asked Moe if he was happy...his response went like this, "I'm always happy!" 😁😃😉

Here we see my video of Dilip's video as it played out on my computer screen.

Pat joins Moe in the lounge.

Felicity joins Pat.

Steve & Seanna enter the scene.

Love the railroad shirts.

Thinking of Felicity and Seanna...our two intrepid female engineers on the IPP&W and the RP&M...I was recently reading an old Trains Magazine article when I came upon an article showcasing a female diesel locomotive engineer working for the Southern Pacific...a young lady by the name of Gwen Morris.

Gwen must have been a trail-blazing pioneer as she ascended to the position of engineer many, many decades ago!

Before we get to the pre-ops safety meeting, I want to share this image Mark Shumelda sent our way.  Mark couldn't be at our operating session this morning seeing as he and his lovely family were off to a cottage for the weekend.  This was Mark's e-mail my way.

Hey Mike,

My in-laws rented a cottage on Oak Lake which is west of Peterborough, just north of Havelock on highway 7. We also went last Sunday. In fact, I believe Havelock was at one point quite an important staging yard along the CP line. There is a nice historic station in town (now converted to a brewery or restaurant by the looks of it), and I snapped this photo from my car of a preserved yellow CP caboose. 😀 you can see some hoppers in the background.

Cottages are always beautiful. Thanks for sharing the joys of your own trip to the cottage with your R&B band on the blog earlier this week.

Bernie recommended that our guest, Kris, ring the bell to gather everyone in the crew lounge.

Bernie also graciously offered to crew with Kris on this day.  Thanks, Bernie!

The gang congregates patio side.

The lads have been in various conversations around the lounge area.

We listen in on what one of the other members of the group have to say.

Fred offers some insightful words for the crew.

Bill shares this great car railing device Doug (in behind in orange shirt) has made.  Bill advises we gather a half dozen for the group to be used all around the property!

Are you up for it, Doug!!!  😄😎😄

Father Fred with his thoughtful words is always appreciated by the gang.

Here comes Bob arriving following heavy traffic from the east end of the city.

Bob sets out the ore cars he will require for his train at the various spots around the railroad.

During the meeting I take a shot of my home for the morning...well...when I'm there anyways!  😎

Is it the apocalypse in this view of the western sector of the railroad devoid of people?  Hopefully not!

Let the cavalcade begin!  Glen Hammond will see two trains depart in opposite directions shortly after the operations commence.

Then the yard will look more like this!

The "yardies" at Nelson get down to business along with the RP&M crews.

Indeed, it's a hive of activity all around!

The procession of eastbound trains commences with 302 underway.

Followed in short order by Passenger 2 with 302 now protected in the siding at Bell.

304 reaches Spruce out from Glen Hammond...also an eastbound train.

Their power as seen previously makes for a handsome image.

301 gets going having been seen gliding down the slope out from Craig Leigh to St. Helens.

This crew is travelling in a westerly direction.

Moe and Dilip man the train.

The ore dock is loaded with MT's.

The ore crew will be underway shortly from Firgrove and will handle some of their cars here in Ironwood later on in their journey.  

What have we here!  A "service interruption" of great magnitude.  We wonder what would cause a heavy diesel locomotive to derail along the main line.

Aha!  The culprit!

"I didn't do it!" Fred smiles.

302 handles its orders at the interchange while residing on Track 3.

Bernie and Kris have all things under control.

Observers Paul and Sid enjoy the morning's sunshine, the trains...and the folks as well!

Making up the last run of the recent convoy east is Train 40, the short hop out from Firgrove to Bell.

40 and 302 manage to keep out of each other's hair while working Bell.

Novice operator Kris is enjoying the action.

The RP&M has already been in on the fun as the crew aboard Rat 61 are found in the Glen.

I manage this shot out my dispatch hut window of Henk and Felicity working the yard in the Glen.  They will depart shortly for Bellamy, then Rat Portage before coming back as a short "turn".

Rat 71 is also a "turn"...only of the longer variety...as the crew will reach Stuart up near Bell before arriving back as Train 72.

Yet another train has been underway for a while.  This is the crew of IPP&W Train 303 working the facing sidings down in Peter's Pond.

This image taken much later shows the same crew as above, now heading in the opposite direction on their second trick of the day.

Another glance up in Northland showcases the ore traffic being dealt with.

She's a full yard - making for a full image of ore cars...both MT's and loads!

The power on the ore train excites this railfan.

With a plethora of trains on the road at once, our yardmasters are also kept busy in their various locations.  Doug works Douglas Yard named for one of our dispatchers, Doug Matheson.

George keeps Firgrove and Ralph Yard well organized.  Ralph Yard is out of this picture and is named for the late Ralph Dipple who manned this territory in the past.

Nelson Yard to the right is currently worked by Garry and Paul.  Nelson Yard is named for the late Bud Nelson.

We have British visitors with us on this day.  Roger (who lives in Ottawa) learned about our group from the website.

The two young lads, little Arlo and older brother Milo, are visiting from the UK and they both love trains.

My board catches the flow of traffic on both railroads in the western sector of the line.

And...the flow of traffic in the east.

Let's get to some video evidence from the session.

302 leads the convoy of trains out from Firgrove early in the AM hours as Kris drives his consist on its way east.

Video work at Firgrove.

303's power shuffles back and forth near Bellamy.

The crew is in the process of assembling their train.

With their consist amassed, the crew will seek clearance out from Glen Hammond for Peter's Pond.

Video work of Train 303 being blocked in the yard at Glen Hammond.

PEIR #32 has mustered her troupes and is awaiting permission to leave the big yard. 

She's underway with Rat 71 bound for Stuart with a stop in Rat Portage.

Chris has done a masterful job in lettering his steam locomotive.

Let's observe their departure on video.

304 makes its exit out from Glen Hammond bypassing Nelson Yard on the outer track.

That's one powerful steam locomotive Doug has brought out for our enjoyment.

As the tail end comes into view we spot an RP&M train working off in the distance at Lilly.

304 clears out of the Glen and is caught on video.

The crew has cleared out of the yard and advances on the Fred Mills Trestle atop Brennan Gap.

Threading through the iron, their train will make Spruce in little time.

Trestle video.

Two trains on two trestles!

Henk's body forms a bridge overpass as 304 trundles beneath while 61 works in the foreground.

The sun shines at the Blockhouse this day!

Multiple trains are captured on this video taken in the western region of the railroad.

We now witness two trains having converged at Bell.

Passenger 2 has made the station track...

...as 302 holds in order to cross over the main.

302's power reverses off Track 4 to begin its work from the tail end of its train.  The crew may very well have work to do at Brunt's Brewery located across from the main line.

Bell video views.

Over in Northland we find the Craig Leigh yardmaster working the interchange track.

His little Porter engine handles its chores magnificently.

Porter video with Doug in Craig Leigh.

Train 303 has reached Peter's Pond.  They have taken the local siding as they have no work up in Cedar Rock.

By doing so...the crew has left the main clear for any passing trains.

303's crew discusses their moves as seen on video here as the radio chatter seems continuous!

A first generation diesel powers 301 out from St. Helens.

Oh oh!  There seems to be some sort of natural impediment across the rails in front of the crew.

Of course, freight trains don't stop on a dime.  Here we see the resulting "service interruption"!

301's predicament as showcased on video.

We catch up with Train 40, our little "puddle jump" back and forth between Firgrove and Bell.

George states that he's delivering traffic for the Pool Train.

He's Train 40 on the list but he will change numbers on the way back home and become Train 41.

The short haul as seen on the video camera.

302 has achieved their goals in Bell and have been cleared to Peter's Pond.

Conductor Bernie passes by my dispatch booth while engine man Kris drives the train.

Through Watkins.

This video file shows their progress upon departure.

302 has survived the "underworld" area below Mount St. Helens for another day.

Advancing towards their designated siding in Peter's Pond, they spot their counterpart crew working the team track in town.

302 takes the Cedar Rock siding seeing as they will have work up the branch while 303 does not.

Video work of 302 passing through Hayes Falls.

Passenger 2 flies past us at the Pedestrian crossing.

The crew ducks beneath the rails hosting 304 atop Clarke Canyon.

304's crew sets the turnout back to the main upon leaving Spruce.  Good on them!  👍👍

It's "off to the races" with Passenger 2 with special orders to bypass the station at Blockhouse as witnessed on this video.

Seanna railfans her own train as they arrive Spruce.

They must have special orders for the crew to hold their locomotive at the station given the fact the passengers are awaiting their arrival way back on the curve beyond the station platform.

Passenger video at Spruce.

In the town of Ironwood, Dilip and Moe await the arrival of Passenger 2.

The western spur tracks at Ironwood always house some interesting freight cars whenever this railfan comes around!

301 is safely protected in the siding.

Number 2 arrives and stops at the station before being cleared east to St. Helens.

"Ironwood meet" video tape where the crews attempt to solve all of the world's problems at once!

Our ore train proceeds slowly to a stop at Watkins Siding.

Ahead of its nose is westbound 303 switching out Wellington Lake.

They'll be done their work in short order and will head up to Bell.

Meet of 303 and the ore train captured on video.

The ore train has made Peter's Pond and is holding for clearance further east.

The crew has been granted clearance to Mercer Siding and is underway.

More ore video work.

304 is found in Ironwood passing the water tower!  😎💪😎

Bill offers up hand signals to Doug as their train conducts its switching in the yard.

Ironwood "water tower" video - then a gulp of coffee!

304 continues their efforts in Ironwood...

...as 301 begin theirs in Spruce!

The proximity of Spruce in relation to Ironwood is clearly evident in this video show.

And...the proximity between Spruce and Cedar Rock, where Bernie and Kris are working...is equal to that of Spruce to Ironwood.

302 drills the crusher.

They pull back into Cedar Rock proper.

Active video from Cedar Rock!

I have tons more images and videos from this session which I will share with you in a subsequent entry.

Here are the 15 marker chits I uncovered under Nelson Yard.

No Mike...they are not for consumption!

Bob gets a kick out of that Hamer lad who was dispatching today. 

Why...Hamer even did a masterful job of creating a cornfield meet...can you believe it!

It was great seeing Jean out on this day as well.

The lads and lasses are a hungry lot and they can't wait for their burgers!

"Where are the burgers!" they demand of the cook!

Aha!  Thar they bee's!

Following lunch, Kris and I visited his place to see his HO scale model railroad.

But Mike was interested in his Monte Carlo!

For you see...Kris loves to work on automobiles...

...in particular the Monte Carlo which he races at the drag strip!

Yes, a built in roll bar keeps Kris safe.

As does the required fire extinguisher!

Check out all of the details inside this cockpit!

The walls in Kris's garage...

...are adorned with plenty of posters pertinent to drag racing.

One tool bench.

And...another!

Inside Kris's home we discover this gem of an N-scale empire!

Kris purchased it for his four year old son to enjoy when we went to the OVAR flea market.  Note the craftsmanship in the drawer alone.

The drawer opens and out slides the controls!

While you do get a reflection off the glass, you can see the level of detail in this fine looking N-scale layout.

Then it was down to the basement to see Kris's currently developing HO scale empire.

Some very nice scenes are in place already.

The locomotives have decoders in them for his DCC system.

A look at the main yard in town.

Kris brought out this historic document!

His GMD1 runs beautifully.

I helped Kris set up an operating scheme and we "whiled away an hour or so" simply running a single train which I had made train orders for.

The layout came to life with true operations and Kris was thrilled to experience the moment!

Here's the happy lad himself!

A great big "Thank You" to Bernie for offering to crew with Kris in order for him to experience the joy of operations on such a large scale!

And...a note of thanks from me to you for taking the time out to read through this blog entry profiling the great joy of railroading in any scale!

And...of course...a great big note of "Appreciation" goes to our very own skipper Fred.

Once again, the IPP&W and the RP&M railways both came to life and...history was recreated once more on the first Saturday morning in August.

All the best, Bernie, Kris, Fred and the entire OVGRS gang!

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada