Session #12 Follow-Up Review
All those in attendance for session #12 enjoyed the variety of colours diesel locomotives offer up.
All crews and all yards were of the two-person variety.
Our "Sun" dance on the Workday Wednesday before ensured good weather for us all! 😘
These three units embraced the challenge each was given as they plied the rails of both railroads on this day.
Our Ottawa Central friend worked RP&M rails while our D&H and TH&B brethren toiled without complaint for the IPP&W.
Steve brought along this fellow!
Marcel brought out this "one of a kind" E-unit for the Canadian National - spelled with an "a" on this side of the unit Canadi"a"n and with an "e" on the other side - Canadi"e"n.
She's a real beauty Marcel.
We were already introduced to all these fine diesel specimens in our first entry from the session but no harm done in taking a second glance!
Love the SW1200 unit in CN's green and gold scheme.
That grill is impressive for sure!
Here's Uncle Bob's Santa Fe beast.
Ore is usually hauled across the landscape with this lad doing the grunt work...although today he performed in duties as an inspection runner following the ore train hauled by the Alaska/CN lashup.
Our "rolling stock review" brings us to Cedar Rock where we spot this CN boxcar.
Lots of lading anticipates the arrival of the locomotives to get things underway.
The house track in the Glen sees some headend traffic which will be lifted by Pool Train 33.
Another glance in the Glen finds a bevy of tank cars intermingled with boxes and the "stock exchange"!
Passenger 1 will depart on schedule once the session gets underway. Marcel's E-unit holds on the headpin steam generator car IPP&W 9051; heavyweight combine IPP&W 7866 "Lake Simcoe"; heavyweight diner IPP&W 1516 "Newfoundland": streamlined coach IPP&W 2307 "Hochelaga: and heavyweight observation (parlour) car CN 1416 "Montreal". I find it fitting that the two cars on the tail end of the train, Hochelaga & Montreal represent the same location - only at different times in history!
Passenger 2's consist basks in the rays of the sun. It's make up consists of steam generator car IPP&W 9052; heavyweight combination car RP&M 1716 "Winnipegosis": streamlined coach IPP&W 2301 "Shoal Lake"; heavyweight coach IPP&W 1316 "Shawinigan Falls"; and streamlined observation (parlour) car IPP&W 3500 "Banff Park".
Earlier I had set out the consist for Number 2 on the far track to photograph it.
On Len's advice I moved the consist later onto the station track in front of the depot at Firgrove. Thanks for that solid piece of advice, Len!
As always it is everyone's responsibility to assist in the setting out of equipment pre-ops and the packing up post-ops...and everyone does pitch in!
Mark mentioned to me that we should call the "yet to be completed" cabin Hamer Cabin as it offers a great location for railfanning the line. I believe I referenced it as such in one of the videos in this blog...but from here on in I will refer to it as the "Railfan's Cabin"...a railfanning hotspot known around the world!
We thank Lawrence for building this awesome structure from scratch!
Here's Len - the man himself. He's a happy camper as I now have the passenger consist resting on the station track in front of the depot! You're the best Len!
Steve and Robin will work in close proximity to each other this session so they review some ideas. Garry, in back, will be the yardmaster at Nelson with Robin as assistant.
Pete and Pat are two musical friends who also share a passion for railroading!
What's this?
A missing truck! Better get her to the RIP track Paul!
Our Nelson Yard crew get down to business in setting out the cars.
Good morning Garry and Robin!
George always has a smile for this photographer when I invade Firgrove.
Paul and Doug share a story.
Malcolm, Bernie and Pat are all smiles with Pete in the background in this previously released photo.
Modern power is the "main filling" with ore being
the "source of bread" for this "diesel sandwich"!
We spot Steve and Seanna's elegant carrying case for their Algoma Central unit.
Pete, Pat & Pat once again share a smile for the camera.
It must be the "September Rush" as traffic abounds in Nelson Yard!
Glen Hammond too!
Fred relaxes as the lads and lasses begin to assemble in the lounge.
The September chill has yet to hit our region hard as of yet as some of the lads are still in T-shirts and shorts.
Discussions are held all throughout the lounge.
A couple of fun stories are shared and then it will be down to the business at hand.
Four of Ottawa's finest once again pose for the camera!
Let's kick things off with a visit to Spruce as seen in this video snippet. Steve and I have our train, 304, protected in the siding for a meet with Passenger 2 which you can spot in behind the red barn climbing Clarke Grade. Number 2 will arrive Spruce at any moment.
While I am filming the video I ask Steve to act as both engineer and conductor. We knew from dispatch that Passenger 2 was approaching and we decided to make our quick "runaround" to the tail end of our train and sneak into the siding before Number 2 would arrive.
However, Steve's newly purchased switcher had tremendous momentum on it and we sped quite far past the turnout as you can see. (Perhaps Steve purchased the unit from someone who only runs around in a circle in a garden pond environment.)
No worries though as we communicated with the crew aboard Passenger 2 (Chris) and he held his train momentarily short of the station.
Action at Spruce as captured in this video effort.
Passenger 2 has reached Spruce in no time and is eastbound facing geographical west at the moment.
CN and CP are found side by side.
The crew is destined for Ironwood which can be seen off in the distance.
It's farewell to Spruce and welcome to Ironwood!
Departure video out from Spruce.
Both passenger runs are found in this image.
That's Passenger 1 in the distance taking on the grade at Watkins Siding while Passenger 2 arrives Ironwood. As soon as Passenger 2 departs Ironwood then both trains will have one more station stop before terminating at their eventual destination east and west.
With the headend power in Ironwood and the tail end of the train in relative proximity to Spruce...this is an example of how our recreations of railroading can rarely match the distances between towns in whichever scale we model.
Video work of the two trains hauling the varnish.
Parallel running in a parallel universe is evident as both trains are eastbound even though they are really miles and miles apart in context with each other.
Our train in the foreground is running in the eastern sector of the railroad along the Spruce Sub while its counterpart in back is found in the western sector of the line travelling along the Bell Sub.
A lovely and varied consist for sure!
Parallel universe video!
304 works the sidings at Spruce with their train protected allowing the passage of the ore run.
Unit trains excite this railfan!
Engineer Mark is also very excited to follow the route the ore train takes.
Conductor Bob gives as a farewell wave on the porch of the caboose.
Off they go!
Spruce video with plenty of action.
With their work complete, 304 has been cleared into Ironwood.
D&H 7316 acting as IPP&W 304 East rounds the bend out from Spruce over Clarke Canyon.
A lovely curve image.
Steve checks our imminent work on his clipboard as the other Steve and Seanna continue working the industries in Ironwood.
Ironwood approach video.
CN and CP make an appearance in this video snippet.
Pool Train 33 arrives Ironwood making good time.
As they pierce the needle, the crew will reach the depot momentarily.
An overall view of the situation.
Train 33's arrival as found on video.
A short while later, Train 33 slides down the grade out from Spruce.
The garden stone walls make for a fine backdrop for the photograph.
Plenty of headend equipment abounds on this pooled service.
Three heavyweights make up the passenger coaches.
304 is able to begin some of its work at the west end of Ironwood.
Ironwood video.
New power is found on the ore run running westbound.
My brakeman Steve gets down to business uncoupling cars in their necessary location.
It's not in doubt...lots of action make for a fun day of railroading.
Continued video taping in Ironwood.
Those MT's sure look fine!
That's one "Long Train Running" as the brothers "Doobie" sang!
We are lifting that SOO LINE covered gondola from the Windmill Siding...thus the back and forth movement of our locomotive.
304's work in Ironwood makes for good video fodder!
We continue with our switching in Ironwood...
...as the ore train makes its appearance "across the valley" out from Spruce.
Bob is running the inspection train directly behind the ore train's consist.
Check it out on video!
The train guns it through Clarke Canyon...
...as the inspection train follows close behind!
While back in Spruce, Seanna and Steve can get back to business without interference from other traffic.
Downgrade at Clarke Hill video segments.
304 is granted clearance to occupy the main between Ironwood and St. Helens so the crew get underway.
Beneath the large Ironwood Brick facility the train reaches out into the country.
Some empty (MT) ore cars remain at the siding awaiting filling.
The crew waves to the photographers hanging out at the "Railfan's Cabin" located trackside.
Video of 304's climb east to Mount St. Helens.
We haven't seen this "Black Beauty" in a while. He is toiling for the RP&M this morning.
Our other Rat Portage and Mattawa crew arrives the junction where they work Anderson.
Then we catch Passenger 4 making tracks into Bell.
RP&M video reels.
Train 322 is given its green...
...so it's onward through the junction tracks.
The train will arrive Glen Hammond where it will terminate and the crew's day will be done!
Junction video footage.
304 is on final approach to the Glen.
Rounding the big bend just past Bellamy the end is in sight for the crew.
They arrive Glen Hammond following a rewarding run.
Check out this Glen Hammond video segment.
Train 321 has reached Spruce.
The crew runs around its train.
They hook on to their caboose.
Then they proceed into the yard.
Spruce movements as captured on video camera.
Its a caboose hop eastward as Train Extra 168 reaches Mount St. Helens.
Donald keeps an eye on things.
Mike gives Donald an assist in this video.
What's this?
Peek-a-boo!
Oh...I get it!
Why...it's a yellow van...but not of the CP variety!
Yes...
...it's Bernie's new Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo caboose!
Looks pretty smart, Bernie!
Indeed it does!
And...Bernie is one happy camper!
Peek-a-boo video!
Time for bed!
Bernie drives his locomotive forward...
...and into its carrying case.
Well done Bernie!
Here's the man himself.
Tucking into bed video!
A family friend of ours is currently kayaking with a buddy along the Rideau Canal system from Kingston to Ottawa. He sent this image to Lisa on Facebook for "Mike's enjoyment"! And enjoy the image I did...so I wish to share it with all my OVGRS friends and folks from afar!
Grant and Fred enjoy lunch following the session.
And, with that note...it's time to close off this blog entry!
On behalf of Fred, Grant and the entire OVGRS gang...thanks for checking in!
All this action took place in Ottawa, Ontario ,Canada
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