Session #12 Standard Gauge Operations - September 2nd
Our first session of September found a crew of 27 milling about in Fred's backyard.
It was great to see a rather large variety of diesels in varying road schemes run on the high iron.
Of special note, the Culham Coal Company saw its first delivery of cars atop the newly installed coal trestle.
Our crew aboard Train 302 has the honours of delivering two hopper cars to the new coal trestle.
The Culham Coal Company shares the neighbourhood with two other sidings.
We'll have to investigate if there is a way to have only loads arrive and only empties depart - or vice versa - depending on the set up. Does the company bring coal in or do they produce it and ship it? Something to examine further.
It is a thrill for me to share this video with you!
Bernie has uncoupled the two cars from the string.
Malcolm pulls back in order to switch out the crusher.
Bernie and Malcolm are happy campers having dealt with the Culham Coal Company for the first time!
Success at the trestle as found in this video.
We have quite the line-up of veterans here anticipating their day ahead. 1828 is an Ottawa Central RS18u diesel. The D&H engine named for the late OVGRS member "Ralph Dipple" is a GP38-2 and TH&B's #73 is a GP7 which runs short hood forward.
This overhead view in front of the engine shed showcases Bernie's new TH&B caboose.
Bernie is indeed a very proud papa!
Marcel has brought along this unique E7 to run the passenger service on this day.
We say this unit is unique as the CN never ran an E7.
Mark has delivered these two handsome units to the ore dock at Northland. Alaska 2007 is another GP38-2 on the property.
The CN end-cab will assist its Alaskan mate on the ore run.
CN 8152 is an S4 switcher from Alco.
Marcel brought out this lovely CN switcher.
He removes the original stacks...
...and replaces them with newly 3D printed ones thanks to our good buddy, Chris.
Apparently this engine came as an S version switcher and it now is more correctly identified as an SW1200 with some modifications made to the body. Well done Marcel!
Here's Marcel and Chris!
Set-out time finds some of our heavyweight passenger cars arriving the scene to the east in Craig Leigh.
Trays of cars dedicated for the Spruce Sub are set up on the tables between Cedar Rock and St. Helens.
Indeed, every car that will run in the session must be placed to its pre-determined location.
Mark carries one of the many "bins" which hold the ore cars over to Firgrove where the first four will be set out. Four more will be sent to the Fallentree Mine near Nelson Yard and four others will be located at the Ironwood Brick siding.
Robin opens one of the umbrellas offering shade over the big yard.
Doug awaits the Nelson Yard crew before setting out the equipment all around the expansive yard.
I've spotted my lovely Boston & Maine 40-foot boxcar in the mix in Glen Hammond! Yeah! Thanks, Steve, for introducing it in RailOps!
This is the car Paul had given to me as a gift which I donated to the railroad's cause so that I could see it running...and today was its first sojourn along the line!
Glen Hammond has two interchange tracks to the left and two staging tracks to the right.
A glance from the other side of the yard before the engines have made their appearance.
Here's Pat...looking as handsome as ever!
Marcel has backed his train onto Passenger 1's consist in Craig Leigh. When the session gets underway he will depart westbound to Firgrove while Passenger 2 will do the same in reverse on its eastbound run. They will meet halfway in the Glen.
Craig Leigh's traffic for Douglas Yard and surrounding industries hangs out in the bread bins awaiting placement.
Folks gather early on during the set-out time.
Steve will work the RP&M starting out in and around Nelson Yard while Robin and Garry will handle the big yard as yardmasters.
Three cabeese join in on the fun!
Carrying cases in all styles and colours abound at Fred's sessions.
Love the leather belt strap on this yellow example!
Along with our OVGRS sticker, this is one beauty of a case!
Bernie smiles as he sets out the railroad office/garage at Spruce.
Looking good there Bernie!
The depot at Spruce!
Through the morning mist created by the sun's rays hitting the camera lens we see a CP bulkhead flat spotted on the far siding in Spruce.
St. Helens will certainly see a great deal of traffic on this day!
Nelson Yard begins being populated.
Chris's wonderful looking CN Geep in the "Wet Noodle" scheme which Marcel calls the "Lazy Three" scheme.
"Why is that, Marcel?" I query.
"It's simple!" Marcel responds..."The wet noodle looks like the number three having been tipped over on its side!"
So...I rotate my image to come to an agreement with Marcel that indeed it does appear to be a "Lazy Three"! 😎
Blue, blue, my love is blue...blue is my love when I'm without you.
Well, we certainly feel blue when weather or air quality impinge on our train running!
Malcolm's unit coupled on to that Grand Trunk boxcar will manage to shed blue all around the railroad!
And...of course...many of you must remember some of these hits as played by Paul Mauriat and his orchestra! I certainly do! And...no...I didn't purchase the album solely for the album cover! 😎💘😎
Ore Train Bob has arrived and judging by the colours of his carrying case...he must have brought along...
...yup...it is what I think it is!
Precisely...this gorgeous unit in Warbonnet attire.
I believe the unit is an SD40-2 if I'm not mistaken.
In this snippet from video we catch Bob driving the train out from the carrying case directly onto the rails. Fred has a number of locations around the railroad where this little "direct drive" trick can take place!
Here's a happy Bob!
Santa Fe video unleashed!
Hey, in walks Pete Conroy from Wolfville, Nova Scotia!
Well, he didn't actually walk from Wolfville!
He's delivered Fred a gift from the railroad!
Fred tells me that he has already changed out the couplers to make it operational on the IPP&W and the RP&M lines.
Here I am with my crewmate, Steve. We will start our day in Glen Hammond and make a run for Craig Leigh before high-tailing across the entire IPP&W system over to Firgrove. Loads of fun we will have!
He's on the 30, the 20, ,the 10...TOUCHDOWN!
Gerry, Sid, Marcel and Pat discuss things pre-ops as Pat checks out the yellow carrying case.
Hey Sid...how ya doing!!!
Paul occupies himself in Craig Leigh where he will act as chief yardmaster.
Marcel & Chris with Mark in the background!
Here's Ralph with his "other" new engine.
He wishes to thank Mark for offering to pass it along his way!
This puppy in Ontario Northland's "Triple Chevron" dress will bring a ray of sunshine to all of my photos!
Alongside our Ottawa Central counterpart...they make a great pair!
Ralph is a happy camper.
Moe will crew with Ralph on this day.
With the equipment all set out and ready to go, it's time to gather in the lounge.
With 27 folks in attendance we are a happy lot!
The smiles on these lads faces tell it all.
Our good friend, Phil (on the right) and three others of Ottawa's finest pay us a visit.
Indeed we have the ultimate respect for all our firefighters all over Canada and around the globe with what they have to go through in order to protect our citizens by putting their lives on the line at times.
We are early birds at Fred's today having arrived in the late 7:00's to begin setting out equipment and testing out our locomotive power. Mark is all smiles as he has mu'ed his two locos.
As Mark called it...a truly international lashup!
Keeping it continental ensures the power will work in tandem with no problems.
Video coverage of Mark's joy with his engines!
...and back on to the ore dock.
Both trains match up smoothly as Mark gives us the "thumbs up" signal.
The next video will allow you to listen in on the differing engine sounds from the two lads.
Check out the differing sounds on this video example.
Chris manages Passenger 2 out from Bell bound for Wellington Lake.
Love the mixture of heavyweights and streamliners in the train!
Here we have Passenger 1's consist on the roll out from Craig Leigh...again with a mixture of heavyweights and streamliners.
Marcel's E-unit leads the train around the bend.
Caution: What you are about to view may be disturbing to some in our audience...viewer discretion is advised. From this video we learn that some of our passenger equipment must undergo some rigorous testing before being allowed out on the line. (This sounds very familiar to Ottawa commuters!)
Back in the Glen we catch up with the crew of 303 as they depart westbound for Firgrove. The B&M boxcar will be set out in Peter's Pond.
303's departure is captured on Mike's video camera.
It's early times in the session when we catch Rat 61 having backed out from Nelson Yard and been forwarded into the Glen. Moe and Ralph are the crew aboard the RP&M train on this day.
Steve and I have completed our moves here in Glen Hammond and will be able to depart for points east once the tail end of 61 clears the turnout.
In behind us are Bernie and Malcolm working 302 in the yard at Bell.
The session for us gets kick-started on video.
Three diesel locomotives are on the move in this image.
Our train as been asked to back into Glen Hammond to clear the outer track for the incoming Passenger train. Once backed far enough into the Glen we can then escape on the inner track which is used as the east lead for the Nelson Yard crew.
All three engine movements are captured on this video.
Following the arrival of Passenger 1 the horses enter the field and we are off to the races bound for Spruce.
Steve commandeers his diesel around the big curve at Lilly. From here it will be down the slope to the pedestrian crossing.
Our train ducks under the eastern throat of Nelson Yard as we pass Blockhouse with the Nelson switcher hovering high above us.
Garry continues with his efforts in the big yard.
Steve and I find daylight at the pedestrian crossing.
Then it's through Clarke Canyon as we face the daunting challenge of the uphill climb into Spruce.
303's ramblings as captured on video tape.
I have fast-forwarded to find Passenger 4 having departed Firgrove with the crew on their third trick of the morning.
Note the French spelling for Canadien National on the port side of the locomotive. The wording is in English on the starboard side of the unit - Canadian National.
The crew slows for a station stop at Bell.
A streamliner and a heavyweight are caught dancing together.
There'll be no "break-dancing" on this run like we witnessed back in "Craggy Lee"! 😎😜😎
At the station!
Sometimes you just have to "go forth" and hope for the best.
Are we safely tucked into the siding? Yes we are...just!
Meet video with Train Number 4 and Train 323.
Continued views from the meet.
A lower angle shot.
Passenger employee, Marcel, calls out..."We're off - like a new brides nightie!" 😍💋💗💋😍
With Number 2 gone, Steve and I have Peter's Pond all to ourselves!
Fun video work in Peter's Pond!
While working Peter's Pond I find my B&M boxcar in on the team track!
Steve and I begin arranging our cars in their proper configuration before we run up the Cedar Rock Branch.
In the video Steve discusses the reason that it is better that we switched locomotives due to a coupler issue with his CP switcher. It is a new engine for Steve and the momentum has yet to be set properly for operations involving switching.
An all blue shot...as Mike so attests!
"She wore blue velvet..." sang Bobby Vinton.
Blue Velvet Video!
Much later in the session Steve and Seanna have called me over to "The Pond" and have asked that I bring my camera.
Because...they are lifting my Boston and Maine car onto their train! Yabba Dabba Doo!
Mike's happy video!
The crew now has their two lifts out from the team track in their consist.
They back on to their van.
Thanks once more, Seanna & Steve! You made my day!!!
Soon they'll be off and running to Glen Hammond.
Indeed, some lovely power on their train!
Peter's Pond video work with Steve & Seanna.
Train 322 makes the dash for home.
They take the pedestrian crossing closest to Fred's house.
A Canadian National 40-footer finds itself nicely buried in the consist.
Another CN car, a reefer this time stands in line in front of the Boston & Maine colourful car.
Finally two CP cars end off the train's contents with another boxcar and the van.
The crew rides off into the sunset!
Final video of the blog entry showcasing the run-by of IPP&W Train 322.
Unbeknownst to me, as I was filming the runby, Chris was taking a shot of little old me! Thanks for sending this along, Chris...and by the way...you actually got my better side! 🙈🙈🙈
What follows are a few "stills" from earlier throughout the session.
We find Sid offering an overview of Train 304 as it backs into Glen Hammond at the top of the morning.
The crew has taken the inner track as it offered the outer iron up for the two passenger trains which met here moments earlier.
Passenger 2 conducts a station stop in Spruce.
We ask the passenger operators to hold at each station somewhere between two and three minutes. This serves two purposes: it will allow their passengers to detrain or board in a realistic time frame and it will slow down the pace of their run around the railroad.
Off in the distance we see Bernie, Pat & Pat. This must mean that both 302 and 303 are in Peter's Pond at the moment.
Here is a still photo of the two cars Steve & Seanna had lifted as seen in an earlier video.
I'm crewing with our "other" Steve aboard 304 where we have just arrived Ironwood and taken the far siding (closest to the viewer) for a meet with Train 301 on this busy morning of train running.
Down in Rat Portage we find the Nelson Yard/Bell Turn, Train 71-72 on the siding about to work the yard. Seeing as this is the outbound run of the train, then this must be 71.
Bernie and Malcolm have Train 312 in Spruce where they find shade on the eastern front of the railroad.
As the session draws to a close, the gang begins packing up the cars.
Fred managed to find some more sponges which go inside the carrying cases for the passenger equipement.
On the third shelf down you can see some of the sponges "in action" performing the duty they were purchased for.
Aha! Here's number 71 once more.
A perfect mate!
And we find ourselves with a very happy camper. That TH&B caboose is a keeper, Bernie!
I had fun helping to organize the simultaneous passenger runs this week.
Our group's logo stands out nicely against my maroon-coloured shirt!
By the way...anyone is welcome to order our golf shirts with the logo on them. Just let me or Fred know and we can send the order off to our OVGRS member, Neil.
The following day after train ops I spot this tandem in my next door neighbour's driveway! "Why the foggy image you ask?" Simple, the humidex reading was 41 degrees Celsius outdoors (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit). My camera was in the basement of my air-conditioned home! It did not appreciate such a harsh temperature change!
Eventually it cleared enough for these photos to be taken.
Yes, in my neighbourhood there are always interesting vehicles to be found that are begging to be caught on film.
A number of the gents in my age range are motorcycle enthusiasts.
This is a Harley-Davidson.
The lad who owns the vehicle carries this trailer which can hold a lot of gear and personal items.
I think it is fascinating!
Love the colour too!
She shines in the fading sunlight of the evening.
So cool.
In an upcoming blog entry, we will check out a drone video which Moe took at Barry's while on our trip to Belleville to operate Bonnie and Barry's gorgeous garden railroad.
Meanwhile...back at Fred's lunch is getting prepared by...
...none other than the Moe man himself...
...with sidekick, Paul!
It's a feast for the thousands!
Hey, Grant made it down to Ottawa all the way from Cold Lake Alberta! It was great seeing you out, Grant!
Fred is excited to dig into that sausage it would seem! 👀👀
Thanks for checking in on this blog entry from a fun time of train running up here in Canada's national capital region.
All the best, the entire crowd of the OVGRS
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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