Second Section for Session #1
We kick off our "Second Section" of photos and video work from our inaugural session with images sent my way from Bernie.
It's great receiving photos from others who were out on the line or working the yards while I was busy dispatching and taking photos of my own. Your efforts are appreciated
It's certainly fun seeing the optics of the session from the angle of another operator's camera lens!
Before I share Bernie's pics, it's fun to think back to the time when the train magazines only had black & white pics. Well, many, many years ago, Passenger #2 would take this same route between Wellington Lake and Peter's Pond at a time when readers of the magazine could only imagine what the scenery the trains were traveling through was like.
With the advent of colour photography, the whole world came alive! Although, I must admit that I continue to be impressed by those earlier photographers who captured our imaginations with their wonderful black & white efforts working with the equipment of the time.
Now to check in on Bernie's pics! Bernie finds the passenger terminal in Craig Leigh waking up rather early in the morning where Passenger #1 is "ready and willing" to head west!
The pre-ops meeting is captured from afar.
Garry will commandeer Passenger #1.
John and Andrew hold court near the wye in Craig Leigh.
Bernie tells us that it appears we have a triple meet down in "The Pond" and he is correct! This would be the meet between Passenger #3 and IPP&W Trains 322 & 323.
Thanks for sending this handful of images our way, Bernie!
Back to that picture that led off this blog entry. Here we find the first train to pass through the newly laid track in "The Corners". This is Passenger #2 out from Firgrove having made station stops at Bell and Wellington Lake with sights on Peter's Pond.
Our first video of this entry follows the progress of Train #2 as it navigates through the area known as "The Corners".
301 builds speed on its exit from St. Helens.
The crew reaches the outskirts of Ironwood.
The video camera rolls as 301 journeys along the Spruce Sub.
Ore loads are lifted from the Fallentree Mine.
Ore movements are caught on video.
Before the session got underway I walked around the layout to snap a few images. Here we see a gondola and a stockcar on the re-laid team track up in Spruce. The cars no longer roll as the track has now been made level. Yeah!
As always, we take a glance at the depot in Spruce.
The yard at Spruce with the track in the middle being the "lead" for the opposing team track.
Chris had a great idea. All the cars in St. Helens had already been placed and railed but when I noticed the stock cars were not in front of the pen I was going to lift them and re-rail them. Chris said, "Why don't you just slide the stock pen down to the cars instead!" Which I did. Brilliant idea Chris!
The coal facility in Cedar Rock...a project Lawrence was very proud of and one of his more recent additions to the railroad.
We love it Lawrence and we miss you greatly!
Bernie's steam locomotive navigates the south end of the wye.
George & Fred in detailed conversation.
"But it's only my second cookie!" Fred pleads.
Our crew list for the day.
Doug & Bill have all things under control in Nelson Yard.
The interchange track in Bell is full to the brim.
Lawrence's addition to the Brunt's Brewery sure looks nice!
An early generation diesel has been pressed into service working Nelson Yard for the RP&M.
Glen Hammond has all tracks occupied at the moment as both passenger runs have achieved their scheduled meet. Number 2 has just requested clearance to occupy the track between the Glen and Spruce.
Garry seeks clearance out of Glen Hammond as heard on this video reel.
We are paying close attention of the movement of the cars through this area near the pedestrian crossing as a few have wobbled and one or two have derailed here already.
We follow the passage of the ore train in this video to pinpoint the location where the cars wobble slightly.
Indeed, it seems we are! Actually, we are testing the track that was giving us problems. The transfer van seems to navigate the area with no problem as witnessed in this playful video.
During the pre-ops time yardmasters are given the "green light" to begin their work in the yards so trains will be ready to depart when the proceedings get underway.
Doug's Northland Railroad unit #4 holds the honours in the big yard on this day and she will "hold her own" magnificently!
Pat and John in conversation in the lounge.
The power for Passenger #2 cools off in the shade before beginning its run to the east.
John and Andrew work Train 304 in Spruce.
Marcel, Graham & Aaron will are holding 301 in Ironwood with a prescribed meet with 304. The two crews essentially will be switching places. Thus is the way of the railroads!
George has trundled down to Bell from his home in Firgrove to switch out the team tracks at this location.
Seanna and Garry discuss their two runs of passenger trains in Craig Leigh. Their eventual meeting place will be Glen Hammond.
Second trick Train 311 reaches "The Pond" in good time.
The Pool Train has met 312 at Spruce and descends Clarke Grade.
The headend enters Clarke Canyon.
It's narrow here but trains manage the cut!
I managed to dig up this photo from the files of decades ago when black & white images were doctored with some red and green tones.
And, in today's world of colourful imaginations, we find the Pool Train in the very same spot exiting the Fred Mills Trestle.
Ore traffic continues to flow eastward out from Ironwood.
On approach to St. Helens Dilip will contact the Craig Leigh yardmaster for clearance into his vicinity.
Unit trains are impressive as this video attests.
Ore arrives Craig Leigh.
Bernie instructs Dilip to pull clear of the wye as Moe rails his locomotive.
That's one long ore train!
Video efforts as the ore train pulls into Craig Leigh.
Paul takes in the warmth of the morning sun to add to his already warm personality! 😍
Graham follows the action outside of Nelson Yard.
Moe is a half shady, half sunny character on this day!
Sid takes a breather for a sip of Coca-Cola trackside at Mercer Siding.
Dilip follows the routing of his train as set up by the Nelson yardmasters.
Ore MT's snake into Nelson Yard.
Doug's Delightful Diminutive non-Diesel locomotive!
Love the look of this throttle belonging to Doug!
John and Andrew have reached the end of the Cedar Rock Branch.
John's ex-B&O steamer conducts itself very well on this day!
We harken back to the days when she ran along the rails of the IPP&W over 50 years ago!
And...we blow the dust off this image of Father Fred as he hosts us once again for another great train operating session.
Check in later in the week for Part Three where many more images and videos from our inaugural session will be posted.
Thanks to all who were able to make it out for the session and to those who contributed photographs for both postings.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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