Finally - We Get Session #4 In

Standard Gauge Session #4 Gets Underway

Following a few frustrating weeks where Mother Nature played tricks on us we were able to get Session #4 underway.

Originally the forecast the night before indicated a risk of thunderstorms for the Saturday morning so we chose to make the call and cancel the session.

Upon waking at 5:45 AM when I checked the radar, it showed clear skies for the entire morning!  Go figure.  I waited until just after 6:00 AM before calling Fred to indicate we would be on for the session!

Marcel's lovely wife, Evelyn, created this wonderful OVGRS clock which will be hung in Fred's office window for all to see!

Please thank Evelyn for us, Marcel!

This video clip offers us Marcel's explanation on how Evelyn created this lovely timepiece!

Chris has a new acquisition; this NW-2 cow/calf tandem which offers up a some interesting sound effects!

Chris has separated the cow from the calf and heads over to Lilly.  This locomotive will now embark on a new career far away from its homeland as it will now toil for the RP&M and IPP&W lines in Ontario, Canada.

In this video we see the lead unit working alone.

The Gap is such a great railfan spot to capture pictures. 

Working Rat 61, Chris must address some lifts at Lilly where he must traverse the Lawrence Watkins Trestle as witnessed in this video.

The Union Pacific with its Armour Yellow coat with grey hair has always been a favourite among railfans near and far!

Great acquisition Chris.  More video of the NW-2.

Doug C. purchased Lawrence's GE U-Boat diesel locomotive seen here just outside the wye in Craig Leigh.  The "U" designation stands for GE's "Universal" series with the numbers following the "U" indicating the unit's horsepower rating in hundreds.  The letters following indicate the number of axles on each truck (B for 4-axles and C for 6 axles).

This brute of a diesel has been assigned to work Train 301 on this day.

Video of Doug running the Algonquin & Ottawa unit at Douglas Yard.

Paul has railed his Canadian Pacific GP30 which will classify trains at Craig Leigh and switch out the local industries there.

Garry's beautifully painted Canadian National FA units head eastward along the IPP&W at Bell.

A short while later Passenger 2 is found blowing the crossing between Peter's Pond and Mercer Siding.

We love the sound of those Alco prime movers crossing the gap as evidenced on this video.  

(There must have been an obstruction on the rails due to the fact train had to make an abrupt stop!)

Having stopped at Bellamy and the Glen, Passenger #2 makes its way toward Spruce in the eastern sector of the railroad.

We love the sound of those Alco prime movers crossing the gap as evidenced on this video.

Torpedoes away!

Our torpedo topped TH&B Geep leads Train 304 through the pedestrian crossing near the dispatch hut running long hood forward.

It's not a "walk in the park", why it's a flash of lightning as 304 speeds by on video tape!

While it's not quite the dawn of the diesel age, the GP30 was the first so-called "second generation" EMD diesel locomotive and was produced in response to increased competition by GE's U25B which was released around the same time in the early 1960's.

Strolling through the lush greens of the property line along lower ground, Train 303 reaches "The Corners" on its way up to Wellington Lake, Bell and eventually Firgrove.

The crew arrives Wellington Lake and is impressed with the new grain elevator towering above the horizon.

A western going train on the Bell Sub spots an eastward passenger run along the elevated Spruce Sub on this video.

The new industry at Wellington Lake offers a greater challenge for crews at this location as there are two "spot" locations for cars here now.

Video work at Wellington Lake.

A Canadian National Geep in the earlier livery arrives Bell along Track 3 heading up Train 302.

303 reaches Bell and threads the needle along the main.

Passing a couple of "Netherland" orange cars we begin to tease Henk as he had been teasing some of the lads moments earlier.

The power for 302 glides down Track 4.

Bell video moments.

We spot a miniature engine on the run down from Firgrove to Bell.

Paul Norton navigates the western edge of Bell with the little switcher as seen in this video segment.

A smaller cousin keeps Ralph Yard well organized. 

The yardmasters are currently breaking down a train that has just arrived.

The CN endcab is the best choice for the switcher up here in Firgrove.

Yardmaster Len is an experienced veteran in these woods.

Video of Len working the area.

Len oversees the turnouts leading out from the throat of the yard as Moe commandeers his train now getting underway.

Video footage out from Firgrove!

Aha, we spot a true IPP&W diesel; this RS3 departing Glen Hammond for Bellamy, working the RP&M on this day.  

Painted in Dick Tracy attire for the Ironwood Road this puppy continues to run beautifully for the Ironwood, Peter's Pond & Western and Rat Portage & Mattawa due to the fact the shop employees at Craig Leigh speak "fluent Alco"!  

Indeed, our dedicated shop employees keep these beauties running magnificently no matter their age!

Video of the train ascending the slope out from Pratt's Bottom.

We love Garry's steam locomotive assigned to the Pool Run on this day.

In this image taken later in the morning hours we find the Pool Train having met 312 in St. Helens.

Train meet on video.

With the meet "established" Train 304 can now get underway given their green signal.

Once 304's crew reaches Craig Leigh, will they then become 312 on their westward journey back to Nelson Yard.

Train 33 is already halfway to Ironwood when this shot was taken.

Video work of two departing trains in opposite directions.

Another look at the new grain elevator; a project started by Lawrence and completed by Chris.

Operators all pitch in during the pre-ops task of placing cars to their designated sidings and trains.

As the morning sun rises, Nelson Yard appears to be quite the busy location housing numerous freight cars of all kinds ready to conduct business on the railroad.

Glen Hammond is filled to capacity for a short while.  In mere moments the trains occupying the two near tracks will be departing the scene, one to the east and the other to the west.

A glance across all three yards.

Mike does appreciate the Boston & Maine 40 foot boxcar Paul Norton had graciously gifted him last year!  Between sessions, Mike takes it home where it is displayed in his crew lounge.

It is the centerpiece of a nice display of freight cars across four scales.

Large scale, O-scale, HO & N!

My friend snapped this image from his kayak in one of the canal locks along the Rideau System with the VIA engine soaring above.  He then had the photo made into a puzzle and presented to me on Christmas Day last year!

If a Bernie stands in the forest, is he really there?  Of course he is!

Seanna puts the finishing touches on 304 before requesting clearance to depart for Spruce.

Ironwood comes alive with the arrival of two trains, Numbers 2 and 301.

Doug handle's freight traffic in the Larabie siding while Train 2 notches up to depart Ironwood.

Passengers are now underway for St. Helens.

The A&O will then request clearance into Spruce.

Two trains make for a wonderful scene.

Earlier, 301 reaches its target at Ironwood.

The U-Boat hauls in on the siding.

At the other end of town Passenger 2 makes an appearance.

A video meet.

Not far away the crew aboard 303 are halfway through their run from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.  We find Steve checking his train orders as Malcolm handles the throttle.

With the inclusion of the new industry here, we now have two locations to spot and lift traffic at Wellington Lake.  

(Earlier in this entry you saw video work of their efforts here.)

Is Len having a great time?  You bet he is!

301 high tails it out from Bell as the crew passes the open door to the dispatch hut where I find myself sometimes!

The spark arresters certainly stand out on the CN diesel leading 302.

It's an Ontario Northland "sandwich" of two orange cars!

302 glides past Wellington Lake with no work to conduct here.

302's movements as captured on video tape.

Let's head down to Rat Portage, deep in the Lake of the Woods district of Ontario where we find the mother and daughter working with all their might.  Rat Portage is located on our secondary line, the RP&M.

The crew switches out Golding Grains with the Comber Chair facility rising in the background.

The passing siding acts as the lead for the crew's needs.

Chris's new locomotives certainly are a good-looking pair!

Rat Portage video work.

The crew aboard 304 conduct their switching moves at Spruce.

Our TH&B friend handles the chores to the east of Spruce.

We see the newly adjusted siding in back where cars no longer rest on a slope.  This was addressed by the WDWD crew earlier this spring.

Steve & Seanna have a heavy load at this location at this time, but they manage their work beautifully.

We spot Passenger 2 making its way up Clarke Grade as 304 continues with its efforts on the ridge above.

Video taken at Spruce.

Mark has sold off some of his equipment and Moe is the benefactor here.

Paul is our handy Craig Leigh yardmaster keeping trains on the go at the eastern end of the line.

Paul and George make up two names from The Beatles!

Malcolm and Steve discuss their next moves having just turned their locomotive on the turntable up in Firgrove.  They recently arrived aboard 303 and will depart with Train 314.

Steve is all smiles as Chris works Rat Portage in behind.

Dilip works his RP&M train currently out of sight at the eastern end of Nelson Yard.

Pat & Marcel find relief in the shade between Spruce and Cedar Rock.

Post-ops we find Doug & Henk sharing a laugh or two!

Paul must have overheard Henk's joke as he is all smiles as well!

"Toss the burgers this way, Mike!" Marcel is heard to say as he readies his spatula for my slider!

As always, it is a joy for me to bring our train operations to life for those who are unable to attend.

Here I am running through the marshlands on Tom Hood's magnificent Canadian Northern Railway here in Ottawa.

Robin keeps Fred occupied while...

...Evelyn's lovely clock tells us it's time to close this entry for now.

Keep an eye out later in the week for a second section of pics and vids from Session #4.

Also, keep your fingers crossed that the remnants of Hurricane Beryl make their way through Ottawa and depart by the time next Saturday morning comes around!

On behalf of Fred and the entire crew, thanks for checking in!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.