Session #5 Narrow Gauge

Session #5 Leading Off - First Entry 

Rains pummeled our neighbourhood between 4:00 and 6:00 AM this morning but that did not deter the hardy folks of the OVGRS.

A quick glance at the radar map indicated clearing skies over Ottawa by 7:30 or so with a small risk of thunderstorms in some parts of the city until 9:00 AM.

In Fred's environs, the skies were blue and the clouds were white, so all was well!

Most train images are of 302 as that was the run Bernie and I were assigned to, and I had to stay with my train as either engineer or conductor, depending the runs we were on.

Doug arrived early to test out a track with a lower profile to see if it would fit beneath the doors of the new Nelson Yard engine house.

Alas, the fit was off by "just a smidgeon" so a new foundation may have to be constructed to raise the engine house "ever so slightly".

We are "in the midst" or...should I say..."in the mist" of Bernie as he checks out the new structure which now stands proud at the western end of Nelson Yard.

Great work, Bill, Doug & Chris!

Speaking of Bill...here's the lad himself!

He carries on his body yet another exciting T-shirt!

The interior lights overpower the image of the engine man inside #51.

Robin arrives with test track and new carrying case -

carrying his "new" locomotive!  

We were all excited for Robin as he was able to purchase one of Lawrence's beloved steam locomotives.

And...here she is!  The Algonquin & Ottawa #2 steam engine!

Robin powers her up for the first time at Fred's as found in this video effort.

Yet another intriguing carrying case...

...bearing our OVGRS insignia!

This is the appearance the railroad takes on pre-ops.  In short order all cars will be placed to their designated locations, be they trains, sidings or industries.

Felicity arrives and waits for the flashers to stop to allow her entry through the crossing.

Another pre-ops view shows the crew determining the locations of the many pieces of narrow gauge rolling stock.

One such location is the Norton Fishery and the Team Track down in Peter's Pond.

Paul has a steady hand in Craig Leigh.

Still many more cars to be placed!

Yes, we even put out some of the large scale vehicles.

Now, if we could only get larger scale versions of these puppies! 👍😎👍

Moe, Sid & Doug find themselves in conversation pre-ops as Marcel & Paul hang out in the background.

George, Len, Paul & Bernie are in a deep discussion about...hmmm...could be anything!

Where there's smoke...

...Fred must be up to something.  Video evidence.

Have the cardinals selected the next Pope yet?

No...it's simply Father Fred burning some old pizza boxes from a recent meeting he hosted so that the ants don't get into the garbage - as witnessed on video!

Let's check in again on Marcel's steam locomotive.

This video shows Marcel readying his power for the passenger runs.

The Uintah Railway is located in Utah and Colorado.

Video of Marcel's 2-6-6-2 steam locomotive dressed up for the Uintah Railway and on loan to the IPP&W.

Chris has been cleverly toiling away at his workbench.

Video of Chris's recent efforts.

Good morning beautiful Henk!

Video announcement from the man himself!  😀😉😀

2-6-0 #27 wheels down a clear alley - with picking up 302's consist clearly on her mind.

Video witness to #27's pre-run excursion down the siding track in Firgrove.

Passenger 2 is first out from the west.

Bernie and I follow suit rather quickly with 302!

The parade out from Firgrove is underway and this video attests to the fact.

The passenger train lies waiting for the clock to reach its designated departure time...which you saw departing moments earlier.

Ralph Yard is occupied with a handful or so of cars early in the AM hours.

Len has been hard at work setting out the equipment at the western end of the line.

His yardmaster compatriot has been checking the list as to where the cars are to go in Firgrove and Rat Portage.

Some nice looking reefers are found in Ralph Yard.

Peek-a-Boo!

The "Little Center Cab That Could" makes an appearance from its night's slumber.

Happy Henk is a jolly soul on this day...and every day!  😄

Video of the awakening locomotive.

302 progresses east through Watkins Siding.

Video of 302's progression.

Labels made by Bernie and adhered to the fascia help visitors learn the locations of towns and sidings.

A nice "going away" shot at Wellington Lake.

Video from Wellington Lake.

2-6-0 #27 hauls lading up to Cedar Rock.

Video of 302 leaving the main line in Peter's Pond to head up the Cedar Rock Branch.

Bernie follows the progress of his train out from the end of the branch.

The "lifts" make their way back to the remainder of 302's consist.

Cedar Rock video views.

Pat is all smiles pre-ops in the area of Rat Portage and Ralph Yard.

George has brought along this little puppy.  

Was this one of Lawrence's locomotives, George?

Billboard reefers always grab the attention of railfans.

Not only are they quite colourful, they offer up some lovely images on their side walls.

302 has already passed the western detector for the pedestrian crossing signal.  It can be seen just above the roof of the first yellow reefer in the consist.  The eastern detector is seen directly in front of the locomotive.  When the caboose clears the eastern detector, the signals will then turn off.

We thank Steve and Seanna for their efforts with the electronics here!

Detector video work.

302 reaches Mercer Siding on the outskirts of Nelson Yard.

Dispatch has cleared the crew in to the big yard.

They have been granted their "green" and flow through Mercer in this video footage.  

Nelson Yardmaster Henk calls over to verify that we have five freight cars in our consist.

302 traverses the junction trackage.

The engine is pointed into the yard at its western throat.

Video footage from the junction.

We enter Nelson Yard and the Yardmasters have lined us up along an "inner" track.  They must be expecting traffic entering the yard shortly from the other direction as we were not brought in on the A/D track.

Entry video into the big yard.

Len pointed out these next two reefers which he really likes.

They were hanging out in Firgrove.

Dispatcher Doug at the console.

PEI Railway's Number 32 rounds the bend out from Bell with Train 323.

Felicity and Chris have worked this train throughout its run.  They are on their third and final trick of the morning.

Len and George make up our good-looking Firgrove/Ralph Yard crew.

Jean offers up a smile for the photographer.

When I arrived home, two of these packages were hanging around the front hall of our house.  Doesn't look like a kayak to me!

Aha!  Some ten minutes later it has indeed morphed into a kayak!!!

Both of my daughters, Alison and Karen purchased a "foldable" kayak each!

Saturday night Karen tested hers on the Rideau River.

Works beautifully as seen on this video!

After Karen finished her hour-long paddle, it took less than ten minutes to fold it up!  The foldable corrugated plastic kayak is "good" for twenty thousand folds!

It is meant for calmer waters as it has no rudder.  The Rideau River is a perfect location to head out on the water as would be the canal, Dow's Lake and other lakes in and around our region.  The Ottawa River would be too rough for this sort of kayak.  In the video Karen tells us that it took much longer to kayak against the current on her return trip than it did going with the current when she first set out.

This video shows the second night out when Alison joined Karen at Brewer Park where they set in the Rideau River and travelled with the current past Billings Bridge, Smyth Road and all the way to Herdman.

In this video the girls have arrived Brantwood Park where there is another floating dock.  A gentleman is discussing if they want to go further downriver where it is shallower, but the girls tell him that it is not a good idea seeing as the kayaks are made out of corrugated plastic which they don't wish to scrape along a rocky bottom.

With their adventure completed for the evening it is time to fold up the kayaks.

This procedure is done in less than ten minutes!

Well, that's it for this blog entry from our recent narrow gauge session at Fred's place...among other Hamer family events.

Some twenty-five trains or so ran throughout the morning's session and the railroad prospered once again with lading reaching its destination all across the line.

We enter Mr. Peabody's Time Machine and travel back to the year 2009 during our annual invasion that year.  

John Spencer holds the throttle as Linda Spencer tries her hand as brakewoman in Glen Hammond.

Note the differences found here at Nelson Yard, Glen Hammond and Bell.  

What's that tree doing there near Fallentree Mine?  What colour is the dispatch booth?  Where are the safety railings for the walkovers? 

Check out this shot taken at the former western throat of Nelson Yard.

From left to right: Colin Churcher, Gord Bellamy, Matt, Brad Larabie, Tyler Larabie, Gord Larabie, and Bud Nelson. 

Gord Larabie and his sons Tyler and Brad were promoted to operators and had the white trainee stripe removed from their hats.

We must thank Paul Norton for this photo file from the past!

As always, it is a pleasure for me to create our blog entries.  

I'm rarely seen in the pictures seeing as I am the lad behind the camera!  

Here I am pictured a few years ago at Chris Lyon's home having worked a bit on his Lyon Valley Northern railroad.

Fred is all smiles as he was able to enjoy the camaraderie of the morning's activities.

Thanks for checking in on this blog entry from our most recent session!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada