Session #6 Revisited
On July 20th of last year we were able to run our sixth session of the season.
Usually by this time we would have run nine or ten sessions if Mother Nature had have been more cooperative.
Well, the sun shone and the lads and lasses were able to make it out trackside.
Let's have a gander of what transpired on that day, shall we!
TH&B #73 offers up an indication that this day's work was of the standard gauge variety.
It's the 'Bernie Man' who owns that TH&B beauty making an appearance on the scene.
He is followed in short order by...
...the equally as handsome Garry!
Many of our early arrivers have set out much of the equipment required for the operations.
All that is needed now are the diesel locomotives!
Billy Boy has the umbrellas up and now he is 'up' to the task of running the big Nelson Yard!
But first, more trays of cars must be dealt with!
Len handles the traffic which will start the session in Ralph Yard to the west.
He and his buddy George will handle the main yard as well as all traffic heading into and out from Firgrove.
Out East, Robin will enjoy running the passenger trains.
Paul will act as the Douglas yardmaster on this day.
He still has plenty of traffic to disperse to their various locations in and around Craig Leigh.
One of the many versions of carrying cases for the locomotives which arrive with the various members of the group.
Fred holds our attention with the news of the day!
Dilip has brought out his recently purchased B&O road switcher which originated from the estate of our late friend, Lawrence.
Bob pays us a visit and Father Fred is so delighted to see him...as we all are!
All the best to you, Bob!
Henk's 45-tonner is pressed into action on this day.
Our video showcases how the "little engine that could" required a slight helping hand!
A Pullman car in New York Central livery brings up the rear of Passenger 4 hot out from Firgrove.
Conventional wisdom advises the 'higher ups' at the IPP&W that two opposing passenger trains can be run simultaneously.
This video effort proves the point as Train #4 reaches Bell in the west at roughly the same time Train #3 reaches St. Helens in the east.
We are past the halfway point in our session as Moe brings Train #3 to a rolling stop in Wellington Lake.
Video review of Passenger #3.
We're nearing the end of the session as the crew of Train 323 ascends the grade into Firgrove where their train will terminate.
This video illustrates how secondary railroad lines serve an important purpose seeing as a significant amount of traffic flows along this bridge route known as the IPP&W Railway.
At an earlier time in the session, Train 312, finishes its run upon arrival in Craig Leigh.
312's arrival at Craig Leigh is found on video.
Earlier, the crew had met the ore train back in Spruce.
They still had Ironwood and St. Helens to deal with before terminating in Craig Leigh.
Their efforts in Spruce are video recorded.
The Pool Train meets an opposing IPP&W crew at Watkins Siding...named after the late Lawrence Watkins.
Meets on regional railroads are typically found where the lines terminate at junctions with other railroads, but this video attests to the fact that the IPP&W is one busy line with a solid future ahead!
This blue specimen is being handled in Ironwood aboard Train 314.
John & Dilip man 314 as they continue with their efforts at Ironwood.
Marcel & Moe relax in the shade of the lounge where the pond used to exist as they await clearance from dispatch to allow both of their trains to move on down the line.
Our affable yard masters at Nelson Yard enjoy a lull in the action!
Sid allows his locomotive to escape from its carrying case as he assists in the set out of freight cars pre-ops.
Thanks Sid!
The improved signage made of metal.
Here's our sign-up sheet.
Passengers meet the freight crew in St. Helens.
Robin is running the eastbound passenger service as John works an eastbound freight.
John works Train 324 as the passenger consist drives on by.
Mark is spotted over in Nelson Yard having returned with his RP&M train.
The cooperage at Brewer's Barrels is doing a decent business on this day.
An aerial view of the parking lot.
Mark's Alaska unit handles the chores along the RP&M this day.
Sid runs the other RP&M train as he works the Fallentree Mine.
The shorty caboose is suitable for the short line operation known as the Rat Portage & Mattawa.
Arriving back in Nelson Yard in dappled shade.
The passenger train is a maverick as it passes "out of bounds" to the front of Fred's property.
A maverick's video!
No, this is not an optical illusion!
The crew aboard 302 decide to place their "facing spot" for Bell at the front of their F-unit pairing!
Video proof of this creative move.
The RP&M crew escape Nelson Yard bound for the junction and on into Rat Portage.
They have been granted a limited time period to foul the junction in order to switch out the trailing siding to the west of Nelson Yard.
Junction video views.
Parallel running near the beginning of the session.
304 departs Glen Hammond as the RP&M crew deal with traffic to the east of Nelson Yard as seen in this video.
The radio chatter contains the dialogue between the crew of 301 and dispatch.
301 is requesting clearance out from Craig Leigh to follow passenger Train #1.
Clearance has been given and the crew of the freight train has been instructed to take the siding in St. Helens.
We spot a 'meet & greet' at Mercer Siding.
Mercer Siding video tape.
Ore meets wayfreight at Bell.
The short hop from Firgrove arrives the scene.
Bell video moment.
And we thought we had only one Great Northern diesel on the roster!
Great Northern action on video.
A quick glance of the icing platform in Craig Leigh in advance of the session.
The activity is quite light up in Cedar Rock and in Spruce at the moment.
Endcars come in a variety of shapes and colours.
Here's Dilip our narrow gauge train master who makes up the sessions through the RailOps program on computer.
Steve W. does the same for us when we run the standard gauge sessions.
Throw cables allow operators to throw distant turnouts while standing beside the large tree at St. Helens.
Bell is alive with activity throughout the majority of the session.
A number of crews follow trains that are 'miles' apart yet a 'yard' or so away!
Hey, what about the metric system, Mike!
Chris's CN Geep is at home switching out sidings along the route as evidenced here in Ironwood.
The locomotive represents Train 301 on this day.
Boxcars have taken over the siding track in Cedar Rock!
Early in the day Train 303 reaches Peter's Pond.
The crew clears the mainline for an imminent meet before they handle their switching chores.
We are able to capture the entire consist of 303 in this image.
The meet is in effect.
It's early in the morning and Marcel and Chris have reached Ironwood in good time.
Two other crews are kept busy with their tasks in behind them.
The ore train reaches this same location.
Bill & Henk keep the trains-a-moving as they are shuffled through Nelson Yard.
The power for our westbound passenger service has reached the big curve at Lilly.
Passenger video footage.
302 is underway out from Bell bound for Wellington Lake.
302 is the star of the video.
Train 301 assists 304 with their facing moves and vice versa!
The crew begins it moves as captured in this video.
With their mutual assists back in Ironwood, both crews can escape the yard much quicker as seen here with Train 304 departing the scene with aims on St. Helens.
304 digs in to the grade on video as it traverses the countryside.
The passenger run has come out of the hollers between Glen Hammond and Spruce and proceeds east at Clarke Grade.
Robin glides his train into the depot at Spruce.
The approach into Spruce as spotted on video.
302 departs Wellington Lake and is cleared through to Peter's Pond along the Bell Sub.
Meanwhile, ore traffic ascends Clarke Grade on the Spruce Sub.
Video work along two subdivisions.
Mark works the RP&M at the town of Stuart adjacent to Bell with his Alaska unit.
Video activities in and around Stuart and Bell.
Time for bed for our Ironwood Road unit.
Bedtime video.
Time for lunch!
And the camaraderie continues!
We take advantage of the shade offered by the large canopy located over the main lounge area.
Thanks for checking in on our blog entry! - Mike
On behalf of Father Fred, we thank you for taking a quick peek back at some of our fun from Session #6 last season.
There are still many more images and videos that were unused last year that can fill in whenever we have a rainout.
Our inaugural session is slated to begin next Saturday, May 24th.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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