Fred is Back Home Safe & Sound
While quite a bit chilly, this morning's forecasted radar map showed no signs of precipitation for the first half of this day so the "Workday Wednesday" schedule went ahead as planned.
Chris & I made it out with the intention of running a train through some of the pre-determined hotspots from the prior week.
Our main focus was the S-curve leading off the siding at Spruce into the yard as well as the turnout in behind the Fallentree Mine nearby Nelson Yard.
This image Chris took of me doesn't tell the half of it!
By jeepers it was darned chilly this morning...more like late fall than late spring weather here in our nation's capital!
After running his train, Chris went to town with the weed-wacker and it fulfilled the role of the lawn mower for today's needs.
Doug made it by for a brief moment to check out some of the cars he has been working on over the off-season.
Doug did a fabulous job re-lettering a few 40' boxcars for our railway.
These two were showcased in last week's blog entry.
Chris brought out his Prince Edward Island steam locomotive for the test run.
Engine number 32 stars in this video movie!
The sounds you hear are not necessarily emanating from the locomotive...they come from across the street where heavy machinery is working.
Number 32 passes beneath the great Scobie's sign in Craig Leigh.
Chris monitors the progress of his engine as there is no 'play' at the end of the consist of cars!
Back-up video in motion.
She's underway!
Exit from Craig Leigh's passenger terminal area as shown on video tape.
Train Extra 32 hauls past Douglas Yard.
In this video I state that it feels like 8 degrees.
That was the actual temperature...and with the wind it was chillier still!
Chris reaches the interchange with Doug Matheson's Northland railway.
Corner video shots.
Riding along westerly between St. Helens and Ironwood.
We video the train closely as a car had just derailed here in the first runby.
Debris was removed from the tracks and this is Chris's second attempt to traverse this area of track.
The track leading off the siding at Spruce into the main yard had been causing some grief towards the end of last season especially with the larger and wider steam locomotives, so we decide to investigate the S-curve leading into the yard.
Video of our efforts here.
We attempt all manners of switching.
While the train managed to tread lightly through the turnouts in this video, there are still a few issues to be dealt with this spring in this area.
Here is an example of such an issue as presented in video.
We change the arrangement of cars for the next test in the following video.
This video begs the question;
Is it the tightness of the curve?
Is it the coupler on the locomotive?
Is it a combination of both?
With the turnout in Spruce fully ensconced on our WDWD "bucket list" we head over to our next issue.
That is...the turnout heading into the Fallentree Mine area.
Note how the timber beneath the turnout is higher than the one beneath the main line leading into Nelson Yard.
This may very well be the 'cause' of our problems!
To test out the turnout, Chris backs his train through the troubled area.
The video showcases the 'wobble' of the cars.
The near board is considerably higher than the far one.
I have removed much of the rocks beneath the near board as well as some rotten lumber.
I'll have Chris step on the near board to lower it to match the same level as the far board and insert a long screw through the two boards as a temporary measure.
I selected one of these puppies for the job.
Because the screw went in rather easily with a simple hand screwdriver and not a powered one, this tells Chris & me that the wood is fairly rotten.
Well, it's been there ever since the tree fell many, many years ago!
Chris continues with his back-up move.
Video evidence of the repair job.
In other news, I picked up the 10'x10' pop-up canopy from Bernie's home earlier in the morning.
We'll wait until the weather improves before we set it up.
Fred had asked me to fill the fridge with pop from the garage.
The sodas will find a home beside their 'grown up' friends! 😎
Tiptoe through the tall grass! 👀
Toe-tipping video!
There shouldn't be any issues in this corner as this area was given a brand new subroadbed last season!
Corner video.
Oops video! 👽
This is what we deal with each week.
A firm inspection of track is necessary every single gathering as those darned pine needles and tiny branches can easily derail a locomotive as evidenced here!
Still more debris on the track!
Video evidence.
"Barreling through Bell" video.
Ascending "The Ledges" video.
Arrival in Firgrove video.
Now, we visit Freddie in the hospital.
Here we see the nurses explaining all of Fred's homework with regard to medicines and procedures when he arrives home and is on his own once more.
Yup, he's one satisfied camper feeling 'camping out' at the Ottawa General was fun, but its more fun going home!
In fact, as I wheeled Fred down the hall, there was a parade of nurses along the length of the hallway bidding farewell to Father Fred.
"We'll miss you Fred!" they called out.
I've got my jacket and scarf on with the crazy weather Ottawa has been under in the last days of May.
In fact the last days of December last year were warmer than May's final week or so!
S-o-o-oo...I'm wheeling Fred down to the main entrance of the hospital when this lad spots Fred's CN cap.
Right away he calls over to Fred, "So you worked for CN as well?"
Fred explains to him that while he never worked for CN, he is a railroad nut, like the rest of us.
The fellow's name is Mike and he worked for the CN for 35 years at Capreol on the "bridges and ballast" crew.
While Fred & his new friend, Mike, were chatting I snapped a few images and a video of this work of art; a native canoe.
Wow! Love it!
Here is my video of the canoe.
And...here is my short interview with Mike & Fred on video.
Sexy feet, Fred!
Aha! Here's Pat's van!
Thanks Pat for picking Fred up and delivering him home!
Pat's lovely wife made a wonderful dinner for Fred to heat up this evening.
Yup, we gotta feed him well these days!
Thanks also to Chris for helping out this morning in Fred's backyard.
Finally thanks to all of you for checking in on this blog entry and for all who sent wonderful messages Fred's way while he was enjoying the nurses in the hospital!!! 😀😁😎😁😀
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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