Rain-Out Blog Entry
Our fourth session of the season could not get underway as Mother Nature has once again cried us a rainstorm.
The frustrating aspect of the whole thing is that it can be really sunny most of the week and then Saturday comes and we get washed out.
Oh well, time to check in on some unused footage from last season.
On July 27th we found this diesel making a run for Nelson Yard during out narrow gauge session which was witness to a dozen or so steamers and this lone outcast!
Bernie has 303 crossing the landscape at Bell drilling the shared siding to the west of town with crew mate Barry hiding in behind.
Felicity stations herself down in Peter's Pond 'proper' as her train enters town.
Pool Train 33 conducts its station stop in Spruce where we see the tail end of 312 residing momentarily on the house track.
And...we catch the tail end of Train 33 in front of the depot!
The western sector of the railroad is a-hopping with traffic along the RP&M down in Rat Portage.
The power aboard 311 clambers up the ladder located at the western end of Bell.
This power dwarfs all other locomotives in the territory.
Earlier in the AM hours the cars were brought out from the shed on their trays.
Chris offers up a wave of welcome to our readers of the blog!
Doug is one of our earliest of arrivals who gets down to the task at hand right away...long before many others arrive the property. 👍👍
The icing platform is home to a reefer or sometimes two!
This railfan keeps vigil at the junction of the two lines where rail activity can be the heaviest.
And...the junction does not disappoint on this day!
IPP&W meets RP&M on video.
With four cars in tow, Pool Train 33 makes its appearance known down in 'The Pond'.
White Pass engine #28 holds the honours on this train today.
Peter's Pond's depot awaits the arrival of the train in the distance.
Pond video meet between two trains.
We have asked train 302 to back out off the Peter's Pond siding as the siding is required by an incoming train in the opposite direction.
The siding to the left is the Cedar Rock siding meant to house the traffic left behind by crews who must head up the branch to the right.
Back-up move as captured on video.
This specimen showcases the ultimate expression of motive-power utility.
Westbound 311 has found the siding and 302 will be cleared out of 'The Pond' once 311's tail clears the easternmost turnout at the end of the yard.
Entrance video to Peter's Pond.
We catch a momentary glimpse of the ore train working the Fallentree Mine area.
The mercury stands at 25 degrees Celsius and the umbrellas certainly help keep the temps at bay.
Dilip & Mark hold court at Anderson aboard their RP&M train.
Multiple view video.
The Pool Train has reached RP&M rails off in the distance...
...as 302 takes to the junction and an RP&M crew work Anderson in this 'hat trick' of trains scenario.
302's power leads its consist into the big yard at Nelson.
Hat Trick of views video tape.
We inspect the engine house in Craig Leigh.
Doug handles the traffic in and around Craig Leigh as the Douglas Yard yardmaster.
Doug is over by the main yard with the Northland Ore Dock hanging out in the foreground.
Henk draws his locomotive out from its carrying case during the pre-ops setout of equipment.
There is plenty of train activity up in Firgrove where a parade of trains will soon begin their eastward journey once the session gets underway!
Fred repairs an item sent his way as Felicity looks on pre-ops.
Sid, Doug & Roger await the meeting to get underway.
Moe & Barry relax on the patio.
Pat & Mark are all smiles as we will be "playing with trains" in Fred's backyard!
Mark sends us a lovely smile as well!
The crew of 302 enters Nelson Yard from the west.
They meet the ore train in the distance.
The crew attempts to tame the Nelson yardmasters...but do they succeed?
We shall see in this video!
Train 303 has reached Bell and is working the interchange track offering up the appearance of a long train running!
Crews and yardmasters all share the same space here in Nelson Yard before the gate was erected recently to keep the yardmasters 'fenced in' as we say!
Bell & Yard video scans.
We revisit the Pond to find 302 protected and continuing to work the lower sidings.
The cooperage is witness to two freight cars at the moment.
Here is the reason for 302's protection on the siding - the imminent approach of the ore train.
Pond video moments.
It's not up for debate - the ore train is granted a 'clear alley' to breeze through the pond as there is no work to be conducted here.
Big steam meets little steam.
It's a 'van hobby'!
Hobby shop lore, that is!
Video review of the run-through of ore.
We're in the land of the RP&M and the Pool Train has been granted priority through Rat Portage.
The crew reaches the depot at Anderson where, across the valley, the flag stop platform at Pratt's Bottom is noticeable in the distance.
RP&M video roles.
Pool Train 33 gains clearance through the junction to Bellamy and on into Glen Hammond.
Junction video work.
The railroad is not immune from problems Mother Nature throws her way and the foliage growth (although colourful) along the right of way must be cut back through a regular maintenance schedule.
Pool Train 33 is a highly desirable train for those on the call board as it traverses the countryside of both railways!
Video work in the canyon between Lilly and Bellamy.
Mark is all smiles as he will be running some glorious steam trains on this morning.
The crew is attentive all around as the safety briefing takes place before the session.
Trains 303 and 304 are in position to begin their journey across the line once the session commences.
An IPP&W train battles the grade up to Cedar Rock with cars carefully pre-determined due to where they will be set out at the end of the line.
We always credit Lawrence with the construction of these wonderful industries including the elevated coal trestle.
This eastbound train 312 has one more stop here at St. Helens before terminating in Craig Leigh.
Robin & Felicity work the trailing spurs here as their train is protected along the siding track.
A reefer is found resting on the cattle track where we would typically see stock cars.
Douglas Yardmaster, Doug, is a happy camper in the shade at Craig Leigh.
The ore dock is choc-a-bloc full at the moment!
312 departs Peter's Pond and takes to the crossing.
With some debris found on the track, a slow order exists near the east tunnel entrance under St. Helens.
This is a quick video as the train rolls to a stop with debris on the track ahead.
With the debris removed, this video follows the train's progress around the curve at Hayes' Falls.
Train 313 is running on time as the crew switches out the eastern flank of Ironwood.
Another nickname for the region known as 'The Corners' could be 'Hosta Alley' with a variety of Hostas residing trackside at this location.
'Hosta Alley' video frenzy.
Train 314 passes the diminutive ore dock at Firgrove as the train departs the yard bound for Bell.
Barry is the engineer with Bernie as conductor as their train slips down the tracks at 'The Ledges'.
The crew's instructions are to 'hold' a safe distance outside Bell to offer a lead for the crew switching the west end of town.
West end video work.
Folks huddle outside Peter's Pond as the sun blanches the house and office.
Mike's CN RS3 has been pressed into service when the Craig Leigh yard engine broke down.
The engine worked Train 31, the run down to St. Helens.
That's a water service car the train was hauling.
A Canadian Moment in Steam
This steamer traverses the landscape in our maritime province of New Brunswick.
Photo courtesy of the New Brunswick Railway Museum
A Further Canadian Moment in Steam
This gorgeous 4-6-2 takes a much needed rest in the Moncton, New Brunswick roundhouse.
Photo Courtesy of Philip R. Hastings
One Last Canadian Moment in Steam
CN Steam Locomotive 1009 hangs out beside the depot at Hillsboro, the location of the NB Railway Museum
Photo courtesy of the New Brunswick Railway Museum
Our little railfan is saying the same words we are thinking!
Rain, rain, go away - and give us a sunny Saturday!
Thanks for checking in on this blog entry.
These students are 'happy campers' seeing as this is the last week of school ahead of the summer holidays!
On behalf of Father Fred we are hopeful for a sunny Saturday next week!
This week we are inaugurating a 'make-up' day where we will use the "Workday Wednesday" morning as the potential postponement date for this Saturday's rained out session.
At this point in time 'double headers' like in baseball have been ruled out! Heh heh! 😎👀😎
It has been a joy reigniting the passion we have for steam trains through this blog entry.
Check in later in the week for yet another posting.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
