Session #4 Make-Up Date

Session #4 - Finally!

Today we held our first ever postponement 'make-up' date of train operations.

Many folks arrived early to avoid Ottawa's terrible morning traffic.

But the train traffic was not terrible - it was terribly magnificent!

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It seems we have a boundless stash of diesel locomotives among the various members of the group...

...and this one stands out in a very special way.

Ironwood Road #9079 is the Lawrence Watkins diesel locomotive named for our late friend Lawrence who we lost a short while ago.

This esteemed engine will live in the Nelson Yard engine house and be used by the yardmasters should they be short of power.

It may also find time roaming the rails of both the IPP&W and the RP&M lines during some of our summer sessions.

I believe it was Doug C. (or Bill) who lettered the locomotive for us.

And...talking about a bounty of diesels...check out this colourful stash of rolling stock resting in the Glen and over in the big yard at Nelson.

We would like to wish all of our greater OVGRS family members who live south of the border a Happy Birthday on this 4th day in July.

Seanna & Steve impress us with their beautifully painted and detailed carrying cases!

Unfortunately George's truck wouldn't start this morning so Firgrove was 'sans' yardmaster'.

I took over the role as yardmaster early in the AM hours and built the first two outbound trains 302 and 314.

I couldn't build the third outbound train of the day as its cars would be arriving Firgrove on later inbound consists.

Here we have a very special "father & daughter" crew of Chris & Olivia.

Olivia, you are a 'pro'!

Claire & Seanna make up another great crew as they will run trains 304, 313 & 323 on this beautiful and bountiful day.

What was that TV show called about eligible bachelors?

One of these three is still eligible...clue...where's his cap?

I didn't know Pat was an official member of GO Transit!

Here's Pat a little later on conferring with yardmaster Bill near the Nelson Yard engine house.

Oh dear, dear, doctor!

This is the funniest looking diesel locomotive I have ever seen!

That's okay as she will work the secondary bridge line known as the Rat Portage & Mattawa on this day.

And speaking of centerfold material for the magazine "Diesel Days"...we have this most handsome of units; the Algoma Central engine #168 working Train 303 out from Glen Hammond.

And, here we have the previous month's centerfold, TH&B GP9 also working out from the Glen today aboard IPP&W Train 304.

The rays of the morning sun create a misty appearance to the sky in this shot taken from the western side of Glen Hammond.

With the session underway we have the crew of 302 over to the right in Bell with 303 & 304 working the sidings in Glen Hammond while yardmaster Bill adjusts a car in Nelson Yard to the left.

That's my dispatch booth off in the distance where I spend most of my time during a session!  (True story!) 🙈🙉🙊

TH&B GP7 #73 is in care of Train 301 riding high above the surrounding countryside between Craig Leigh and St. Helens.

The westbound 301 reaches St. Helens and takes the siding track.

Doug & Bernie are well in control of things on the east end of the railroad.

Train 301 makes its video appearance.

Meanwhile, over to the west, 301's counterpart train, Number 302 has taken Track 3 at Bell.

CN Geep #4578 has honours on 302 today.

Chris resets the turnout to the main after his tail end clears the yard ladder with Olivia in control of the driving.

302's video cameo as seen at Bell.

Over near the gut we catch the RP&M "Nelson Yard-Bell Turn" Train Rat 61 stepping out over the Lawrence Watkins Trestle on the way to Lilly.

It's a New York Central sandwich at the moment.

No worries...as Pat has things under control.

Lilly video moment with RP&M Train 61.

Let's rewind a little bit and catch RP&M Train #71 departing Nelson Yard.

Robin will work the trailing siding at Anderson known as Lyon Supply where he will have a single set-out and pick-up. 

Then it will be on to Rat Portage before arriving Stuart and Bell Junction.

RP&M Train #71 stars in this video effort.

Carload shipments out from Douglas Yard run in the early morning hours and the yard engine is kept busy making up the westbound trains.

Yet another consist is found on the 'ready' track.

Yardmaster Paul keeps things a-moving at this eastern terminus of the railway as he stands beside the single throat into Douglas Yard.

Douglas Yard video finds.

It would appear that Train 304 is on the move out from the Glen.

The train takes the Nelson Yard bypass track that will lead the crew through Lilly and eastward to Spruce.

Glen Hammond video moments.

Our RP&M train has requested clearance out from Nelson Yard and on into Glen Hammond.

This will involve a back-up move.

The turnouts are thrown by this "Guardian Angel" of the Nelson variety.

Nelson Yard moves as witnessed on video.

With both IPP&W trains now departed from the Glen, Train #61 now flows into the vicinity with no congestion to deal with.

Seeing as our passenger trains have been annulled on this day, train movements are quite easier for dispatch to orchestrate.

We also annulled the ore train making my work all the more easier!

RP&M 61 arrives Glen Hammond on video.

The chirping birds are really just excited railfans!

We spot RP&M Train 71 exiting the junction area.

Here we have a flatcar load of steel billets entering Rat Portage.

Here is Lawrence's cabin in the woods that was under construction when he passed away.

This is a very special structure located trackside between the towns of St. Helens and Ironwood.

Aha...so nice to see two stockcars at the stock pens!

From right to left we find the Ellens Crusher track leading into the crusher, the Culham Coal Co. track leading to the trestle and the Vant Aggregates spur alongside the Cedar Rock Branch line.

Two cars are on track to meet the crusher.

In this shot taken from inside my dispatch booth we spot the crew of 304 working the interchange tracks in Glen Hammond.

We find 302 arriving the Pond with some cars on the team track and Norton Fishery sidings in the distance.

This look over to Peter's Pond from Craig Leigh finds Chris & Olivia focused on the task at hand.

Here is my photograph of 304 and 303 with both trains about to depart for points further afield.

After conducting its necessary chores in the Nelson Yard environs, RP&M 61 departs the scene.

The crew aboard 301 deals with the facing spurs at Spruce.

Earlier in the morning, 302 had reached 'The Corners' making headways in the direction of Peter's Pond.

The crew will tunnel beneath St. Helens before arriving 'The Pond'.

Video from 'The Corners'.

The crew reaches Hayes Falls while exiting the tunnel area.

Our CN locomotive enters the crossing.

The crew's only work is down in the Pond 'proper' so they take the "Peter's Pond" siding.

Looking good Chris & Olivia!

More 302 video moments.

It's a gathering of Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Geeps!

Train 304 has been cleared directly from Glen Hammond through Spruce and on into Ironwood.

The train makes the curve before reaching its destination.

304 video time.

301's power runs back around to the rear of its train at Spruce.

Getting there!

Doug reaches for the turnout...

...and then we watch their video!

Down in Rat Portage at the other end of the territory we find Rat 61 switching out some trailing sidings.

That's the Comber Chairs facility off to the right.

Rat Portage video work.

Our newest engine to the fleet is found working the big yard mid-session.

Bill handles freight on the south side of the yard...

...while Henk handles issues on the north side of the yard!

Nelson Yard video montage.

We find Steve aboard Train 303 having taken the Cedar Rock Branch.

Steve spots his thermos aboard his train.

He is the lone man crewing this train today.

He has brought lading down from the end of the branch.

Cedar Rock Branch video.

With his train re-assembled he is ready to depart for points west.

Railfan Mike spots his favourite freight car in the train's consist.

Exit video from Peter's Pond.

Third trick Train 321 reaches the Fred Mills Trestle.

The crew soars above the canyon at the location known as "The Gut".

Pipes of two different dimensions are on the move.

We spot the tail end of the train as Chris looks on.

Low angle railfan video footage at the Fred Mills Trestle.

Paul has all trains assembled and ready to roll.

Then it's time for a snooze!

Editor's note:  (Paul posed for the fun image!)  😄

Yet another train ready to rumble out from Douglas Yard.

While holding to get into Spruce, the crew of 312 enjoys a moment of respite in the shade.

Seanna & Claire have arrived Spruce and now begin their work.

Claire's smile tells it all...running trains is so much fun!  😀😃😎

Here is magazine cover material!

Freddie...ya look great laddie!

Robin works the yard down in Rat Portage in front of the Hamer Manufacturing facility.

Twins!

Two trains find themselves sharing the trackage down in 'The Pond'.

More magazine cover material!

Love the shirt Bill!

And...the cap too!

A Single Canadian Moment

The White Pass & Yukon Route sees this train running at Carcross, Yukon Territory.

Carcross was originally known as 'Caribou Crossing'...thus the amalgam of the two words in the later name for this location.

Photo courtesy of David Duffin

The colour of railroading is evident here in Glen Hammond.

We note that "Glen Hammond" can have two spellings "Glen" or "Glenn".

Chris shows us his latest creation.

His new carrying case.

Looks great, Chris!

The new canopy offers plenty of shade for the crew members to take advantage of.

A trio of great railroaders!

Here I am caressing this TH&B beauty which belongs to the Bernie man!

Fred is proud of his 'summer' haircut!

Looking great there Fred!

Hey, we did well for a mid-week 'catch-up' of train operations.

We are very hopeful for this coming Saturday's session as the weather forecast is most promising.

Thanks for checking in on this blog entry!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada