Session #5 "Second Section"
Following up on our most recent blog entry here are more pics and videos from our fifth session of the season.
Because we always have new viewers and visitors from 'away' I often explain situations which are totally normal to our regular operators.
Our team is a great family and we certainly do have a tremendous amount of fun each time we gather.
This particular entry chronicles the activities in a single morning along the routes of the RP&M & the IPP&W in the transition era where steam still 'holds on' as a small handful of early generation diesels begin to make an appearance.
So-o-o...let's kick things off with three snippits of pics from a great video Chris sent my way.
The train we are following on approach to Glen Hammond is third trick Train 321 heading west (geographic east).
Chris managed to get a low angle railfan perspective for us to enjoy.
Our typical way freights are between six to eight cars in length.
Doug & Bill were assigned Trains 302/312/321 on this day.
Their third trick train will terminate here in 'The Glen'.
No worries about the cars leaning on their sides in Nelson Yard as we are near the end of the session and the yardmasters will be packing them up and placing them back onto their trays in short order.
Chris's wonderful video which he shared with us.
Thanks so much, Chris!
Earlier at the same location, we find Passenger 1 arriving Glen Hammond as the double-headed power on the ore train heads over to Lilly to lift loads from the Fallentree Mine.
Grant controls both powered steam locomotives from a single throttle.
Having met Passenger 1 in 'The Glen, Passenger 2 is now underway descending the grade past Blockhouse bound for Spruce.
Cool video of cool looking trains!
Henk orchestrates the moves in the big yard.
Bernie organizes the two passenger trains which will be departing the terminal area at Craig Leigh.
A quartet of gentlemen huddle near my dispatch booth.
H-e-r-e's Grant...our ore train operator on this day!
With the pre-ops set-up complete, the lads take a quick break before the morning safety briefing.
With the session now underway, these cars will be moving all over the IPP&W and RP&M maps!
Just as two ships pass in the night, we see two locomotives passing in the daytime!
Off in the distance to the left at Bell crews from Train 302 and the ore train meet each other.
The Norton Fishery and team track are filled with freight cars throughout the session.
Ditto that for St. Helens!
Pat works Ironwood with Train 301 as the ore train proceeds through the pedestrian crossing in the distance.
There's ore now!
As Pat mentions in the video to Jeff, the ore train and the passenger runs take precedence and they can certainly impede the work of the wayfreight crews!
Jeff uncouples a car designated for setout in Ironwood as the ore train takes on the grade behind him.
Grant sure has the workings of the two locomotives synched beautifully!
The pairing leans into the curve at the summit of the grade.
Video footage of the ore train's ascent at Clarke Grade.
Chris & Claire shepherded RP&M Train 71 into Bell and they will soon turn the page to Train 72 which they are in the process of assembling.
The cut of cars extends well into the town of Stuart.
At the same time IPP&W second trick Train 314 marches downhill bound for Bell.
In the video you hear me responding to Mark's question regarding his locomotive and you hear Fred testing out another radio.
Mark has just terminated Passenger 1. He will leave his locomotive in Firgrove and walk back to Craig Leigh where he will board Pool Train 33 with Dilip. They will use Dilip's power on the train which had just arrived aboard Passenger 2.
Doug & Felicity have completed the Rat 61 Turn and now are aboard RP&M Train 73 down in Rat Portage.
The future continues to look bright for the RP&M with a number of trains passing through town each day.
When they complete their work here in Rat Portage they will then head up to Bell and Stuart.
This area is in the western fringe of Fred's property.
RP&M video views starring Felicity & Doug!
Felicity is all smiles for the camera man!
Camera man Mike is all smiles too as the crew is handling the facility named in his honour, Hamer Manufacturing!
Here's a look at the other end of Rat Portage.
Continued video from this special area of the railroad.
Grant has arrived the Northland Ore Dock with loads to be delivered to a waiting ship.
To make room he will have to lift a few empty cars to clear two sidings.
He'll place those empties on the van and tuck the assembly back in alongside the engine house.
Northland Ore Dock video musings.
Then it's time to return the empties back to the mines to start the process all over again.
The train of MT's reaches St. Helens.
Ore train video of its passage west.
Dilip, Mark & Bernie are found before the session gets underway.
Craig Leigh with its Douglas Yard is a vital connection to the outside world to the east.
Gerry runs the yard switcher at Nelson as Henk looks on working the center cab in behind.
Here's another look at the two spur sidings to the west (geographic east) at Peter's Pond.
Cedar Rock continues to challenge crews as there is no runaround track in these parts!
Crews from three trains are spotted in this image beneath the pines.
Paul & Pat drill the sidings at St. Helens aboard second trick Train 313.
The yard is full at this moment as consists continue to be made up and broken down.
The crew aboard this train are working the lower Pond area.
Second trick Train 314 departs the yard at Bell.
Malcolm lines up the crossovers to steer his train into Wellington Lake.
Chris & Claire are finishing up their work aboard RP&M 72.
Escape from Bell video reel.
Let's check back in on the folks down in Rat Portage.
This line sprawls across the lake district in western Ontario.
George is a lone camper on this day working Ralph Yard in Firgrove.
Firgrove is the railway's gateway to western destinations.
RP&M 72 works the neighbourhood of Rat Portage on its return journey from the junction up in Bell.
The shorty RP&M caboose is witness to the 'goings on' here.
Two cars rest on the Hamer Manufacturing spur, the only trailing siding for the crew at this location on their way home.
Claire, Chris & George enjoy the tranquility found in this bucolic 'neck of the woods'!
Speaking of the woods, this is an interesting looking tree found in the Rat Portage forest!
Video finds down in Rat Portage.
Grant demonstrates superior train handling practices while operating this double-header on the ore train!
The headend pierces the iron at 'The Gut'.
Now that's one amazing looking unit train!
The ore train's passage through the Fred Mills Trestle is seen in this video footage.
MT ore cars arrive Nelson Yard.
Bill informs yardmaster Henk that he should get a radio!
Here is the reason why in the audio on this video.
This Uintah Railway steamer leads Train 312 past 'The Rockery' out from Nelson Yard.
Rockery video views.
We glance out over the eastern back of Fred's property from Ironwood over Spruce to Cedar Rock and St. Helens in the distance.
Another glance into the workings at Nelson Yard finds Henk's lovely center cab toiling away!
The diminutive diesel assembles a later outgoing train.
While at the other end of the yard Gerry works the diesel endcab switcher...the road's latest acquisition.
Here is an assembly of yard masters with Henk being sandwiched by the blue-shirted George & Gerry.
They indeed make for a handsome trio!
Fred holds court with visitor Greg in the crew lounge.
Jeff & Pat reach Bell where they work around the RP&M crew.
Malcolm & Moe toil away the time in Ironwood at the moment.
Traffic can easily be snarled at this location with freight, passenger and unit ore trains all vying to get through the town...but all seems to be 'right' for the crew of 324 on their third trick of the day!
Up in Cedar Rock we find this beauty of a reefer residing on one of the trailing tracks found in town.
At this same location we find Chandler's Sludge created by our dear friend Bruce Chandler from America.
And again, in Cedar Rock, we discover Paul using the benchwork as a seat while his crewmate, Pat, switches out Spruce to the right out of sight of the camera lens.
Aha...a great CFL football team.
Aha...it's the Billy Boy having escaped from Henk this week in Nelson Yard...running rampant over the hot iron! 😘
With all that activity we saw in Cedar Rock we find two trains vying for the mainline back in the lower Pond area.
Both trains hold an assortment of freight cars bound for far-reaching destinations along the line.
Sometimes uncoupling can be a challenge in the big yard when your train is on one of the middle tracks.
That's why it's a good idea to station an attendant on both sides of the very wide yard.
This Nelson Yard video indicates a very active yard which proves that business is good on both railways.
A look the other way at Nelson Yard.
Pat & Jeff arrived aboard 301 and will soon take out 311 to continue their westerly journey.
More Nelson Yard video taping going on.
Felicity & Doug discuss their options upon arrival to yard limits in Rat Portage aboard Train 73 while RP&M 72's crew works the far yard area.
Claire & Chris work the greater yard down in Rat Portage across the aisleway from Ralph Yard and Firgrove.
Rat Portage plays host to this video buff!
A Canadian Moment in Steam
A couple of years ago our local Canada Science & Technology Museum here in Ottawa shunted some of its rail collection around which brought out railfans from far and near.
Photo courtesy of Giacomo Panico
A Continuing Canadian Moment in Steam
Here is a well-known steamer to most in the Ottawa area, Canadian Pacific #1201 built in 1944.
Photo courtesy of Christian Milette
A Further Canadian Moment in Steam
I believe that may our good friend, Charls Gendron or perhaps Paul Bown, driving the center cab on this fine Ottawa morning.
The museum has a collection of eight locomotives and nine rail cars.
Photo courtesy of Giacomo Panico
Well, there you have it!
Yet another great session was held at Fred's and trains criss-crossed this area of the province with abandon in a highly organized fashion.
As always we thank Fred for hosting...what's that...oh, yeah...I've got the wrong Fred!
That's better! Here he is...our "Grand Poobah" of the group!
He looks the part anyways! Heh heh.
Thanks Fred for inviting us all along in this great adventure as we rekindle our e'steam'ed passion for steam locomotives once again on a Saturday morning in our nation's capital!
Enjoy a great week everyone!
We are the OVGRS Family of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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