Session #6 - Part Two

Another Glance at Session #6

The heat that affected our sixth session of the season has remained with us throughout the following week.

It is due to dissipate by Thursday to allow for a nice weekend weather wise for our next ops session. 

This blog will showcase further images and videos from our most recent gathering last Saturday.

Two passenger trains await boarding at the eastern terminus of the IPP&W line at Craig Leigh.

TH&B #73, showcased in our first blog entry will be in charge of Passenger #1 which will depart at 10:00 AM.

D&H #7316 will handle the Pool Train crossing the Ontario landscape over both railroads, the IPP&W and the RP&M, with a departure time of 10:50 AM out from Craig Leigh.

This CN 'Through Baggage' car will be picked up by Pool Train 33 on its homeward bound journey through Spruce.

St. Helens is home to a number of industries housing stock cars, boxcars and hoppers.

The interchange track at Bell sees a number of cars being lifted and set out throughout the duration of a session.

This tank car shares a siding with others at Stuart.

The two long sidings in the town of Stuart house plenty of traffic.

Dilip's B&O road switcher holds court on 302 in the AM hours.

The town of Firgrove is loaded with traffic awaiting departure to the east.

Our first video showcases the movement of Passenger #2 out from its meet with #1 in the Glen.

The sound of static in this video comes from one of our operators having their radio on.

 They are either carrying it in their pocket or hanging it from a hook at their waist.

Train 40/41, the Turn from Firgrove to Bell is making its way back home in a colour coordinate fashion!

We have Video of the return of Train 41 riding the ridge with Len in control as Bernie brings Passenger 1 into Bellamy.

The beauty of the landscape is evident on the outskirts of Spruce as Train #2 ascends the Clarke Grade. 

Off in the distance the crew of 304 works the yard in town.

Mike's CN road unit and steam generator car are camouflaged against the spruce tree located outside Spruce.

 Note the traffic residing on the spur sidings across the valley in the town of St. Helens.

Station arrival at Spruce.

Video leading up to the train's arrival at Spruce.

I've spotted that gorgeous NY Central switcher conducting its duties up in Cedar Rock.

 The crew is aboard Train 303.

They are hauling lading back down to the mainline located in the lower Peter's Pond area.

Looking good there, Pat & Garry.

Video courtesy of 303's crew in Cedar Rock.

Passengers lucky enough to find a seat in the dome car marvel at the magnificent scenery in the distant forests.

Passenger 2 meets 301 at St. Helens.

The meet is captured on video film.

With Passenger 2 having terminated in Craig Leigh, it's now time for me to take charge of Pool Train 33.

I am under way in this video offering.

Train 33 rides high atop 'The Plateau' while Train 302 charges eastward in the valley below.

The verdant nature of the province of Ontario is evident in this image.

Video work of trains on two different subdivisions.

Douglas Yard is resplendent in colour on this fine morning.

The tree in Fred's front yard is too!

Sometimes ya just have to wait around when you run trains!

The patio area with the new pop-up canopy has proven its worth already.

"Blue, blue...our world would be blue - the world would be blue without trains in it too!"

George's switch engine is a dutiful servant in Ralph Yard.

And...here's George with Dilip & Jeff.

George's sidekick, Len, is in back chatting it up with Pat.

I gladly admit a bias for snapping pictures of a full railroad yard!

Here we see my Pool Train holding up the progress of 301 as I switch out the house track at Spruce.

Even if I pull my train fully onto the siding, 301 is unable to depart town as Train 312 has progressed up the grade and is holding on the main just to the west of Spruce.

Pat's Canadian Pacific in script lettering holds down the RP&M jobbie on this fine July day.

Malcolm is assigned to the second RP&M job out from Nelson Yard.

More evidence of my work at the house track in Spruce. 

With the single lift and the two setouts complete, I get underway and Train 312 will be in hot pursuit of my tail end.

When 312 clears the west siding switch 301 will then be able to escape town bound for Nelson Yard.

There is rarely nothing more pleasing to a railfan's eye than an image of a train leaning into a curve among beautiful scenery!

This scene was taken moments earlier.

Pool Train 33 takes the siding to lift the car and set out a couple at the house track in behind the depot at Spruce.

Spruce's curvaceous video footage.

With my work here completed I am able to depart town...

...which frees up the siding for the entry of Train 312...

...which clears the main for the exit of Train 301...

...and I arrive Ironwood in short order.

Pool Train 33's departure out from Spruce and all that entails is captured in this video assessment of the experience!

Let's reverse time by about 25 minutes when Pool Train 33 had just started running along the Spruce Sub.

The crew met 301 switching out the industrial spurs in Ironwood.

Then it was on to a station stop at the beautiful depot situated on the curve to the west of town.

The meet as found on video.

Marcel's Santa Fe diesel in the Warbonnet scheme has arrived town.  

After lifting ore from the mines destined for the Northland Pier, he returns with empties in need of filling with 'black diamonds'!

Marcel acts as both engineer and conductor on this day!

We are reminded of the fact that this great country of ours holds many valuable resources such as the ore mined around Ironwood as witnessed in this video footage.

Once again we spot Doug holding Train 304 on the siding in Spruce awaiting clearance into Ironwood as the Pool Train runs through town along the main bound for the station.

At least we are in the shade here!

Pool Train 33 finds the station at Spruce.

Video of the Pool Train's approach into Spruce.

At the same location we find the ore train in hot pursuit of Pool Train 33.

With a stash of MT ore cars trailing behind the lead unit, this train is "making hay while the sun rises" as the parade continues!

Yes, unit trains certainly add to the texture of railroading!

Video review of the approaching ore train.

We are to the west of Glen Hammond at the big curve leading out of town and into Bellamy.

In the distance beyond the Bellamy spur we spot RP&M Train 73 departing Nelson Yard.

Train 73 will head through the junction once the Pool Train clears following its station stop at Bellamy.

All this action is captured in video format.

Train 33 rolls on by RP&M Train "Rat 63" down in Rat Portage.

The tunnel entrance looks inviting to the crew as they pass by the depot.

The train comes to a stop at the station as passengers are exchanged in the lake district of our province.

Rat Portage sets the scene for this video.

The crew aboard 314 depart Firgrove on the high line.

They marvel at the fact that their train orders indicate "No Work" at Bell!  

"We are such lucky bums!" we hear them announce! 😎😎😎

Meanwhile Passenger #4 has rolled up to the station in Firgrove about to board passengers with a departure time of 11:30 AM.

Pool Train 33 is spotted off in the distance navigating the subterranean atmosphere beneath Firgrove!

Video work along the west end.

Train 33 speeds along in rapid fashion searching for daylight!

Daylight is found at Pratt's Bottom as the train has come to a stop at this remote station on the railway.

Bob Dylan's Subterranean Blues video!

Bill removes a caboose from an incoming train in order to place it on the same crew's outgoing one.

The 0-5-0 procedure works well when the other yard goat is down for repairs as seems to be the case from time to time.

Following a busy spell the big yard once more settles down somewhat with just an RP&M train roaming its trackage.

To the east in Douglas Yard, Train 312 has just arrived along the distant arrival track and the crew will run back to the wye to turn their engine.

 The crew will pick up its third trick train, number 321, which yardmaster Paul has assembled on the departure track in the foreground.

Conductor Jeff informs engine driver Dilip of his plans down in St. Helens aboard third trick train 321 just out from Craig Leigh.

Across the aisleway we spot the lower end of Cedar Rock.

The trestle looks as awesome as ever!

Sorry ladies...these two Patrick-s are a-taken!

A Single Canadian Diesel Moment

Canadian National GP7 # 4803 is on display at the Toronto Railway Historical Society in downtown Toronto

Photo courtesy of the society

Paul held down Craig Leigh admirably once again!

Jeff lends a hand cleaning up the layout following the operations.

He & Dilip enjoyed running all three tricks; 302/312/321 on this fine morning in July!

Our new lodge in the wilderness feels right at home!

It certainly does!

Running trains gives the crew a huge appetite!

Thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry.

Photo taken at a Roman amphitheater in Jordan.

As we always do, we tell Fred how much we appreciate his hard work that goes into the making of a successful operations.

Well, that's all for this entry which I hope offered you a glimpse into the amount of enjoyment we have when we run the trains along both railways in Fred's backyard.

This week, we are rescheduling our weekly  'outdoor' maintenance until Friday when the temperatures will lessen allowing us to work outdoors in much safer conditions.

We are always the OVGRS family of the Greater Ottawa Region in the province of Ontario, Canada