Garden Railroading: Session #8 - Standard Gauge Operations

Session #8 - Standard Gauge Operations

The diesels have been let out of the barn!

The diesels are on the lam!

"Oh Diesel...what shall we do!"

My oh my! How they have grown!

Image taken by the wife of the drummer in my band - of CN diesel locomotive #1762 formerly #3859 at the Kensington PEI Rail Depot Museum while they were vacationing.

This unit was originally an RS18 which was later converted to an RSC14.

The closest match we have to the real McCoy is Chris's CN Geep in the wet noodle scheme.

Well...if we showcase Canadian National diesel power, we have to be fair to the competition don't we! 😎

Or...how about an early version of the CN Geep!

Does it feel like CN is dominating the scene here?

Now we're talking...here is a bit more variety from south of the border!

Our affable Nelson Yardmaster is very pleased with his latest purchase - a lovely binder to keep all trains and traffic in an organized fashion!

And...here is our equally affable and equally capable 'other' Nelson Yardmaster...Mr. Bill Scobie!

I thought there were a few 'quitos' buzzing around Nelson Yard! 😄😆

Our Firgrove Yardmasters, Len & George are in total 'relaxation mode' at the start of the session.

And skipper Paul is our very confident & capable Douglas Yardmaster holding down the duties at the eastern end of the line.

With Dilip ringing the bell, the pre-ops meeting is called to order.

The crews gather in the lounge for a very brief discussion.

After Fred's few words of wisdom it is on to running the railroad!

Bernie and I are aboard Train 71 out from Nelson Yard bound for Bell.

The two reefer cars on the siding at BudLite-Gouda are listed as 'PickUps' on our train order so we will deal with the siding momentarily and remember to place the gondola back to the spur.

We will have work to do at Anderson, Rat Portage & Stuart before terminating and taking charge of RP&M Train 72 for the homeward journey back to Nelson Yard.

As we hold at the red signal before taking the junction, I notice Passenger 2 across the valley.

Video and audio footage of our initial phase of the run following clearance from dispatch to depart Nelson Yard.

One of the yardmasters cleared us out unbeknownst to the other one as you can hear on the video. (Big smile)

Dispatch has granted us authority to foul the junction momentarily in order to switch the trailing siding at Budlite-Gouda.

While...off in the distance the progression of eastbound trains out from Firgrove continues with Train 302 gliding downgrade at 'The Ledges'.

Junction video of our switching moves.

Train 40 continues along the "Parade Route" - as this area is fast becoming known - in the early hours of the day.

This train contains a rather interesting consist of an RP&M baggage car...

...and an interesting looking milk car...

...as well as a CN reefer.

At the same time as the parade of trains continues, Bernie & I leap across the junction where we will have work to conduct at Lyon Supply, the siding you see to the lower right.

When our van clears the junction we will notify dispatch that the junction trackage is now clear.

Video tape of the action around Anderson.

We had two 'pickups' and two 'setouts' at Anderson with a single 'pickup' along with four 'setouts' at Rat Portage and now we are "3 Cars Out" from Rat destined for Stuart.

Our train heads deep into northwestern Ontario through Gordon Tunnel.

Video footage of Train 71's departure out from Rat Portage.

We are deep in the woods near present day Kenora as we take the big curve near Ferndale...so named for Gord's wife, Fern.

Outside video of our progress toward the town of Stuart outside of Bell.

Malcolm and Bill consult over the placement of cars pre-ops - thus the car you see tilted on its side.

Here is the massive Golding Grains facility at the southern edge of Rat Portage so named for dear American friends Ric & Jan Golding.

The yard at Rat is sparsely populated at the moment.

Before the cavalcade of trains heads out from Firgrove we spot Train 40, Passenger 2 and way freight 302 at the starting gate!

Seven tank cars find themselves on the Lake Nipissing siding in Ralph Yard - quite the wonderful sight!

The Nelson Yard goat has gone into Fallentree Mine to lift the ore cars for the crew of the incoming ore train.

The role of yardmaster at Nelson Yard is perhaps the most challenging on the railroad as the workers may experience a lengthy amount of time where tranquility is the word of the moment.....and then.....four trains arrive on their doorstep simultaneously - all seeking attention for their particular crew from the yardmaster!

So-o-o...our two affable and very capable yardmasters wish to remind us of the roles of the train crews while on approach to the big yard.

We will start with the two RP&M Trains 61 & 63 (one of which Bernie & I ran today).

These two trains will always have work orders governing the sidings at Fallentree Mine and Lilly adjacent to Nelson Yard. Before these crews run over to Lilly and the Fallentree Mine, the Nelson Yardmasters wish to have one of them inspect the positioning of the cars in relation to the RP&M crew's locomotive to ensure everything is copacetic for when the crew enters the Fallentree Mine/Lilly environs.

Cars destined for Ellen's Elevators and McKenzie lumber at Lilly are to be placed on the forward running end of the engine with the Fallentree Mine setouts placed on the rear end of the power.

In dealing with the mainline runs, crews from both railroads are reminded that clearance from dispatch into Nelson Yard does not grant liberty to enter the yard. The dispatcher will always remind you to contact the Nelson yardmaster upon approach to the yard limits first. (This is also the protocol for entry into both Douglas Yard to the east and into Firgrove to the west.)

For eastbound IPP&W trains, you are reminded to contact the Nelson Yardmaster(s) upon arrival at Mercer Siding.

For westbound IPP&W trains which have been cleared from dispatch out from Spruce, it is appropriate to hold short of the Fred Mills trestle, then contact the yardmasters before taking the turnout into the yard.

In this latter situation, the yardmasters should be able to let you in rather quickly as you would be blocking the main out near the Fred Mills Trestle (Although dispatch would have a good idea of other imminent trains that may require this trackage. In such a case the dispatcher may let the other traffic proceed ahead of the westbound way freight departing Spruce - we're thinking passenger or ore traffic here).

For incoming RP&M trains, when you have completed your switching at Anderson and have kept the junction clear, remain on RP&M rails across the junction adjacent to the Lyon Supply spur before contacting the Nelson crew.

The Nelson Yardmasters prefer that you not hold on the Nelson Yard side of the junction (near the Anderson siding) as the they often require the main line located there as their 'yard lead' seeing as the short spur adjacent to Bellamy that acts as a lead is often not long enough for the work they must do.

Finally, the Nelson crew prefers to handle a single train at a time and we should honour their organizational skills in keeping such an involved location running so smoothly.

This has been a paid announcement from your local yardmasters' union!

While these two sidings at Lilly can hold seven cars in total, when an RP&M crew arrives with a couple of setouts, there is no place to put them even if the crew has a couple of lifts.

What the crew would have to do is drop them on the main leading out from Nelson Yard over to the trestle area momentarily and then proceed all the way across the Lawrence Watkins Trestle and all the way back in order to get the task accomplished.

All this to say that perhaps in the RailOps program fewer cars should occupy these sidings at the beginning of a session.

That being said, every single one of us appreciates the hard work our two very capable "Train Masters" do in organizing the paperwork with the RailOps program each week.

It takes up to six hours of time to do so (each week) they have told me!

The crew aboard RP&M Train Rat 61 are spotted in Glen Hammond.

Yardmaster Henk is occupied with his paperwork as Nelson Yard has a few available tracks for the time being.

"Second trick" Train 314 is underway out from Firgrove with Dilip & Pat Brennan aboard.

There's the handsome Dilip now!

On this day Malcolm is in charge of 302 with crew mate Doug C.

RP&M Train 71 makes its appearance at Bell.

The crew holds as Train 302 requires Track 4 to run around its train.

Video work at Bell near Stuart.

We hold the west ladder while the power for 302 proceeds down the east ladder in the direction of Track 4.

With the turnout thrown our way, we sashay over to Track 4 as well.

Bell video evidence of two trains from two railroads working together.

Ore arrives Bell!

Claire is on the right hand side and Pat is on the left.

They proceed through Bell along the main.

Ore train video.

We have completed our work aboard Train 71 and in this shot above our power has been turned as we proceed to the interchange track to pick up our cars for our return Train 72.

Moments earlier Bernie had turned the engine.

Turntable video!

Train 72 is on the roll out from Bell.

Across the vast valley, our colleagues on RP&M Train Rat 61 escape Glen Hammond bound for Bellamy.

Our train bypasses the town of Stuart as we find ourselves heading along on home rails once again!

Double RP&M video footage.

We have a kaleidoscope of colour at the western fringe of Peter's Pond.

The ore dock is ready to deliver MT's back to the mines.

Indeed this shirt is indicative of the heat we have been experiencing throughout the summer months!

And...here is one hot looking lad!

(He's taken ladies!)

Two hirsute characters!

The MT's are lifted.

We find two trains down in Peter's Pond.

The far train is 314 while the near train is 311, both second trick runs.

Aren't we a happy lot!

Indeed we are!

Bill is running things nicely in the dispatch booth while Doug chats up Steve (standing outside to the right).

Chris & Jonah, our father & son duo are found down in Peter's Pond.

We welcome Chris's brother, Eric, (out of the picture) who made it up this way from his home in Newmarket, Ontario.

Hmmm...those look like narrow gauge ore cars...on a standard gauge day - my oh my...the thought of it!

Pat & Claire are running the ore train, but they weren't the folks who set out the equipment.

Ore train video.

The crew aboard 301 was asked to lift the ore cars for the ore train.

There is the train climbing the grade up to Spruce.

Continued ore train video.

The lifting of the cars continue.

Chris & Jonah are our helpers in this instance.

One more video in Ironwood.

Seanna has just notified dispatch that her train has cleared the junction.

Their power arrives Rat Portage.

They meet our train.

RP&M video footage.

Bernie & I are protected along the main.

Once the Drover's Caboose clears we can then get underway.

Our red signal...

...goes green! Yeah!

Check out that signal change on video!

With their work complete in Firgrove, George relaxes with his feet up...

...as does Len!

No, they're not lazy lads at all...they just get their work done early!

With the session done...it's 'burger time' thanks to chef Marcel and assistant Pat!

Hi Claire!

Great train running once again!

Phil is a happy lad as he has just purchased this lovely Canadian Pacific Geep!

And he gets to take his new puppy home with him!

And...talking about great looking puppies, here is Grant with his 1937 born vehicle!

And a view from the back!

Now, back to that CN diesel locomotive.

My musician friend, Mark, shared some more images with me of the depot at Kensington, Prince Edward Island.

Wouldn't this be fun to model in HO scale?

The information plaque tells us this station was built in 1904 to replace an earlier wooden depot.

Finally, in this image you can see me & Corinne (to the lower right) offering 'dinner background musical entertainment' at the Westboro Beach Cafe Pavilion on the Friday evening before our most recent train operating session.