Happy Canada Day Blog Entry

Happy Canada Day

We use this special day, Canada's birthday as a wonderful excuse to share yet another blog entry with pics and videos unseen from last season.

On this day, July 1st, 2025, Canada is now 158 years old!

We can also consider this a catch-up blog entry seeing as we were unable to run trains this past Saturday due to poor weather.

Each season we manage to get in an average of twenty or so sessions and it seems this season the weather Gods will be putting that number to the test!

Alas, we will be holding a "make-up" train operating session tomorrow morning in place of our usual "Workday Wednesday" gathering.

Time Warp!

Indeed it is some futuristic form of time travel!

To all of our Canadian friends, we wish you a Happy Canada Day on this July 1st.

Photographer unknown.

VIA Rail Canada shares the same wishes with our Parliament buildings in the background.

A neighbour of ours who was a close friend of our daughter's when they were in  kindergarten many moons ago enjoyed his stint as one of the Canadian Snowbird pilots for a few years.

His name is Erik Temple and his grandfather was a Member of Parliament for the Yukon - Erik Neilson.  

His grandfather Erik was also a pilot, having joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942.  He flew 33 missions in No. 101 Squadron RAF in World War II and was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" for 'courage and devotion to duty'.

Erik Neilson's brother was the comedic actor Leslie Neilson who appeared in the well-known comedy "Airplane!" where when asked, "Surely you can't be serious!" he replied in a deadpan delivery, "I am serious and don't call me Shirley!"

Indeed, the younger Erik comes from a very interesting family with both parents having worked for the RCMP.

Let's get down to the fun adventure we enjoy each week with the trains and revisit some of our diesel days from last season.

One crew must've brought their tail end up to Cedar Rock.

Well, the distance the crew must travel is quite a number of miles in reality so why not have your van tag along for the trip up the branch!

Bill is moaning the tune, "Oh Lonesome Me" by Don Gibson (with assistance from famed guitarist Chet Atkins).

Indeed the yard is totally empty!

Our RP&M crew has the brakes on their train as they switch out Rat Portage off in the distance.

We enjoy Bernie's colourful carrying case!

Robin rails the "Ironwood Road" RS3 diesel locomotive near the engine house tracks in Craig Leigh.

The crew aboard 301 have run around their train to address the facing sidings at St. Helens.

Later eastbound (geographical west) Train 312 makes headway along the main through Spruce.

Earlier, 304's power was located in Ironwood.

301's crew comes "window to window" with the crew of 304.

Loads of all types can be found along the route of the IPP&W.

Pool Train 33 has reached Bell and deals with headend traffic on the west house track.

Earlier, Train 302 arrives Bell where various other cars of many varieties are found on the sidings.

Video captured at Bell.

Check out the left ditch light.

Now, check out the right ditch light.

Now, on video - both ditch lights!

John & Mark are working Wellington Lake at the moment.

This flat-nosed beauty is an interesting locomotive painted in this handsome "one of a kind" Canadian National paint scheme.

The units are pulling Passenger #1 into Ironwood.

Steve has his train protected on the inner siding and ignores

the passenger train as he concentrates on his switching chores.

Ironwood video footage!

As the calendar turns its pages following spring the seasonal passenger volume increases through the summer months along the IPP&W.

The camera man is carefully positioned in the shade to grab this 3/4 shot of the "Ironwood Road" switcher in home livery.

Photographer Mike is always pleased to spot a Boston & Maine car which has made its way north of the 49th parallel.

A block of stock cars are found in behind the B&M car on the team track at the western side of Ironwood.

Note the tail end of the passenger train way off in the distance having made it into Spruce.

Ironwood video leanings.

Quicker transit times are the order of the day and westbound 322 'makes hay' at Lilly.

The triple trestles spanning 'the gut' act as a magnet for railfans.

Check out the UP inspired transfer caboose on the tail end!

Lilly/Trestle video.

"Dispatch...Train 322...our train is terminated in Glen Hammond." I hear over the radio.

We are now into a different session from last season where we find Paul checking out his CP GP30 diesel.

Garry has brought out his steamer to run a museum passenger and pool train bringing the past back to life.

He started his morning aboard Train 2 as witnessed down in the resort town of Wellington Lake with diesel power on the train.

Arriving Bellamy, his tail end clears the junction trackage.

Train 2 leans into the curve to the west of 'The Glen'.

Glen Hammond is reached!

There is always something interesting to check out near the crew lounge.

Doug's GE U-Boat works the trackage located at the western fringe of Ironwood aboard Train 301, the same train Steve & Seanna had worked the previous standard gauge session.

Pool Train 33 sits parallel to Passenger #3 mid-morning.

Looking good there Garry!

There are boundless opportunities for photographs in and around Nelson Yard although railfans must check in at the Van Zjil office for permission to enter the property!

Now in command of the Pool Train, Garry has lifted traffic off the house track in behind the depot in Glen Hammond and will continue on his journey westward.

It's the "Mother and Child Reunion" as Paul Simon wrote...and it takes place up in Bell with this beloved pairing working for the Rat Portage & Mattawa Railway on this day.

Yet more activity is found here at the western front of Bell with Train 311.

Doug's power complements the colours of the large Brunt's Brewery facility at this location.

Lawrence's passion for his teaching at Algonquin College is clearly evident in the lettering on his locomotive which Doug had purchased.

Car identifiers allow the yard crew to break down and assemble trains with speed and clarity.

Dilip & Bernie await their clearance out of the yard once the yardmaster has tacked their caboose onto the rear of their train.

Malcolm must be "in house" as we spot his Conrail GP30 riding IPP&W rails aboard Train 314.

Here is a brother unit to Malcolm's riding the iron somewhere in Pennsylvania, judging by the Pennsy signal tower.

Photo courtesy of Barry Trogu

And, here is a much older and worn photo of Malcolm's exact unit taken in the middle of a consist somewhere on the Northeast Corridor.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Hubbs

And, here is a video taken somewhere along the route of the IPP&W back in 2024.

Train 324 makes its escape out from Nelson Yard.

Escape video escapades!

As the day unfolds trains continue to be on the move throughout the system as we find 324 'going away' from the photographer at Lilly.

Video of 324's experience near the big trestle.

324 is now on the Spruce Sub having cleared the Bell Sub when the crew terminated Train 314 at Nelson Yard.

The RP&M crew confers with the Nelson Yardmaster.

Trains continue to arrive and depart with expediency.

Over in Bell, Chris works the NY-Bell Turn 73-74 where his train arrives as the dedicated #73 and departs as #74.

Activity around Nelson Yard is captured in this video.

We take another look at this interesting pairing at Bell.

With his work now complete, Chris rides Train 74 back onto RP&M rails heading for Rat Portage.

It's downgrade most of the way, but with a short train the braking will not be an issue.

RP&M video out from Bell.

In the meantime our other RP&M crew works the Fallentree Mine with the engine stepping atop the Lawrence Watkins Trestle using the bridge tracks as the lead into the mine.

Dilip is the conductor aboard the train while Henk takes a breather from all of the action.

The yard continues to change its complexion throughout the morning hours.

Fallentree Mine work is captured on video.

On the audio, Garry seeks clearance for the Pool Train from dispatch from Peter's Pond to Wellington Lake where he has no work...so he is cleared through to Bell.  

He will, of course make a station stop at Wellington Lake for his passengers even though there is no headend switching necessary for him there.

Dilip uncouples his locomotive from the cars he sets out at the mine.

The Ironwood Road switcher has been pressed into duty on the RP&M on this day.

More video from the area.

We take a glance across three yards; Nelson, Glen Hammond and Bell.

This blurry images captures our two yardmasters to the west in Firgrove and Ralph Yard.

Chris has reached Rat Portage and switches out the Hamer Manufacturing industry at the far reaches of the yard.

Pool Train 33 surprises us once more as it arrives Bell.

In short order, once switching is completed the train will head over to RP&M rails.

Rat 63 has worked Glen Hammond's yard and now departs for Bellamy, Anderson and finally Rat Portage.

The crew leans into the curve heading towards the trailing siding spotted just above the engine at Bellamy.

It's a busy looking Bell at the moment.

Steve guides westbound Train 313 through Clarke Canyon and across the pedestrian crossing in this view taken from my dispatch hut.

Seanna railfans her own train!

The crew ride low beneath the Fallentree Mine at the location known as 'The Rockery'.

Piercing the Fred Mills Trestle they will find themselves in Nelson Yard in no time where they will depart with Train 323.

And...the Nelson Yardmasters will provide them with a 'clear alley' into the yard upon their arrival.

Train 312 has made headways into Ironwood as Pat uncouples a car from his locomotive.

We find third trick Train 322 down in Peter's Pond on the Cedar Rock siding holding momentarily.

Earlier, Train 314 took to the big curve above Clarke Canyon.

Their tail end clears the station track in Ironwood.

And...here is the 'tail end'.

More video of 313's earlier progress across the line.

We're back up in Bell at the Watkins Co-operative

The west house track holds a trio of cars at the moment.

At Bell we see from left to right; Track 4, Track 3, the Interchange Track, the main line and the west house track.

Continued Bell video activity.

Bernie hauls Rat 63 through the junction and onto RP&M iron.

He will notify dispatch when his tail end clears the junction.

We have an audience along the west end of the line.

The reason for the on-lookers is this meet between RP&M Train 63 and Pool Train 33.

Meet video down in Rat Portage.

Rat 63 has cleared the mainline offering a window of opportunity for Train 33 to exit the area.

Bernie is all smiles following the successful meet!

In this rather blurry shot, Garry hauls into Bellamy with the Pool Train.

Pool Train video work.

Train 323 gets underway out from Peter's Pond.

Their tail end clears the crossing.

Hayes Falls video scenes.

The train burrows beneath St. Helens.

The crew meets 'Hosta Alley' in 'The Corners'.

It's a case of the ancient and the modern.

Old & new video effort.

323 exits 'The Corners' by the old abandoned mine structure.

On approach to Wellington Lake.

Video of the train breezing through Wellington Lake.

A Canadian Diesel Moment

This CN GP9RM is spotted in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Photo Courtesy of Graham Hughes

A Second Canadian Diesel Moment

CP F-Units with icicle deflectors in May 1955.

Photographer unknown

A Third Canadian Diesel Moment

Helm Financial Corporation Diesel #4220 

Photo Courtesy of JC Ferber

Hi Jean!  So great to see you out!

Marcel, Robin & Pat enjoy the shade of the crew lounge.

Fred & Steve hang out here as well.

Cool cap, Robin.

Bernie's cap celebrates the Canadian Air Force's 100th birthday recently.

Marcel is all smiles.

His cap offers up a great message.

How about Father Fred's Canadian National cap.

Our OVGRS logo adorns the sides of these carrying cases.

The folks at the Alberta Prairie Railway offer us Canada birthday wishes.

Photo courtesy of Glen Cherry

Still more Canadian birthday wishes from the Alberta Prairie Railway come our way.

Photo courtesy of Steve Arnott

And, yes...OCTranspo here in Ottawa offers us free transit service on buses and light rail all day long on July 1st!

My band is playing at the Waterford Seniors' Residence on Canada Day at the corner of Bank Street and Hunt Club Road at 1:30 PM.  

Should be a ton of fun!

We will be playing all "Canadian Content" or "CanCon" as it is referred to and we will start the performance with a lovely rendition of "O Canada".

We will be playing songs by: The Rankin Family, K.D. Lang, Neil Young, Great Big Sea, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Mac Beattie, Anne Murray, Michael Bublé & Valdy.  

(We`ve covered a lot of Gordon Lightfoot before so we thought we`d give other artists a go!)

Here I am on the left with my buddies, Enis & Ken taken many moons ago...but we're all dressed in 'red' which celebrates Canada Day!

Father Fred also wishes to extend birthday wishes to this great country of ours.

We are fortunate to live in our nation's capital with all of the benefits of the museums and other tourist areas of interest which we can visit...along with our fabulous Rideau Canal.

Thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada