Running Trains in Belleville
Eleven OVGRS members scooted upriver to Belleville, Ontario to help Barry put his layout through its paces.
We left the Nation's Capital at 6:30 AM and, with a stop in Brockville for breakfast, we arrived Belleville just short of 10:00 AM.
We re-visited Brockville on our way home and railfanned the CN mainline at the depot in town in a drizzling rain.
Barry is all smiles as a large group from Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville and other localities nearby his home descended on his wonderful railway!
For first time visitors to the blog, you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them and you can return to the default look of the page by clicking outside them.
The weather forecast for the AM hours allowed us time to set out the equipment and run the first round of trains.
It would appear that livestock will be on the move out from Ottawa.
Barry offers instructions to the assembled group as a couple of trains will be on the move shortly.
As always, the gardens look beautiful!
Barry was 'tickled pink' that his dear friend, Doug Hayes, managed to make it here from Ottawa.
That's Doug seated on the left with Father Fred on the right - rockin' away!
Barry presented Fred with this gorgeous railroad lantern as a gift for all Fred has done in the hobby.
That was very kind of you, Barry!
Brakeman Fred is pleased as punch!
Pat is excited to run his newly purchased switcher in GN colours at Barry's.
Pat and Al are captured in this video switching the industries not far from the Ottawa Yard aboard Train 403.
Once their train is assembled with their ten cars in Ottawa they will head west to Belleville with seven station stops en route.
For first time visitors to the blog, you can engage the video by clicking on the white arrow in the middle of the image once and then one more time again.
Ottawa is looking busier by the moment!
You can tell there hasn't been much rain this summer in this image Barry sent our way earlier.
In this other picture from Barry we walk down the garden path to the gate that will take us into paradise!
And...what a railroad paradise it is!
Indeed, Master Barry has been a rather busy lad recreating new routes on the railway.
I note Paul's power in the newly located yard at Belleville.
Paul was one of the two yardmasters assigned to this location by Barry on his crew list.
Jeff sent along this image of Paul working the yard at Belleville with Chris (I believe) looking on.
The crew to the right would be John & Grant in Cumberland aboard westbound Train 401.
Thanks for the photo, Jeff!
In the pre-ops meeting, Barry reviews many of the changes undertaken on the railroad.
Folks from all locals join in on the operations.
It was great to see our good friend, Grant Smith, from Cold Lake, Alberta make it all the way to Belleville for the operations.
Doug listens in as Grant tells a story of one of the many set-ups he does at the various train shows in western Canada.
The lads are studying the area in and around the expansive yard at Ottawa.
Barry has quite the diversity of rolling stock and this New England fan particularly enjoys these New Haven fraternal twins!
How about the pair of Corvette's being shipped out from Belleville!
Pat & Al keep up with their switching aboard Train 403 at Cora's Corners.
They will have another lift here...that silver reefer.
Video efforts outside of Ottawa with the crew of 304.
Two lifts now accomplished!
More video of the crew.
Ed & Diane Mann have arrived from their home in Pennsylvania!
Wow! Take a look at Diane's hat!
Cool hat video!
Yes, the trailing car is being whiplashed like the child on the playground at the end of the line of arms...but that's okay...Diane will re-rail the errant car in short order!
Diane spent many hours perfecting the hat.
The trains are 'T' scale...smaller than 'Z' scale...if you can believe it!
Barry and Bonnie's lovely granddaughter wanted to take on the challenge of re-railing the tiny train!
It demands intense concentration!
Ed, Fred & Bonnie look on...and are they ever impressed!
Job accomplished!
The scenery alone is spectacular!
Amazing hat video!
We were thrilled to see Johnny Chuff Chuff show up.
He is marveling over Diane's T-Train hat!
And...of course, we are thrilled to see Noelle as well!
She is also marveling over the 'magic hat'!
Video of marvelous people and a marvelous hat!
Back on the bigger railroad I spot John's CP Rail diesel.
He and Grant are on the Ottawa to Belleville Train 401.
We find the crew in Belleville at the moment.
Canadian Pacific meets CP Rail at the junction.
John & Grant switch out the bypass siding.
Backing onto the cut of cars.
Mission accomplished.
Here's John & Grant!
Switching video.
Ethan is a local lad who is most enthusiastic about trains!
He is assisting the ladies who are running Train 602 out from Trista Centre.
John enjoys the camaraderie the crew lounge offers.
Video views from Trista Centre.
You can very well imagine my great surprise when I first saw Johnny Chuff Chuff enter the environs of the railroad!
Grant gets a 'selfie' with him!
Grant is a helicopter pilot from Cold Lake, Alberta.
Noelle looks fabulous with that lovely smile and cool cap.
She will be traveling overseas to her origin of birth in the north of Ireland at some point soon.
This Canadian Pacific locomotive was busy making up its train at Trista Centre.
We spot some of the activity in and around Cumberland.
Hayes Fuels is a rather busy location on the railroad.
See what I mean!
We find Pat & Al working the area around Hayes Fuels.
The facility is named after Barry's dear friend, Doug Hayes, who accompanied us in the van down from Ottawa for the day.
Al reaches 'down and in' to uncouple the setout car for the siding.
Hayes Fuels video.
Yet another gorgeous diesel engine is spotted about to enter the tunnel beneath the waterfall.
Barry entertains friends in the lounge area.
Barry's granddaughter and friend were such a tremendous help all morning long.
Greatly appreciated ladies!
Noelle takes a break inside to fill out some travel forms for her upcoming trip.
And Johnny...well he is ever the clown - literally!
Fred & Diane relax indoors with the gang.
Diane shows us the T trains that travel around the brim of her hat.
On the way home we stopped off in Brockville for a bit of railfanning.
Check out the three signal aspects...all different in this video footage!
No longer than five minutes passed following our arrival when this puppy was spotted!
Video of the westbound CN train in Brockville.
As good railfans do, we stay back far away from the track.
Continued video of the train!
Thanks for checking in on this first blog entry from our visit to Barry's in Belleville.
Picture above taken of me and Gerry this past Wednesday at Fred's 'Patio Party'.
Thanks to Barry & Bonnie for hosting us!
We enjoyed our time immensely meeting new people and running trains on your magnificent railroad.
I will be creating another post or two from our visit later in the week as my sore back heals.
We are the OVGRS of Belleville, Ontario, Canada
