Garden Railroading: A Visit to Session #9

Let's Visit Session #9

We gathered under cooler temperatures this past Saturday, August 2nd.

The 'heat dome' has moved on allowing pleasant conditions to permeate our operations.

Thanks to those who contributed pics and videos to our blog!

We've gone through the old archives to locate this image of trains amassing at the passenger terminal in Craig Leigh.

The archives gave up this image of a trio of reefers at the ice track in Craig Leigh.

Aha...now it's 'back to the future' with our blog entry!

Indeed, when you experience our 'narrow gauge' session you will stumble across a handful of colourful billboad reefers and these three do not disappoint.

The Minneapolis, Saint Paul & Sault Ste. Marie was a class 1 subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the midwestern United States with reporting marks as SOO LINE.

The Carling Brewery in London, Ontario first brewed beer in the late 1800's and was later rebranded as Black Label in 1927.

Berkshire ham & bacon originates from the Berkshire pig that first appeared in the English county of Berkshire.

The pig has been exported to various countries and is now raised in locations as near and far as the USA, Japan and Australia.

This car hails from the midwestern United States where Bricktown Brewery locations are prevalent.

My research tells me that Borden's became a national dairy brand in the late 1930's.

The company created the cartoon cow, "Elsie" which you see pictured in the daisy flower to the right of the reefer doors.

Apparently at the New York World's Fair of 1939, visitors to the "Borden's Dairy World of Tomorrow" pavilion wanted to know which live Jersey cow on display was Elsie!

And...at "Ottawa's World's Fair of Today" in 2025, people want to meet this cool looking grandpa!

Gerry gets a kick out of Bernie's sweatshirt with its awesome "Play With Trains" message to people of all ages!

We catch John with a smile on his face as he will man the passenger runs on this day which will take him to all locations across both railways.

Now, here is a wonderful Welsh railway.

Looking handsome as ever is Nelson Yardmaster Bill in the cool shirt!

Bill & Henk have devised a simple, yet successful, labeling method for the trains in their yard.

And here the two of them are!

Well...here is an image of a narrow gauge "of sorts".

Steve & Seanna sent along this image our way from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland where the rail distances are narrower than those on the continent.

Mark sent along this image he snapped recently.

He tells us:

Looks like traffic on the IPP&W mainline has increased so much the Board of Directors has decided to expand the Ironwood portion of the line southward quite a bit, almost to Manotick, to serve new customers. 😀

A sign that our weekly operators are all doing very well moving passengers and freight around town.

Maybe one day we’ll even link up with Barry’s line.

Thanks for sharing, Mark, Steve & Seanna!

These next three images come from Dilip.

We find Bill assisting the ore train with its setouts and pickups at Fallentree Mine.

Pat is in charge of ore movements on this day and he is found in Spruce trailing the passenger train in Ironwood on an easterly procession.

Nelson Yard is idle at the moment as the crew aboard 303 conduct their moves in Glen Hammond to the left.

Here is a snipped image I grabbed from Dilips' sole video from the morning seeing as he was alone on the RP&M run today.

Dilip's video work at this central location on the railroad.

Thanks for sharing these pics and video with us Dilip!

No barriers hinder the progress of Passenger #2 as the train is the 'first out' from Firgrove.

That colourful steamer in CN drab is a real performer on this day!

The "March of Trains" continues with 302 pursuing Passenger 2 into Bell.

"March Madness" video efforts in early August!

Jeff leans over the yard in Glen Hammond as he & Chris (out of the picture) crew Train 304 which originates here.

In back Gerry leans over the RS3 to rail it as Fred has readied it for service aboard 303.

John, to the left, has conducted his station stop over in Bell and is about to request clearance down to Wellington Lake.

Bill is all smiles as I escape the dispatch hut on a "short" leash to be able to take pics and vids from the general vicinity of the booth.

Gerry has the diesel road switcher at the head of his westbound train and he will get underway shortly with his crewmate, Mark.

Bill reminds me that I, indeed, have a 'short leash'!

Over to the left Dilip works the sidings at Lilly and the Fallentree Mine aboard RP&M Train Rat 61.

Chris, to the right, handles the power aboard IPP&W Train 304.

Video moments near the dispatch booth.

The power aboard 304 is PEI steamer #32.

The crew bypasses Nelson Yard on the 'outer' track which leads to 'The Glen'.

"Wow...those engines sure are loud!" Bill explains through his body language.

The crew aboard Rat 61 returns from the outer fringes nearby Nelson Yard.

She's a beauty of a steam locomotive!

Back into the big yard Dilip heads.

We are reminded of the power inherent in a steam locomotive and judging by the sound in this video, it is voluminous!

With their work complete, Felicity and her anonymous crewmate depart Bell aboard 302.

Once again, with their work complete, Bernie and his anonymous crewmate depart Bell aboard 302. 😎

Here's our last chance to film 302's progress nearby the neighbourhood of my dispatch booth.

Bell departure on video!

This stealth locomotive is in charge of the ore movements across the line on this day.

Pat looks resplendent in that checkered shirt of his soaking up the sun in the early hours of August 2nd!

It is easy for dispatch to choreograph meets at Watkins as the siding is long and there are crossovers midway offering a variety of alternatives!

Train meet at Watkins as witnessed on video.

With only a single operator for the passenger runs on this day, we spot Passenger 1 and Pool Train 33 resting on their respective ready tracks outside the Craig Leigh passenger terminal.

Malcolm is running alone on 301 out from Craig Leigh but he is all smiles nonetheless!

Indeed, the environs around Craig Leigh are vast as we check in on the MT's at the Northland Ore Dock.

We find Jeff determining the moves for Train 304 which you earlier watched depart Glen Hammond.

With my self-imposed 'short leash' from the dispatch cabin I am able to witness Passenger 2 make its station stop in Bell.

The crew aboard way freight 302 approach the western yard ladder off in the distance.

From my perch in the dispatch booth, I am able to snap this image looking down the length of Glen Hammond as Train 303 works the yard there.

I am sharing the dispatch booth with Bill Weiler on this day, so in some of the videos you will hear our conversations in the background.

304 has found Spruce along its easterly tack.

Dilip has backed RP&M Train 61 known as 'Rat' 61 out from the yard in Nelson and he has been cleared into the Glen.

Gerry will depart soon with IPP&W Train 303 which had been delayed with engine difficulties.

Malcolm has reached Ironwood aboard Train 301 and has been asked to pull the ore loads from the mine for Pat aboard the ore train.

He then continues with his work at this location as he lifts a tank car from the Larabie Fuels siding.

We find Pat & Fred observing the progress of the ore train which takes to the giant curve outside Spruce bound for Ironwood.

Pat's power passes before my eyes in this shot at the western end of Ironwood.

Malcolm has retrieved the ore cars located on the facing siding for the ore train.

This teamwork among crews is much appreciated and allows for the railroad to run smoothly!

Video effort of the ore transfer at Ironwood.

On the audio you can hear me explaining the process to my fellow dispatcher, Bill.

Malcolm makes his escape off the outer track.

Pat heads over to retrieve the ore cars which are trailing nicely now behind his locomotive.

Off in the distance...Fred conducts some maintenance on a turnout.

Video action around Ironwood & Spruce!

We continue with Pat's retrieval of the ore loads.

Malcolm continues with his switching efforts aboard 301.

More video from Ironwood.

The ore train is now made up of some 14 cars strong!

Meanwhile...over in Spruce...Fred and the crew aboard 304 examine the turnout at the eastern end (geographical western end) of the siding.

They run their train back a forth a number of times and observe carefully in an attempt to isolate the exact area causing the issue.

Still more video work from this section of the railroad!

304 makes it into Ironwood unscathed!

The crew takes the siding near the walkway in order to leave the main clear.

304's entry into Ironwood is captured in this video footage.

Trains in...Trains out!

Dilip is happy to have 'The Glen" all to himself as 303 exits the scene.

Glen Hammond video views!

I would like to thank my 'co-dispatching' partner, Bill, for manning the booth while I snuck out with my leash around my neck to snap a few images and videos for the blog!