Lucky Dozen Session #12 Review

Lucky Dozen Session #12

Yessirree, we have been able to gather a dozen times in Fred's backyard to run trains thus far this season.

This time around the weekly clock we gathered to run our diesel engines.

I had to leave at 10:30 AM as my band was headlining a Musical Festival in the east end of Ottawa later in the afternoon.

We start off with this great photo of our very own Felicity in the cab of center cab #10 the 'Duncan du Fresne' named for a great railroad friend of so many of us.

This beauty is a 50 tonner!

Two of the museum guides share the cab with Felicity.

This shot was taken the year before as Felicity awaits the boarding of a number of children to load into the caboose.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful images with us, Felicity!

Pat Brennan sent these next two images our way taken Saturday morning when Fred's neighbour and great friend, Mike Charlebois, headed over to Pat's place in Aylmer to do some serious tree pruning.

This is the reason Pat had to back out of the most recent operating session.

Pat has plans to build a large scale operating railroad in his backyard!

Mike's trailer is all loaded up and ready to roll!

Thanks for sharing these images as well, Pat!

 Indeed, diesels rule the roost on our standard gauge sessions and Malcolm's Conrail unit leads the way aboard IPP&W Train 303.

He is facing west seeing as all westbounds for the IPP&W are 'odd-numbered' trains.

Trains 303 and 304 are staged in Glen Hammond before the session begins with 303 pointing west and 304 traveling east.

The two tracks on the left are the staging tracks and the two on the right are the interchange tracks.

The crews often have work to conduct here in Glen Hammond before departing the scene in opposing directions.

Off in the distance we spot traffic in Nelson Yard.

The RP&M trains begin their day over there.

We spot a number of cars in Ralph Yard at Firgrove.

The lads are placing their locomotives on the tracks before the session gets underway.

John will be running Passenger #2 out from Firgrove with his CP Rail unit leading the way.

Off to the right Grant and Al are in conversation.

Al is our newest member of the group and it sure is great having him aboard with us on Saturday mornings.

Doug enjoys a wee break from setting out the equipment as he arrived in the 'sixes' to help set out the railcars.

Malcolm listens in on what he has to say.

I would like to thank Malcolm for letting me know about a great Canadian modeler who passed away suddenly this week...Ralph Renzetti, the weathering phenom from Toronto.

Ralph was known as the "Mudfather" of weathering and you would find him at his 'weathering table' at most train shows across Ontario with a fleet of beautifully weathered locomotives and rolling stock as exemplified in the image above.

We dedicated our operating session to Ralph and his widow, Jane.

Henk is being most kind on this day!

The reason being - he is lifting the ore cars from the Fallentree Mine for the crew of the ore train!

And...the crew of the ore train would happen to be...Bill W. and me!

Henk tiptoes atop the Lawrence Watkins Trestle at Goodie's Gulch using it as the lead into and out from the mine.

Video evidence of Henk's kindness.

Garry can't believe that the Dutchman had a kind molecule in his body and he tells him so as my crew mate, Bill, looks on.

More video evidence of Henk's apparent 'turn' in his personality.

We once again check in on the folks in the early moments before the session placing their power atop the rails.

Indeed, Henk had managed to sneak in the 'lift' of the ore cars before the session even commenced as witnessed in this pre-ops video.

This single ore siding acts as the 'mine' in Firgrove.

This is the location where the ore train begins its first run of the day lifting loaded ore cars from the mines bound for the Northland Ore Dock in Craig Leigh far to the east.

RP&M Train 71 is underway out from Nelson Yard.

The crew will have work to conduct at the Lyon Supply spur seen to the right of the image.

This video showcases the exit of this 'mystery' passenger train out from Firgrove in the early hours of sunrise.

Some thought this was Pool Train 33 while others thought it was Train #1...when in actual fact, the mystery train is Passenger #2!

After clearing the junction, Grant faithfully returns the interlocking switch back to the IPP&W routing which is the default condition.

John is well on his way down to Bell with Train #2 as the lads work in the distance at Nelson Yard and Glen Hammond.

More video from the vicinity of Firgrove.

Next on the roll out from Firgrove is IPP&W Train 302.

The crew passes the mine on its downgrade trajectory.

More video of the 'roll out' from Firgrove.

Train 40 will be next out from Firgrove; the short hop down to Bell and back with Len at the controls.

With three trains now departed, the rails are 'all ours' as Bill & I head into the mine track to pull the cars.

We will then run around our train and depart as the fourth train out within mere minutes of each other.

Video of the release of the loaded ore cars from the mine track.

Bill backs our power onto the ore consist...

...while across the valley RP&M Train 71 arrives the yard limits in the town of Rat Portage.

Valley video views.

Ore is finally on the roll out from Firgrove with D&H engine #7316 holding the honours on this day.

This locomotive is the "Ralph  Dipple" named after one of our earlier OVGRS members who passed away a number of years ago.

Ralph Yard in Firgrove is also named in his honour.

In this video you hear me explain about the locomotive to George and then to Bill who was just arriving close by to where we were standing - thus the double explanation.  😎👀😎

We finally make it to the yard limits at Bell where we note Train 40 has cleared the main for us.

Train 302 is also safely tucked in on Track 3 as we pass by on the main.

In this collage of colours we find ourselves drifting past the station at Bell.

We thank Bill (of the Scobie clan) for truncating the back wall in order to narrow the footprint of the depot to allow larger steam locomotives to clear the platform.

Video work in Bell.

Speaking of Bill of the Scobie Association...

...here's the handsome young lad now!

And...while we happen to be examining shirt wear...isn't this a glorious embroidered crest!

In the last video you heard me welcome Steve & Seanna back from their trip to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Great to have both of you back in town!

Say, there's Fred's neighbour, Dean, dropping by to visit us one more time as he dropped in last weekend.

Fred...feel free to invite him over to the Patio Party Wednesday evening!

And...speaking of Steve & Seanna Watson...here is the Watson Electric Company so named in their honour.

Check out the complementary coloured boxcars residing on the Watson siding up in Cedar Rock.

Moo-ving along...

These cattle hope there is a lot of hay inside the stock cars!

It's nice to see a big crowd gathered at Fred's each Saturday morning.

And...it's so wonderful to find Andrew back in Fred's backyard when he is not traveling to the Ukraine to assist that wonderful country with their current struggle.

You are a great human being Andrew!

Peter's Pond is a hot railfan spot as it is a meeting place for a number of trains throughout the morning.

Here the rails are at 'ground level' so there is a lot of bending over to do when switching.

Our ore train follows the passenger train into town and on to Nelson Yard as the passenger service heads over to Glen Hammond.

Following a short 'service interruption' trains are once again rolling along the rails of the IPP&W as viewed in this video segment shot down in Peter's Pond.

It is now our turn to take to the tracks in 'The Pond' as we breeze by on the main while 303 is protected on the appropriate siding spur.

Off we go with Bill in control of the train as Garry confers with Malcolm as he checks his switch list for the area.

Video moments down in Peter's Pond.

Train 304 crosses Brennan Bridge at Goodie's Gulch as Henk looks up to the heavens from his seat in Nelson Yard.

Passenger #2 hammers the junction bound for Bellamy and on into Glen Hammond where the passenger meet is scheduled to take place.

The Glen will be his designated meeting place with Passenger #1.

It's always 'right hand running' at Mercer Siding as we trail Passenger #2 at a safe distance.

Video effects at and about Mercer Siding.

Train 2 reaches Bellamy and slows to a stop when its tail end clears the junction trackage.

The junction switch is then thrown and we are able to divert into Nelson Yard after we navigate the interlocking.

Junction video.

The eastbound passenger train reaches its meeting point with its westbound counterpart which is yet to arrive in Glen Hammond.

We reach the western yard limits to Nelson Yard but remain on the move as we have already been cleared into the big yard.

We are lined up for the Arrival/Departure track.

We note our ore lifts on the siding two tracks over.

Nelson Yard arrival video.

Lo and behold...here comes Passenger #1 from the east!

All other trains are 'on hold' to keep the rail line open into Glen Hammond for the arrival of Train #1.

The SOO Line RS3 is in care of the westbound passenger train.

She's a real 'looker' Andrew!

Passenger #1 is the star of this video!

The train races to its meeting point.

Exiting the Fred Mills trestle high above the dry gulch, the crew will be in the Glen in no time at all.

More video of Train #1.

Number 1 takes the outer track that will lead the train into the Glen.

Trainman Dilip is holding with his RP&M consist until the tracks clear in the Glen once the meet has taken place.

We are also waiting with our ore train to exit out from Nelson Yard as the RP&M consist is blocking the yard throat momentarily.

An overall shot of the meet of the two passenger runs.

Passenger meet video.

With the tail of Number 1 now clear of the switch, Train #2 can depart from the Glen.

Very short video of Train 2's departure.

With Passenger #2 now gone, the RP&M train then enters the yard in the Glen which then opens up the yard throat for my ore train to come out and tack onto the rest of its consist.

The ore cars are very light and prone to derailing occasionally which you will see in the next video...even if we are running at a low speed.

The chain of events can now take place due to the clearing up of the Glen as witnessed in this video footage from Mike.

It's an 'over and under' shot.

Passenger #2 is now free to make headways east while Bill & I assemble our ore train up top.

We are now running back to our tail end where we will be 'eleven strong' with ore cars behind our power.

Both Bills are on the menu in this image.

Mr. Scobie & I kibitz about the future dealings with the 'lightweight' ore cars in this video.

Finally...with all tracks cleared we are able to depart the big yard.

Bill brings our train to a stop at the 'double Fallentree Mine' to ensure our turnouts are lined properly to the main...which I ensure him they are.

Ore exit video tape.

We find Paul down in St. Helens running IPP&W Train Hop #41.

We spot Passenger #1 making headways past Joan's cabin in the woods.

Our final video of this blog posting showcases Paul's and Andrew's efforts at the eastern fringe of Fred's property.

Paul, in St. Helens, is on the Spruce Sub while Andrew, in 'The Corners' is on the Bell Sub.

Steve & Seanna have arrived Nelson Yard where Steve reaches in to uncouple the car on his headpin.

Cedar Rock is home to many sidings; both facing and trailing as these cars trail the train's direction.

Malcolm is right at home at Vant Aggregates.

Bernie & Pat are a relaxed crew...and they are both active members of the renowned WDWD group!

Mike is always happy to see freight cars finding a temporary home on his Hamer Manufacturing spur!

The crew lounge can accommodate as many operators as appear each Saturday morning!

Garry observes the action from outside the freshly painted dispatch booth while Doug resides indoors!

When I get home and if I'm in the mood to continue running trains I simply head down to my train room beside my crew lounge in its subterranean environment.

Here I am aboard B&M switcher #1170 taking the Boundary Road crossing near the outskirts of town.

I'm at the outbound end of the big curved yard in the town of North Dover, NH about to switch out the distillery.

The Holy Spirits Distillery requires the gondola to be lifted on this day.

The tankcars for Haney Fuels, a facility which shares the siding with the distillery, act as a lengthy 'car reach'.

Job accomplished as witnessed in this video footage!

Thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry!

That's Alison, Lisa, Karen & me at Disney World in Florida in 2007.

Dean and Father Fred relax out on the patio where my band will be playing this coming Wednesday evening.  

OVGRS member Gerry Berrigan will join the band and OVGRS member Steve Watson will sing a wonderful song that is most fitting to what we have been experiencing this summer.

If you like music from such greats as Roy Orbison, Frank Sinatra, the Everly Brothers, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Santana, Otis Redding, The Hollies, Tina Turner, Simon & Garfunkel, Buddy Holly, Anne Murray, Valdy, The Rolling Stones, Ian & Sylvia, Neil Diamond & more...then Fred's patio is the place to be Wednesday evening starting at 6:30 PM.  

Any and all are invited to attend!

On behalf of Father Fred, we wish to thank all who made it out this Saturday morning.

We also wish to thank our readership of this blog from locations all around the globe for checking in on a weekly basis.

Running trains in the great outdoors keeps us young at heart!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada