Garden Railroading: More Evidence From Session #10

More Images and Videos Captured During Session #10

Our previous posting showcased images and videos Dilip sent our way.

I added a few videos at the end of that entry to support the great work by Dilip.

This posting showcases further evidence of the fun we had this past Saturday morning.

We enjoyed a rather large gathering of folks for our 10th operations of the season.

Thankfully so...as our paperwork was somewhat 'amiss' and all crew members were called to attention to sort out which cars go to which towns and industries.

Our 10th session was not unlike our initial session of the season when all of the cars need to be sorted out...but, alas, we were able to hold our safety briefing after all and we actually got started at the designated start time of 9:00 AM.

301 is spotted on the siding at Spruce.

Malcolm & Moe are well into their first run of the morning when this image was snapped.

The nature of these cars tells us that we are enjoying a 'standard gauge' morning.

These two sidings are the Norton Fishery and the Peter's Pond team track.

Here is a look at the lush foliage surrounding the neighbourhood of 'The Pond'.

My crew mate, Doug Matheson, and I are on the roll out from Glen Hammond bound for Spruce aboard eastbound Train 304.

Here is our newest member of the group, Al, checking to see if his video effort worked.

The area around Nelson Yard is heavily occupied at the moment.

A video moment with Train 304.

Train 301 once again draws this railfan trackside as the crew slows for its approach into Ironwood.

Railfan Al captures the moment as well!

Video movements with 301 and 304 at Ironwood.

Doug & I are busy switching out the Ironwood Brick siding while Malcolm & Moe continue with their efforts 'around our train'.

We are pulling those two chemical cars off the siding and we will insert a car from our train back into the spur.

Continued video work in and around Ironwood.

We spot a 'triple meet', here in town.

Passenger #2 has reached Ironwood.

Nearby on the property - but geographically miles away - we find 303 clinging to the rails at Wellington Lake.

The train is on the Bell Subdivision to the west while we are on the Spruce Sub in the east.

Train #2 gets underway out from Ironwood bound for St. Helens.

A quartet of trains is located in this video handiwork!

With Train #2 having departed town, the crews aboard their two trains get back down to business.

I'm running back to the head of my consist...

...while Malcolm shoves onto the rear of his.

Extended video from Ironwood.

As we continue our work we notice Train 302 in the distance has met 303 at Watkins Siding.

With our facing sidings handled nicely, Doug & I begin to drill the trailing spurs at Ironwood.

Ironwood sidings video efforts.

Train 304 approaches 'The Plateau' between Ironwood and St. Helens.

In an enchanted setting, the rays of the sun blanket the train as the crew will approach their next destination in short order.

indeed, a rather enchanting video!

We find Garry & Paul deep in Craig Leigh with the passenger run being backed through the yard where the train will eventually reach the vast passenger terminal.

We enter shortly thereafter.

Craig Leigh approach video.

I will use my other locomotive for the power on our next train, my D&H GP38-2.

Yardmaster Paul will get down to work breaking down our train in Douglas Yard while we will run around to the departure track and pick up our second trick train, Number 313 pictured to the bottom left of your screen.

The ore loads are yet to arrive the giant ore dock as these empties await their return to the mines.

Garry has Pool Train 33 in St. Helens being pulled by this Canadian National beauty!

A while later he reaches the depot in Spruce.

Pat lines up the routing for the ore train to enter the yard from the east.

Our other Pat takes to the new turnout at Spruce aboard Train 312.

Here is Fred's neighbour, Allan, coming for a visit to check out the railroad.

He was most impressed!

The ore train has arrived Ironwood where it will set out some MT hopper cars to the mine along the siding that trails the train.

Doug & I have been cleared out of Ironwood for Spruce...but...

...we catch a glimpse of 312 climbing the grade leading into Spruce...so we decide to back up at Ironwood and hold the siding.

This allowed Doug & I a 15 minute break while the crew aboard 312 conducted their work in Spruce.

That's okay as we were ahead of schedule and this allowed me the opportunity to railfan other trains!

Video of the two trains.

The ore train makes its way into Spruce where 312 has protected itself on the passing siding.

That delightful string of MT hoppers is a wonderful sight to behold.

In this earlier video you can hear us discussing the possibility of having both crews work together at this location but with only the single passing siding we thought better of it.

In Ironwood - with the addition lengthy siding - two crews working together assisting each other with their facing moves can be accomplished quite handily as up in Bell as well.

This length of the line is notable for its great distance between two locations on the railway without any passing sidings.

Dispatch must be most observant when clearing traffic between Spruce and Nelson Yard or Glen Hammond in order to avoid 'cornfield meets'.

We catch the ore train heading west toward the big yard at Nelson.

Up top the hill in Spruce the crew of 312 begin their switching.

Ore movement as seen on video.

Over to the west, Jeff drives RP&M Train 73 upgrade into Stuart.

He and Mark thank Dilip for the use of his diesel locomotive.

Henk rests in the shade as Pat places our van on our train while Fred & Bill look on in the distance.

We are off with our third trick Train 323 bound for Peter's Pond where we will diverge off to the Cedar Rock Branch.

All this action is captured in this video moment.

Upon our arrival at Peter's Pond we block our set-outs for Cedar Rock appropriately for the facing and trailing sidings located at the end of the branch.