Session #15 Reminiscences
Three major model rail events took place this past Saturday, with our train operating session added on as a fourth.
No worries though as we managed to get by with a sufficient number of operators to make for a highly successful session.
Indeed, our dear city of Ottawa is a model railroad hotbed as well as a popular place to live for anyone interested in trains!
We played host to a number of visitors on this fine late September morning!
From left to right: Bernie Goodman from Ottawa, Ontario; Brian & Jeanne Pepin from Wakefield, Quebec: and Barry Birkett from Belleville, Ontario.
I'm just teasing Bernie as he is a "regular"...but has been away a bit recently so I tagged him as a visitor "just for fun"!
Now...speaking of 'visitors', Pat & I brought out a whole slew of magazines, both dealing with model railroading and with real railroading to share with the entire group.
Needless to say, they were all gobbled up!
The steadfast work of the Workday Wednesday Maintenance Crew is in clear evidence here at Craig Leigh.
A season or two ago, some of the WDWD lads gathered over a number of days (of decent weather) to tear out the entire trackage and benchwork along this lengthy stretch of the passenger terminal which had deteriorated over time.
The entire job took too many "man hours" to count...but it has made for excellent operations in this neighbourhood.
In shadow at the moment we see from left to right: Passenger #1, Pool Train #33 and Passenger #3.
The first two trains were run on this day, but Train #3 remained in Craig Leigh seeing as we had only a single operator for the passenger runs.
And...who might that single operator be...none other than our dear friend and fellow OVGRS member, Barry Birkett, who drove all this way up to Ottawa from his home in Belleville to run trains in Fred's backyard.
Great that you were able to make it out, Barry!
Barry began his day aboard Passenger #2, eastbound out from Firgrove. He then boarded Pool Train #33 and ran the entire length of both the IPP&W and the RP&M before finishing off his day with Passenger #1 westbound out from Craig Leigh.
We spot Barry's gorgeous steam locomotive #10 off the East Broad Top line having just exited its carrying case up in Firgrove.
Barry also brought along his four-axle Ottawa Central diesel locomotive #1828 "just in case"!
This unit is an RS18 and worked for the Ottawa Central in the early 2000's.
Image courtesy of Marc Mainekoff.
This image of similar locomotives I snagged on a railfan trip along the OCR between Glen Robertson and Hawkesbury many years ago!
Back at Fred's place it is still early in the AM hours as the lads set out the equipment in this view taken from my dispatch booth.
With no one to man Firgrove and its associated Ralph Yard, I simply assembled the first outgoing way freight, Number 302 by hand...as well as second trick Train 314.
Andrew & Phil will make up the crew on this day so Andrew has placed his lovely steam locomotive (nee South Pacific Coast) on the point.
In the background is the consist for Passenger #2 which Barry will run as soon as he arrives after his long drive from Belleville.
Andrew informed me of a few modifications he made of the oversized pilot/cow catcher.
It now appears more realistic.
Indeed, locomotive #21 is a beauty in its silver & red clothing!
Much later in the session I managed to snag this shot of Andrew's caboose #10 of the SPC.
He has just arrived Craig Leigh aboard second trick Train #312.
He will turn his locomotive and he and crewmate Phil will depart Craig Leigh back west as Train 321.
Pre-ops Andrew shared with me the working marker lights on his caboose...off at the moment.
And...with a flick of the switch underneath...they are on!
Hey! Check out the working marker lamps on video!
And when the session finally ends, the power is carried to his vehicle strapped onto his carrying plate with tender loving care!
This wonderful singing quartet assisted me with the setting out of equipment at Firgrove and Rat Portage.
From left to right: Gerry 'Spike' Berrigan, Bill 'hostler' Weiler, Pat ' trainman' Brennan and last but not least, Andrew 'engineer' Onuferko!
Train 71 has stopped to break its train in order to handle the Bud-Lite Gouda siding at Anderson.
Trains 302 and counterpart 301 both seek clearance out from their originating yards as heard on this video.
I have instructed 301 to come in on the 'passing' siding, but he inadvertently heard 'passenger' siding'.
In the end the train did leave the station track open and protected itself in on the passing siding. 😀😁😀
RP&M 71 deals with the siding at Anderson as the Nelson Yard crew utilizes two locomotives to handle their work here at the western throat of their yard.
Anderson area video.
With five cars in tow (plus van) the crew aboard Train 302 proceeds out from Firgrove to kick off their morning's first trick.
The outlook is that "It's all downhill from here!" as the crew trundles downgrade into Bell. 😎
The far track to the left is situated in the neighbouring town of Stuart.
302's exit from Firgrove is the theme of this video effort.
The red signal you see does not govern the locomotive aboard RP&M Train 71.
It is actually protecting the train at the moment.
It is the signal to the lower right which is green to allow the crew to use the junction trackage momentarily as a lead into the trailing siding they are working.
Train 71 drills the nearby siding on video.
Train 71 rolls through the junction bound for the other sidings at Anderson and eventually Rat Portage and Bell.
The RP&M counterpart train, Rat 61, drills the sidings at Lilly.
Both RP&M trains are spotted in this single video!
The haze of the early morning will soon be lifting as the RP&M train uses the Lawrence Watkins Trestle as a lead into the two industries at Lilly.
This shot demonstrates the elegance of this wooden trestle that took Lawrence many hours to fabricate.
Pat has all things under control here at Lilly as witnessed on this video.
302 has made its arrival known at Bell as the crew sets out a car or two at the facing siding to the west of town.
The crew appears on video with their train along the Bell Sub so named after its namesake town of Bell - the location they are currently working.
Train 303's power works the west end of the Glen...
...while Train 304's power works the east end.
Indeed, Glen Hammond runs 'hot' in the wee hours of the morning with traffic for both IPP&W Trains 303 and 304 being made up and worked in this town as shown in this video montage.
While considered the 'minor' line by some, the Rat Portage & Mattawa deals with an abundance of traffic, especially in the summer season.
The major meeting point on the railroad is the big yard at Nelson.
We spot a colourful array of traffic sparkling in the early morning sun.
The crew aboard 304 works the interchange tracks in 'The Glen' before embarking on their easterly journey to Craig Leigh.
Pat is the lone employee riding Rat 61 into Rat Portage on this day.
Passenger numbers are high along the IPP&W as summer has now melded into early fall.
Barry hauls eastbound Train #2 into Spruce.
His locomotive faces west until taking on the horseshoe curve into Ironwood where he will once again face east.
We re-visit the crew of 302 following their jaunt up the Cedar Rock Branch.
It appears they have a setout at Cedar Rock Supply.
Their power takes a short breather in the shade offered up by the massive Watson Electric structure.
Locomotive #4 is on loan from the Northland Railroad and is found working the western side of Nelson Yard.
She may be diminutive...but she's "packed with a punch!"
We have a momentary meet in Peter's Pond as Train 302 departs for Nelson Yard following the arrival of 311...seen taking the Cedar Rock siding.
They will now sashay up the branch which 302 just worked!
Brian & Jeanne are all smiles!
Who wouldn't be in Fred's backyard!
I told them that the only price of admission into the operating session was a smile and some laughter!
304 is found outside Nelson Yard beginning its run having departed Glen Hammond for Spruce.
With five cars and van trailing, the crew takes to the curve before splicing the girders of the Fred Mills Trestle.
Much later in the session, Pool Train #33 arrives the Glen and holds company with an RP&M Train.
Barry is seen switching out the house track in behind the depot as Chris checks his RP&M train orders for Glen Hammond.
In back at Bell, Train 311 deals with the work at the other junction point in the railroad.
Elevated above Goodie's Gulch, Train 304 looks west while heading railroad east for Spruce.
Trestle video.
From above the roofline of the Blockhouse, we spot 304 stepping out onto Brennan Bridge, now facing due east.
Bridge video.
The Blockhouse as pictured to the left in this image taken a couple of weeks ago shows how the edifice stands sentinel over the 'comings and goings' of the neighbouring area.
Seanna sent me these next two images with the following message:
Sorry had to miss yesterday's Ops, but as compensation, here are photos of a
sketch and a painting of the Sherbourne
Blockhouse, the site of which Steve and I encountered during our visit to
Toronto last week.
To me this is a fascinating blockhouse with its upper level offset from the lower one by some 45 degrees.
Safety is utmost priority and all crews must blow the crossing to inform pedestrians of their imminent arrival.
304 enters Clarke Canyon at the foot of a long uphill grade that will challenge their mettle.
Engineman Bill is up for the task as his train flies upgrade with nary an issue.
Dilip investigates the locations of various cars in the yard at his next stop - Spruce.
The crew will travel through the backyards of Spruce before summiting at the big curve leading into town.
Clarke Grade video effort.
With its lifts from Lilly, RP&M Train 61 has grown in length to six cars.
Following established procedures, the crew backs out from Nelson Yard in order to push forward into Glen Hammond.
Video footage of this manoeuvre with Rat 61.
Barry has arrived Ottawa just as...
...304 has arrived Spruce!
Barry is interviewed in this video piece.
Lumber is the commodity of the day on the team track down in Rat Portage.
Train 71 is ready to depart Rat for Stuart farther down the line.
On the video you hear me instructing our great friend, Barry, where to set out his locomotive as Chris seeks clearance out of town.
Departure video of RP&M Train 71 along with the arrival of our passenger engineer!
Gerry hauls 303 into Bellamy.
He will soon be joined by crewmate Steve.
303 reaches Mercer Siding righthand running as per the norm.
Video at Bellamy...
...and video at Mercer.
At Bell along Track 4 we spot the departure of Train 302.
Typically it would have been brought in on Track 3.
In its consist is this fascinating boxcar 'from away'!
How it managed to reach the IPP&W is unknown...but I'm happy it did! 😀😃😀
No worries in the end regarding Track 4 as it was vacated moments before RP&M 71 arrived.
Train 71 has now taken up residence on Track 4 allowing it access to the town of Stuart.
Back to back we find the two RP&M enginemen on this day, Chris & Pat.
They are many, many miles apart in the 'train operation's while they rub shoulders with each other on the property.
Chris is in Bell while Pat is in Glen Hammond.
Let's check out the two video tales of 304's exit and 71's entrance at this location.
If you desire a railfan 'hotspot' then this is the location to choose as evidenced in these past two video montages.
Train 301 tucks into the curve leading into Spruce from Ironwood.
Garry & Robin will have a few moves to conduct here as Dilip and Bill work Ironwood off to the right.
In the video you hear me talking about writing for Model Railroader after Brian & Jeanne had noticed the huge stacks of magazines on the crew lounge table outdoors.
Garry & Robin observe the yard in anticipation of their next move with Train 301.
There is a speed restriction through the ladder into the yard as a number of derailments have occurred at this location in recent times.
Across the way in Ironwood the crew aboard 304 continues with their efforts.
Ironwood is yet another vast yard to cover as the power of 304 leans back into the trailing sidings to snatch a car or two.
While back in Spruce the crew seems to be getting along with that troublemaker of a ladder!
A video peek at Spruce!
A video glance at Ironwood.
Bernie sent along this image of Barry and the next four pics as well.
Bill has radioed dispatch (that would be me!) in this image Bernie snapped of he & Dilip now aboard Train 313 seeking clearance out from Craig Leigh bound for St. Helens.
When the session was over, Bernie picked his grandson Marcus up and brought him back to Fred's so that Marcus could run a train!
Marcus is four and knows how to operate the throttle.
He got out the tourist passenger cars from the shed and liked to move passengers around.
In this photo he picked up a load of barrels from Brewers.
Fred said it brought back memories of his childhood while watching Marcus play.
Thanks Bernie for sharing these great looking images of Marcus, Barry, Bill & Dilip!
Bill got his sessions mixed up as this one was our steam session - not diesel!
But, we'll forgive him as he is so handsome...at least that's what the ladies have told me! 🙈🙉🙊
Chris and his wife Lisa came up from Cornwall to pick up some items in Ottawa including this lovely framed print of a painting of the Russell station.
(Lisa hung out in the car, but I got to meet her and say hello!)
While there is a glare, you do get an idea of the print.
Another visitor dropping in on the session was Terry, a neighbour of Fred's who always wondered why so many cars parked on the street every Saturday morning.
It turns out that Terry is a drummer, like Pat who is standing beside him.
Terry repairs drums in his spare time...and fortunately for Pat, he may be able to check on one of his snare drums in need of some 'TLC'.
Here's a quick shot or two of me playing with one of my other bands at a retirement party.
My guitar playing partner, Gerry, plays with me in two bands; this one called "Off the Record" and "The Mystics" which you saw in some earlier blog entries over the past few days.
Finally, in Moe's and Marcel's absences...guess who cooked lunch for the clan!
Yupper, skipper Bill!
And...like cattle to the trough...
...they came...
...in bunches!
Fred is listening in on what visitor Chris has to say.
So, with that, we thank Father Fred - as always - for his generous hospitality.
I must add that we are so fortunate to live in Canada's capital region which happens to be a 'hotbed' of railroad activity for anyone interested in anything trains!
With three 'other' major railroad events taking place, there are enough interested railroaders in the region to make all four of these vents a huge success.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
