Second Section From Session #15

Second Section From Session #15

This "Tasmanian Devil" of a railfan manages to snag countless images and videos of the trains running during each of our OVGRS sessions.

He also keeps track of all the train movements in his 'noggin' until his return back to the dispatch booth when he re-orders the train movements on the linear magnetic board.

All the while the trains continue to traverse the landscape of both railroads unhindered by delays.

That's me at the dispatch controls with Bill (of the Scobie clan) scolding my errant moves!  😎😁😎

"That's where you belong!" announced Mr. Scobie as Mike finds his way back to the dog house...errrr...I mean...the dispatch booth!

I'm standing outside the door to the dispatch hut where I see Andrew setting out cars at Bell pre-ops.

The lads do likewise at Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard with Doug and Bill pictured railing cars at the head of the session.

Chris checks out some of the 'freebie' magazines brought out by Pat & me.

With the session about to begin, Bill works the blue yard switcher while one of the RP&M runs is now assembled and ready to roll out of the yard.

Much later in the session, the crew aboard Train 312 have achieved Spruce where they work their facing move with the green car either being a lift from the team track or a setout there.

Joseph's "Cars of Many Colours" dot the landscape up in Bell...

...including these two reefers with their "Coat of Many Colours!"  👪👫👬

Chris works his RP&M train to the left while Garry handles his IPP&W run to the right.

Indeed, business is booming on both railroads as evidenced by the nature of the fluid traffic along the two lines.

Meanwhile...high above in the railroad's head offices...is the CEO of the IPP&W watching over his vast holdings!  😎😍😎

And the first thing the CEO notices is the fine workmanship of train driver Barry aboard Passenger #2 heading from Bellamy into "The Glen".

Train #2 is framed beautifully by the safety railing at the pedestrian walkway crossover.

His steam locomotive is handling the route very well...following a tricky start when something was sticking to the bottom of the locomotive back up in Firgrove.

With a bracket of five cars, the power reaches the depot here in Glen Hammond.

Video evidence of Barry's prowess at the throttle!

Train #2 gains entry into the yard at Glen Hammond.

With the bell a-ringing he brings her to an easy stop at the station platform.

Passenger video in Glen Hammond.

Passengers are offered a panoramic view of the Ontario landscape from high atop the Fred Mills Trestle.

With a rock wall rising above the passing train, the crew makes haste for Spruce.

Video review of Train #2.

Collaboration is taking place down in Rat Portage as one RP&M crew member from one train assists another member from the other train.

I've heard that 'black coffee' turns your grey hairs back to black...so perhaps its all that caffeine that has made this lad so strong that he can manage such a large engine on the turntable all by himself!  😎👀😎

Indeed, Pat is most appreciative of Chris who has lent him a hand...literally!

Turntable video fun!

RP&M driver Chris...

...and fellow RP&M driver Pat!

In this video we learn of a location deep in RP&M territory dubbed "Pratt's Bottom" as it is located in the lower section of the valley leading down to Rat Portage from Bell and Stuart.

We welcome Steve aboard the session as he had more important business to attend to at first.

Up in Cedar Rock, the crew of 302 is just about finished their work here.

We spot them drilling the trailing sidings at the end of the branch.

Because they are an eastbound train along the IPP&W, traffic for the trailing sidings up in Cedar Rock is dealt with on the front of the locomotive.

There's their setout at Culham Coal.

Cedar Rock activities as found in this video effort.

To understand why a train takes a great deal of time to navigate the railway from east to west (or vice versa) this image illustrates four town locations with both subdivisions in evidence.

Off by the fence is Watkins Siding on the Bell Sub while Ironwood on the Spruce Sub is home to the windmill you see near the left of the image.

Barry has his passenger train in Spruce (on its namesake sub) while immediately behind him you see the Watkins Electric Company building in Cedar Rock which is located on the Bell Sub.

Indeed, trains curve back and forth in each area of the property before heading to the next area while on the perimeter they run straight along the fence line to the south and from Mercer Siding to Peter's Pond to the north.

Cedar Rock is but a short branch off the Bell Sub at Peter's Pond...and, off in the distance, the RP&M secondary railroad is located on the western fringe of the property only.

Video of all four locations in a single image.

This schematic showcases how maximum usage of the property was the goal from the beginning of train operations in Fred's backyard.

Of course, the layout has evolved over the years and it continues to do so to this day.

We thank Joel Racine for creating the map.

In the dispatch booth, the dispatcher follows his trains using magnetic 'markers' along a linear version of the curvy line...with both railroads showcased.

Some 25 trains are run in a typical session and at any given time you could have four IPP&W wayfreights running along with two RP&M ones; two passenger trains, the ore train, and the two 'hops' down from both end terminals to their first town 'out' on the line...for a total of 11 trains being monitored simultaneously!

While the job can get 'hairy' at certain moments in time, our three dispatchers, Doug, Bill & Mike love what they do!!!

Back out on the high iron, passengers are led out of town by East Broad Top locomotive #10.

They take one of three "horseshoe" curves found on the railroad and enter their next town of Ironwood.

Having the depot on the curve offers up a lovely perspective for we railfans.

Passengers enjoy their experience aboard Train #2 as we follow its progress east on video.

The rays of the sun shower the passenger trains awaiting their next assignments at the Craig Leigh passenger terminal.

Naked of reporting marks, this stealth locomotive comes in off the RP&M railway at Stuart.

More "views of crews" at Cedar Rock and Spruce.

The returning RP&M train works Anderson's trailing sidings before entering the yard.

Jeanne enjoys a visit with Fred in the crew lounge while hubby Brian walks the railroad.

Train 312 is in Spruce later in the morning as Andrew uncouples the van from the train and Phil drives forward.

Train 304 then takes the place of 312 in the yard.

We spot Gerry & Steve working Cedar Rock as Dilip is at the controls of his train at Spruce.

The center track of the three in the yard at Spruce acts as a layover track or as a lead into the team track located out of the picture to the left.

The B&O road switcher is up to the task as a road engine and a yard switcher.

Down in Rat Portage two cars share the spur at Hamer Manufacturing.

We ponder what is on the menu at the factory with the load of logs having been delivered.

All three yard tracks are full at the Craig Leigh passenger terminal.

 Nearing the end of the session, Bill works Train 323 in the lower Pond area.

Passing the Brewer's Barrels plant, the train will complete its moves in short order.

Pool Train #33 takes the crossovers at Watkins Siding bound for Bell.

The station platform is witness to the arrival of the train from the east.

Train 33's approach is captured on video.

Barry arrives Bell with the Pool Train and is in search of a car at the Bernicky siding.

Alas, because Train 40 from Firgrove was annulled on this day, the car Barry was required to lift was not delivered there.

The train to the right is the RP&M Nelson Yard/Bell Turn working the tracks at Stuart.

Continued video at Bell.

No worries about the non-existent car...

...as Barry has a single setout to drop in the same siding.

The setout is made as witnessed on video.

Both railroads share the trackage at Bell/Stuart and with the double ladder they can work independent of each other as mentioned in an earlier blog entry this past week.

In the video you hear me recommend to Barry to disregard the errant car.

Pat is in control of the RP&M train as he clears the main for the 'yet to depart' passenger train.

Teamwork among the both railroads is in evidence here as Pat gets the two turnouts required for Barry to leave IPP&W trackage and begin his journey along the RP&M route.

This video showcases the collaboration between the two gentlemen from the two railroads.

Off she goes!

Continued video efforts with Pool Train #33.

Train #33 has just found RP&M rails.

Video taken on RP&M iron.

You can hear Barry and me discussing the stops ahead for the train - as Barry is a visitor from out of town.

The train reaches the depot at Rat Portage following a short jaunt outdoors on the front lawn of Fred's property.

Entry into Rat Portage as seen in this video.

We head over to the eastern end of the property to find this train traversing the Spruce Sub.

Third trick Train 324 enters the town of Spruce and heads onto the siding track.

The goings-on at Spruce are captured in this video.

Over in St. Helens Phil handles the turnout governing the triple trackage.

They are also aboard their third trick of the morning, Train 32 as seen in this video.

Love the shirt Steve!

Now there's the handsome lad!

Chow time revisited!

Robin & Bernie share a story or two.

Bill bids farewell to his crewmate, Dilip.

And Fred is so amazed at what he is reading in the Garden Railway magazines that his jaw is dropped in awe.

It was a distinct pleasure operating this great large scale layout once again this season.

We have two more sessions to go before it's time to put the railroad to bed.

Until then, we are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada