Our Final Standard Gauge Operations of the 2025 Season
With two sessions to go until we close out the season, we began Session #16 with vim & vigour!
I gave a report to the crew that over the past ten years (excluding 2020 & 2021 when we didn't host true operations) we have averaged 18 sessions a season (mathematically 17.7).
If we get in next week's closing Narrow Gauge session, our total this year will stand at 17 which is right around our average for a season.
It is always refreshing to see new equipment along the line of the IPP&W and this flatcar does not disappoint.
We thank Chris for bringing it out.
We appreciate the great effort he went to in tying down the tractors prototypically.
This added layer of realism makes this a freight car that truly stands out.
Steve & Seanna's Algoma Central Geep makes a particularly fine sight in its dramatic livery.
Ditto for my D&H GP38-2.
This locomotive had a wee collision with the pavement as I carried it out to the car following the session, but thanks to a quick leg movement I was able to soften the tumble and all broken bits were picked up by my dear friends, Steve & Seanna, and "Humpty Dumpty was put back together again!"
The units works perfectly...just as fine as the day it came out of the shops - phew!
It slipped out from the skeleton case as I mustn't have tightened the strapping as secure as needbe.
It is named the Ralph Dipple in honour of our dearly departed friend who used to man Ralph Yard in Firgrove.
And...here are my two saviours, Steve & Seanna.
And this is a different style of locomotive!
Fred was gifted this scooter this week in perfect working order!
That was a kind gesture on the part of a friend of his.
With even more magazines making an appearance, there were plenty for folks to take home with them.
Pat was amazed to find this layout on the cover of this particular issue.
To Pat's amazement, the owner of the layout on the cover, John Slean, was a teacher of his way back in high school in the grand metropolis of Toronto many, many years ago!
Pat remembers this teacher and his layout which he talked about in class on occasion.
We wish to dedicate this blog entry and our final session of the season coming up this Saturday to our dear friend Terry (TAC) Foley who passed away suddenly this week.
You remain in our hearts Terry! 💘💔💘
This CP GP30 is a regular tenant in Douglas Yard.
For this blog entry I will share snippets from throughout the session in the many places where my crewmate Phil & I met other trains.
With the CP maroon & grey in competition with all that 'green'...why, we must have been transported over to Ireland!
No...it's not 'Ir'eland...it's 'Ir'onwood!
It's late in the morning and third trick Train 321 reaches town westbound with Pat & Al in charge.
With the meet having taken place, Train 324 may now depart east for St. Helens after holding in the siding.
The meet of two Canadian trains at Ironwood is seen in this video.
Who is this mystery person out front on the driveway?
Why...it's none other than "Sir Patrick of Magazine Land!"
And...how about Rusty #1?
And Rusty #2?
You'll hear what I mean about the Rusty moniker in the audio from this video.
Phil & I have a green for departure out from Craig Leigh in the early morning hours.
Train 301 is on the roll out from Craig Leigh with many miles to go to reach Nelson Yard.
The Northland Interchange which parallels the main is loaded with outgoing traffic.
301's departure - as seen on video.
With the dilapidated mine standing sentinel over the eastern end of Ironwood, Train 301 wheels into town.
It's a case of the "Luck of the Irish" once again with all that green!
The crew discusses their moves at Ironwood Brick in this video.
They have decided to tie up on the main momentarily as they understand that no traffic will be coming their way at any time soon.
The stainless steal lightweight cars on Passenger #2 are pulled by our very own "Ironwood Road" diesel locomotive.
The RS3 road switcher is bringing the train to a halt at the 'summer only' stop at the resort town of Wellington Lake.
The dome car is from the 'Skyline' series of which 18 were built by the Budd company for the Canadian Pacific in 1954-55.
The cars remain in active service with VIA Rail Canada.
Number #2's arrival at Wellington Lake is noted in this video effort.
Train 304 will summit Clarke Grade in mere moments out from Glen Hammond.
Our timing was impeccable as we knew Passenger #1 was a tad late in starting out from Craig Leigh.
Mark is departing St. Helens for Ironwood where he will meet our train which is protected in the siding there.
Video of Trains 304, 301 and Passenger #1 along the Spruce Subdivision.
Across the dale to the south we spot ore on the move eastward along the Bell Subdivision.
We begin our switching in Ironwood.
And...overtop another valley to the north we can just make out Passenger #1 off in the distance curving into Spruce where it will meet 304.
We trace the paths of these trains in this video footage.
The TH&B Geep propels Passenger #2 down the hill before bottoming out at Clarke Canyon.
You may have noted that no steam generator car was required for this heavyweight train as the locomotive is equipped for this type of service.
Up top the leased Algoma Central unit toils away for the Ironwood, Peter's Pond & Western in the town of Spruce.
Off in the distance Train 302 works the facing siding at Wellington Lake while 301 continues with its efforts here in Ironwood.
Yessirree, as the Doobie Boys wrote, that sure is a long train running!
Four various trains were captured from one railfan spinning around on a single spot in this video.
Our dispatcher, Doug, relaxes on the patio after setting out many of the cars for the session.
The both Dougs are the earliest to arrive the property on most Saturday mornings and they get right down to the task of setting out the cars to their respective rails.
Stock cars abound in St. Helens along with a variety of other rolling stock for the four industries located here.
The lads in red salute our national colours.
That would be Al seated in the background and Gerry determining the location of the ON boxcar he is cradling.
Not only is Gerry a fabulous guitarist and experienced train operator...
...he's a mathematical genius!
When the professor asked him to "Find x"...well, he was the first in class to do so! 😎😁😎
Speaking of 'finding x', Bill has found the two steam generator cars, only one of which is needed for this morning's ops.
The town of Stuart hosts a varied number of freight cars on this day.
Yardmasters Bill & Doug C. keep the traffic moving in and out of the yard at Nelson.
The verdant landscape along the Bell Sub plays host to a variety of trains traveling both east and west.
Here we find 302 well notched on its journey to Peter's Pond.
302 proceeds in a northeast direction at this location before heading due north while tunneling beneath St. Helens as seen in this video.
Drifting away into the distance is "all stops" train Passenger #2 now heading onto the Spruce Sub.
Dispatch ensures all trains are kept a safe distance apart.
The ore train has been cleared to follow the passenger run and will depart Nelson Yard momentarily.
Seeing as Phil & I have been held in Ironwood until Spruce clears, we have offered to lift the ore cars off the facing siding for the ore train as heard in this video.
As the passenger train hurtles upgrade to the left we pull the ore cars off the Ironwood Brick siding to the right.
Ore assist video.
A few moments earlier Ironwood got its first look at Train 304.
We kept a siding clear for them as we transferred the ore cars.
Here, earlier, we followed Train #2 starting its ascent of the grade to the west of Spruce.
Again earlier, off in the distance on the eastern fringe of Ironwood you can make out our train lifting the ore cars off the Ironwood Brick ore siding as 304 trundles into the yard.
Continued video views taken in and around Ironwood.
Train 303, in care of the CN Geep heads into Wellington Lake by the fence line as 304's crew begins their assigned work in Ironwood.
We have now pulled the ore cars for the ore train.
Spotted far away, the eastbound passenger run takes to the great curve at Spruce with the tail end showing - mid image.
The ore train begins its steady climb up the grade into Spruce.
A many train video taken in the neighbourhood of Ironwood.
Train #2 makes its station stop here.
A quartet of trains can be viewed in this image; 304, 301, 2 and 303.
The ore train brings up the rear of the procession into Ironwood.
Five trains are now shown in this video footage!
Ore reaches Ironwood.
Ore video.
A few years ago, Bill, Bernie and the rest of WDWD crew came up with a plan to add one more passing siding in Ironwood and this image is testament to the success it made in our operations.
In this video there are four trains in Ironwood alone...along with a fifth spotted off in the distance exiting 'The Corners'!
Following our fifteen minute delay at Ironwood, Phil & I make haste with our switching at Spruce as we are seen departing town for Nelson Yard.
Video taken at Spruce Curve.
Pool Train #33 had diverted over to RP&M rails at Bellamy and had taken the counter-clockwise routing on this day to facilitate their work on the trailing sidings to the east here at Bell Junction.
We have held on Track 3 for the meet with the Pool Train and with the ore train.
Before the ore's arrival we managed to switch out Brunt's Brewery and the Watkins Co-operative facility.
The ore train then weaves its way off the main through the easternmost of the parallel ladders and in onto Track 4.
We are introduced to Pool Train #33 in this video as it makes its circuit around both railways.
This is followed up by video of the ore train taking the long routing around Bell via Track 4 in order to bypass 301 and the 33.
Our third trick of the day, Train 322, is three cars light.
Pat takes a short breather in the shade as his ore train is being held at Mercer Siding until Nelson Yard opens up once again.
His train is also a little runt!
Video of our new train, 322.
The Pool Train arrives 'The Glen'.
Phil & I work off Track 3 at Bell.
Bell video.
Phil examines our CN road switcher as Len hauls Train 40 into Bell; the short passenger and head-end job from Firgrove.
Train 40 shuttles past on the main line.
Train 40's arrival is demonstrated in this video.
We review some examples of the rolling stock found around the railway including this clean looking Pennsy hopper car.
The Selver Siding holds a vast variety of tanker traffic.
Reefers abound at the Norton Fishery siding down in Peter's Pond.
Craig Leigh yardmaster Paul was kept busy at the start of the session.
Our dispatcher Doug is found in silhouette manning the movements of all trains along both railway lines.
In other news, my next door neighbour just had a new 'permeable' driveway installed.
Because it allows water to drain and is eco-friendly, the city offers homeowners a five thousand dollar rebate should they decide to go this route with a new driveway.
The gravel in the lower front of the image is where the old paved sidewalk that runs down our street is located.
It will be repaved with asphalt running directly out to the street.
It is very pretty to look at.
The company offers a choice of colour combinations.
The aggregate was delivered in large 'hopper' style bags.
The epoxy/resin solution was poured into the orange buckets in the back of the truck and then mixed in a large plastic garbage can before being poured into the circulating 'mixer' seen to the right.
Video of the bobcat in action.
As the aggregate falls into the mixer, the workers pour in the glue.
Mixer video fun.
The mixer is delivered to the crew who start their work from the back of the driveway under the carport.
Video of the delivery to the crew.
The combined 'glued aggregate' spills from the mixer.
The product looks' smooth and even' with the use of these specialized tools.
The homeowners were told they could walk on their new driveway after a day and they can park their vehicle on it after three days drying time.
Video of a highly dedicated team at work.
The gentleman holding the trowel in his hand had used it to press the product down along the lovely border and the foundation of the house located under the carport.
The circular rotating device dealt with the rest of the driveway.
Final video of their diligent efforts.
Thanks for checking in on this latest blog entry!
Here I am with my good friend, Harry St. Jour, who was the French teacher for my class over many years when I was teaching.
As always we thank Father Fred for hosting this great team of train operators each Saturday morning.
Indeed, we are now very much in the twilight of the 2025 operating season with but a single session left to run.
We should be able to get Saturday's operations in as the weather forecast is very much in our favour - although it has been pouring rain today as I create this entry.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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