Previously Unseen Views From Sessions 4 & 5

Previously Unseen Views From Sessions 4 & 5

Session #4 this season had to be postponed and was 'made up' on the following Wednesday, July 2nd.  It was a standard gauge session.

Three days later we held Session #5 on the Saturday when we ran our steam engines.

This blog entry showcases many of the images and videos from these two sessions that hadn't been shown before.

We start off with this wonderful image Mark Shumelda's sister snagged.  

Below is the story from Mark from his email entitled "White Pass - Old Meets New":

Hi OVGRS gang,
My sister who lives in the Yukon sent me a neat photo of steam meets diesel from Carcross, which is currently the northern terminus of the line that begins down at the cruise ship docks in Skagway, Alaska. The final 100 or so kms of the WP&YR from Carcross to Whitehorse were torn up in the 1980s or 1990s.
There is a wye at Carcross where trains turn around to head back down the pass to Skagway, and apparently along the two arms of the wye is how this iconic “railfan” photo was staged!
I think this is very Mike-worthy for the blog.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
Mark

Yeah!  We are certain that it will be a happy Wednesday!

Our Wednesday "Make-Up" date dawned clear and sunny - perfect weather for running trains!

The decision to run a full ops session was in lieu of the regular Workday Wednesday assignment.

Our Ironwood Road endcab #9079 holds down the job in Nelson Yard.

This is an example of the car set-out sheets we use pre-ops.

The list indicates the town and siding locations for the rolling stock.

We offer this look at Firgrove with outgoing Train 302 awaiting its power on the departure track.

The cars in the forefront are sitting on the Lake Nipissing interchange track.

Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard offer a rare vacancy in this image.

It would appear some hooligans found this car to tag...the deed most likely done in the vast Nelson Yard in the night time hours.

Steve is running a camera car out front his locomotive.

Video taken down in Peter's Pond.

While it may be considered an "out of the way" place, Rat Portage draws railfans trackside throughout the summer months.

Pat is running RP&M Train #61 in Rat Portage.

Rat 61 is a turn as he will head back to Nelson Yard when done here.

Video view in Rat Portage!

Train 301 leaves Spruce behind as the crew continues its westward journey.

The train passes below the outer 'burbs' of Spruce as it descends the grade.

Spruce exit video!

The canyon walls echo to the reverberation of the engine inside the TH&B Geep.

With a consist half as long as most, Train 301 powers onward through Clarke Canyon.

Continued video of 301's movements.

Canadian National locomotive #4578 creates quite the draft as it powers by this railfan standing across the tracks from the old Blockhouse.

Earlier the train had arrived Nelson Yard with the consist of 302.

It is now renumbered Train 312 running eastbound (geographical west at the moment) bound for Craig Leigh.

312 digs its heels into the curve on exit from Nelson Yard as witnessed in this video.

Running long hood forward, the power for 312 glides down the slope across Brennan Bridge.

The train passes the area known as 'The Rockery' with rock formations supporting the plateau where the Fallentree Mine is located.

The "Father & Daughter" team of Chris & Olivia are in control of Train 312 which stars in this video sequence.

Claire, Seanna & Paul are found at Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh.

There's Seanna!

She is verifying the cars on the departure track for the train she & Claire will run west; Train 313.

Craig Leigh/Douglas Yard video scenes.

This 'all female' crew lives by the regulations as they ensure they have all cars in their consist for Train 313.

Continued video of the ladies inspecting the consist of their outgoing train.

Douglas Yard yardmaster, Paul, begins the process of breaking down the train Claire & Seanna have just brought in to the yard; Train 304.

Train 304 is seen to the left while 313 is on the right.

Engine #8202 holds down the honours in the yard this day.

Yes, we should really offer the term 'locomotive' but we understand many folks refer to the train's power as an 'engine'.

Paul's GP35 handles the chores here in Craig Leigh as observed in this video.

TH&B Geep # 401 is a GP9.

The "nines" run long hood forward.

They are distinguished by their torpedo tubes atop the long hood.

The empty stock car will be set out at St. Helens.

The buoys may very well end up in Wellington Lake on a later train out from Nelson Yard.

An Ironwood Road van brings up the rear of 313.

Video of Train 313 getting underway out from Douglas Yard.

Yeah!  It's Saturday...and it's not raining!

Three days following our last session on the Wednesday we now find ourselves back on our regular schedule of Saturday morning train ops.

George is in charge of locomotive #5 working Ralph Yard at Firgrove.

His yardmaster assistant, Len, was away on this day.

Train 304 exits Glen Hammond with Pat & Paul in the cab.

Henk & Gerry make up the Nelson Yard crew and they are enjoying a quiet respite from the heavy action they know is bound to come their way!

Mark & Dilip have found Spruce with Pool Train #33.

Paul & Pat aboard 304 are seen to the left working the sidings at Ironwood while our other Pat handles the switching at Spruce with one of our newer members, Jeff, aboard opposing Train 301.

Another unidentified crew is found switching out the lower Peter's Pond neighbourhood.

My assumption based on the time of the morning is that this may very well be the crew aboard Train 303; Malcolm & Moe.

312 finds itself in Spruce having taken the siding track.

Doug & Bill man this run...their second trick of the morning.

We spot them later drilling the Larabie Fuels spur in Ironwood.

The Norton Fishery spur is holding two reefers and a boxcar at the moment.

Second trick Train 311 works the lower Pond area with Pat & Jeff continuing with their morning's efforts.

Oh no!  I'm seeing "Double Vision"!

No no...it's simply Grant controlling the double-header simultaneously as ore cars cling to the rails on the expansive curve leading into the depot area at Spruce.

Ore traffic is on the move eastward bound for the port at Craig Leigh.

At the end of the branch in Cedar Rock we have a mammoth locomotive holding down the switching chores.

With their van momentarily resting on the Ellens Crusher siding, the crew will deal with the cars on the Culham Coal Co. siding and the Vant Aggregates spur in short order.

Spruce/Cedar Rock video movements.

Pat & Jeff have sacrificed some of their running time to assist the ore train with its facing lifts in Ironwood.

They were holding back in Ironwood as the crew of 304 was still working Spruce.

304 is protected along the siding track as the ore movement passes by.

Grant is doing a marvelous job of controlling both locomotives independent of each other with two throttles!

Ore assist video down in Ironwood.

The ore train rounds the big curve leading into Ironwood from the west.

A wonderful trio of steam locomotives is spotted side by side!

That's one...

...and...that's two!

Video of ore's entry into Ironwood.

Grant brings his train to the head of the siding.

Continued ore video work in Ironwood.

The coupling is confirmed.

Ore is now ready to move east as shown in this video footage.

Train 314 calls into Peter's Pond.

The power arrives the depot area in advance of taking the Cedar Rock siding.

Video of the arrival in 'The Pond'.

We spot the double header this time riding west.

They will now be delivering empty ore cars back to the mines along the route.

Ore train of empties video return to Ironwood.

The crew aboard 304 is working the trailing sidings here at St. Helens.

Paul & Pat have it all in hand!

St. Helen's video scenes.

Train 301 climbs in elevation as it is about to cross the Fred Mills Trestle.

Over on the Lawrence Watkins Trestle we spot the ore train dropping off empties at the Fallentree Mine.

Bridges video!

Second trick Train 312 has successfully scaled the grade leading into Spruce.

The crew meets first trick Train 301 in town.

312/301 meet as captured on video.

With the meet having been 'met', Train 301 bounds off towards Nelson Yard.

The crew in the caboose bids farewell to the station master.

Spruce exit is exhibited in this video.

One of our most beloved industries is Chandler's Sludge Works at the end of the branch in Cedar Rock.

Bruce Chandler, our dear American friend, made this for the group.

Bill & Doug are found in St. Helens with third trick Train 321.

Just like the real railroad, a spur siding may support two or more industries and this is what we see here in St. Helens.

The foreground spur is made up of the Selver Stockyards and Pelkola Packers.

The far siding contains Mackenzie Lumber and Valley Fuels.

The colour of railroading is evident in this image of RP&M Train 74 returning back to its home rails.

Doug & Felicity will work Rat Portage & Anderson before returning back to the big yard.

Pat & Jeff are up in Cedar Rock while Malcolm is spotted in behind at Spruce.

Moe crewed with Malcolm on this day.

We see him standing beside Dilip's bicycle with its carrying rack holding Dilip's locomotive in its carrying case!

There's Dilip on the right with Doug now.

I had to leave early as I was performing at an outdoor backyard concert in Orleans in the early afternoon.

This image shows one of the few new houses located across the street from Fred's place.

This was the backyard venue where Corinne & I performed along with a host of other musicians all taking their turns.

That's Corinne off in the distance waving my way.

Here I am many moons ago with Jim McSherry who models the E&N (Esquimalt & Nanaimo) and Chris Lyon who had modelled the LVN (Lyon Valley Northern) before he moved to the Maritimes.

Father Fred is all smiles as we were able to get another session in on another Saturday morning!

We were fortunate that the rains held off as the previous Saturday we had to postpone.

This was a fun blog entry to make showcasing both a diesel and a steam session.

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada