Remembrance Continued

Remembrance Continued

Saturdays always feel like 'freedom' days to me.

Being a teacher for 40 years, I relished my Saturdays as a day to recharge my batteries...and not the ones in my large scale locomotives!

I am thankful for my freedom and security in living in such a peaceful nation.

Indeed, many did sacrifice their tomorrows for us to live today.

Over 66 000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders lost their lives in WWI.

More than 45 000 Canadians died for our freedom in WWII.

I know that Bernie served in our Royal Canadian Air Force.

Thank you for your contributions to the cause, Bernie.

Also, thanks to all our OVGRS members who served in the military both in Canada and in the United States!

Here's Pat hauling Passenger #1 downgrade out from Craig Leigh some ten years ago.

Pat's father also served for his nation.

The town of Ironwood was quite narrower back then!

We spot a crew drilling the Windmill Siding.

While the towns remain the same, the scenes around the railroad certainly appear different!

This image is one I shared with the online Garden Railway magazine in our article from a couple of years back.

This station at Spruce has been razed and a new depot has been relocated to the west of town on the big curve.

This was the track arrangement through the junction many moons back.

The rockery across the valley provided the base for the big curve at Lilly.

Some big power handled the ore train on June 13, 2015.

And...a gentlemen with a big personality ran the ore train...skipper Bob!

Bob rounds the curve on approach to Spruce from the east.

On departure from Spruce he encounters yet another horseshoe curve!

My train has somehow gotten lost in all the lilies!

Bernie is my crewmate on this day as we are about to enter Glen Hammond on the Nelson Yard bypass track.

This is certainly one of the nicest paint schemes going around!

It would appear the coupler will need to be changed out on this TH&B beauty.

Gordie's RP&M steamer handles the job at Nelson Yard as my locomotive hauls out from Glen Hammond.

The RP&M has leased this road switcher from the Canadian Pacific as the crew drills the two tracks at the Fallentree Mine.

Here's an 'overall' view looking west from the head of the peninsula at Spruce.

That's Ironwood to the left and Cedar Rock to the right.

My train summits the grade leading into Spruce with a clean RS3 in Canadian National colours.

This locomotive was custom painted by our very own Bill Sn3 Scobie.

CN power in two forms is found pointing east in Ironwood.

Here's a lower angle view.

Stu & Steve overlook Ironwood with Paul & Pat spotted in the distance.

Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh is loaded with traffic at the moment.

The train in the foreground will be the next westbound out of town.

Doug's F-unit tandem begins its ascent of the grade located a little over halfway between Nelson Yard and Spruce.

On another day - in another era - a westbound train begins its descent of the same grade out from Spruce.

Bob must be around again seeing as ore is being carried behind a mammoth locomotive!

A trio of steamers are stabled outside the engine house at Craig Leigh with a fourth member tucked inside.

An expanded view of the area near Blockhouse.

Colin Churcher and Gord Bellamy are seen working the big yard.

This fellow is far from home toiling for the IPP&W.

The weeds are growing in a monstrous way trackside!

Ore is on the move to the east!

Big power is found at Spruce on this summer's morning in 2015.

My view from the dispatch hut finds Moe & Gord both dressed in red!

If there is a brew aboard a flatcar - there's a Gord nearby!

Looking out my dispatch door I find Bernie with a great big smile on his face.

The bungalow in back has been razed and two modern homes now reside on what was a single property.

Our tall fence has yet to be constructed.

Gord's RP&M diesel toiled for the railroad for many a year before being retired.

Steve's lovely steamer with those lovely white walls idles away outside the Craig Leigh engine house.

Steve owns the 2402 while Pat has the 2453.

Ric brings the ore train into Craig Leigh on one of our "Invasion of Friends" days that summer.

Ric's train is captured in this video moment.

Ore overcomes the grade with success.

Ore grade video!

The plateau is witness to the movement of ore across the line.

Plateau video.

Yet another grade must be faced on the climb out from the valley up to Lilly.

Video beginning at the old Blockhouse siding.

The power is framed nicely by the latticework of the trestle.

Trestle piercing video.

"Big Red" makes an appearance.

"Big Red" video fun!

This morning Doug & I showcased the sawmill diorama in O-scale at the SLD meet of the NMRA.

(St. Lawrence Division)

The log dump end of the diorama was the final aspect of the project to complete!

SLD member, Tom Badenoch, checks out the diorama.

Yet another quick video of the scene!

Our very own Chris brought out this tank car he will be building via 3D printing of parts to go along with the PVC piping!

Wow, Chris!  I can't wait to see the finished model!

The 3D printed parts.

Chris also shared with us these conventional N-scale couplers from the past...

...as compared to these more prototypical couplers now available!

Video of Chris uncoupling two cars with his special uncoupling tool.

Yet another cool looking convention logo stitched to a shirt!

Here's Ron!

Normand led the meeting on this day.

We had yet another great audience on this day at the NMRA here in Ottawa.

And...speaking of fun!

Father Fred relaxes in the sun with Moe.

2015 was a great year for train running along the route of the IPP&W and RP&M railways!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

With snow in the forecast for tomorrow here in the nation's capital...we have experienced snow on previous Remembrance Days.

This was a shot taken in my classroom with the lights out during recess time when the children were all outdoors playing in the snow!

Note the lovely poppy banner.

In all of our classrooms we shared literature around this special day.

The children are totally aware of the freedoms they have in this wonderful nation of ours!

We remember!