More Scenes From Pat & Mike From Session #6
It is always great to be in Fred's backyard to run the trains.
The two railways offer up a tremendous variety of train running options.
And it is so appreciated when other folks snap images and videos from our fun sessions!
Earlier we had seen some of Pat's pictures and videos such as this one of the ore train climbing up to St. Helens out from Ironwood.
The crew is delivering empties back to the ore dock as a third trick "sweep" of the system after the two regularly scheduled ore trains had run.
Rather than simply picking up the ore cars and placing them in their bins from all around the property...why not do a final 'sweep' run to pick them up and then have them all in the same location at Craig Leigh to put away in their bins.
Bob won't turn down a 'bonus' run!
Video of empty ore cars on the move through St. Helens.
Pat has been given his green by the Craig Leigh yardmaster and Train 324 follows the route taken by the ore train up to Craig Leigh.
Final video from Pat showcasing his train's departure out from St. Helens eastbound to Craig Leigh.
Thanks to Pat for his fine videos we showcased in this blog and an earlier one.
We'll return to my pics and vids to help fill out this entry.
This is Nelson Yard at the very beginning of the session with all early trains ready to depart.
Here we see two cars spotted at the Larabie Fuels siding at the western end of Ironwood.
Train 301 hauls into Ironwood.
At around the same time, Train 302 has arrived Bell and is spotting a car at Brunt's Brewery.
Passenger 1 reaches Bellamy and has a green signal to enter the junction trackage and head over to Mercer Siding before entering Peter's Pond.
We spot our typical power in the yard at Firgrove, George's CN switcher.
The southern end of Rat Portage houses the massive Golding Grains facility...
...while the north end of town houses the yard and the Hamer Manufacturing facility.
This Pennsy hopper is captured by railfan Mike in Ralph Yard.
Train Rat 61 has been cleared through the junction and on into Anderson and eventually Rat Portage.
Train 301 finds its way into Ironwood.
The crew may have work to carry out at Ironwood Brick which can be noticed on the left.
Their tail end reaches the outskirts of town.
301's arrival is captured in this video.
Train 40 has walked down to Bell from Firgrove.
George's assignment will be to spot and lift some headend traffic in town.
302's consist stretches out along Track 3 adjacent to the interchange track.
Some video footage taken at Bell early in the AM hours.
Train 304 conducts its work at Glen Hammond before requesting clearance east to Spruce.
The truth is in the pudding...the Algoma Central livery is one of the classiest out there!
Across the valley the crew aboard 302 continue with their list of items at Bell.
As part of their duty they must lift this car from Bernicky Freight Forwarding, the former west house track.
Glen Hammond/Bell combined video scenes.
This low angle shot is for Moe.
Train 40 continues with its business at Bell working around 302 and the other IPP&W crew currently at this location.
Bell video attempt.
Passenger 1 leans into the curve at Lilly bound for Glen Hammond.
The crew is on a slow-order due to the construction going on in this area of the line.
Lilly video work.
Bernie & Al are down in Rat Portage working for the RP&M at the moment.
Bernie's TH&B Geep holds the honours on this run today.
Rat Portage video fun!
The headlight is on and the unit will reverse down the siding.
The crew is running along the passing siding bound for the Comber's Chairs facility.
The yard in Rat Portage seems full at this time.
The chips you see atop the cars indicates the setouts from their train and the lifts they must make in the yard.
Some crews use this method of identification while some don't...but either way works.
In fact, on the real railroad the brakeman may 'chalk' any cars being lifted from a small yard.
Continued video effort down in Rat Portage.
Bob has lifted the ore cars off their facing siding up here in Firgrove.
He ran around his lifts and now tucks them on to the remainder of his train.
Meanwhile, off in the distance we spot the tail end of Passenger 2 about to run through the junction bound for Bellamy.
Two unit trains are found in this video segment.
Train 71 works the siding tracks back in Stuart while the ore train is about to make its appearance known here at Bell.
Bell/Stuart video finds.
Moments earlier, ore was on the move out from Firgrove.
Ore exit from Firgrove video work.
Back at pre-ops time, Chris has engineered the escape of his CN locomotive from its carrying case in Craig Leigh.
He heads to the wye immediately.
He has to turn his locomotive in order to back it along the leads into the engine terminal for his run with Passenger 1.
CN video finds.
Train 1 reaches "The Plateau" between St. Helens and Ironwood.
Their station stop is at the far end of town!
The train approaches Ironwood in this video of their progress.
Train 304 continues to switch the yard in Glen Hammond...
...while across the valley Passenger 2 gets underway out from Bell...
...as 302 finds a home on Track 3 in front of the Bell station.
Video footage of all three trains!
While still at Bell we find Train 71 coming in on Track 4.
Passenger 1 arrives the station track having met its counterpart, Passenger 2, earlier to the east.
Indeed, the action heats up with three trains here at the same time...but rest assured, the triple meet is well choreographed with the aid of the expertly designed track arrangement here in town.
We spot the tail end of Passenger 1 and 303 as Train 71 comes to a stop in the foreground.
Once 71's work is complete here. the crew will turn their locomotive and head back to Rat Portage and then on to the big yard as Train 72.
A triple meet video at Bell.
In short order the passenger train departs Bell.
Chris (red shirt) will be carrying passengers up to the end of the line at Firgrove which will leave two crews to work the area for a while.
Continued video efforts in this region of the line.
Ore is on the move as the train passes through Peter's Pond.
Beyond the caboose, the track leading off to the right is the Cedar Rock Branch.
Video times are experienced down in Peter's Pond with the ore train.
And a ball cap to boot!
Why...it's Grant of the Knowles clan!
And...speaking of classics!
My neighbour down the street just picked up this beauty!
She's a TR6 convertible!
Loverly...simply "Lover"ly!
Well, that's all from me for today.
This evening (Friday July 10th), Corinne & I are performing at the Westboro Beach Club here in Ottawa from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.
Feel free to drop on in!
Here's Corinne with her fabulous voice!
Bernie snapped this image of Fred working diligently on Wednesday of this week.
The weather is looking really good for tomorrow's train ops session...so we'll see many of you there!
I still have a ton of images left over from all six sessions so far...to be used on a rainy day!
Thanks again to Pat and Seanna for sending pics from last week's session and to Bernie for the WDWD shots!
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
