Our "Second Section" from Session #1
You will recall from the first blog posting that Ottawa offered up a fine day of weather for our inaugural train operating session of the season.
Because we had an enlarged work crew the weekend before, the railroad was in relatively decent shape to host train ops.
Many folks arrived early to 'pitch in' with the car set-out activities pre-ops.
Indeed, the world of steam locomotives is vast, spanning 125 years of history give or take a few.
The age of steam encompasses locomotives of every type from backwoods narrow gauge haulers to mainline brutes who took on the racetrack daily delivering goods and people to their destinations.
Because there is no turntable in Craig Leigh, this well-designed wye turns the locomotives and certain (entire) trains that make their way into the eastern terminus of the railway.
This Denver, South Park & Pacific beauty graces us with her elegance...but she is more than that.
She will be delivering lading to towns throughout the countryside along the western route of the IPP&W all morning long on her journey from Glen Hammond to Firgrove.
Who says there is no colour in the orbit of steam driven locomotives.
The crew aboard this locomotive begs to differ!
While this little puppy did not push steam to greater heights of eloquence and speed, it handily holds down the role of pushing freight cars around the terminal area at the east end of the line!
We take note that this little brute will not be pushed around! 😉
There is a tiny island off the coast of New Brunswick named for a special prince...Prince Edward Island.
On the island, this locomotive powered trains 'to and fro' from the dedicated train-ferry terminal at what was known as Port Borden at the time to the various towns dotted around the island.
The ferry connected the island's railway network to the mainline tracks in Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick.
While the island was originally named île Saint-Jean by the early French explorers, in 1799 the local legislature voted to change the name to Prince Edward Island to honour the commander of the British forces in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Prince Edward was the fourth sun of King George III and the father of Queen Victoria.
We thank our very own OVGRS member Chris for lettering his locomotive for the Prince Edward Island Railway!
This screen shot image from a video showcases Bob's Willow Pine Lumber Company locomotive #36 lumbering through Peter's Pond with a quite different load than lumber.
(Pardon the pun with the verb in that previous sentence!)
Research indicates this specimen as being Baldwin built with 45 inch drivers.
She is a 2-6-6-2T tank Mallet.
This image courtesy of the Niles Canyon Railway Museum showcases a cousin to Bob's locomotive.
The Niles Canyon Railway is located in Alameda County, California in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area.
Passenger 2 has reached St. Helens and is awaiting the signal to turn green to open up the rails ahead.
Marcel is running his Uintah Railway Company locomotive #15 on this day, a "Mallet Mogul".
Locomotive #51 is one of only two narrow gauge compounded articulated locomotives sold for use in the United States.
She and sister unit #50 were designed to handle the extreme curvature and steep grades of Baxter pass along the route of this railway located in the neighbouring states of Utah and Colorado.
This locomotive on its own could move as many cars as two Shay locomotives and made the trip between Rainbow, Utah and Atchee, Colorado in half the time.
The locomotive allowed the railway to do away with the need to change engines at Atchee and Wendella, both in Colorado.
Here we find this beast at work in an image courtesy of Pacific NG collection.
Before we get underway any further, Jim sent along this video he took last Saturday when we were testing out the trackwork and the tracking of the various cars.
In the video you will notice in clear sight one heavyweight passenger car which came to grief as it ran around the railway.
Indeed, not all faults are with the structure of the rails and the roadbed...sometimes the error is found in the rail car itself.
This is why weekly maintenance of both the rail line and any bad-ordered cars is so important to ensure our operating sessions go with the fewest number of 'hitches'.
Fred manages the RIP track at his workbench.
Thanks for sharing this video Jim!
By the end of the morning loaded ore cars will have arrived the Northland Ore Dock and these empties will have been returned to the mines to the west.
Pre-ops we find four cars on the western (geographical eastern) end of Peter's Pond.
The trays of cars at Nelson Yard are dealt with by Dilip, Felicity & Yardmaster Bill.
Cars on the two near tracks will be on their way out of the Glen in short order while cars on the two far tracks are waiting to be interchanged.
Claire will be running Train 302 our from Firgrove as her first assignment of the morning.
The icing platform will see some heavy lifting as these three reefers will eventually find themselves on outgoing westbound trains.
With the Lawrence Watkins Trestle having been removed for refurbishment, these tracks have been temporarily cut off from the railway's activities.
Here we spot three distinguished gentlemen.
From left to right: Doug (Craig Leigh Yardmaster), George (Firgrove Yardmaster) & Pete (Mainline engineer aboard 304).
Marcel & Moe wait out the instructions on the day with an O-scale structure "free for the taking" as donated by Pat Brennan resting on the circular patio table.
It's a routine morning stop at Ironwood for Train 1.
The crew is 'on schedule' to meet Train 2 in the Glen unless there is a delay at Spruce.
Passenger 1's manifest finds five cars on this day with combine 308 on the headpin.
Our PEI RR crew is ready to steam out from the Glen.
They will meet Passenger 1 at Spruce.
The morning routine continues at Nelson Yard where most of the active traffic is in the adjacent yards in Glen Hammond and over at Bell.
Video work of Train 1 and miscellaneous other locations.
With a 'stealth' locomotive showing no signs of which railroad it is owned by...my hunch is that this is Pat running the RP&M train.
He & Gerry are holding tight for the moment as they await the arrival of my train into Glen Hammond.
Mere moments earlier I ran below the way freight along the long stretch from Spruce to the Glen.
Passenger 2 is awaiting my arrival for our dedicated meet in Glen Hammond.
Partial video before Mike has to scratch his head!
You'll see what I mean!
My train is captured on video climbing the grade on and up across Brennan Bridge.
This image showcases the pinnacle of passenger train operations along the route of the IPP&W.
Careful planning has gone into the meet of these two trains at this specific location.
Upon my arrival with Passenger 1 (following a short delay at Spruce) Train 2 can now proceed east to Spruce.
I will continue on my westward journey beyond Glen Hammond all the way to the end of the line at Firgrove.
Train 2 meets RP&M Train Rat 61 on the outskirts of Glen Hammond and Nelson Yard.
Soon enough Marcel will be zipping through the countryside once he has navigated the two spans atop Brennan Gap.
Indeed, out from Blockhouse it will be an open throttle as Train 1 will take on the long grade beyond Clarke Canyon up into the town of Spruce.
Video footage of Passenger 2's departure out from the Glen.
Marcel's passengers will soon enjoy the view of the dry gulch atop the Fred Mills Trestle.
The train will once again span the gap in the opposing direction as it tiptoes across the Brennan Bridge.
The truncated trackwork at Lilly and its surrounding foliage offer up a somewhat verdant backdrop for the train.
We see the consist rounding the big curve at this location.
Enjoy the bridge crossing video!
It's a classic 'above & below' or 'over & under' situation with these two trains.
Passenger 1 heads west along the Bell Sub down below while the crew aboard 301 work St. Helens in a westerly tack along the Spruce Sub.
Pat's Canadian Northern steam locomotive is drilling the facing sidings at St. Helens.
And to think...many used to say this was an 'unreal' situation!
Photo Courtesy of Walther's Magazine Co.
Russell Watson offers some real life proof of this fairly unique rail situation!
Way freight 303 will follow a safe distance behind the passenger run on its way up to Wellington Lake.
A slow order restriction is being obeyed on the tunnel trackage beneath St. Helens as viewed in this video effort.
303 runs beneath 301.
In what appears to be a slow motion reel, the video showcases the safety measures the crews follow...just as witnessed on the real railways.
Grenville & Lanark RR yard goat #5 reverses back into Ralph Yard.
Now clear of the turnout, Firgrove Yardmaster Len throws the switch to allow us to enter the station track at Firgrove where our passengers will detrain.
We have video of skipper Len hard at work as Pat & Gerry continue with their efforts along the route of the RP&M in the background.
Joanne, Grant & Phil look on as Craig backs the engine slowly onto a consist of passenger cars.
We witness a back-up video move.
Due to differing coupler styles we were unable to hook up to the passenger consist, but we truly enjoyed railfanning the locomotive on its own as it traversed the line.
We encounter Train 313 working the yard at Spruce as we pass by along the main.
A nice low angle shot.
And...a lovely close-up encounter with locomotive #26!
We spot Train Extra 26 passing through Spruce in this video work.
Craig drives by the location of the old depot at Blockhouse as he is about to step out onto Brennan Bridge.
Having crossed the span, the crew will soon encounter the bend at Lilly.
The rock wall offers up a great looking backdrop for the locomotive!
Here we have a lovely aerial shot of the train.
Video of the train heading west.
It's a game of 'peekaboo' as the loco rounds the great bend at Lilly.
Simply gorgeous!
Having navigated the ironworks of the Fred Mills Trestle the crew passes the ancient blockhouse.
Note Train 313 following close behind on the far span that bridges the gap.
In this final video taken of us following the train, the crew will reach Glen Hammond in mere moments.
Back in Nelson Yard we find Pat with his train out of the picture below the photographer.
The dispatch board is yet to be set up for the ops at the moment.
Indeed, a clean slate!
Almost ready to run...hmmm! ✋
303's crew is in the middle of their switching duties in front of Brewer's Barrels...the cooperage down in Peter's Pond.
Brakeman Phil...in action!
My...how tall those ferns have grown already! 😏
A look the other way in the Pond area.
"Phew!" says the crew of 303 as they complete their work...just as traffic begins to congest.
At another point in time crews are found all over the eastern sector of the property...but not the railway.
For below us is Peter's Pond located on the western subdivision of the line even though it is located in the eastern area of Fred's property.
St. Helens up above in the distance is in the east but the ore train traveling beneath is in the west.
His crew mate Wyatt is currently out of the picture.
There is Wyatt with Pat in the same image I posted earlier this week!
Marcel is now aboard Train 33, the Pool Train.
This assignment sees him traveling across both railways.
We find him dealing with either a 'set out' or a 'lift'...or perhaps both as the Pool Train offers operators some interesting switching possibilities!
Let's check in on some more of my Upper Canada Village finds!
Here is a wonderful buggy on display in the visitors' centre.
It is similar to some of the buggies I have been building in O-scale.
How about this early form of a fire engine!
The wainwright shows Doug, Rob and me a wheel he is working on in the wainwright shop.
Doug inspects another wagon sitting outdoors.
Simplicity at its best!
Doug inspects the wheel.
Check out the elegant pinstriping on the hub and along the spokes.
This particular wheel has the spoke bolted together.
Even the suspension is pinstriped!
The step board.
Rob checks out the front seat adorned with padding.
Rob was obviously 'on the move' when I snapped the image!
Yet another buggy is found in robin eggshell blue.
The red wheels and tongue offer a lovely contrast in colour tones.
She looks wonderful in green.
Doug inspects the beautiful upholstery.
Check out the upholstery on this winter wagon...err...sleigh.
"Sleigh bells ring...are you listening?"
Hmmm...I'm not too sure how far this pair will travel unless they get an overhaul!
Visitors can then purchase fresh bread baked that very day while on their way out of the park!
Out of the image to the left is the stable for their horses.
This yellow stagecoach would be great to model!
The carbarn offers up yet another wheeled wonder!
Check out the elegant detailing on this specimen!
While not a true stage coach...
...it does resemble a bus of some nature!
We inspect the underbody details including the circular 'fifth wheel'.
Here are a few of the dozen or so wagons and buggies I have made in O-scale over the past couple of years for our various early 1900's dioramas.
This farmer's wagon with its horse team ended up on the greater machine shop diorama.
This REO Speedwagon ended up beside the machine shop.
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The farmer is heading out of town with his milk containers.
A buckwagon hangs out in the parking lot of the Tyrone train station.
Our cheese wagon.
The milk wagon side-on.
My modeled version of the surrey.
And a wagon on a hoist undergoing repairs...
...with the repairman in action!
And now for an image of a totally different form of transportation!
One of my music friends, Wayne, was given a Christmas gift from his wife and daughter; the opportunity to fly in an Airbus A320 simulator.
Note the weather conditions at this time are rainy pre-takeoff.
Some wonderful video footage.
Wayne tells me he spent 50 minutes in the simulator.
Love the night conditions as seen in this video.
He conducted many take-offs and landings.
Approach video.
Some of the simulated airports he flew in to and out from included St. Maartens, Sydney & Honolulu.
This airport is certainly on my 'bucket list' of places to visit!
KLM Boeing747 - my favourite aircraft of all time!
Mayo Beach in St. Maarten...here I come!
Airbus A330-200 - beautiful!
I can just picture me-self in the window on the upper level of this 747 on final approach to the St Maarten Princess Juliana International Airport runway!!!
This will be a celebratory party kicking off our new train running season.
The fun will begin at 7:00 PM in Fred's backyard...of course weather permitting.
Currently the outlook for clear skies Friday evening is not that promising with a 60% chance of showers.
In the event of a cancellation, we will try to get the party in the following Friday or Saturday evening while Pete Conroy (on saxophone) is still in town from Nova Scotia.
Father Fred reminds us that it is "Workday Wednesday" tomorrow.
Pat is unavailable to attend so if anyone else is free, come on down and help pitch in on the maintenance of the railway if you can.
Thanks for checking in on the second section of images from our first session of the 2026 season.
We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
