Garden Railroading: Session #2 Pics From Pat & Moe

Pat & Moe Send Along Pics This Week

Thanks to Pat for taking a number of images of the operations during Session #2.

Thanks to Moe for sending along some 'outside' images as well.

And "Thank You" to our readers who follow the blog each week!

This Great Northern endcab switcher is doing "double duty" as a road unit on this day running 'cab forward' along the route of the IPP&W.

Pat & Bernie are running their second trick of the morning, Train 311 westbound at Bell.

Indeed this orange & green puppy is spotted carrying on with duties she was made for...switching traffic in and around the yard!

Judging by the juxtaposition of the unit, Bernie is conducting the maneuvers at the same location albeit on the third trick of the crew's daily run; eastbound Train 322.

Note the parallel 'double ladder' here (his train is on the easterly ladder at the moment).

This was Henk's idea and it has improved operations immensely as RP&M crews can work Stuart at the same time IPP&W crews work Bell.

We are at another time and another place on another train; earlier in the day at Spruce aboard first trick Train 301.

Yes, it remains rather 'coolish' judging by the lumberjack attire Bernie is wearing...although Gerry's beige shorts near the edge of the image to the right tell of a different tale! 👀

The crew has reached the Peter's Pond siding down in the Pond aboard 322 and will commence with their assigned work.

All of their efforts will be conducted in the lower Pond area.

We catch them departing the Pond for their final destination of Glen Hammond.

The Brewer's Barrels cooperage can be seen to the right with a black Southern Pacific 40' boxcar residing on the spur track.

Pat managed to catch Stu Moxley & little 'ole me on the patio post ops.

We enjoyed a highly successful session #2!

Pat also snagged these two images from George's session on the Sunday following ours.

Pat has found Len working the large yard outside the garage which houses the layout that is operated indoors during the winter time.

Thanks to Pat for sending along these fine-looking images!

Before I share some of Moe's pics from 'outside' the property, let's take a gander at some more images I took from Session #2.

Marcel's Seaboard Systems Geep is currently residing on the house track in Glen Hammond awaiting its duties for later in the day.

We are at Nelson Yard 'pre-ops'.

Phil & Henk are looking into the sun with stacked trays of cars ready for distribution in the big yard.

They are awaiting Bill's arrival with the paperwork.

Bernie arrives to offer a helping hand.

Ah...that's much better!

Bill has arrived and Dilip too.

In no time the yard fills up with traffic!

Glen Hammond to the left fills as well - in this image taken from my perch in the dispatch cabin.

Back in the lounge I find Gerry with a cool Ontario Northland cap.

My research tells me that the three distinctive chevrons in the logo for the ONR, introduced in 1974, represent three key elements of the railway:

#1. Tradition & Direction: Each slanted stroke represents the letter 'N', signifying "Northland".

#2. Speed & Communications: The strokes resemble lightning bolts which signify telecommunications and speed.

#3. Transportation: The multi-directional and reversible quality of the chevrons represent movement and transit.

Ah...indeed, we learn something new every single day!

And skipper Bernie is wearing his Ottawa Redbacks cap with the logo of our CFL football team here in the nation's capital.

Henk has something to say at the pre-ops briefing.

And...of course, the folks listen in attentively!

Then it is time to get the trains on the roll.

These two dual-unit trains will be departing Firgrove at any moment now.

Passenger 2 in the distance will carry folks eastward to Glen Hammond while freight Train 302 will follow on its heels bound for Bell.

Lights are lit and they are 'ready to rumble'!

Doug Culham is the engineer aboard Passenger 2...

...while Doug Matheson's units haul Train 302 out from town.

Video of both trains now turning their wheels!

IPP&W Train 2 rides high above the lower trackage of the RP&M which tunnels beneath Firgrove.

302 awaits its turnout to be thrown by the Firgrove yardmaster before trailing the passenger train eastward.

Dual train video work.

The rays of the rising sun glint off the stainless steel and off the steel rails - making for a magnificent early morning view!

Train 2's arrival into Bell is found in this video film.

Doug's Northland Railroad units hold the honours on this day adding a lovely hint of colour against the background foliage.

Indeed it is fitting that engineer Berrigan (he of the Ontario Northland cap) has an ONR car in his consist bearing the triple chevron logo!

Conductor Doug has already reached Bell and lines the ladder for his train to roll onto Track 3.

Note the many other crews in the vicinity.

The Glen is a veritable hive of activity with Trains 303 & 304 both having work to conduct before leaving town.

Train 303 will meet Doug & Gerry aboard 302 either down in Peter's Pond or at Watkins Siding just west of Wellington Lake.

While over in Nelson Yard the yardmasters work collaboratively with the crews of the RP&M trains.

With the sun quickly rising in elevation, the umbrellas will soon be unfolded! 😎😄😎

Video footage around the western sector of the property in the early morning hours.

St. Helens is a blaze of colour as captured while we still have a low sun angle.

301 has reached its first stop en route to Nelson Yard; St. Helens.

Video work at St. Helens.

The Spruce depot is resplendent in the dappled shade.

Cedar Rock's trackage is nearly void of freight cars at this moment.

Meanwhile, over in Glen Hammond we have those two trains ready to roll on out of town in opposing directions; Trains 303 & 304.

While over at the western side of Nelson Yard - crews abound!

This video showcases that sometimes when folks distribute the cars to their locations pre-ops, they may think they have railed a car correctly atop the rails, but when the train gets underway, we learn of a different story.

Now, this may not be the fault of the crew taking the train out from town as someone totally different may have railed the cars.

Hey...derailments happen on the real railroad as well! 😄😉😊

303's meet with Passenger 2 has been arranged at Mercer Siding.

Any moment now the signal will turn green (out of the image to the left) and Train 2 will slide through the junction on into Bellamy and Glen Hammond.

304's crew is highly capable - made up of Bill & Marcel, both gentlemen highly experienced on the real trains!

Train 303 exits Mercer bound for Peter's Pond as Train 2 awaits clearance further down the line near the junction.

We catch yet another 'oops' moment on video, this time with Train 303 just having departed Mercer Siding for Peter's Pond.

Standing on the patio looking south I see Cedar Rock, Spruce, Bell & Wellington Lake...all in this single shot.

And...in the lounge near Spruce we find visitors to the railway.

Ryan, the nephew of Fred's neighbour Mike Charlebois, is holding one child while Chris, Mike's brother, guides another young lad around the railroad.

Ahh...to be so young again!

Well, we train runners are 'young at heart!' 😋😌😋

Visiting and just watching the trains is as much fun as running 'em! 👍👍

In a most unusual 'sight' at an unusual 'site' we find the AB tandem of F-units switching out the end of the Cedar Rock Branch!

There's a lot of 'horse power' in 'them thar' units!

Indeed, anything goes in railroading!

And...speaking of 'horse power' here is a 'one horse power' unit as captured by Moe on camera!

Last Friday afternoon, the police visited Cedarview Middle School on Cedarview Road with their horses.

Hello there, Mr. Horse says to Moe!

I bet this one could pull one heckuva long train at Fred's place!

And...who can forget this iconic painting by renowned Canadian war artist Alex Colville!

The painting is titled "Horse and Train".

The image of the painting appeared on the 1973 "Night Vision" album cover by famous Canadian guitarist and singer Bruce Cockburn.

In his later years before his death in July of 2013, Alec Colville lived on the same street as my mother-in-law in Wolfville, Nova Scotia where he was often seen driving his Smart Car around town.

I would often see him working away in his garden which he took great care in its appearance.

Copy & paste the link below into your computer's browser to learn more background information about the artist and his painting.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKe9KbPofit/