Mark's Pics From Session #11

Mark's Pics from Session #11

Hi folks.  Mark sent along a handful of pics from our most recent session.

This was a fun gathering as the weather cooperated and we were able to work the Ironwood Switcher role into the crew list.

Mark managed to capture some interesting aspects of the railway.

In this first image from Mark we see Passenger 2 on the left having just arrived Craig Leigh.

The crew made use of the wye at the entrance of town to turn their train in order to back the consist into the terminal tracks at the station.

Mark's 'Bumblebee' locomotive will now head out on Pool Train 33.

Mark captured the old cabin in the woods nearby Wellington Lake where Father Fred spent his youth fishing and skinny dipping!  😎😍😎

While this appears to be a triple meet in Glen Hammond there are only three active trains working here at the moment.

The third track from the left houses traffic that will eventually depart town.

From left to right we see Passenger 1, Passenger 2, the interchange track and RP&M train Rat 61.

Mark managed to railfan his own train, Pool Train 33, seen piercing the trestle inbound to Glen Hammond.

Train 33 is nearing the end of its run with an imminent station stop at St. Helens before terminating up in Craig Leigh.

Thanks so much Mark for these great shots!

A trio of cars awaits handling at the Watkins Co-Operative in Wellington Lake.

The Ironwood Switcher will be involved with these cars at Ironwood Brick.

Later in the morning the ore cars had been filled and will be pulled from the mine siding in short order.

Dilip and Robin visited St. Helens eastbound aboard IPP&W Train 304 and are now back in town aboard westbound Train 313.

Glen Hammond has cleared out with but a few cars remaining on the interchange tracks and a sole passenger car tucked into the house track behind the station.

There's not much action happening at Nelson Yard at the moment.

The ore train awaits backing onto its 'lifts' the Nelson crew has pulled from the Fallentree Mine.

The town of Bell hosts IPP&W Train 303 and RP&M Train 71.

The crew aboard 303 was held back at Watkins Siding for a long time while Bell's congestion cleared up. 

Some lovely looking power is found at Bell.

Mark has arrived Glen Hammond with the Pool Train.

A triple header rolls ore into Nelson Yard.

Yardmaster Henk directs Bob in on a free track.

Ore entry video into Nelson Yard.

Train 33 brushes by the rockery at Lilly.

Mark railfans 'himself'!  😁😁😁

Pool Train video candidate!

We follow up with the ore train in Nelson Yard.

The crew is backing onto their 'lifts' which were assembled in the big yard by the Nelson Yardmasters.

Video fun in Nelson Yard.

Second trick Train 313 arrives Ironwood from the east as the Ironwood Switcher prepares to lift a string of ore cars for the ore train.

This saves the ore train crew from having to run around their consist in order to lift these cars from a facing siding.

313 pulls into the yard along the main.

Doug directs the crew into town and instructs them as to how they will lift their string of cars from the siding and how they will spot their setouts.

Dilip & Robin make up the crew aboard 313.

Ironwood Brick video.

I am pulling the ore cars off the siding and will set them out on a spare track to the right...while off in the distance Doug assists the crew of 313 with their setouts and lifts.

A closer view of the ore train.

More video from Ironwood.

At the same time as I lift the ore cars for the imminent arrival of the ore train I glance across the valley to see 'said' train heaving ore upgrade into Spruce.

The crew will arrive Ironwood in short order.

Clarke Grade ascent video.

Train 313 now departs Ironwood bound for Spruce to the west.

Over by the fence line dispatcher Bernie instructs a way freight to hold at Watkins Siding for the arrival of a passenger train into Wellington Lake.

313's departure out from our yard as witnessed on video.

Ore moves out from Spruce...

...while across the far valley the passenger train meets the wayfreight just outside Wellington Lake at Watkins Siding.

Multi-train video moves.

The power for the ore train passes me as I wait in the side with cars to deliver to the crew.

I'll be donating for ore loads to the cause!

With his train still moving, Bob is about to remotely uncouple the caboose from the string of ore cars.

The uncoupling via his remote throttle is successful!

Cool remote uncoupling video!

I am now able to shove the cut of cars onto the ore train.

Almost there!

Listen in on the communication between me & Bob in this video montage!

Steve guides his second trick Train 311 into 'The Corners' along the Bell Sub while the ore train backs onto its caboose along the Spruce Sub.

311's power ducks in behind the Ironwood Brick complex.

While up at Wellington Lake along the fence line, first trick Train 302 is running rather late due to a 'power outage' with its first locomotive of the morning.

The ore continues to reverse back toward its caboose waiting on the main in Ironwood.

Ore Train Bob is a qualified electrician and he makes use of electricity in the most innovative ways with his railroad equipment!

I offer up verbal instructions to Ore Train Bob as he backs along the main heading for a hook-up with his caboose as heard on this video reel.

Once on their caboose, the crew can head further east to St. Helens.

Doug & I can now resume our work spotting the cars set out by the various trains to their respective industries in town - all the while lifting cars to the same siding for future incoming trains.

Continued video work in Ironwood.

My locomotive...the Ironwood & New England #27 takes a breather as the crew relaxes momentarily in the sunlight.

At the same time, Neil's guest Bob relaxes in the shade in front of the Spruce depot!

Now there's a smart fellow! 👍👍

Neil is thankful to George for the loan of a steam locomotive in a moment's notice!

Neil arrives safely in Craig Leigh at the end of his second run.

Later that day we had a thunderstorm make its way through my Alta Vista neighbourhood which was followed up by this beautiful 'double rainbow'.

My daughter Alison snapped these two shots from our front patio here on Wingate Drive.

Then yesterday my band rehearsed at one of our member's cottages on Lac Bernard in Quebec...a forty minute drive north from my home here in Ottawa.

Dusk was setting in and the loons were making their own music as this cloud formation was reflected beautifully in the still waters of the lake!

Seeing as I don't show up that often in the railway pictures, here I am with my drummer, Mark, as we tour the lake.

Our singer, Corinne, had been in swimming just before we headed out for the cruise.

She tells us the water was near 80 degrees!

Guitarist Gerry & bassist Alec are wise to be wearing their wide brimmed hats.

Thanks to Gerry for hosting a wonderful music rehearsal session and BBQ at his wonderful cottage!

Our band is once again headlining the Orleans Musicfest Saturday afternoon immediately following the operating session at Fred's!

I'll have to hurry from one location to the next!

As for the modeling bench I have put many more hours into the construction of the Wainwright shop in O scale.

The table you see along the windowed wall was scratchbuilt and has a vice attached.

A stepladder was assembled with some scratchbuilt pieces supporting the legs and placed near the tallest shelf in the facility.

Jacks were installed beneath the chassis being worked on by an employee of the shop.

A shorter wall was scratched and backs on to the table in the assembly area located midway in the facility which separates the assembly and the repair locations.

Here we see the back of the shorter wall.

Next step is to create the roof rafters for a total of either 13 rafters at four foot intervals or nine rafters at six foot intervals.

Also, while this shop may look bustling and active, we have chosen to keep the model rather clean in appearance.

Typically you wouldn't be able to see a single square inch of wall space in a wainwright shop and a blacksmith shop for that matter!

Yes, later we will get onto the creation of the neighbouring blacksmith facility!

Here is a better view of the 'half-wall' I mentioned earlier!

Thanks to my crewmate Doug who worked the Ironwood Switcher with me and who is an active partner in the design of our latest O scale endeavour.

This photo was snapped earlier before many of the added details were installed.

Also thanks to Rob Kazakoff for donating time and expertise in planning - and for donating materials to the project!

Thanks to Mark for sending along the first five images of this blog entry to kick things off!

And...we can't forget Father Fred for donating his backyard for Craig and all of us to enjoy!

The trains ran beautifully and the session was a tremendous success!

We have a great forecast for tomorrow's session where the Ironwood Switcher will be in the hands of Mike & Chris.

The more folks who learn the Ironwood Switcher job - the more flexibility Mike will have in arranging the weekly crew list!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada