Bigfoot Spotted Along the Route of the IPP&W

Bigfoot Spotted Around the Route of the IPP&W

Hey folks...some strange things occurred at this week's train ops.

No...there were no flying saucers in the area.

But a mysterious looking character was spotted trackside along the route of the IPP&W.

Most folks caught a fleeting glimpse of him but they really weren't certain as to what they saw.

Apparently with each sighting, this shy beast quickly vanished back into the forest...or perhaps the dispatch hut!

 Indeed, it seems that this rare bigfoot seemed quite willing to tamper with our train ops this morning...but the circumstances remain a mystery for now.

With operators and guests included...our numbers in Fred's backyard totaled 36.

I wonder if any of these lads (or lasses) spotted Bigfoot...or perhaps are related to him?

The operators listen in on skipper Bill's rant of the day with regard to train crews entering and exiting Nelson Yard.

Then Fred offers up some safety advice about watching your feet nearby rail crossings and other 'tight' areas trackside.

Apparently one of the members wasn't listening too well!

Who could it be???

And...one of our train engineers felt sure they had spotted this mysterious creature while running through the forested area along the Bell Sub!

Perhaps the culprit is one of the members hanging outside Mike's dispatch cabin?

Oh well...maybe we will never learn who this elusive beast was...so let's get on with checking out the train operations on this fine September morning!

Passenger 2 is the first train to 'polish the rails' on this day.

Out from Bell, the crew has its sights on Wellington Lake.

Video of first train out on the morning.

One of the passengers aboard Passenger 2 felt for sure she had seen him in the forest when the train rounded the verdant area in "The Corners".

When she informed the railroad authorities she drew this image of what she had believed she had witnessed while traveling aboard the train.

But she did say that it could've been the good old Canadian whiskey she had consumed the night before that perhaps had caused her to hallucinate and make the whole thing up!

Seanna & Steve work RP&M Train 71 currently at the eastern throat of Nelson Yard.

Train 302 had been hot on the heels of #2 and reaches Track 3 at Bell.

Grant's lovely Waycar #72 brings up the rear of their train.

302's arrival at Bell is found in this video effort.

The tail end of 304 is spotted descending the grade below the upper throat of Nelson Yard as the Nelson Yard switcher pulls cars from the Fallentree Mine in bright sunlight.

Bill is all smiles as he has 'Big Al' for a yardmaster's assistant on this day.

Bill tells us that...for certain...Al is a big man...but he doesn't fall into the 'big' foot category.

In fact...Al has tiptoed delicately over to the area of Fallentree Mine as his train 'tiptoes' out onto the trestle with his Nelson Yard locomotive.

Video in and around the Nelson Yard environs.

Action is 'heavy' along the route of the IPP&W as evidenced by this triple meet orchestrated by dispatch down in Peter's Pond.

The ore train arrives town on an easterly heading (geographical west) and meets opposing westbound Train 303 (to the right) and eastbound Train 302 (to the left).

And the crowds of operators manage their footing in and around the property.

The power for the ore train moves across the first of two pedestrian crossings.

Could that shoe above the locomotive belong to our elusive bigfoot we wonder?

Triple meet video captured in the lower Pond area.

With his locomotive in the dappled sunlight...

...Bob backs onto his train.

He thanks the Nelson Yard crew for lifting his cut of loaded ore cars from the mine and then is cleared by dispatch to traverse the "Long Reach" between Nelson Yard and Spruce.

Ore train action video.

Seanna always wears interesting railroad shirts and this one is a beauty!

And...it is appropriate for our narrow gauge 'steam serviced' operations!

Back at the safety briefing...following Bill's epistle...Fred explained the sign that will be put up in the crew lounge warning folks to keep an eye out for a large furry creature...that apparently means no harm...but has rather large feet.

The sign is there for all to see!

Some folks claim that they read in "The Enquirer" that apparently a creature fitting this very same description often was spotted riding on a tractor.

On the late night news, folks were interviewed who swore on the bible that they saw a large hairy creature riding his tractor down to the shops on Merivale Road in Ottawa!

But...who do we know in Nepean who drives a tractor to these shops?  😎👀😎

No one had an answer for that!

Pre-ops...railfan Mike found both westbound trains #2 and 302 ready to depart Firgrove.

Dave Stremes made it out for a visit to the layout to check in on the operations!

Welcome Dave!

The aisleway between Bell and Glen Hammond can appear quite full in the early hours of the morning as two crews must depart the Glen in opposite directions.

Train 301 is running late due to equipment problems with its power.

Locomotive #10 has now taken over command of the train running westbound into Ironwood.

Ironwood approach with Train 301 as caught on video.

The town of Spruce is occupied with Train 304.

The ore train has been granted clearance up to the summit of the grade to the west of town.

When 304's crew tucks its locomotive into the siding track, the ore train can then pass through town along the main.

Video of Spruce activities taken from a distance.

The ore train 'threads the needle' at Ironwood.

Bob uses his remote throttle to uncouple from his consist as his locomotive is still moving.

Ore Train arrival video in Ironwood.

Such a gorgeous locomotive!

Pulling out!

Ore activity video.

Departure from Ironwood.

Eastward bound.

Farewell video of ore train bound for St. Helens and finally the Northland Ore Dock in Craig Leigh.

As Ore Train Bob ran between Ironwood & St. Helens he swore he saw a silvery 'ghostly' figure ambling across the rails in front of his train!

But Bob did mention that the early morning rays of the rising sun wreaked havoc with the views outside the front window of his locomotive.

Craig's locomotive is now back in service which excites this railfan!

Craig, Joanne & Chris have re-assembled their train after working Wellington Lake...and now are drilling the eastern sidings at Bell.

Video of westbound Train 303 at Watkins Siding.

Doug and his sidekick 'Other Doug' (out of the image) are working the Ironwood Switcher on this day.

This image was taken early on in the session before 301 and 304 could arrive town.

Doug...ever the pragmatic soul...felt that all this talk of some Bigfoot Sightings was nonsense...total nonsense...until...

...even Doug felt that he had caught a quick glimpse out of the corner of his eye of a furry creature dressed in a Canadian lumberjack vest and wearing a cap of the same ilk!

301's crew got off to a late start due to engine difficulties.

Earlier I ran over to Craig Leigh to assist with the locomotives in the engine house to ensure of their availability.

Another glance at Train #2 having arrived Bell in the early hours of the morning.

Glen Hammond to the right is kept very busy.

The lantern Doug had brought over to Fred's on Wednesday now has a new wick installed (by Father Fred) and is ready for use!

And...for a brief moment the lantern went missing!

Fred & I looked all over for it.

I went inside the house and Fred checked around back of the crew lounge and when we returned...the lantern was there on the table once again!

Strange occurrences for sure!

Having the Ironwood depot on the curve offers up a wonderful potential for classic train images.

Pool Train 33 has reached the western end of Ironwood and rolls to a stop.

Station video at Ironwood.

Garry's beautiful Pacific heads up the Pool Train on this day.

The crew slows to a stop at Spruce.

If they have work to conduct at the House Track, their assignment will be of the facing variety.

Typically this train works trailing sidings in the various towns along the route.

Pool Train video work at Spruce.

302 has raced through Mercer Siding with the green signal aspect noted in the top left hand corner of the image.

The crew slows through the junction at Anderson.

RP&M Train 61 shares the image with 302.

They will have work to do at the sidings across the junction.

The runby through the junction is captured in this video effort.

The crew is blowing the whistle long and hard as the engineers spots some big feet nearby the pedestrian crossing.

Grant takes a seat at Nelson Yard as he awaits the Pool Train to clear the 'Long Reach' on its approach to Glen Hammond.

Once the Pool Train is clear of the exit turnout for Nelson Yard, Grant will proceed to Spruce aboard his second trick Train 312.

Video effort of Pool Train 33 spanning the crossing outside the dispatch booth.

From my perch in the dispatch cabin (where I tend to stay throughout the session) I spot Train 312 ambling slowly out of Nelson Yard.

The crew cannot take to the outer main until Pool Train 33's tail end clears the turnout.

312 is on the exit track out from the big yard as the Pool Train rounds the bend on the outer main leading into Glen Hammond.

The sunlit areas tend to be blanched in these early hours of the day.

I step out of the dispatch hut (ever so briefly) to change my angle of attack with the photograph.

Train 312 is now on its way to Spruce as Train 33 slows for its station approach in the Glen.

Video of the meet of these two trains.

312 makes progress through the pedestrian crossing.

Train 312 - the 'Video Star'!

Earlier in the morning, the Spruce depot is witness to the work of eastbound wayfreight 304.

There's the crew off in the distance now.

While across aisle up in Cedar Rock we spot 302 handling both facing and trailing moves at the end of the branch.

The crew of Grant, Mark & Gerry keep the trains rolling even if a car picks the odd switch.

It has always been rumoured by the denizens of Cedar Rock that a furry creature had been spotted on September evenings playing an electric guitar in the forests around their town.

Apparently wild stories of UFO sightings in this neck of the woods have been circulating for years.

And...the dispatcher has mysteriously disappeared as Big Al is worried about his whereabouts!

An investigation is currently underway and the rail authorities feel they will have an answer to all of these strange happenings within the next few days.

In other news, OVAR celebrated its 65th Anniversary this past Tuesday evening.

Fred, Felicity, Gerry & John make up a portion of the head table of executive members.

Thanks to Dilip for the photos from the banquet hall and the photos and videos of the band!

The lights were dimmed and the presentation got underway.

I explained to the group how Father Fred had phoned me back in May to ask if I could get one of my bands to play the OVAR 65th Anniversary Dinner.

My response to Fred was, "Sure Fred, I'll get the band as long as you get a presenter to put a Power Point presentation together for the evening."

"Well," I went on..."we both succeeded.  I got the band and Fred got the presenter...me!!!"

The above image showcases five of the six themes that are the various threads that make up the OVAR blanket.

The themes work in a synergistic nature to make OVAR the great organization it is.

The sixth theme would be the wonderful railfan images so many presenters have shared with us throughout the years.

We also celebrated many of our Charter Members...

...and many of our pioneers in all aspects of this great hobby of railroading we all enjoy.

We also celebrated in a joyous nature those members of the group who have passed on....members who brought so much knowledge, camaraderie and kindness to the group.

I then went on to explain the relationship of the songs the band would be playing to the theme of railroading...either directly or indirectly.

Of course, we celebrated the many women in railroading, ladies like Christene Gonzales who was the first ever female locomotive driver for a Class 1 railroad in the history of railroading in North America.

We also had to mention Lindsay Breen, who was one-third of an all female crew of engineer, conductor and brakewoman on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in 2024.

And...of course...we celebrate our very own OVAR executive member, Felicity Harrison, who is qualified to run both a steam locomotive and a diesel locomotive.

She can often be found at the National Museum of Science here in Ottawa running the centrecab.

My band entertained the audience as the images flashed across the screen.

This video showcases a segment from the song 'Pretty Woman'.

We are in the 'Model Railways of OVAR Members' theme with an image of Jim McSherry's E&N railway up on the big screen as the band plays to the left of the audience.

The band plays 'Ticket to Ride' by The Beatles in this video effort.

Mike is all smiles as Dilip zooms by with his camera!

Corinne has such a beautiful voice!

Video from a segment of 'Homeward Bound' by Simon & Garfunkel.

Mark on the drums is singing 'Folsom Prison Blues'.

Dilip's short video of us covering the Johnny Cash tune, 'Folsom Prison Blues'.

Corinne loves singing 'House of the Rising Sun'.

Video from Dilip of a portion of our cover of 'The House of the Rising Sun' by Eric Burton & the Animals.

I would like to take this time to thank Father Fred and the entire OVAR executive for inviting us to help make OVAR's 65th Anniversary dinner a huge success.

Thanks to OVGRS member Gerry Berrigan for joining the band for the evening...much appreciated Gerry!

And thanks to Dilip for sending along the videos and images from OVAR!

In a future blog entry sometime tomorrow I will share with you the still images Dilip snapped from Saturday's session.

Dilip informed me that he purposely made it his focus to capture the people operating the trains!

So, thanks in advance to Dilip for this.

The above image shows Joanne & Craig working the eastern front of Bell aboard IPP&W Train 303.

Their crew partner, Chris, is behind Craig.

Here is Dilip...all smiles as he works Craig Leigh on this day!

Paul (out of the image) was his yardmaster partner.

Our dear friend, Ray Farand, who was honoured at the OVAR meeting as being this year's recipient of the Herb McEwen Award for his outstanding contributions to railroading as a published author and photographer dropped in on the session and snapped this great looking image along with many others.

Ray has always been keen to offer presentations when asked.

So, look for the blog entry showcasing his many images from our recent session in the coming days!

Finally, thanks to Fred and Bernie for devoting part of their day on Thursday replacing the turnout at Craig Leigh and screwing down the cable.

The new switch works fabulously now!

It had been causing grief for some time.

Father Fred is a true 'pro' when it comes to working on the railway tracks!

We had not gotten around to placing the tunnel portal at Rat over the past couple of workday Wednesdays...so it took our devoted WDWD member Bernie to reinstall it on a Thursday instead!

Thanks for doing that Bernie and for sending along these four images.

Say...apparently there is a Bigfoot hiding trackside along the line near Durango as well.

He must be a distant cousin to our very own Sasquatch.

While he looks mean...we are certain that he would be a docile creature if handed a throttle to run a locomotive!

Say what is the difference between the term 'Bigfoot' and 'Sasquatch'?

My research tells me that the name comes from sésq'ec, a word used by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

It entered English usage long before the mid-20th Century.

Apparently indigenous oral histories often view the being through a cultural or spiritual lens.

Traditional stories describe the being as a true guardian or protector of nature with deep connections to the land, rather than existing as an ordinary wild animal.

The term 'Bigfoot' entered modern pop culture in 1958 after construction workers found oversized footprints nearby a logging site in Northern California.

While our friend grabs a cuppa java...we'll say 'fare thee well' for the time being.

Hey...there's Ray now!

So...if a Bigfoot or Sasquatch truly does reside somewhere in Fred's backyard, we are certain that we can get to the bottom of the missing dispatcher and whoever it is with 'big feet'.

Time will tell!

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada