Workday Wednesday and Good News About Fred

Fred is Back Home Safe & Sound

While quite a bit chilly, this morning's forecasted radar map showed no signs of precipitation for the first half of this day so the "Workday Wednesday" schedule went ahead as planned.

Chris & I made it out with the intention of running a train through some of the pre-determined hotspots from the prior week.

Our main focus was the S-curve leading off the siding at Spruce into the yard as well as the turnout in behind the Fallentree Mine nearby Nelson Yard.

This image Chris took of me doesn't tell the half of it!

By jeepers it was darned chilly this morning...more like late fall than late spring weather here in our nation's capital!

After running his train, Chris went to town with the weed-wacker and it fulfilled the role of the lawn mower for today's needs.

Doug made it by for a brief moment to check out some of the cars he has been working on over the off-season.

Doug did a fabulous job re-lettering a few 40' boxcars for our railway.

These two were showcased in last week's blog entry.

Chris brought out his Prince Edward Island steam locomotive for the test run.

Engine number 32 stars in this video movie!

The sounds you hear are not necessarily emanating from the locomotive...they come from across the street where heavy machinery is working.

Number 32 passes beneath the great Scobie's sign in Craig Leigh.

Chris monitors the progress of his engine as there is no 'play' at the end of the consist of cars!

Back-up video in motion.

She's underway!

Exit from Craig Leigh's passenger terminal area as shown on video tape.

Train Extra 32 hauls past Douglas Yard.

In this video I state that it feels like 8 degrees.  

That was the actual temperature...and with the wind it was chillier still!

Chris reaches the interchange with Doug Matheson's Northland railway.

Corner video shots.

Riding along westerly between St. Helens and Ironwood.

We video the train closely as a car had just derailed here in the first runby.

Debris was removed from the tracks and this is Chris's second attempt to traverse this area of track.

The track leading off the siding at Spruce into the main yard had been causing some grief towards the end of last season especially with the larger and wider steam locomotives, so we decide to investigate the S-curve leading into the yard.

Video of our efforts here.

We attempt all manners of switching.

While the train managed to tread lightly through the turnouts in this video, there are still a few issues to be dealt with this spring in this area.

Here is an example of such an issue as presented in video.

We change the arrangement of cars for the next test in the following video.

This video begs the question; 

Is it the tightness of the curve?  

Is it the coupler on the locomotive?  

Is it a combination of both?

With the turnout in Spruce fully ensconced on our WDWD "bucket list" we head over to our next issue.

That is...the turnout heading into the Fallentree Mine area.

Note how the timber beneath the turnout is higher than the one beneath the main line leading into Nelson Yard.

This may very well be the 'cause' of our problems!

To test out the turnout, Chris backs his train through the troubled area.

The video showcases the 'wobble' of the cars.

The near board is considerably higher than the far one.

I have removed much of the rocks beneath the near board as well as some rotten lumber.

I'll have Chris step on the near board to lower it to match the same level as the far board and insert a long screw through the two boards as a temporary measure.

I selected one of these puppies for the job.

Because the screw went in rather easily with a simple hand screwdriver and not a powered one, this tells Chris & me that the wood is fairly rotten.

Well, it's been there ever since the tree fell many, many years ago!

Chris continues with his back-up move.

Video evidence of the repair job.

In other news, I picked up the 10'x10' pop-up canopy from Bernie's home earlier in the morning.

We'll wait until the weather improves before we set it up.

Fred had asked me to fill the fridge with pop from the garage.

The sodas will find a home beside their 'grown up' friends!  😎

Tiptoe through the tall grass!  👀

Toe-tipping video!

There shouldn't be any issues in this corner as this area was given a brand new subroadbed last season!

Corner video.

Oops video!  👽

This is what we deal with each week.  

A firm inspection of track is necessary every single gathering as those darned pine needles and tiny branches can easily derail a locomotive as evidenced here!

Still more debris on the track!

Video evidence.

"Barreling through Bell" video.

Ascending "The Ledges" video.

Arrival in Firgrove video.

Now, we visit Freddie in the hospital.

Here we see the nurses explaining all of Fred's homework with regard to medicines and procedures when he arrives home and is on his own once more.

Yup, he's one satisfied camper feeling 'camping out' at the Ottawa General was fun, but its more fun going home!

In fact, as I wheeled Fred down the hall, there was a parade of nurses along the length of the hallway bidding farewell to Father Fred.  

"We'll miss you Fred!" they called out.

I've got my jacket and scarf on with the crazy weather Ottawa has been under in the last days of May.

In fact the last days of December last year were warmer than May's final week or so!

S-o-o-oo...I'm wheeling Fred down to the main entrance of the hospital when this lad spots Fred's CN cap.

Right away he calls over to Fred, "So you worked for CN as well?"

Fred explains to him that while he never worked for CN, he is a railroad nut, like the rest of us.

The fellow's name is Mike and he worked for the CN for 35 years at Capreol on the "bridges and ballast" crew.

While Fred & his new friend, Mike, were chatting I snapped a few images and a video of this work of art; a native canoe.

Wow!  Love it!

Here is my video of the canoe.

And...here is my short interview with Mike & Fred on video.

Sexy feet, Fred!

Aha!  Here's Pat's van!

Thanks Pat for picking Fred up and delivering him home!

Pat's lovely wife made a wonderful dinner for Fred to heat up this evening.

Yup, we gotta feed him well these days!

Thanks also to Chris for helping out this morning in Fred's backyard.

Finally thanks to all of you for checking in on this blog entry and for all who sent wonderful messages Fred's way while he was enjoying the nurses in the hospital!!!  😀😁😎😁😀

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

A Look Back at Session #6 Last Season

Session #6 Revisited

On July 20th of last year we were able to run our sixth session of the season.

Usually by this time we would have run nine or ten sessions if Mother Nature had have been more cooperative.

Well, the sun shone and the lads and lasses were able to make it out trackside. 

 Let's have a gander of what transpired on that day, shall we!

TH&B #73 offers up an indication that this day's work was of the standard gauge variety.

It's the 'Bernie Man' who owns that TH&B beauty making an appearance on the scene.  

He is followed in short order by...

...the equally as handsome Garry!

Many of our early arrivers have set out much of the equipment required for the operations.

All that is needed now are the diesel locomotives!

Billy Boy has the umbrellas up and now he is 'up' to the task of running the big Nelson Yard!

But first, more trays of cars must be dealt with!

Len handles the traffic which will start the session in Ralph Yard to the west.

He and his buddy George will handle the main yard as well as all traffic heading into and out from Firgrove.

Out East, Robin will enjoy running the passenger trains.

Paul will act as the Douglas yardmaster on this day.

He still has plenty of traffic to disperse to their various locations in and around Craig Leigh.

One of the many versions of carrying cases for the locomotives which arrive with the various members of the group.

Fred holds our attention with the news of the day!

Dilip has brought out his recently purchased B&O road switcher which originated from the estate of our late friend, Lawrence.

Bob pays us a visit and Father Fred is so delighted to see him...as we all are!

All the best to you, Bob!

Henk's 45-tonner is pressed into action on this day.

Our video showcases how the "little engine that could" required a slight helping hand!

A Pullman car in New York Central livery brings up the rear of Passenger 4 hot out from Firgrove.

Conventional wisdom advises the 'higher ups' at the IPP&W that two opposing passenger trains can be run simultaneously. 

This video effort proves the point as Train #4 reaches Bell in the west at roughly the same time Train #3 reaches St. Helens in the east.

We are past the halfway point in our session as Moe brings Train #3 to a rolling stop in Wellington Lake.

Video review of Passenger #3.

We're nearing the end of the session as the crew of Train 323 ascends the grade into Firgrove where their train will terminate.

This video illustrates how secondary railroad lines serve an important purpose seeing as a significant amount of traffic flows along this bridge route known as the IPP&W Railway.

At an earlier time in the session, Train 312, finishes its run upon arrival in Craig Leigh.

312's arrival at Craig Leigh is found on video.

Earlier, the crew had met the ore train back in Spruce.

They still had Ironwood and St. Helens to deal with before terminating in Craig Leigh.

Their efforts in Spruce are video recorded.

The Pool Train meets an opposing IPP&W crew at Watkins Siding...named after the late Lawrence Watkins.

Meets on regional railroads are typically found where the lines terminate at junctions with other railroads, but this video attests to the fact that the IPP&W is one busy line with a solid future ahead!

This blue specimen is being handled in Ironwood aboard Train 314.

John & Dilip man 314 as they continue with their efforts at Ironwood.

Marcel & Moe relax in the shade of the lounge where the pond used to exist as they await clearance from dispatch to allow both of their trains to move on down the line.

Our affable yard masters at Nelson Yard enjoy a lull in the action!

Sid allows his locomotive to escape from its carrying case as he assists in the set out of freight cars pre-ops.  

Thanks Sid!

The improved signage made of metal.

Here's our sign-up sheet.

Passengers meet the freight crew in St. Helens.

Robin is running the eastbound passenger service as John works an eastbound freight.

John works Train 324 as the passenger consist drives on by.

Mark is spotted over in Nelson Yard having returned with his RP&M train.

The cooperage at Brewer's Barrels is doing a decent business on this day.

An aerial view of the parking lot.

Mark's Alaska unit handles the chores along the RP&M this day.

Sid runs the other RP&M train as he works the Fallentree Mine.

The shorty caboose is suitable for the short line operation known as the Rat Portage & Mattawa.

Arriving back in Nelson Yard in dappled shade.

The passenger train is a maverick as it passes "out of bounds" to the front of Fred's property.

A maverick's video!

No, this is not an optical illusion!  

The crew aboard 302 decide to place their "facing spot" for Bell at the front of their F-unit pairing!

Video proof of this creative move.

The RP&M crew escape Nelson Yard bound for the junction and on into Rat Portage.

They have been granted a limited time period to foul the junction in order to switch out the trailing siding to the west of Nelson Yard.

Junction video views.

Parallel running near the beginning of the session.

304 departs Glen Hammond as the RP&M crew deal with traffic to the east of Nelson Yard as seen in this video.

The radio chatter contains the dialogue between the crew of 301 and dispatch.  

301 is requesting clearance out from Craig Leigh to follow passenger Train #1.  

Clearance has been given and the crew of the freight train has been instructed to take the siding in St. Helens.

We spot a 'meet & greet' at Mercer Siding.

Mercer Siding video tape.

Ore meets wayfreight at Bell.

The short hop from Firgrove arrives the scene.

Bell video moment.

The Nelson switcher keeps occupied throughout the beginning of the session.

Our RP&M train has been cleared out from Glen Hammond.

Dispatch communicates with three crews as heard on this video.

Continued Nelson Yard video segments.

And we thought we had only one Great Northern diesel on the roster!

Great Northern action on video.

A quick glance of the icing platform in Craig Leigh in advance of the session.

The activity is quite light up in Cedar Rock and in Spruce at the moment.

Endcars come in a variety of shapes and colours.

Here's Dilip our narrow gauge train master who makes up the sessions through the RailOps program on computer.

Steve W. does the same for us when we run the standard gauge sessions.

Throw cables allow operators to throw distant turnouts while standing beside the large tree at St. Helens.

Labelling ensures the operator throws the appropriate turnout.

Bell is alive with activity throughout the majority of the session.

We spot the eastbound passenger train running 'geographical west' at Mercer Siding.

A number of crews follow trains that are 'miles' apart yet a 'yard' or so away!

Hey, what about the metric system, Mike!

Chris's CN Geep is at home switching out sidings along the route as evidenced here in Ironwood.

The locomotive represents Train 301 on this day.

Boxcars have taken over the siding track in Cedar Rock!

Early in the day Train 303 reaches Peter's Pond.

The crew clears the mainline for an imminent meet before they handle their switching chores.

We are able to capture the entire consist of 303 in this image.

The meet is in effect.

It's early in the morning and Marcel and Chris have reached Ironwood in good time.

Two other crews are kept busy with their tasks in behind them.

The ore train reaches this same location.

Mark has reached Bell after working Rat Portage with his RP&M train.

Bill & Henk keep the trains-a-moving as they are shuffled through Nelson Yard.

Sid hauls into the Glen with his RP&M consist.

We spot a triple meet up in Bell.

Video of the action in the Glen and at Bell.

The power for our westbound passenger service has reached the big curve at Lilly.

The counterpart passenger train is spotted off in the distance at Mercer.

Passenger video footage.

302 is underway out from Bell bound for Wellington Lake.

302 is the star of the video.

Train 301 assists 304 with their facing moves and vice versa!

The crew begins it moves as captured in this video.

With their mutual assists back in Ironwood, both crews can escape the yard much quicker as seen here with Train 304 departing the scene with aims on St. Helens.

304 digs in to the grade on video as it traverses the countryside.

The passenger run has come out of the hollers between Glen Hammond and Spruce and proceeds east at Clarke Grade.

Robin glides his train into the depot at Spruce.

The approach into Spruce as spotted on video.

302 departs Wellington Lake and is cleared through to Peter's Pond along the Bell Sub.

Meanwhile, ore traffic ascends Clarke Grade on the Spruce Sub.

Video work along two subdivisions.

Mark works the RP&M at the town of Stuart adjacent to Bell with his Alaska unit.

Video activities in and around Stuart and Bell.

Time for bed for our Ironwood Road unit.

Bedtime video.

The Drover caboose tells us that we are nearing the end of this blog entry.

Time for lunch!

And the camaraderie continues!

We take advantage of the shade offered by the large canopy located over the main lounge area.

Thanks for checking in on our blog entry! - Mike

On behalf of Father Fred, we thank you for taking a quick peek back at some of our fun from Session #6 last season.

There are still many more images and videos that were unused last year that can fill in whenever we have a rainout.

Our inaugural session is slated to begin next Saturday, May 24th.

We are the OVGRS of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada