Boy oh boy, do we have fun at our train ops sessions.
Here, Lawrence sneaks in behind to share a great big smile with me.
Indeed, happy times abound.
Everyone is in rapt attention pre-ops as Colin delivers the all-important safety speech to the assembled operators.
Having worked on the real railroad, Colin knows the importance of vigilance trackside.
He offers up an emergency plan for the session should a health issue arise among any of the members of the group. This is something the gang takes seriously and we thank Colin for his efforts in this department.
He offers up an emergency plan for the session should a health issue arise among any of the members of the group. This is something the gang takes seriously and we thank Colin for his efforts in this department.
Let's check out the three main yards. Moe handles Firgrove.
Where he manages to keep things well organized at all times.
Why, he even finds time to cover a page or two of his latest novel!
Douglas Yard in Craig Leigh offers the yardmasters greater shade than Firgrove.
Bernie and Neil must get to work immediately as they must organize 301's consist to get the train ready to roll westward.
Not to mention the Pool Train, Train #15 as well.
Colin, Gord and Paul work the main yard at Nelson.
Pat and George, in the background, also work as RP&M crew on the day.
The yard is a large one, but with crews working both ends, the trains are blocked quickly. This allows the yard crew to deal with their RP&M trains as well as any incoming traffic on the IPP&W.
Malcolm signed on to Passenger #2. Here we see him departing Firgrove for his first station stop at Bell.
Passenger #2 passing the station in Bell.
Nice looking unit, Malcolm!
From Bell, it's downgrade to Peter's Pond.
Malcolm has met Train 15 in Glen Hammond.
Steve and Seanna bring out their recent purchase, this CN switcher. They pose the locomotive with a caboose which will be left at Douglas Yard as they will run Train 15, the Pool Train.
They arrive Ironwood for a station stop having passed through Mount St. Helens where they also stopped at the depot.
They arrive Glen Hammond and take the station track where they will have some spots and lifts on the house track in behind the depot.
The blue engine on the second track indicates a meet with Passenger #2.
Train 15 arrives Peter's Pond where Steve and Seanna meet Train 302.
We spot Train 301 westbound at Mount St. Helens.
Pat inspects his switchlist. All spurs are facing ones for his train.
Lawrence and Pat have 301 pulling into Ironwood.
Lawrence commands the throttle.
As he pulls into Ironwood.
With their moves at Ironwood complete, Pat heads over to Spruce, their next destination.
He even gets an "assist" from Fred at the far end of the siding!
He even gets an "assist" from Fred at the far end of the siding!
301's eastbound counterpart is 302. Chris and Lela crew this train today.
Here we see them at "The Ledges" as they pull around the bend into Bell.
Lela holds the switchlist.
As she conducts the operations. Passenger #2 passes by them on the station track.
With their work complete in Bell, they arrive Peter's Pond where they meet Steve and Seanna aboard the Pool Train.
Much later in the session they arrive Spruce. At Nelson Yard, their train, 302, terminated and they continued eastward as Train 312.
Paul and Tom run Train 318 which is the eastward section of the 318/319 Turn from Glen Hammond to Craig Leigh. They arrive Spruce in this image.
Then through to Ironwood.
One of Paul's favourite locomotives.
Paul examines his orders for Mount St. Helens. Because he is eastbound, the sidings are in his favour...they are all trailing spurs.
Passenger #2 meets 318. It will terminate shortly at Craig Leigh. Then Malcolm will return westward as Passenger #1. Looks like Paul has completed his moves here and will be ready to trail Passenger #2 upgrade to Craig Leigh.
Steve and Garry man the other turn, Train 327/328 from Glen Hammond to Firgrove and back.
They have crossed the diamond where they will meet Malcolm's passenger train in Peter's Pond.
Steve and Garry arrive Peter's Pond and have already run around their train. Seeing as Passenger #2 holds the station track, they must've run around their train using the siding or quickly snuck ahead of the passenger train along the station track before its arrival.
Much later, they are found departing Bell.
Where they round the big curve and begin their ascent into Firgrove.
As per usual, Bob handles the ore train.
We spot him meeting a freight at Mercer.
Later, into the big yard at Nelson.
Through the trestle and around the curve at Lilly.
With Doug running his trailing unit! Clever duo that one is!
Pat has brought out his new switcher.
He and George will assist the Nelson Yard crew.
They will later run RP&M 67/68. Here they are at Bellamy.
They must be drilling the western sector of Nelson Yard.
Yes they are.
Gord runs another RP&M freight.
We spot him in Glen Hammond.
Nice looking locomotive, Gord!
Nice looking engineer too.
Even better looking cargo!
A few "people" shots. Pat talks about his locomotive while Garry checks his train orders.
Bob removes one of his locomotives from its carrying case while Doug looks on.
Colin mans Nelson Yard.
Doug really is enjoying teaming with Bob in a dual locomotive fashion.
Doug, Steve, Seanna and George enjoy some post-ops conversation.
Two of our newest members, Neil and Brian.
Paul gives a wave to someone as Seanna and Steve listen to his explanation regarding something train (or motorcycle) related.
Brian, one of the new members to the crew, has brought out this beauty of a diesel.
Love the leased unit, Brian!
Indeed, we are approaching the "dog days of August" as this young pup wants to get a paw on the throttle. He certainly enjoyed watching all those crazy two legged creatures chasing those moving items around the yard over the fence!
Check in later in the week for Part Two of images and stories from the session.
All the best,
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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