The logo on my shirt says it all.
American and Canadian friends descended upon the IPP&W/RP&M for the annual "Invasion of Friends" weekend ops session.
To view the images in larger format, simply click on the photo.
To return to the default page, click outside the photo.
Malcolm has shared some great video work from the session which can be seen at the link below.
Day One in Ottawa was narrow gauge - all day!
Jim and Sue brought out the two beauties pictured in the two photos above.
Welcome back to Ottawa, Jim and Sue!
It's great to see our New York friends once again.
Ken brought along his beautifully weathered steamer.
As well as a host of diesels it would seem!
Welcome Ken, great to have you back up north of the border.
"John squared" - that is, two lads with the same name from the Toronto area.
I call this shot "Corner Gas" as these four handsome lads are standing near the corner of the property "having a gas" as they will be running trains in short order.
Tom is the tall lad in the grey T-shirt. He travelled up to Ottawa from his home in Pennsylvania.
From left to right we see Bernie, John, Tom and Ken.
Fred shares some words of introduction while a local guest, another Bernie, listens in.
As do many of our regulars, Chris, Doug, Steve and Bernie.
Pat, Steve, George, Seanna, Jim, Sue and Ken are all attentive as well.
Bernie and John.
A local guest, Carl, stands with Chris and Steve while Paul enjoys a seat.
Here's what we've been waiting for! Trains!
Jim is teamed with Malcolm aboard 318 out of Glenn Hammond bound for Craig Leigh.
With pusher service, switching will be a breeze.
Due to the fact I was working Nelson Yard with Henk and running RP&M trains with Ken, I didn't manage to get out on IPP&W rails to railfan. Thanks to Malcolm for these images.
Jim has 318 in Ironwood.
While John observes his moves.
Ken and I run RP&M train 65/66, the turn to Bell.
We've been granted clearance across the diamond and we arrive shortly in Rat Portage where we meet Seanna.
Lovely locomotive there, Ken!
The ore train is holed up in the siding at Rat Portage and Ken takes the main.
Through Rat Portage, we arrive Pratt's Bottom on the lower deck.
There's a small platform indicating a station stop.
Ken rolls to a slow stop.
Arriving the interchange area to the west of Bell we meet other crews.
Such as Bernie aboard his passenger train at the station in Bell.
We set out our cars to the interchange track and turn the locomotive.
Before we depart we pick up other traffic destined for Nelson Yard.
After backing into the station track at Bell to board our passengers it's back downgrade into Pratt's Bottom, Rat Portage and eventually Nelson Yard.
Station stop at Bellamy.
With one freight car out of Rat Portage.
Rounding the bend into the yard.
Run terminated.
Thanks to Malcolm, again, I am able to show a couple of shots of Don and Carl aboard 302 from Firgrove to Nelson Yard. Their train is the one off in the distance to the far left along the fence. You can spot Don and Carl by the dispatch hut.
They are now Train 312 from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.
Here we find them in the hole at Spruce.
Running around their train to conduct some facing switching moves.
With a borrowed locomotive.
The lovely depot at Spruce, a replica of the Gananoque station about an hour south of here.
Let's check in on Garry and Brian aboard 327 from Glenn Hammond to Firgrove.
Here's Garry in the Glenn just about to get underway.
Brian is showered in red from the effects of the bright umbrella offering protection from the sun.
327 arrives Firgrove.
They've turned their locomotive at Firgrove and are now downgrade as Train 304 into Bell at "The Ledges". That's RP&M train 66 downgrade toward Pratt's Bottom on their home rails.
Arriving Bell, dispatch has given them track 4 in order to conduct some switching moves on the interchange tracks.
Having run around their train, they have work to conduct at Brunt's Brewing.
Brunt's is the large blue facility across the mainline.
Taking the slow order around the big bend at Bellamy Crossing.
304 terminates at Nelson Yard. Garry and Brian will continue on their journey aboard 314.
Here's Chris with his S4 recently weathered.
Looking good Chris.
I have but a few shots of Chris's unit, this one taken at Firgrove following his run of 301 and 311 from Craig Leigh along the entire IPP&W network.
Lela and George check their respective lists. Lela will take Train 328 from Firgrove to Nelson Yard while George remains in Firgrove as the Yardmaster.
Lela and Chris downgrade out of Firgrove along the edge of the property.
We see Paul working in Nelson Yard.
Chris has his train in the yard at Nelson.
She is a beauty, Chris!
Steve ran the ore train with his wife Seanna.
Here he is at Rat Portage.
Later in Nelson Yard.
With Seanna at the helm and Ken looking on.
Meeting an RP&M train at Bellamy with Malcolm railfanning.
On a slow order through the turnouts.
Later on in Ironwood on a return journey.
With a "load" of "empties"!
Let's follow Paul on his RP&M jaunt.
His is the upper train.
Switching out BudLight Gouda at Bellamy.
Running across the diamond with his train out of view from the camera.
With work complete at Rat, it's time to return tender forward.
Entering the yard.
Job well done Paul!
Another later RP&M run sees the crew drilling the yard in Rat Portage.
With the small RP&M caboose in tow.
Returning through the diamond.
At Bellamy.
Another view of the RP&M up at the interchange in Bell.
Let's check in on some more folks present at the session. Brian brightens the day with his bright orange Florida display while Jim and Sue lounge in the background.
In Craig Leigh we find Ken, Steve, John and Bernie.
Jim in Glenn Hammond.
Steve and Seanna with our dispatcher Doug in behind.
Love the Ontario Northland shirt, Seanna.
Great dispatching, Doug!
Lawrence observing the action while Doug controls the network.
John and John again.
Up in Firgrove, George is keeping the yard clean.
Setting out traffic pre-ops.
Using this little gem of a locomotive.
Nicely handled, George!
Let's check back in with Bernie in this previously viewed photo.
Ken is grinning (to the left) as Bernie works the west house track at Bell.
Ken is grinning (to the left) as Bernie works the west house track at Bell.
With Ken's RP&M train below.
Bernie approaches the station at Glenn Hammond with a different passenger train.
Switching the house track in the distance.
Departing Glenn Hammond.
On the approach to Firgrove.
At the depot in Firgrove.
Some of Malcom's shots of the passenger train.
We find the train at the station in Mount St. Helens.
Into Ironwood.
Around the bend at Lilly.
Through the big trestle outside of Nelson Yard.
Out of Glenn Hammond.
At Bellamy.
Another time at Spruce.
On the station track at Ironwood.
In Ironwood.
Those passenger trains are lovely, aren't they!
Henk is getting a little concerned, "Hey, Mike hasn't profiled Nelson Yard yet on this blog entry!"
Early in the session I take Henk's center cab and run across the gut.
I'm bringing traffic required in the yard to make up the trains.
"Put it here, Mike" Henk indicates.
Later, we work the other end of the yard.
Creating trains.
Also, breaking down trains once they enter the yard.
Malcolm is arriving Nelson Yard while Bernie and Jim look on.
A view from the dispatch booth.
Nice low-angle shot from Malcolm.
That centre cab is handsome.
As is Henk!
Around the table earlier on we find Paul, Doug and Lawrence.
Brian, Pat and George.
Bernie is smiles while Henk explains to Lawrence how to make great sandwiches.
Apparently you hire some lovely ladies in your Dutch shop and they produce fantastic ham, turkey and roast beef sandwiches.
Trust me, there were 60 of these three minutes ago!
Lunch around the table.
Followed by some brief afternoon running.
301 is ready to depart Craig Leigh.
With Brian at the helm.
An afternoon passenger train sweeps through Spruce.
I work the RP&M tracks in Rat Portage.
A gaggle of railroaders.
An RP&M train out of Glenn Hammond.
Through Bellamy.
One of many visitors to the Invasion on this day!
(Ottawa airport has closed its main east/west runway, Runway 07/25 so all arriving and departing aircraft must land and take off on Runway 14/32 and Fred's house is directly below the flight path!)
The rains are coming soon.
With Fred on that tractor, everyone high-tails it to the canopy!
Check in later for Day Two's standard gauge session.
Cheers, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2017 and another great Invasion Weekend !!!! Your high spirits, photos and comments just add to the fun, Mike. Many, many thanks to all the hardworking OVGRS members who made it great!
ReplyDeleteCheers to all who participated!