Thursday, September 21, 2017

Steam is Supreme - Part Two


Welcome back to Part Two of our latest session.


Where you have been following Pat and me.


Aboard Train 327 from Glenn Hammond to Firgrove.


Well...327 has terminated and we've turned the locomotive on the "armstrong".


Moe has our new train set up in Ralph Yard.


So we head over that way.


Where we will back onto the train with the markers atop.


Meanwhile Brian has his RP&M train down in Rat Portage.


We've been given clearance out of Ralph Yard, now aboard Train 304.


Pat seems reluctant to leave the shade of the umbrella.


Alas, no problem as he remains in the shade along "The Ledges".


Behind us we spot George working Nelson Yard as yardmaster.


We arrive Bell and head directly to Brunt's Brewery to lift a car.


We encounter Henk working the interchange.


Nearby Steve runs the railroad like a Swiss Watch.


Pat enjoys a chuckle with the dispatcher as we make our way eastbound out of Bell.


We meet 311 in the siding at Watkins.


And we spot the crew aboard 312 in Ironwood.  Steve and Bill seem to be enjoying themselves.


As I walk the yard to catch up with my train as it goes around the corner of the yard, I spot Bob outside Ironwood.


As the ore train hustles by, our train departs Watkins Siding leaving an open mainline for 311 up to Bell.


Here we are in "The Corners".


A handsome engineer.

 Arriving Peter's Pond.


It's "tender first" up the grade into Cedar Rock.


We work the sidings in Cedar Rock as I snag a shot of the crusher facility Lawrence built so beautifully.


I'm "back to back" with Helen as she and Seanna haul their passenger train into Mount St. Helens.


Cedar Rock is fun to work.


We require the tankcar.


After we've lifted it we must return the flat to its spur.


I once again look across to Mount St. Helens.  The passenger train has departed and Bernie appears almost out of nowhere!


With his hop down from Craig Leigh.


His smile attests to the great fun we all enjoy each Saturday AM.


I turn around to the south and spot the passenger train in Ironwood while Steve continues to work the sidings.


In no time, the ore train arrives Peter's Pond westbound.


No fuss as we've protected our train before heading up to Cedar Rock.


You've got to love the look of a unit train of any kind!


Out of the Pond we've got clearance through the diamond.


We barely touch RP&M tracks.


On approach to the big yard.


We meet 313 as they await another car for their consist before they depart westbound for Firgrove.


Train 313 which Chris and Lawrence will crew.


On a slow crawl to a stop.


Yardmaster George is doing just fine.


We uncouple from our terminated train.


After which we find our new train, 314, which we will take eastward to Craig Leigh.


Looks like Chris has been waiting a while.  Steve radios a crew from his perch in the dispatch booth while Paul in the distance works 328 from Firgrove to Glenn Hammond.


Still waiting.


Back to pre-ops where we see the crew gathered under the big canopy.


As the gentlemen and ladies assemble.


Really nice to see you out, Doug!


Chris and the gang are eager to get started.


Indeed, we certainly have a handsome crew each Saturday morning!
Check in later for Part Three where you will follow my third leg of my journey from Nelson Yard to Craig Leigh.

All the best,
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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