SWEET!!! Ken and I are doing customs!!!
Jon Radder said:Yea, I leave early enough so that when I spend an hour going through Ogdensburg, I still get to Fred's before nite fall.........;)Ralph Berg said:And they'll both end up in the lock-up.David Russell said:No Rooster. You go through Customs with Ken :D Ralph
You want to go through customs with the ROOSTER??
Nelson Yard is up and running. That’s Gord Bellamy and Bud Nelson doing the yard work.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Freds/Bud-and-Gord-at-Nelson-Yard.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Freds/Colin-at-Nelson-Yard.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Freds/Gord-and-Bud-at-Nelson.jpg)
And the good Father at Ironwood in is usual state of befuddlement…
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh58/rgseng/Freds/Fred-at-Ironwood.jpg)
Nice!
Boy, just the photos alone show the IPP&W to be an operator’s dream. Great stuff!!!
Gonna get there, someday.
Steve Featherkile said:Steve,
Gonna get there, someday.
It is a trip well worth the travel. It can actually control your hobby.
For all you Invaders that are aware of the IPP&W’s future plans at Rat Portage, Fred has sent me the pix of the progress. You all remember it going through the fence. Well, it has made it’s way around and back through the fence.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TF2nQB5oAJI/AAAAAAAAAhM/OKSnFNHqF4s/s200/extension01.jpg)
They call this area Fern Valley.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TF2nf5-iMYI/AAAAAAAAAhc/qJovRFTKtDQ/s400/extension03.jpg)
A hole has been cut in the fence under Firgrove yard in preparation for the extension of the RP&M from Rat Portage as far as Bell.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TFmiTU-K4LI/AAAAAAAAAg8/ujd79-P6L80/s640/entrance.jpg)
However, the major effort today in the crippling humidity was to move a switch stand from Bud Nelson’s to the OVGRS. This is a donation by the RP&M to the IPP&W in return for future considerations.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TFmivqCb8SI/AAAAAAAAAhE/jCk3y2SMG7g/s1600/group.jpg)
the pine tree near Bellamy has been removed to make way for future possible expansion of the RP&M to Bell. This makes switching at Bellamy much easier.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TFRnaUwqStI/AAAAAAAAAfE/p5U9Ej57tTM/s1600/pinetree.jpg)
These pix are courtesy of Colin Churcher’s Blog. http://ratportageandmattawarailway.blogspot.com/ Some excellent pix of some of the motive power on the RP&M and also the IPP&W. Plus some video footage of operations there.
Ken, thanks for posting… a great link…
I hope we get some pictures of the dedication ceremony for the valley named after Gordon’s wife. I would think Fern should at least pour some brew over the new trackage. I’m sure it will be good for the plants, also.
From the looks of some of the RP&M crew, I doubt there’s any brew left to christen anything…
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__SEHRiee7ys/TF2pKUKmjdI/AAAAAAAAAiE/6uC2HBPgaqA/s640/PeanutGallery.jpg)
How the heck did you take that tree out without destroying a lot of the RR? Crane?
Probably had Mike up the street do it. Cut the branches and lower them down by hand line. Then do the same with the trunk starting at the top. Cut a couple feet at a time so it’s manageable and work your way down. It’s not easy but it is doable.
I heerd they got some loggers from Peter’s Pond to cut it down. It only took a few barrels of holy water to put them up to it. 
Ken Brunt said:Your probably right...had my large hackberry tree trimmed and it sits on the property line. They did exactly what you stated. Very professional but kinda costly, however cheaper than destroying the neighbors property or my Solid Gold Aristo track. Was just brass when I bought it about 5 or 6 yrs ago but seems like times have changed.
Probably had Mike up the street do it. Cut the branches and lower them down by hand line. Then do the same with the trunk starting at the top. Cut a couple feet at a time so it's manageable and work your way down. It's not easy but it is doable.
All is well. The new Fern Valley subdivision is in service. Untill major changes are made at Bell, with the addition of a turntable; RP&M trains arriving at Bell, have trackage rights for a non-revenue move to Firgrove, in order to turn their locomotive, for their return run.