Mornin’, afternoon and evening [use whichever is appropriate], tac here back in yUK after a nice loooooooooooooong stayover in the real world - Canada, that is. The main reason for going there this time, if such were ever needed, was to attend the memorial of my beloved Aunt Jean, who died back in March of this year. This was accomplished most successfully on the second weekend we were over, but you guys aren’t interested in that, I’m pretty sure.
What you WOULD be interested in is to know that the present Mrs tac and I, as well as the family vulture, forced ourselves onto the generous hospitality of that doyen and maestro of the narrow gauge, none other than His Steamed and Highly Veneered Excellentness, Fr Fred Mills of Nepean. Not only did he ensure that we had hardly a moment’s peace and quiet in our rented hovel, but forced us on the attentions of the excellent Duncan of the Bytown railroad preservation group, an incredibly skilled bunch of enthusiasts and craftsmen who keep things moving down at the OMST. We were given a backshop visit to end all backshop visits - and the sight of the beautiful Shay, steam crane, director’s car and the beauty of the last CPR pacific in the store there almost proved too much for this old fart, I can tell ya. Sadly, in order to preserve the nature of the agreement twixt the group and the museum, it was not possilbe to take pix, so I hope you’ll understand the lack of them.
Returning almost two weeks later, we spent the biggest part fo the day we flew out of Ottawa over at Fred’s, and bless him, he’d fired up a loco for me to drive around the track as a running trial. He knows me well, and understands that simple souls like me can be quickly overwhelmed by all the switching back and forth and waving of waybills and so on that usually accompanies the operational running of the IPPW. In a great act of charity, he cranked over a few switches, and let me loose on a loop, where I couldn’t get too lost.
This little movie - about 5 minutes long - is the result - one of the best railroad views on earth - taken from the rear veranda of a caboose as it sways down the track clicking and clacking as it goes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrbVBOWiqY&list=HL1337106978&feature=mh_lolz
Turn the sound up, get a mug of coffee in your paws, and enjoy the next five minutes or so.
To Fred, thank you, my dear old friend.
To the rest of you going up from the lower 48, or from just along the street in July, please pretend that I’m there, but just around the corner from where you happen to be standing and out of sight.
And for the rest of you, remember the last words of the Christmas Carol, ‘In dulci jubilo’ - ‘Oh, that we were there…’
Best wishes to all
tac, ig and The Bytown Market Boys
