Great photos, Steve. Keep 'em coming.
This weeks narrow gauge (oops.) http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/07/oops-its-saturday-today.html
Thanks to Steve McKenzie, news and pictures have been posted to this forum on a regular basis. Steve will probably post the link to today’s great operation when he gets back from his cottage.
In the mean time, I’ll just report that the 11th Saturday of operations was greatly enjoyed by about 25 great friends, and a few visitors today, Saturday July 29th.
All went extremely well, with great weather; sunny, temperatures around 24C, with low humility (Humidity), and light breezes.
Today, the SG roadmaster, Steve Watson, had the paperwork in order, and Mike Hamer acted as Dispatcher. Again, RailOps proved its worth as the operating program.
For those that may not be aware. We put all of our rolling stock away, each week. We store the cars in “Bread Trays” inserted into racks in storage buildings. The number of cars used each Saturday is somewhere over 160. Using print-outs produced by the RailOps program, the trays are carried to the locations indicated on each tray, and an accompanying list pinpoints the siding location. The cars are picked up and put in the appropriately marked trays and put away after the operation. Very few cars are found misplaced, due to this system, and it only takes about 8 people to do the set-up in about 30 minutes.
Visitors to the past “Invasions” have seen this action and can attest to its success. We do this every Saturday (Weather permitting) alternating week to week,between two different fleets of rolling stock, which we describe as Standard Gauge, and Narrow Gauge.
Now we are all are looking forward to operations ahead in the wonderful month of August, with the hope that others can enjoy Mike Hamer’s wonderfully described action on his Blog.
This whole OVGRS experience happens because of a Great group of friendly, caring, and dedicated men and women, who form the Ottawa Valley Garden Railroad Society
Fred Mills…chief clerk, and cuspidor cleaner.
Here’s Mike’s link for the SG session Fred mentioned above. http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/07/july-29-session-11-standard-gauge.html
Our twelfth session of the year and its Narrow Gauge! http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/08/12th-session-of-season-passenger-primer.html
Sumanabeech, they tore Charlies house down…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
And I’m assuming the guy with the GLX shirt is Gilbert.
That is Gilbert…the one and only…!!
A fine fellow, and good friend.
Fred
Ken by this weeks ops the footings were poured and forms were in for two new homes where Charlie’s used to be. Session 13 was Standard gauge.
http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/08/session-13-of-season-and-new-industry.html
Just for something different Mike also does a blog on Doug’s Northland RR sessions which run more modern standard gauge ops.
http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/08/dougs-northland-rr-ops-session-2.html
Ken Brunt said:
Sumanabeech, they tore Charlies house down…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
.
.
I saw Ken’s post and had to go back and re-look at all the pics. As always things change. Great memories!
Ric, and Ken;
There are changes to the place behind us, yes…
…but; there are changes to the IPP&W/RP&M. Lots of progressive changes. The railroad just continue to grow and improve.
There is now a proper station at Rat Portage. Several new sidings at Firgrove, and Rat Portage.
There is new trackage at Cedar Rock, adding to the switching challenge. The hazardous waste plant now has a dedicated tank car unloading track, and continues to dump some sort of liquid into the pond…and the fish population seems be thriving !!
The latest plan is to develop plans for an “Ore Dock” at Craigleigh. The ore dock will have 4 sidings, with the capacity for two 16 car ore trains, and storage for all the NG and SG ore cars in tote boxes beneath the benchwork. Construction may start as soon as August 20th, 2017.
The operations are going well, every Saturday morning, as reported in Mike’s blogs.
Ore Dock!!! How Cool!!!
I hope there is some form of switching involved with the unloading.
Something on the order of only so many cars allowed out on the dock or a dedicated switcher to move the equipment.
Sounds exciting!
The fourteenth session of the year, narrow gauge ! http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/08/session-14-of-season-august-192017.html
Steve,
Awesome! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Session 14 is a two part post, Mike has the link to the second part under blog archive on the right hand side of his blog. You can review all his posts from this menu.
Thanks, Steve. Those pictures bring back lots of fond memories of running trains there!
Malcolm Vant posted this video of the standard gauge operations on Saturday August 26th.
I see that Henk has Nelson Yard very much under control…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
In an earlier post Fr. Fred mentions a proposed ore dock at Craigleigh. Spotting an Algoma Central loco in the video posted above by Steve McK reminded me of the Algoma fleet of ships many of which sail the Great Lakes.
Should room be available for a sea dock, jetty whatever then if an ore dock is a bridge too far them maybe salt, grain or other commodities shipped might be considered.
Lots of interest in the following pics
http://duluthshippingnews.com/category/canadian-boats/
PS: The pics might please the old sea dogs here. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
This past Saturday (August 26th) was our 15th operation this year. All is going extremely well, and everyone seems to be enjoying their Saturday mornings here. The changes we make and the continuous maintenance, keeps the railroad alive. The stability of the roadbed and track, keep frustrations, from derailments and uncoupling/coupling to a minimum. Keeping rolling stock, in good order helps a lot too. Building the railroad, even a foot or ten inches above ground helps too, but still can allow plant life to add enhancement, and easier operations too.
Railroads, model and prototype, must be allowed to grow, in order to keep customers transportation needs served, and in model form, to keep the operators happy and contented. When I say, “Grow”, it isn’t only in size. Here on the IPP&W, we really can’t grow in size, due to the limitations of space. So, growth comes in two or more forms. First in using the space we have, wisely, and taking advantage of using what is already there, and improving on it. Adding a building, here and there, and adding an improvement to existing ones too.
Second; correcting those faults in the track and roadbed, that started showing up shortly after we designed and constructed them. Operations will always amplify a need for change. Too many, and too complicated switching puzzles aren’t always enjoyed…but yes…a few good ones are needed. A real railroad avoids complicated switching, like the plague…and so should we as modellers, be wary of them getting out of hand.
Never even think of “FINISHING” your railroad…let it grow with you, and work to make that growth be part of your enjoyment of this great hobby.
Here I am at 76 years of age, and I’m again building more into the railroad, with the thoughts of “The ore dock” project. Why not. We have the switches, and the track, and the bench work will not take long to fabricate. It will take less than a week to build it; so it is probably a go. The whole thing is just an arm, or peninsula off an existing peninsula. There is no digging needed, as we never put legs into the ground…everything floats. The material is basically 2x4,6,8’s resting on patio stones to spread the weight, then track laid on the 2x8’s for roadbed. No spiking, just simply nailing the track and switches to the roadbed. No wiring, just good, well laid track, that is laid properly to avoid derailments. Details to make it appear to be an ore dock can come later, but too much detail can become a maintenance chore later, so beware…
Yes…I’m blessed with the gang to help me…a great bunch of people who over the years have come to feel that this railroad is theirs too. Yes I happen to own it, but sharing it is just as much fun for me as operating it. They all contribute, in whatever way they feel comfortable. Their true friendship is their greatest contribution, and I thank them for it, and try to live up to their trust.
Visitors are always welcome…give a call and drop by.
Fred Mills (613) 723-1911
And here’s Mike’s blog for session 15 standard gauge operations. http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/08/the-diesel-days-of-august-session-15.html