One of my friends in Ottawa told me how hot it had been there. WOW! almost twice as hot as here. Rebuilding part of my railroad, which had been there for fifteen tears, certainly would not have been possible in excess heat.
It seems that the Saturday operations are still going strong; with luck you may set a record this year. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
Steve, I appreciate seeing these, thank you. Keep them coming.
We have been in a bit of a heat wave here in Ottawa hottest September ever! Fred’s yard is for the most part pretty shady so the Saturday morning sessions have been very comfortable. Looks like we’ll get at least 20-21 sessions this year, pretty good considering the rainy summer we’ve had. Always been a good turnout no matter what the weather. A couple of years ago we even managed to run trains in December, a rarity in this far north.
Mike just posted part 2 of the 19th session, still diesel’s, you’ll just have to wait for session 20 which will be steam again. Will winter never come? http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/09/session-19-diesel-september-part-two.html
Oh wow the music industry must be in a slump, Mike put together this blog on the visit by the SLD of NMRA after our 20th session. For those who don’t know Mike, as well as being a highly skilled HO modeller and writer he is also a talented guitar player. http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/10/the-st-lawrence-division-sld-of-nmra.html
Hard to believe September is over, here’s the 20th ops session which was Narrow Gauge (mostly). http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/10/session-20-steam-closes-out-september.html
To quote Mike Railroaders 20 - Storm God’s 1, doesn’t stop him though. http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/10/thanksgiving-weekend-on-ipp.html
The weather has turned just fabulous lately but we all know what’s to come here in the north time to put everything to bed. We’ve enjoyed a great season of operating thanks to Fred so here’s Mike’s blog covering the season’s closing. But who knows there may still be opportunities to run trains yet. http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2017/10/closing-up-railroad-for-winter.html
Cool. I always wondered what was done for winter. Now I know.
I sure hope Lawrence survived the rope attack.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
Interesting!
I guess I can safely say that operations are over on the IPP&W for the year. Everyone keeps telling me that it has been a GREAT year. We did have 20 full operations, and everyone is itching to start anew this coming May.
The Winter will truely start any week now, and already plans and suggestions are coming in. Doug has started looking at the other program, to replace RailOps, if we have any problems…just as a back-up, at this stage. Several new sidings seem to be in the works, and car maintenance is getting started.
We look forward to sharing our operating days with everyone interested, in the coming year, so if Steve, Mike, Bernie, Chris, and many others, keep taking great pictures, this thread should be back here in 2018.
If you care to visit, please feel welcome.
Fred Mills
Here we are in December, of 2017. No snow here at this moment, but it has tried to get a foot-hold.
Just to keep this thread alive, and to let everyone know that we are alive and well. We don’t quit living up here in the northland, we just take a break, and rest up for a great burst of energy in the Spring. While resting, we don’t stop planning, or having fun. We even try to get maintenance done on our dual fleets of rolling stock.
George Wellington arrived a week or two ago, with a new pump house for the hazardous waste plant at Cedar Rock. It looks great.
The operating crews don’t stop partying…the next “Beanfest” is on December 10th, here in the IPP&W Boardroom. It is being called an “Annual” end of year bash, but is really an attempt at retaing some sense of order in our operating plans for the New Year.
New sidings, new buildings, new ideas, and a new year await us, just a few months from now. By adding a change here, and an improvement there, along with full involvement by the operating crews, we keep life in the OVGRS. Yes we all enjoy sitting, and watching our railroad equipment run, but from start to finish, the New Year, brings new challenges, new ideas, and continuous FUN, and Friendship, brought together on our OPERATING railroad. The Winter “Hibernation” just helps us to appreciate the Spring, Summer, and Fall, that much more…
The Ottwa Valley Garden Railroad Society (OVGRS) is alive and well. The two railroad companies; the Ironwood Peter’s Pond & Western, and the Rat Portage & Mattawa, are still “In the black”.
Friends of the OVGRS, are welcome to offer new ideas; improvements on old ones; and progressive thoughts on the fun and operations of our railroads. We look forward to greeting you all, in good health, during the coming New Year.
Fred Mills
Fred,
Have a good winter’s rest! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
I guess winter does have its compensations - that is those of us that who live in a seasonal climate. It is cool over here - by UK standards, but not North American - just above freezing or so. It is the northerly winds, down from the Arctic, that make train running restricted even if the sun is shining. So ops are somewhat short, after all it does a body no good out in the cold for too long especially when you are over a certain age. But the darker evenings do have their compensations. Sat by a nice open fire - yes, I still have them, reading or looking at railroad books. with a glass of a comforting drink and ruminating over what projects, might or might not, be contemplated in the New Year. The holidays are just around the corner but I don’t expect anything of a railroading nature - I made the mistake of announcing that I had more then enough. (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)Besides, my favourite manufacturer is no longer in business and what is available in the UK has little appeal to me. Having made some alterations to the flag stop and depot area back in early October I have to consider how to best operate the new yard. The new yard allows some switching and the passing loop still free for through trains.
The spring soon arrives and many of us look forward to the OVGRS operations reports of 2018 and of course the new structures referred to by Fr. Fred. Who knows what those guys up there in the frozen north will discuss and share with us next year.
Alan you do paint a bucolic scene …
Brrr December chill dropped all the way to 73 F yesterday! Where did I put those mukluks?
I was out track side yesterday, but the best I could do was make plans as I hobble about. Yep my rusted metal bits of history will look good along the wood planks supporting my joy.
A week ago in the middle of the night I heard a noise, I grabbed a torch (flashlight) and made my way in the dark to surprise the thief! KaWhanga! Forgetting all about the noise, I switched on the light to see my second smallest right toe pointing skyward at a 45 degree angle and at right angles to it’s fellow mates.
The Adrenalin provided the necessary numbness to relocate that puppy and a Band-aid secured it to the middle one.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
That’s not why I posted, I am in disbelief that no time is wasted playing solitaire on your computer!(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
I announced that I don’t have enough and was told I do…
Clean off your work bench, Mr. Taylor has a new challenge waiting for New Years.
John Caughey said:
KaWhanga! Forgetting all about the noise, I switched on the light to see my second smallest right toe pointing skyward at a 45 degree angle and at right angles to it’s fellow mates.
I hate when that happens! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)
Good to hear things are well on the IPP&WRR.
Our plans are to return to our normal travels north this coming year and llook forward to hearing about the constant improvements to the trackage.
All the best!
Looks like Mike got one last kick at the cat as 2017 goes out and we welcome 2018 in, a cold one up here in the great white north! Happy New Year from all us here at the OVGRS.
http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2018/01/happy-new-year.html
Steve McKenzie said:
Looks like Mike got one last kick at the cat as 2017 goes out and we welcome 2018 in, a cold one up here in the great white north! Happy New Year from all us here at the OVGRS.
http://gardenrailroadottawa.blogspot.ca/2018/01/happy-new-year.html
A great review of 2017. A Happy New Year to all OVGRS folk where ever you may be. May 2018 be another great fun running year - once you have all come out of hibernation! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
