As usual, I was busy running trains to take too many pictures, but here are some from Saturday, of the ore train Bruce and I ran.
(http://i.imgur.com/3lEHRtal.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/5V3TABql.jpg)
Cool!
I do believe Bruce’s bottle say’s not to operate machinery while consuming?
How many times did Ric push Andy up there?
Where is 681?
Nice pictures. Bruce’s boxcab looks great.
David Russell said:
Cool!
I do believe Bruce’s bottle say’s not to operate machinery while consuming?
How many times did Ric push Andy up there?
Where is 681?
I think it says HEAVY machinery. While it did seem heavy, it just wasn’t strong enough to pull 14 loaded ore cars up the grade. I have some pictures of it with a helper engine…
Day 3, or Saturday, was for narrow gauge operations.
Once again, we start with the crew briefing.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2081.JPG)
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2082.JPG)
Jean and I take a train out of Glen Hammond. (I forgot to take a picture of the switchlist…)
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2083.JPG)
We get to Peter’s Pond again, but headed a different direction this time.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2084.JPG)
We first have to spot some cars at the Cedarock team track.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2085.JPG)
The gates must be respected!
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2086.JPG)
Bell has become a lot tougher to switch over the years. That single track with all of the cars on it is called Stuart Yard. It was full when we got there.
I’m sure somebody will post the “official” group picture sometime, but here we are just a bit before that was taken.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2090.JPG)
It was really nice to see a bunch of faces I recognize, and everyone looks like they are having a good time!
Once again, Bob and I team up for a train after lunch. This time it’s the ore train. Since I still have my 25 Ton critter out, I decide to use it.
It’s pretty easy at the beginning with just a few empties.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2092.JPG)
Although not everyone seems excited about it.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2093.JPG)
Once we start exchanging the empties for loads, it starts to get a bit more interesting. Our train crosses the diamond as it approaches Nelson Yard.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2094.JPG)
Gord gives us a few more loads at Nelson Yard.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2095.JPG)
Rounding the bend as we approach the blockhouse…
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2098.JPG)
14 cars, no restless riders. 1 conductor and we ain’t carrying any mail…
(We were supposed to have 15 cars, but the coupler broke on one of them.)
It still fits in the siding at Spruce as we meet another train.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2103.JPG)
Before we arrived at Spruce, we discovered that the little loco couldn’t handle the grade, so Bob brought out a helper engine.
Here we are passing through St. Helens.
Leaving Douglas yard with empties poses no problems.
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Events/AmericanInvasion/2014/IMG_2108.JPG)
Border Guards musta been nappin’. 
Bruce nice pics, and I like how you add descriptions and even names…
Mr. Bob : notice how Bruce did it!
Sure looks like you guys n’ gals had a great time… I’d love to make it up there…
I haven’t had a chance to check the updates as I’m just getting back from the trip to Kitwe,. Zambia and trying to get “unjet lagged” after the 38 hour travel time from Kitwe via Johanesburg and JFK…
Although the internet was available in Kitwe, most of the connections were very slow…
I took every chance I could to see what railroad activity might be in this part of Zambia but these were the only images I could come up with…
Little used line…
Yards with just a few cars on the sidings at the copper mine… Most of the ore and copper plates are moved by truck… The ruts in the road surfaces certrainly show the evidence of the heavy loads…
On Day 3, Jan and I ran the “Pool Passenger Train” in the morning. What made it real interesting is the normal “Passenger Train 1”, ran almost right behind us, just one station back. So Dispatch gave us good priority for the paying customers of the IPP&WRR. At Bellamy, the “Pool Train” left IPP&W trackage for the Rat Portage and Matteau with stops at “Fern” and traveling to the front yard through “Fernwood”. First and second sections of passenger trains running close together can sure tie up the switching ops.
In the afternoon teamed up with Bob and ran 319 and 329. Bob has adapted O scale couplers with remote uncoupling capabilities on both his Santa Fe engine and caboose. Pretty neat.