Don's "Shadetree and Nepean" RR

Last night saw the inaugural session at Don Leger's Shadetree and Nepean RR. Don was awaiting this evening in much the same manner an expectant father awaits the arrival of a new kid! To say the least, Don, your layout stood up to the advanced billing and eight operators plus yourself certainly enjoyed a fun evening of train ops!

As Don told the boys, he has chosen to model railroads that call the greater Ottawa area home and the Quebec Gatineau certainly fits the description. Charls Gendron painted and lettered this beauty for Don.

The Quebec Gatineau unit is resting in Shadetree yard, the westernmost terminus of the line named for the street where Don resides.

For this initial session, the first eastbound train (and westbound too) was pre-staged as Howard wanted to observe the workings of the track along the line. Replacement crews on the second shift "made up" their own trains using yard tracks for assembling. Walkley yard is a smaller, more compact terminal to the east.

Trains departing Shadetree Yard traverse behind the town of Nepean and work their way down to the busy intersection of two lines at the Scoddy Lumber spur. (My empty diet coke can acts as the tower overseeing the operations in this very busy location along the line.

That's Fred working the Scoddy switcher with Bill and Howard in conversation over in the distance. The large industrial switching area known as Viewmount resides on the ridge to the right. Note the clever use of the large building to help mask the two supports.

Thanks Don for allowing the boys to put your railroad through the rigours of a session!