Confessions of a Train Geek

Cordova Station

2009-07-15T13:00:00.002-03:00

I stumbled across the Cordova Station site today, again. I had found it in a search a few years ago, but it came up again in another search. It's operated by William C. Slim with contributors. Cordova Station has a continuing stream of Canadian railway news. It might be worth bookmarking and coming back to. Check it out

Trainiax

2009-07-14T08:25:00.000-03:00

If you're looking for photos, sound recordings and especially drawings of train engines, head on over to Trainiax.net to get your fill. He has some great scale drawings of a wide variety of train engines, very useful for modeling or just for looking at.

Photos of Spring 2009's Last Stainless Ocean

2009-07-13T07:39:00.004-03:00

David Morris chased the "last" stainless steel Ocean from Oxford Junction to Miramichi on April 29. I say "last" because it is the last of the season. VIA Rail has traditionally taken one Renaissance trainset out of service at a time during the winter, replacing it with the HEP stainless steel cars. Perhaps this really was the last stainless steel Ocean? We'll see.

Here it is at Oxford Junction, NS. The curving track to the left is the remainder of what used to be a wye track.

The next shot is at what David calls the "Bull Barn" near Memramcook, NB.

Finally, a shot in Miramichi as the Ocean approaches the station.

The consist of the train was engines 6435, 6440, baggage car 8621, coaches 8109 and 8140, Skyline 8503, diner LOUISE, and Chateau sleepers IBERVILLE, CADILLAC, LASALLE, and DOLLARD.

VIA Over The Weekend

2009-07-13T06:25:00.005-03:00

The Chaleur at Matapedia on August 11, 2007.

David Morris sent along the consists of most of the VIA Ocean trains this weekend. David was chasing the Chaleur so he was up bright and early to get the train at Matapedia.

2009-07-11 VIA #14 at Matapedia
6408-6428-6412
8620-8123-8124-8500-DOLLIER-BIENVILLE
7011-7228-7230-7227
7316-7402-7308-7518-7517
7509-7501-7525-7512-7601
EVANGELINE
(This implies the Chaleur was 6412 with the six stainless cars right after 6412)

2009-07-11 VIA #15 at Matapedia
6440-6432-6412
8620-8123-8124-8500-DOLLIER-BIENVILLE
7009-7220-7108-7231
7208-7309-7400-7313-7508
7522-7521-7526-7519-7524
7600-KOOTENAY

2009-07-12 VIA #14 at Matapedia
6425-6400
7003-7223-7226-7222-7217
7315-7401-7314-7500-7520
7507-7502-7513-7504-7602
REVELSTOKE

Two Fans, Same Train

2009-07-12T15:34:00.000-03:00

Saintjohnrailfan and NBSRFan both shot the same train at the same location. It was an NB Southern Railway westbound freight train at the Ketepec Road near Saint John on May 4. NBSR 9801, 2317 and 9802 led 49 cars. Have a look at the two videos.

NBSRFan:

Saintjohnrailfan:

More Ex-NBEC Updates

2009-07-11T14:31:00.003-03:00

Ken Lanovich reported the following on Friday:

JLCX 1818 and 1851 (ex NBEC RS-18s) were ready to be shipped out of Markham yard on Friday.

Ex-NBEC 1813 was relettered JLCX 1813 in CN's Woodcrest shop in Illinois.

Ex-NBEC SD40 6905 was relettered DMVW 6905. DMVX is the Dakota Missouri Valley & Western in North and South Dakota. I guess 6905 won't be TOO far away from me in Winnipeg!

JLCX 1816

2009-07-10T21:12:00.000-03:00

Former NBEC 1816, now JLCX 1816, was shot by Ken Lanovich shortly before its trip to the Jabco scrap yard in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It along with other ex-NBEC RS18s were purchased by J&L Contracting for parts & scrap.

Note how the CP NBEC Rail on the side has been roughly painted over, and a rough JLCX was added. No need for finesse when it's going to be scrapped in a few days.

Ex-NBEC 1854 was behind it in this photo.

Here was NBEC 1816 in happier days, in Miramichi on September 16, 2006.

Gary's Photos from NB Southern Announcement

2009-07-09T14:29:00.001-03:00

Gary Lee posted some great photos in Facebook that he took at the NB Southern announcement this past Tuesday. I stole a few of them for your viewing pleasure.

Here are some of the guests rolling up to the station on the head end of NBSR 2319. From the sequence of photos, it looks like they got on a little west of the station and the train pulled up to the station.

I believe this is James Irving driving one of the three "golden" spikes.

L-R: Frank Carroll, Mayor of McAdam; Rodney Weston, Saint John MP; Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson; James Irving, President, NBSR; Premier Shawn Graham; Denis Landry, MLA and Minister of Transportation; Rick Miles, Fredericton-Silverwood MLA.

The "golden" spikes in the tie. Notice how the gold paint came off when they hammered them in. The spikes were later extracted.

The yard sign at McAdam.

Great shots, Gary!

EDIT: Filled in unknowns in photo, thanks everyone.

New Kevin Gaudet Videos

2009-07-09T06:26:00.000-03:00

Kevin was out shooting on July 6 and posted a few nice videos.

First, VIA 14 through Memramcook with two smoking units and a Park car on the end.

Next, a shot of CN 407 at the same location. I'm not sure which video comes first.

Here's another from Kevin from July 3, showing local CN 539 returning to Gordon Yard in Moncton.

Analysis of NB Southern Announcement

2009-07-08T15:10:00.000-03:00

So what does $18 million buy? And is this a good investment by the governments?

I should say, what does $36 million buy, because some of the more recent articles about the announcement state that J.D. Irving will match the federal and provincial funds.

Given 90 miles of mainline track (Saint John to Maine border) and 34 miles of branchline track (St. Stephen line), that is an average of $290,000/mile.
A recent Iowa Department of Transportation analysis determined that rehabilitation of lines to 286K standards generally costs about US $265,000/mile. That falls very much in line with the figures above.

The newer articles (below) talk about upgrading the line to the the 286K standard. Many of New Brunswick's railway lines can only handle cars that weigh up to 263,000 lbs. Most class 1 railways in North America, aka the larger ones, handle cars up to 286,000 lbs and more. It makes it hard for shippers to send cars across the continent when they can only use 263,000 pound cars.

This upgrade will allow easier interchange of traffic. Marwood (just north of Fredericton Junction) is quoted as saying they will use the rail line once it is upgraded. I should point out that Marwood is owned by J.D. Irving, as are all the newspapers quoted below.

I know there are people who say government should not invest in private companies, and in general I agree with that. But a railway is not exactly a private company - it provides a public service as a transportation corridor. Governments should be very involved in transportation, especially to promote greener, more fuel efficient transportation methods such as railways. I would much rather see $18 million of my money go to a railway than to build a few miles of twinned highways for more gas guzzlers.

I also know many people don't think the Irvings should get any public funds. Ask yourself if NB Southern was owned by a publicly-listed company, if you'd feel any different. Irving has their faults but they have done a lot for New Brunswick.

I think this is a good investment by the federal and provincial governments.

More coverage: NB Business Journal, Daily Gleaner (again), Telegraph Journal.

Big NBSR Announcement

2009-07-07T20:39:00.004-03:00

L-R: John Murphy, VP Transportation, JD Irving Ltd; Premier Shawn Graham; Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson; James Irving, President, NBSR; Rick Miles, Fredericton-Silverwood MLA; Ian Simpson, General Manager of NBSR. Photo courtesy Province of New Brunswick.

The announcement was made this morning. The federal and provincial governments will each invest up to $9 million in right-of-way improvements, including ties, rails, bridges, and yard improvements in Saint John and McAdam. NB Southern Railway will invest an unspecified amount. The track from Saint John to the Maine border will be upgraded, as well as the McAdam to Saint Stephen branch. The money is to be spent in 2009 and 2010.

Provincial announcement, J.D. Irving announcement, CBC, Daily Gleaner

I enjoyed the comments in the CBC article from Kevin Gaudet, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who called the federal investment "fiscal child abuse" and "these silly wastes of taxpayers' money".

Big Announcement Tuesday?

2009-07-06T21:46:00.004-03:00

There is supposed to be a big announcement in McAdam on Tuesday at 10 AM. The rumour is that the NB Southern line from Saint John to Brownville is to be upgraded to 130 lb. rail. I'm told the premier, the Irvings, MP Greg Thompson and others will be there. I assume there must be some provincial and/or federal investment for the politicians to be present.

The yard has been spruced up, with new signage, crushed rock, and even special ties for a ceremonial spike driving.

NB Southern Railway Repainting Passenger Cars

2009-07-05T20:50:00.000-03:00

Several people have noticed that NB Southern has had their passenger cars in the Island Yard shops. Speculation was that they were preparing them for the New Brunswick Day excursion with the Premier. Well, they are definitely repainting them!

Bob Boudreau got these shots of NBSR 5471 crossing the Reversing Falls bridge this weekend.

It looks like they painted the roof and undersides too, and maybe even replaced the diaphragms! They look sharp so far. I assume they will be decaled in the Dever Road yard.

This is what the three passenger cars used to look like. This is NBSR 5448 but they all had the VIA colours with NBSR on one end.

Thanks to Bob for the photos!

Woodstock Bridge Washout, 1976

2009-07-05T11:34:00.000-03:00

I'm just jotting down a quick note I saw in the May 1977 "Railroad" magazine.

"CP Rail has fully restored rail service to its 105-mile line between McAdam and Aroostook, N.B. The line had been in partial operation since April, 1976, when spring floods washed out a 449-foot bridge at Woodstock. Cost of reopening the line was over $1 million, with some $1,700,000 being used to rebuild the bridge. CP Rail will run about three trains a day over the reopened line and grant running rights to CN Rail trains into Woodstock."

There is also a CP Rail photo of a high-hood RS-18 leading a train of several boxcars over the bridge, the first train over since it was rebuilt. I can't read the unit number but it is 87xx. Anyone know what it was?

NBEC 1818 Sold

2009-07-04T19:51:00.001-03:00

Ex-NBEC RS-18 1818 has been sold by CN. Ken Lanovich reports on the LocoNotes group that it has been relettered JLCX 1818. It is still parked at CN's Woodcrest, Illinois faclity. JLCX is the reporting mark for JL Consulting Ltd., a Canadian locomotive buyer. Presumably it is en route to one of their customers.

NB Southern Thursday

2009-07-03T21:12:00.000-03:00

I was in Saint John yesterday. Just after getting off highway 1, I saw NBSR 2612 and 3702 parked in the siding at the east end of Island Yard.

There was a string of freight cars by the former VIA station, presumably brought over by them from Dever Road. As I took a few photos, the carman drove by in his ATV and joined the conductor waiting by the freight cars.

I saw freight cars being pushed up the hill from Island Yard. Presumably CN 405 (or 406, whatever CN is calling it now) was pushing uphill to get the rest of the freight cars. Here's a short video in the rain.

CN 7060 was parked by the shop building in Island Yard. I noted one of the blue NBSR passenger cars was parked near the shop with the NBSR "office" caboose 422990, presumably to get ready for the New Brunswick Day excursion between Harvey and McAdam.

NBSR Slug On The Road

2009-07-03T07:27:00.002-03:00

I hear NB Southern's slug 008 was on the road Thursday, presumably with "mother" 2318. Apparently it went to McAdam Wednesday night as part of the westbound freight. It was returning to Saint John Thursday afternoon, departing around 15:30. It was probably a slow trip, given the numerous slow orders on the main line, courtesy of the recent track evaluation (TEC) train.

Happy Canada Day

2009-07-01T18:13:00.001-03:00

I hope everyone is having a great Canada Day today.

Boundary Trail Railway Starts Up

2009-06-30T22:06:00.002-03:00

There are CBC Global & Mail articles about the startup of the Boundary Trail Railway startup. The BTR will operate 35 kilometres of rail between Manitou and Morden in Manitoba. This is a portion of the (former) CP La Riviere subdivision. The province announced in May that they were giving a forgivable loan of $615,000 to the BTR to help purchase the line from CP. They also received one million dollars from the Federal government earlier this month. It looks like RailWest Management Ltd. was involved in preparing the business case for the BTR.

"It has contracted with Central Canadian Railway to provide car hauler, maintenance services, links with major railroads on traffic and delivery issues, snow clearing and basic administrative services." They will interchange with CP at Morden.

Videos - CP

2009-06-30T11:30:00.000-03:00

Here's a quickie video of CP 9513 leaving Swift Current, SK.

And my personal favourite, two CP ballast trains near Morse, SK. One backs in a siding while another pulls out... blogged about here.

Video - CN on Nepisiguit Subdivision

2009-06-29T09:12:00.000-03:00

David Chiasson posted a great video of CN power running the ore train on the Nepisiguit Subdivision. CN 5342 and 5251 provided the power. Well worth watching!

GMD1 Videos

2009-06-28T14:29:00.000-03:00

As I mentioned before, I saw GMD1 CN 1412 on June 11 in Regina. Here are two videos of that little engine. First, 1412 pulls a pipe train past me on its way to the yard. My youngest son provided commentary.

Next, 1412 runs light through the yard after depositing its train. Note the former Railnet units behind the GMD1.

Love those GMD1s.

Winnipeg to Regina Trains

2009-06-27T23:03:00.000-03:00

On June 25, we drove back from Winnipeg to Regina. On the way, we saw a few trains (mostly CP) and I managed to record two of them.

Broadview, Saskatchewan is a division point and you can often see a train there. This time I saw CP 3100 and 3034 resting there. Unfortunately they were not in a photogenic spot.

Later, I saw an eastbound freight just east of Grenfell, Saskatchewan. It appeared to be accelerating from a stop. I pulled over to a rural crossing and set up my video camera, only then noticing that it had been left ON. The battery light was blinking but I turned it on anyway and then started shooting stills. The battery died about halfway through the train, which is good enough, I guess. You can just see the Grenfell elevator in the distance behind the train in the photo.

As we passed Grenfell, I saw a westbound freight off in the distance. Clearly there had been a meet. We carried on and soon came to Sintaluta, SK (love that name) where another eastbound freight waited in the siding. I stopped to take a few stills before heading on. I was pleased to see the second unit was CP 6078, an SD40-2 converted to a "B" unit with blanked-out windows.

I understand the B units were created by CP because they were dedicated to Locotrol (remote control) service and would never lead.

CP TEC Train

2009-06-27T09:06:00.003-03:00

Apparently the CP track evaluation train rolled into Saint John without any railfans noticing. It was spotted Friday night at the NB Southern shops with CP 8205, a modified hi-cube box car, and two coaches. Those are likely the same cars that visited in 2007 and 2008.

I doubt I can spare any time to chase it. Hopefully someone will grab a few pictures when it goes by!

Return to Portage, Part 2

2009-06-25T18:54:00.001-03:00

(continued from part 1)

Once the westbound CP train left, I refueled at Esso and Tim's and headed downtown. On my way there, I heard CN 114 calling the station boards as it approached town. I shot CN 8857 and BCR 3903 near the route 240 overpass at 07:30.

After that, a few CN section men got permission to do some work on switches near the CN-CP diamond. That ruled out any CN action for a while. I wandered around a bit before hearing CP 748 call in. I decided to shoot them near the route 240 overpass. It turned out that the power was Olympic CP 8865 on the head end of an intermodal train, with CP 9833 pushing on the end.

I went down to East Tower for the next shot. CN 115 blew through at 09:00 with three units, CN 2262, 2596 and 5563 providing the power.

I heard a track foreman ask the RTC for track time. The RTC said that CN 314 was switching Bloom (just west of Portage), so I decided to go there. I saw CN 5685 and 5783 doing a bit of switching, with the rest of their long train on the main line. They put everything back together around 09:35 and headed out. I decided to shoot them coming out of Portage, so I went to the gas station just east of Portage and waited. They rolled by at 10:10, and I tried for a little artistry here.

I took one more conventional shot and headed back to Winnipeg. Not a bad morning at all!

Database - Railway Employees (Employees Provident Fund) - Library and Archives Canada [del.icio.us]

2009-03-04T05:42:12-08:00

Library and Archives Canada have provided a searchable database for the Provident Fund (pension) for over 20,000 retirees from the Intercolonial Railway and the Prince Edward Island Railway. This is a great resource!

Nova Scotia Railway Hall of Fame [del.icio.us]

2008-05-14T20:28:25-07:00

A site by Jay Underwood celebrating the people who built and operated Nova Scotia's railways

Article: Flood brings back past memories [del.icio.us]

2008-05-13T04:07:51-07:00

Notes on flooding in Woodstock, including the CPR bridge washout in 1976

Highball Graphics [del.icio.us]

2008-02-18T17:00:32-08:00

model railway decals with a focus on New England

Railway Proximity Issues [del.icio.us]

2008-02-14T08:09:13-08:00

For the public. Includes maps of railways. Run by the Railway Association of Canada.

Rail Merchants International [del.icio.us]

2008-02-12T04:26:45-08:00

Specialize in full-size railroad rolling stock, including cabooses, locomotives and deluxe private rail cars.

B & ML equipment for sale on Web - WaldoSoup [del.icio.us]

2008-02-12T04:26:03-08:00

Canon e18 / Lens Error Experiences [del.icio.us]

2008-02-04T05:35:37-08:00

Smiths Creek railway wasn't meant to be | Published January 22nd, 2008 [del.icio.us]

2008-01-23T05:53:56-08:00

A brief history of railroading in New Brunswick | Published January 16th, 2008 [del.icio.us]

2008-01-16T17:40:42-08:00

EARLY RAILWAYS BETWEEN NEW ENGLAND AND CANADA. [del.icio.us]

2008-01-08T04:42:58-08:00

Canadian Railway Observations [del.icio.us]

2007-08-22T07:35:59-07:00

Charles Cooper's Railway Pages [del.icio.us]

2007-08-22T07:35:37-07:00

N.B. RR Structures [del.icio.us]

2007-07-16T12:42:10-07:00