Trackside Treasure

Vestibule View of Thunder Bay, 1986

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:37:00 +0000

The vestibule of Sherwood Manor aboard VIA No 1 offered a great view of CN and CP operations in Thunder Bay. I was heading to SteamExpo, a featured event at transportation-themed Expo86 in Vancouver. The consist of No 1: 6513-6628-616-609-118-3200-504-Egerton-Thompson Manor-Sherwood Manor-Emerald-Abbott Manor-Hearne Manor-Naiscoot River-Strathcona Park. CP's tie program had left behind piles of tie segments along the Nipigon Sub (above).

An interesting mix of grain cars on CN's Kinghorn Sub, which we were now paralleling: brown and yellow, silver and yellow, red Canada, even a boxcar and slab-side hopper:
Other signs of Thunder Bay's grain trans-shipment role were the drydock and Canada Steamship Lines self-unloader at Port Arthur:

CN GMD-1's 1910-1913 straddle a stream as they drill grain cars for the nearby Sask Pool and Pioneer Grain terminal elevators:

There's lots of spilled grain around the tracks as we pass CP Angus Shops van 434345 and two chop-nose GP-9's. My camera's f-stop is open, as most of these south-facing shots are taken into the morning sun. Grain boxcars galore on the next track over:

More grain terminals, the CN ore dock and Mount McKay loom in the distance. Log cars are relieved of their wooden cargoes in the foreground:

We pass low-profile yard switchstands and crossovers in Port Arthur. The VIA/CP station is ahead in Fort William. Leanin' way out, to include part of the VIA logo on this Manor car, where once was bolted a Canadian Pacific beaver emblem.

SOO 76481 is a harbinger of CPs much closer connection with the Soo Line which occurred in 1990. It stood out amongst all those Canada-built cylindrical covered hoppers:

CP 1532-1576 pause beside our train between switching moves. The trainman appears to be walking back to line a switch. Thunder Bay seemed to be crawling with switching assignments.

A freshly-painted SW1200RS 8114 sits in the sun. Maple leaf moment...Canadian Tire plastic bag is in use in the cab. Behind 8114 are 8128-1560.

Yet another switcher, 1242 chants in the clear as we meet an eastbound freight behind 6001-5009. Time to temporarily head-in.

The coaches are being watered and our train steams while awaiting its departure time from Thunder Bay Station. Unfortunately, lead unit 6513 would later die near Dryden. Fortunately, our train was helped into Winnipeg by CP SD40-2 5982.

Running extra...

Finished listening to Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough, a wide-ranging tale of the US crime wave of 1933-34, when Tommy guns were the weapon of choice. Bonnie didn't shoot much, leaving most of it to Clyde.

Clyde Yard in Cicero is a former CB&Q yard in Cook County, Illinois. In their movie, the Blues Brothers rush to the Cook County Assessor's office to pay the property taxes for the penguin's orphanage.

I took in Kingston's train show yesterday. Bought over 60 Railroad Model Craftsman magazines, then took in the annual Concert in Scarlets by Royal Military College's bands. Both events involved RMC and involved lots of training.

Postscript: Alcan Gondolas at Kingston

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:19:00 +0000

CN 188000-188435 are covered gondola cars used by Alcan for shipping aluminum coils. Loaded at Arvida's continuous cast operation, the coils are covered while still warm. The covers are heavily-insulated, mainly for wintertime, when ambient temperature on the trip can change from -30C to 20C. Moisture from the temperature change would stain the aluminum and cannot be removed, and since the 5-7 coils are valued at $35,000 each, that can be a costly mistake. Today, the coils are shipped by rail to Indianapolis, then trucked 70 miles to Terre Haute for further rolling. Upon arrival, the coils are still warm. CN later added more cars to the fleet.

In March, 1995, at least two of the cars were spotted on Kingston's Aluminum Spur (above). The cars may have been in Arvida-Kingston service for awhile. A photo on the Canadian Science and Technology Museum website shows coils being unloaded at Kingston: http://imagescn.technomuses.ca/railways/index_choice.cfm?id=60&photoid=31845547

The cars had CN and Alcan logos on their covers. I've yet to add the CN logos to my HO-scale gondola's covers. When Alcan Rolled Products was spun off to Novelis in 2004, the Alcan logos were painted out. A one-day trace of the gondola fleet in the late 1990's:

Arvida, Roberval & Saguenay: 188400, 188402, 188403, 188405, 188416, 188424, 188427, 188429, 188433, 188434.

Garneau Yard: 188401, 188431.

Montreal Taschereau Yard on train 364: 188407, 188411, 188414, 188415, 188417, 188418, 188420, 188425, 188432.

Oshawa on train 369: 188404, 188406, 188413, 188419, 188426, 188428.

Flint, Michigan on train 216: 188410.

Chicago, Indiana Harbor Belt: 188409, 188412, 188421, 188422, 188423.

In the 1960's, CN and CP were competing for Alcan's business in Kingston. Alcan was one of CP's major customers here, and much of the rolled aluminum was sent to Wilkinson in British Columbia. CN sent the rolls in tarped gondolas, but the tarps had to be rolled up and shipped back - a troublesome process. CP developed two-section steel lids which provided better protection from the elements. This probably explains the presence of that covered CP gon in an earlier post on Kingston's CN-CP interchange.

Thanks to Ian Stronach for sharing information on Alcan. An HO modeller, Ian's Montreal Terminals is a professional-looking operation.

CN's Kingston Aluminum Spur

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:23:00 +0000

Located in Kingston's north end, the Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan) plant in Kingston was a major industrial customer, and as such received service from CN. A wye branching off the south siding at Queens, the spur entered the plant property and served each mill, via at least nine tracks within the plant property. Although rail shipments dwindled over the years, and the much-smaller operation has been sold by Alcan and is now truck-served, it was still possible in 1985 to find CN doing some switching.

The trainman is working the caboose's air whistle as the cut of covered gons approaches Lappan's Lane crossing. The two switchstands are for the team track and wye switch. Pulling back on the tele lens as caboose 79438 nears the crossing, the team track is visible at left, with the PUC propane track and switch at right:

After unlocking the plant gate and flagging the Counter Street crossing,

it's time to re-board the caboose,

as 3744 accelerates the short train uphill into the plant property through the opened gate. Note "Alcan Industrial Site" sign on the perimeter fence:

Cars spotted at Alcan track KL14, aluminum rolls in, empties billed to Arvida, Quebec:

GBSR covered gondolas CN 188001, 190734, 190733, 190929, 190722, 190719, 190900, 190926, 190901, 190927, 190651. Ingot loads in from Montreal: 40-foot boxcars 575435, 576906, 560791, 568915, 562153, 561009, 540911. After the Alcan spur was terminated at Counter Street, in August 1997, Cold Mill No.2 was trucked over and welded onto heavy-duty flatcar QTTX 131049 for Valleyfield, Quebec, thence by Jumboship to Santos, and finally Pindamonhangaba, Brazil. The KIMCO Steel yard is in background. The team track was incorporated into their property and fenced in 2001.

Team track KL05, with its prominent "CN Team Track" sign along Counter Street, was the loading site of 1 Canadian Signal Regiment vehicles in spring 1987, for a distant exercise. The tarped truck (centre) is ascending the loading ramp and will soon be chocked and chained for transport. The well-ballasted Alcan spur is still visible to right of the ambulance:

Permanent Concrete's ready-mix plant, visible above the tarped truck, was located along the west leg of the wye and once had rail service via track KL01. In 1985, CN's Rail Changeout gang stored a plethora of equipment on the west leg overnight.

In December 1991, one Procor and one CGTX propane tank car were spotted on track KL03 for unloading. Wye tail track (Alcan spur) switch is visible in foreground:

CN 4526 is switching on the wye with a PGE 50-foot lumber boxcar in tow, December 1981:

On a snowy March 14, 2001, chop-nosed Geeps 4124 and 7080 are setting out WCTR 17044, a gondola of steel for KIMCO, on the team track.

In a future post, I'll highlight the wide variety of cars spotted on the Team Track, plus some of the switching moves made at Queens.

Running extra...

Just finished Martin Lindstrom's Buy-ology: Truth and lies about Why we Buy. All about neuro-marketing, his research peers into the brains of buyers and their buying decisions. Why would anyone buy McDonald's Filet-o-Fish? Discuss.

Just for the halibut, week's Throne Speech included a fish story: changing the words to our national anthem...again. Oh my cod, what a red herring. Net gain, zero.

To reduce break-aparts, CN is experimenting with slower speeds over profile-crazy portions of the Kingston Sub. Railfans, rejoice! View your favourite overtonnage, overlength drag freights 40% slower.

CN Cabooses

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Canadian National rostered over 700 steel cabooses. Featuring modern conveniences like electricity from axle-driven generators, improved seats and windows, two modern oil stoves, built-in markers, roller bearing trucks and cushion underframes. 79200-79349 were built by Hawker-Siddeley in 1967, and 79350-79897 were built from boxcars at CN's Pointe St Charles shops in Montreal in 1970-1977. These run-through cabooses were built to replace wooden cabooses built in the 1940's and 50's. 79558 is eastbound through Napanee, Ontario in early 1985 (above).

Go east (and west) young man. 79753 has an ACI label just to the left of the cupola, punctuating an eastbound freight at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on July 24, 1978 (above). Four months later, 79532 is tailing a westbound through Kingston:

The H-S cabooses had smaller side windows, arched roofs with end posts, and cupolas angled out from the roofline. 79283 bears consolidated lube stencilling and is stopped at Mi 182 Kingston Sub on March 12, 1979. Nine cars ahead, a Pacific Fruit Express reefer has knuckle trouble.

High view at Bayview. 79218 is almost to Hamilton, passing through Bayview Junction on June 23, 1981.

Extreme closeup. 79290 is trailing uphill at Mi 183 Kingston Sub on a westbound in 1985, in the low sun of a winter afternoon.

Vanishing point. The cabooses operated system-wide, including the Prairies. 79301 is westbound at Bradwell, Saskatchewan in 1986, following a long train of lumber empties destined for the BCR.

Shop til you drop. Just renumbered and repainted with a smaller consolidated stencil, 79917 is one of 25 cabooses outshopped in 1982. Tailing a wayfreight switching the DuPont nylon plant on Kingston's Cataraqui spur on January 22, 1983.

Go your own way. A little farther up the Cataraqui Spur, 79569 has picked the switch to the terminal grain elevator in February, 1990.

A few good vans. By 1997, CN's fleet was down to 130 PSC cabooses. Remaining cabooses were in work (W) service, such as 79707 accompanying crane 50451, spending the weekend in the sun at Napanee in April, 1998. Ten years later, she's still escorting welded-rail trains on the Kingston Sub.

Take this job and shove. What's a Hornepayne-stencilled caboose doing at Kingston's DuPont plant? Working, that's what. Pushing back on the tank track at the plant, in the waning days of cabooses on the spur, the tail-end crew is watching the process of the backup movement in March, 1999. Formerly 79820, 77017 was renumbered in 1995.

Ghost rider, near the wye. Within two years, windows welded closed, doorways covered with steel plate, and used as a Rider Only car, 77017 shepherds a welded rail train at Queens in March, 2001.

Harsh light of day. Silhouetted in the glare of a summer sunrise in July 1988, the conductor in the cupola 79878 follows the leader 79574. Cabooseless operation is less than two years away. Recently, a Scotford (Alberta)-stencilled caboose was seen in Saskatchewan, protecting backup switching movements. Would you believe an ex-Illinois Central now working for CN in work service in Ontario and Quebec? Today, only 14 cabooses inhabit CN's roster.

Fade to black. 79733 is more primer and grime than little red caboose, bringing up the markers of a 14-car metals train behind 4406-4365, south of Hawkesbury, Ontario on October 29, 1988.

Running extra...

As the Olympic flame is extinguished in Vancouver, Canada has acquitted itself both as a team and as a host. CTV's coverage was entertaining, including CTV's Brian Williams meeting NBC's Brian Williams. The PM has enjoyed taken in quite a few events, having not managed to get the Olympics prorogued.

Did somebody say record number of 14 gold medals for a hosting nation? Also, a gold medal for that CP commercial, showing the CP Olympic train in some typically awesome Canadian scenery, along with representative employees.

CN Kingston Sub RTC Tim Ball is calling it a career as of this Wednesday. Tee...JAY...Bee enjoy your retirement and enjoy photographing what you've been dispatching.

Postscript: Kingston Derailment March 1980

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:13:00 +0000

Here is the first indication of the derailment - the delayed trains that will be held until at least one track is clear. The steam-heated Cavalier and a freight behind 2322-9537 are at the Queens West interlocking, the first crossovers east of the site, which is six miles to the west. Spending the better part of twelve hours at the derailment, at least 15 trains made their way past the site. Before-and-after. An initial view of the derailment at 1000, then a westbound VIA makes it way past the remaining nine cars, after the north track has been cleared and tailend cars have been pulled clear of the site:

The VIA passenger trains were the first ones allowed past (VIA markings unless shown as CN):

1138 WB: 6765-6634-CN 9647-CN Greenridge-5417-5203-5517-5648-3034-5727-Buckley Bay-CN Ellerslie-5423-5414-5432-CN 5383-CN 94

1150 WB: Railiners CN 6120-6001-6116

1246 EB: 6771-6867-3118-5411-5407-5468-2511-5599-CN 5283-CN 5402-CN 5412-Rideau Club-CN 5183-5421-2503-5594-5294-CN 9662.

-lunch break-

1416 WB: 6787-6871-6616-CN 9604-CN 5472-Great Slave Lake-5473-CN 5647-5508-5501-2504-5596-5452-5704-CN University Club (above)

Then the freights were allowed to roll in eastbound and westbound fleets:

1515 EB: 9636-9512-79684

1527 EB: 9417-5072-9416-79594 (above)

1603 WB: 2322-9537-79458

1615 WB: 9473-9629-9588-79636

1630 WB: 9446-4595-4013-79380

-supper break-

Lots of trains rolling by after dark too:

2014 WB: 6768-6861-9639-2511-Rideau Club-3035-5651-9648

2133 WB: 4002-3122-3209-79560

2143 WB: 9460...79295
2208 EB: 9547-5583-9409-79475

2220 EB: 9501-9421-5500-79800

Luckily, CN 557617 stayed upright, supported by smashed trucks.

Derailment at Kingston, March 1980

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:45:00 +0000

The derailment of an eastbound freight on CN's Kingston Sub on March 15, 1980 blocked both mainline tracks. At 0345, a mechanical failure led to six loaded auto racks and two CN combination-door boxcars of canned goods derailing at Mi 182 in Amherstview, just west of Kingston. Two freights and the westbound 15-car overnight VIA Cavalier behind were held at Queens West.

A front-end loader drove down the north track and pushed the crazily-tilted CN 557410 over so it was no longer fowling the north track. Shattered trucks and draft gear littered the south track. Two Geeps and a caboose arrived from Belleville to haul away the last 25-30 cars of the train. This was all presided over by at least three 'white hats', one of whom reported on the situation using a telephone rigged into lineside wires. This was the pre-cell phone era.

With the north track clear and all but the derailed cars on the south track, repair of damaged ties began. Section forces from around the area were on scene. A slow order would remain in place at this location for two weeks.

A March break Saturday, a cool day with clear skies, and good visibility from soccer field to the south and farm fields to the north made monitoring the crews' progress easy. A signal maintainer moved lineside wires to the top cross-arm, to allow more room for the cranes to operate during re-railing:

At 1100, the Toronto Auxiliary arrived. Some of the auxiliary crew huddled on the boom car, and as they passed the site, they had a look at what they'd soon be contending with. Consist:

Engines 9516-4400

60113 tie car

two gons

57945 rails

57551 lighting flatcar

57935 wheel flatcar

50397 auxiliary crane

59012 auxiliary tender

60337 cable/tool car

57948 boxcar

43621 generator/clothes dryer boxcar

59345 sleeper
42179 white fleet boarding car

59215 diner

41410 white fleet boarding car

78338 wooden caboose complete with marker lamps

No-one was in a particular hurry to do anything. Methodically, safely, the work proceeded with an air of "Oh, we've done this before". The auxiliary consist was shuffled in Kingston, then returned to the site in the early afternoon with 50397 in the lead, ready to go into action:

Road-rail crane RC-10771 also arrived, and operated on the south, then north tracks rerailing auto racks. Outriggers and timbers were used to stabilize both cranes on the super-elevated curve. A special sling was used by 50397 to lift the tall trilevels:

Dozens of fine Chrysler products would soon arrive safely at their respective car lots due to the careful handling of the crane crews.

Passenger trains were allowed through first. A plethora of pent-up freights then cleared the bottleneck in eastbound and westbound fleets, including 2322-9537 westbound at 1603, passing the auxiliary train flatcars carrying portable lighting and extra trucks:

Today, such derailments are cleaned up by contractors with side-boom Cats, and it's unlikely that access by the public would be tolerated as it was back in March, 1980. Ironically, a 5-car derailment occurred at this same location in July, 2008. For that derailment, a gravel road was laid north of the tracks, west from Coronation Boulevard to allow easy access to the site by road equipment. CN's Toronto Auxiliary would not be making any more appearances.

Running extra...

The derailment in this post took place less than one month after the closing ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

CP and KCS business car trains are staged at an emptied CP Burrard Inlet yard, also the centre of my Vancouver Wharves layout. Rumours abound about Union Pacific and BNSF sending business car trains north as well for Olympics hospitality. Who needs overpriced, overbooked hotel rooms?

How about those opening ceremonies, eh? Coulda done without the bad-hair-day fiddlers and giant floating canoe. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, Donald Sutherland, Jacques Villeneuve, Barbara Ann Scott, Ann Murray, Julie Payette, Betty Fox, and best hockey player in the history of hockey Number Four Bobby Orr did us proud carrying the Olympic flag.

Vancouver Wharves Layout

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Have you ever picked up an HO-scale model railway layout and transported it 1500 miles? That's what it felt like when I made the decision to change my modelled locale from Winnipeg Terminals to Vancouver Whaves. I've modelled Manitoba for years, the latest iteration being my current G-shaped, point-to-point industrial switching layout. The benchwork remains 99% the same for the Vancouver Wharves, but the trackplan is 99% different.

Some like-to-have's for this layout: a central yard, interchange with BN/CN, low line at water level plus a high line, car ferry operation, modelling a harbour without modelling water, import/export and prototype Vancouver industries. Current structures would be re-purposed wherever possible (ever tried to re-purpose a grain elevator?). Some must-have "signature scenes" to be included in selectively-compressed form: CP's 'N' Yard on Burrard Inlet, their massive Pier B-C steamship dock building (above and below in preliminary form), and Dunsmuir Tunnel linking CP's Front Yards to Drake Street Yard.

The only benchmark changes were construction of a high line, linking visible staging/interchange (below) with 'N' Yard, and a short lift-out segment to enable continuous running (track to oblivion in top photo).

All I needed was a trackplan. Some modellers refine their trackplan to perfection over several years. My approach was a bit more, well, organic. Start laying track from one end, using only a pen sketch. Connect 'N' Yard to industries with an interesting mainline run, with enough run-around trackage to make switching easier. Most pier trackage would end, and the harbour begin, at the layout edge.

I was surprised to find I ended up with only nine industries arranged around the highline. Yards consume large amounts of benchwork, but 'N' Yard will accommodate 25 cars on five tracks, plus a run around/engine service track and switching leads. I've got two off-line destinations: car ferry and interchange. That'll keep cars moving on and off the line. Winnipeg's Ogilvie mill, shown below without a backdrop, will become United Grain Growers terminal, loading ships with grain for the Asian market:

What about era? Inspired by the Flickr photos of RRHorne, I wanted to keep Pier B-C as a background. This means confining the era to the early-mid 70's, with era-appropriate rolling stock. Waterfront operations on Burrard Inlet are largely CP, with CN operations at Port Mann and near CN's passenger station, so this will be a CP-heavy operation. The Opsig industry database provided some prototype Vancouver industry names.

For now, trackage is in place, the layout has been populated with inbound traffic, and cars are moving in and out of all industries and interchanges. There is much left to do: possible trackage revisions, some structure building and lots of detailing and trees to add. Transfer runs and switch jobs of 5 to 10 cars are running. The Vancouver Wharves are coming to life.

VIA Corridor Consists 1976-1981

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:35:00 +0000

VIA inherited CN's passenger equipment for use in the Corridor. Consists were virtually unchanged from the CN era, including baggage cars, club cars and meal service cars. Some sample consists from the pre-VIA era:
April 17/76 WB: 6532-6620-9650-Empire Club-5478-5503-2512-5634-5544-5651-5452-5489-5573 (above left).
April 17/76 EB: 6771-6777-9657-Hamilton Club-5642-5529-2511-5654-5598-5531-5620-5498.
June 11/76: 6762-6860-6862-8106(baggage)-Club Laurier-5650-5506-5637-5573-5186
Aug 21/76: 6771-6616-3124-9603-Boulevard Club-5534-5651-2503-5452-5542-5635-5622-3038 (above right)
Aug 28/76: 6788-6782-9603-Boulevard Club-5508-5569-2509-5650-5511-3034-5402-Bonheur(club lounge)

The VIA/CN corporate image was unveiled in April, 1976. VIA could be used in either English or French, and initially implied that passengers would travel "via [by]CN". First VIA-painted cars seen: 5525 on June 21; 2508 and 5437 on October 11; Saint James's Club on November 7. First VIA-painted locomotives seen: 6516 on July 28; 6618 on July 29; 6628 on July 31; 6858 on November 11; 6787 on December 12; 6765 on December 19.

Aug 29/76: 6780-6616-9673-Club Laurier-5649-5473-2501-5648-5602-5587 (above left)
Sept 4/76: 6782-6625-9652-York Club-5537-5636-2503-5452-5610-3032.
Sept 4/76: 6777-6623-6870-5220-9673-Club Laurier-5648-5649-2501-5508-5654-5219.
Sept 12/76: VIA 6516-6634-6786-9653-Boulevard Club-5663-5596-2509-5621-5651-5635-5637 (above right)

CN and CP stopped advertising individual passenger services in March 1977, and VIA was fully responsible for managing passenger services, including all CN's passenger cars by June 1977. Painting was well underway, with May-June 1977 seeing the first all-VIA consist, while all-CN consists could also be seen. Other equipment used in the CN to VIA transition era included the CN Turbos and Railiners:
Aug 11/76 at Belleville 1157 WB: Turbo 126-151 (above left)
Aug 1/76: 6114-6002-6118 (above right)
Apr 15/79: 6351-6001-VIA 6117-VIA 6003-6121

Mar 24/77 6760-6869-VIA 9600-VIA Saint James's Club-VIA 5536-5446-VIA 2512-VIA 5591-VIA 5508-5574-Great Slave Lake. GSL was one of six buffet-club-lounges: Caribou, Muskoka, Ontario, Lake Couchiching, Lake Makamik, in service in Corridor from at least May/76 to Sept/78.

The years 1977-1979 saw most of CN's equipment painted into blue and yellow. In 1979-80, there were still consists with two to four CN cars, but by 1981, many trains only rostered one CN car. The majority of locomotives received the VIA scheme by mid-1980.
Apr 13/79: VIA 6780-6860-6519-4105-all VIA...9602-Saint James's Club-5732- 2512- 5536-5441-5542-5633-434-5489-5574-5452-5573-5580-5631 (above)
Apr 29/79: 6513-VIA 6611-VIA 6624-VIA Muskoka-VIA 5733-VIA Club Laurier(partial consist):

The Turbos were suffering increasing unreliability, and were temporarily pulled from service, replaced by short conventional consists:

June 9/79 Turbo Replacement: VIA 6537-3112-VIA 5447-VIA 2502-5584-VIA 5504-VIA Club de la Garnison

June 15/79 Turbo Replacement: VIA 6516-VIA Club de la Garnison-5584-VIA 5447-VIA 2506-VIA 5504:

Units still in CN paint had their nose logos painted out, such as 6770 and 6773. The diagonal yellow nose with CN logo gave way to the vertical yellow nose, then red and in a few cases, blue VIA nose logos.

June 19/79: 6758-6862-VIA 9602-VIA Mount Royal Club-VIA 5727-VIA 5571 (partial consist):

By 1981, the Turbo's demise was looming, while the LRC's debut was on the horizon. Some units retained CN colours, such as 6866 and 6867 in October 1982 and some would be retired still wearing them.

Feb 9/81: 6785-VIA 6620-baggage-rest of consist VIA (below, at Benjamin's cut Mi 184 Kingston Sub)

Mar 14/81: 6535-all VIA...6614-9613-5482-5618-2502- CN Club St-Denis-all VIA...3024-5649-9641.

Finally, here comes a matched consist of blue and yellow, passing through the limestone rock cuts at Queens, Mi 174 Kingston Sub. May 9/81: all VIA...6523-2509-5580-5494-5654-Club Laurier :

West of Toronto, CN Tempo equipment carried on, with the Tempo cars receiving blue and yellow striping. June 22/81 Bayview Jct WB: 3150-321-343-367-354-361-362:

Battered CN units helped out too. June 23/81 Bayview Jct EB: 4017-3107-VIA 5433- CN 5423-all VIA...5641-5630-4888-5562-2508-5594-5506-9628

Some all-VIA consists round out this pre-LRC era:

Sept 12/81: 6528-9628-5522-3035-5474

Oct 24/81: 6787-5748-765-5504-5486-5437

Nov 15/81 6533-6635-5542-3200-4888-5518-5465-5504-5641-2514-5737

Those clean yellow noses look pretty good in the morning sun, as the head-end crew brings their coffee back from the club car:

From November 1981 until 1985, VIA's Canadian ran Montreal-Vancouver. Below, an eastbound combined No 2/No 44 makes it station stop on the north track at Kingston. A partial consist of one of the first such trains, totalling 14 cars:
Nov 21/81: 6542-6634-6532-baggage- CN Club St-Denis-all VIA 122-116-118-505-Ellerslie-Chateau Salaberry-Strathcona Park

VIA in its infancy experienced more corporate change than equipment change. While necessary, new equipment waited until VIA gained its footing, although its mandate has remained murky. This brings to a close VIA's Corridor consist series, spanning the six eras of VIA trains in the Corridor. Someday I'll collate all the consists I have from VIA's various eras. No doubt this era's consists would be the most interesting.

Running extra...

Listening to Stephan Talty's Empire of Blue Water. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum, ye dogs! It's the tale of Captain Henry Morgan and some fantastic feints of strategy against overwhelming odds. Buried treasure meets Trackside Treasure.

Pieces of eight, you say? The Empire Builder, Great Northern's pre-eminent streamliner, passed through eight states, or at least pieces of eight, and was also the nickname of James J. Hill. Omaha Orange and Pullman Green adorned the cars, with the train's name writ large, in script larger than "Great Northern".

Am I the only person in North America who hasn't seen that freaky movie Avatar? Reminds me of a switching crew's radio transmission about to make the joint "half a car". That'll do.

CP Ballast Train on the Minnedosa Sub, September 1985

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:11:00 +0000

CP 5923 is applying sand, with white extra flags flapping, as it attempts to lift its heavy ballast train across the Eighth Street crossing and out of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, at 0930 September 18, 1985. 5923 and 5742 are on the north lead, next to CP's two mainlines and the elevator lead:

Tank car UTLX 312 is carrying fuel, likely for Jordan spreader CP 402892:

Van 434526 is at the tail-end of the 45-car ballast train as it passes CP Rail 382177, Canadian Pacific script and CPWX "Coke can" covered hoppers being loaded at the United Grain Growers elevator. The tail-end trainman is already on the rear steps of the van:

After dropping down to the ballast in the shadow of the elevator, the trainman lines the mainline switch and runs like h&%$ to get back on the van. The train was not slowing down as it started to curve westward then northward.

As the train accelerates its Branch Line Rehabilitation program hoppers across the already-harvested wheat fields, it produces an interesting visual pattern:

Late the next day, a rainy afternoon, a westbound freight behind 5852-8657 pulled into the yard and added 5923 and 5742 to their power consist before continuing westward.

Running extra...

Tracklaying is complete for now on my Vancouver Wharves layout. "Coke-can" grain cars as mentioned above don't fit into my mid-70's era. Banished to storage. Taking their place are CPR 40-foot boxcars, and some idler flats for the Vancouver Island car ferry operation.

This will be one layout without the cliche' pier/fish reefer/tugboat scene. Also, no non-terminating highway overpasses. I always wonder where the cars would drop off, if they were actually driving on such overpasses, often featured in model magazine articles as scene dividers.

Ricky Gervais did a ho-hum job hosting the Golden Globes. The only beer-swilling awards show host I've ever seen. At least Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet were there to save the evening.

VIA Corridor Consists 1982-1986

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:17:00 +0000

By 1982, Turbo, LRC and short F-unit conventional consists co-existed in the Corridor. The LRC's entered service in early 1982, and the Turbo's last revenue run was in October.

August 18/82: 146-151
September 18/82 149-154 (above, eastbound at Mi 184 Kingston Sub)
Ex-CP Canadian equipment operated in the Corridor in two services. One was the Montreal-Vancouver Canadian, running as VIA Nos 1/55, and Nos 2/44 Montreal-Toronto between 1981 and 1985. In addition, coaches and baggage cars were mixed with blue&yellow consists.

March 5/84: 6787-612-3229-108-3241-Saint James's Club (above)
May 7/84: 6781-9664-5546-3219-126 (below)
May 18/84: 6775-6867-124-115-118-5580-5569-5504-2508-5532-5649-Club Richelieu-5729.
VIA Nos 1/55 smoked its way out of Kingston on May 7/84:
6775-6863-617-3229-108-5649-760-123-3228-Thompson Manor-Edgeley

A typical westbound consist included baggage, coach, Dayniter, meal service cars, sleepers and dome car for the transcontinental, plus coaches for Corridor service. This westbound didn't include a Park car, with Edgeley bringing up the markers:

LRC locomotives also pulled SGU-less conventional consists in warmer weather, or teamed up with F-units.

May 25/84:6908-6632-617-3234-5558-752-101-3218-Dawson Manor-Chateau Dollier

July 28/84: 6908-9 blue&yellow cars (below)

July 28/84: 6911-5719-2512-5437-5467-5488-3222

Occasionally, CN passenger Geeps powered conventional consists, like this one pulling in to Kingston station then accelerating westward after its station stop:

August 26/84: 4361-6632-602-5458-3217-5594-5487-5595-3202-Union Club

On a sunny October 20/84, 6758 was eastbound with six cars, east of Napanee:

and 6781 was westbound with four cars:

On December 21/84, the pre-Christmas rush is on, and two long trains meet at Kingston at 1220:

EB: 6530-6864-University Club-5734-5447-5586-2512-5483-5516-3216-5700

WB: 6782-6865-York Club-108-5545-5486-2510-5494-5562-5574-3211

Two typical LRC consists pass through Napanee:

February 10/85 EB: 6923-6 LRC cars-6921

March 30/85 WB: 6928-3382-3368-3362-3349-3329

GP-9 4366 smokes it up with an eastbound at Kingston, punctuated by VIA pseudo-markers:

April 27/85: 4366-6624-9653-5452-5618-750-Club Richelieu-3226-5617

July 28/85: 6314 (GPA-18b)-5506-3201-5519-3225-9614

August 31/85: 6540-3223-5455-3248-604-Osler Manor(deadhead)

October 14/85: 6900-6505-5443-3229-5569-3218-5514-5471-3205-5642-3236-5728-5722-5455

On a pleasant June evening, 6784 is lifting a four-car consist westward out of Kingston:

June 14/85: 6784-5647-5452-3243-9616

Soon the F40's will arrive. In the meantime, 6762 has a westbound five-car consist in tow, including an ex-CP baggage car.

Running extra...

This leaves only one more post in the VIA Corridor Consists six-part retro series: 1976-1981. Arguably one of the most popular eras, at least according to our Trackside Treasure survey.

A couple of interesting blogs to recommend. Will Van Dorp's New York Harbor:
http://tugster.wordpress.com/ and the Open Passage team's sailboat passage through the Northwest Passage: http://www.openpassageexpedition.com/index.html

Hear that sucking sound? That's democracy leaving our nation's capital as Parliament is prorogued. What's next, should we build a (Red &) White House for our executive branch?

CN Consist at Belleville, November 1991

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:49:00 +0000

Here's a CN freight consist from November 15, 1991. Seen at Belleville, Ontario this 84-car ETU-equipped train stops at the east end of the yard for a crew change at 1405, meets an eastbound Laser with 30 platforms behind 9589-9562, and heads west for Toronto through the drizzle and mist at 1440. Most cars are CN boxcars. Other cars are shown as originally noted:

2408
2103
CN 633020 COFC flatcar
CN 404322
CN 404238
CN 400749
CN 401694
CN 407067
CN 400820
BCOL 5356 boxcar
CNIS 408011
CGTX 13432 tankcar
CNIS 376016 covered hopper
CN 704001 first of 7 autoracks
CN 704421
CN 704030
TTGX (CR) 253955
SOU (NS) 250791
CN 712270
CN 710089
CN 404093
ATSF 306992 covered hopper
ATSF 303385 covered hopper
LW 1040 boxcar
CN 374218 pd covered hopper
CN 416380
PROX 29579 tankcar
CITX 35368 tankcar
CNA 553615
CN 557014
CN 138215 gondola
CN 137497 gondola
CN 401663
CN 400780
CN 375107 covered hopper
CNIS 412020
CNIS 412010*
CNIS 412006*
CNIS 412002
CN 157065 gondola
CN 157240 gondola
CNIS 412037
CNIS 412065
CN 157226 gondola
CN 711911 autorack
TTGX(UP) 964472 autorack
CN 710013 autorack
CN 157146 first of 7 gondolas
CN 157075
CN 157001
CN 157143
CN 157063
CN 157281
CN 157064
CN 401437
LW 1005 boxcar
CNIS 400576
CN 407087
CN 157002 gondola
CN 157200 gondola
CN 157151 gondola
CN 400781
CN 401327
CN 407012
DWC 403589 boxcar
CVC 402183 boxcar
CN 401123
CN 418122**
RBOX 38748 boxcar
CN 416332
RBOX 36932 boxcar
CN 416513
CN 418158**
CNIS 412083*
CNIS 412087*
CN 412099
CN 412080
CN 412070
CN 411039
CN 157267 gondola
CN 157181 gondola
CN 401365
CV 402xx1 boxcar
NAHX 487562 covered hopper
CN 369873 covered hopper
CN 694038 wire reel flatcar

*blt NSC 11/89
**blue ex-N&StL
The eastbound Laser pulls in for a crew change as the westbound departs, and the tail-ends of both trains are about to pass each other:

This two-hour visit to Belleville also netted three VIA trains, eastbound and westbound locals, and a westbound Laser.

Trackside with my trusty Hawkeye

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Westbound out of Capreol on VIA's Super Continental in August/78, the Instamatic I had with me started to misfire. Above is one of its last successful shots, taken during the servicing stop at Hornepayne. CN 760-VIA 5703 are in the foreground, with a GP, lots of interesting cars and the Hornepayne auxiliary behind. Upon arrival in Portage la Prairie, my aunt and uncle donated a Kodak Hawkeye for my use. Little did I know it would become my railfanning camera for the next six years.

Produced by Kodak from 1974-1979, the Hawkeye Pocket Instamatic camera reflected the shift away from 126-format film to 110-format. The smaller film format made for a thinner camera that could fit in a pocket, compared to the 126 Instamatic that could fit in...a box, I guess. The viewfinder is at the opposite end to the orange shutter button, and the film advance is below the button. Handy carry-strap and camera ready for film loading, not including the elastic band I used to keep the back from popping open:

Downside was a tiny negative that resisted all attempts at enlargement, decent reproduction, and detail. It is amusing to find an unused Hawkeye for sale on eBay for prices ranging from $5 to $40, referred to as "vintage". Notice the pedestal for the flashbulb, used for indoor photography before built-in flash. That yellow box contains the film that was in a sealed foil package.

One of the first photos I made with this new acquisition shows CP 8532-5553-5541 switching at CP's Portage station early on the morning of August 16, with CN's main in the foreground:

Not every shot was a keeper. Prone to vibration while taking a photo, the camera nonetheless documented some classic trains with CN GMD-1's and "black-widow" straight SD40's, and CP tiger-stripe SD's. In the digital age, I would have deleted some of these shots right away. (At the time, I would've de-selected them if I could've, but in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't). The digital vs. film debate was recently discussed on the MB-SK Rails Yahoogroup - click to join on my right sidebar. On August 18, CN 4245-4315-4317 were switching the yard. This shot clearly shows both the Flexicoil trucks of the Geep plus the elevator behind, proving that the little Hawkeye could do a pretty good job:

Pacing poetry in motion at 75 mph - 6759 westbound at Beaurepaire with an Ottawa train in October/78:

Over the next six years, my trusty Hawkeye accompanied me on railfan trips from coast-to-coast, surviving all types of weather conditions and minor accidents. Pacific: BC Hydro Railway 900 switches in Vancouver, October/80:

Atlantic: CN 1751 rests at the ferry dock at sunset, Borden, Prince Edward Island, April/82

To paraphrase Puff the Magic Dragon, A dragon lives forever, but not so Kodak Hawkeyes. During a week-long Canrailpass trip around the Corridor in March/84, it became apparent that its remaining photographs were few. I left the last few photos entombed in the Hawkeye on its last film. Years later, I had them developed. Here are the results as I received them along with a note: "Film old or left in camera too long. Subjected to heat or high humidity."

Taken on the platform at Dorval, 5186-5156-5095 haul eastbound covered hoppers ahead of International Service caboose 78108 at 1230 on March 9/84 (above). Seven minutes later, 4240-3726-3122 haul three tank cars and 79556 westbound:

I bought a Yashica FX-2 SLR and finally entered the 35mm world. One of its first photos (f2.8 at 1/1000) shows 2332-4349-4117 eastbound at Mi 191 Kingston Sub at 1618 on May 2/84:

Trying out the camera a week later, 6784-6865 were in charge of an 8-car VIA westbound at Mi 183 (f8 at 1/500):

Running extra...

The Christmas break is allowing me some time to work on my layout and its new prototype. Some of the progress to date shows track laid to represent CP Rail's 'N' Yard on Burrard Inlet in Vancouver. In the background are a mock-up of CP Pier B-C and some photos for inspiration. CP, BN and some CN operations will be represented.

Hey, is there any fruitcake left? Why is fruitcake so maligned, anyway? It's enjoyed in many countries, and its history dates to the Roman era. Once used to preserve candied fruit, it was enjoyed by early hunters on lengthy hunting trips. I propose "Nutty as a can of cashews" instead.

Seems two nativity pageant donkeys escaped from their pen at Eagle River Presbyterian Church in Eagle-Vail, Colorado. Following their trail, pursuers found the donkeys had travelled up the UP (ex-DRG&W) tracks toward Minturn, and were safely captured. The wonky donkeys were on burro-ed time and made complete asses of themselves.

VIA Corridor Consists 1987-1990

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Although GM and MLW cab units were in charge of most VIA trains in the late eighties, the F40PH-2's, VIA's first new locomotives since the LRC, were about to arrive. The first of the 6400's arrived on December 15/86, with 25 delivered by the following September, and the last of the series in 1989. 6514 and four cars were eastbound (above), and 6778-5652-3232 were westbound on a snowy February 5, 1987:

It was possible to see 6400's, 6500's, 6700's, and LRC 6900's all in one day. On at least one occasion, in Ottawa, a 6500-6400-6900 combination was observed - although it was a rare sighting, it remains a holy grail for many fans of VIA's late eighties era.

March 5/87 0300 EB: 6408-6652-Elrose-5603-5497-3033-Everett-Glace Bay-9648 (my first F40 sighting)

March 14/87: 6916-6904 (dead)-3472-3339-3316-3344

I noted one of the early GPA-30b's, November 24/87: 6422-3453-3355-3369-3463-3458

Soon the F40's were looking right at home replacing LRC locomotives,

May 15/88: 6416-3402-3331-3352-3302:

The F-units were bumped to remaining conventional trains, Friday and Sunday Nos 168&169. August 7/88 No 169: 6505-University Club-5482-3228-5471-5437:

January 29/89 No 169: 6761-752-5728-5494-3219-5621 (my last FPA4 sighting)
February 17/89 No 168: 6557 (ex-CP)-5 cars

June 4/89 No 168: 6513-5499-5503-5506-3219-Union Club:

LRC consists of 6-10 cars had one LRC locomotive at each end.

August 14/89: 6920-3454-3357-3347-3367-3354-3375-3307-3368-3372-3470-6909.

It was also possible to see two 6500's or two 6900's hauling conventional cars, truly a Canadian passenger conventional consist cornucopia.

February 4/90: 6903-6907-15xxx-Union Club-6 blue&yellow cars

February 11/90: 6540-6530-6 blue&yellow cars-96.

VIA's F's were making their last stand, with 4 6700's departing for the Napa Valley Wine Train in January/88, and 10 ex-CP F's billed to Sidbec for scrap in February/88. Another ex-CP F, one of the last three, appeared on the Kingston Sub at Belleville.

April 30/90 No 62: 6437-6569-5503-5611-3247-5444-5642-3253-Union Club-9645:

April 30/90 No 63: 6448-8117-9628-Mount Royal Club-3220-5594-5621-3238, with 8117 being one of the first Head-End Power (HEP) conversions of former CP Canadian stainless steel cars from steam heat, evident by its tinted glass and blue stripe matching that of 6448:

F40's could also be seen with conventional cars and not-yet-HEP'd stainless steel cars.
May 25/90 No 63: 6430-9639-Club Laurier-3217-5616-5503-3218-101-100.(below)

June 9/90: 6414-6914-123-3230-5603-5617-3203-University Club-9639.

June 11/90: 6450-3201-5569-5529-3242-York Club-9645:

June 13/90 No 63: 6450-6429 (back-to-back)-8118-8120 (both newly HEP'd)-9640-Union Club-3253-5437-5621-3211-95-Sandford Fleming.

July 2/90: 6441-15475-5514-3248-5594-5488-3207-Empire Club-9632:

Some representative consists with LRC equipment:

September 16/90: 6425-3466-3343-3312-3369, 6427-3455-3341-3348-3351,

6417-3471-3335-3333-3371-3328.

Westbound through Belleville, HEP baggage 8601 rode between the F40 and the SGU:

October 20/90: 6456-8601-15417-9671-Mount Royal Club-3200-5581-5487-3219:

Running extra...

Looking for New In Box steam and diesel HO Rivarossi, Bachmann, AHM, Model Power, Cox, coaches and train sets such as Bachmann and Lionel HO Confederation, MRC powerpacks and N locomotives and cars? I visited a friend with a well-stocked basement today, ready to sell at reasonable prices. Contact me by email (mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca) and I will get you in touch.

Jason Shron of Rapido Trains has posted his plan for the lower level of his proposed layout, including the Spadina Coach Yard and Toronto Union Station. It will no doubt be full of Rapido cars: CN, VIA, ONR and the Turbo

http://www.rapidotrains.com/KingstonSub/Kingston_Sub_L1.jpg

Only in Canada..people referring to the movie The Polar Express as the Polar Bear Express. My favourite scene/lyrics: "Here, we've only got one rule: Never ever let it cool! Keep it cookin' in the pot, You've got Hot choc-o-lat!"

CN Ballast Trains, Part 2

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:33:00 +0000

CN 300175 is one of 42 ballast hoppers behind 5256, distributing ballast around Kingston on September 26, 1999, pictured at Mi 181. The consist of the train: CN orange 302585-302309-302391-90467-302225-302155-90422-302149-90341-90217-302227-302203-90055-302276-90227-301131-300534*-300xxx*-300175*-300870*-300704-301312-300168-300321*-300834*-300072- 3 cars*-301080-300341-300372-300977-300007-300030*-301451-300667-300679-300030 with a small CN logo- 2 cars*-301301-caboose 79911R. (*denotes cars in original Canadian National block-lettering scheme, others wear the wet-noodle scheme)CN 90227 travelled quite widely over the next 16 months: from St Cyrille to South Parry ON, then empty from Battle Creek MI to Capreol ON and back to Battle Creek, loaded from Carbondale IL to Champaign IL and Virginia MN to Wellsboro IN, then from St Cyrille to St Lambert and Fitzpatrick QC, and five more trips to St Lambert in a month-and-a-half.

CN train No 307 has a 20-car ballast hopper block on July 28, 2002. These cars were loaded at St Cyrille, track M044 near Drummondville, Quebec. CN 300312 (above) wears the block-lettering, while CN 300110 (below) shows a graffiti'd wet noodle:

Some of the distinctive orange cars I noted in Part 1's consists are visible in the above two photos, mixed in with the brown hoppers. These government branch-line rehabilitation program cars were built in 1976-78. A cut of these orange cars from St-Cyrille was on CN No 309 at Kingston on October 1, 2005:

On September 20, 1985, 5316-5176 haul Jordan spreader 50937 and a 30-car cut of the orange cars at the head end of a westbound freight on CN 's Rivers Sub:

CN and CP now hire Herzog's Programmable Linear Unloading System (PLUS) train for major track programs. This GPS-linked system precisely spreads ballast at 20 mph over a pre-surveyed area, clear of switches, road crossings and signal installations. The train can work 24 hours a day, in all weather, and eliminates the need for ground forces.

Operating as CN train No 493, the Herzog train was westbound to a distant work location, at Kingston in July, 2006, including car HZGX 8289:

Mark Perry, CN hogger from Manitoba relates, "The Herzog was out here last year and the guys that worked it say it is a dream to work with. A crewman sits in the second unit with his laptop and GPS and they slow down to dump, doors open automatically for the stretch and then they close and you notch her back up to speed until the next dumping spot. Never stops, no one is out on the ground getting all dusty. A far cry when I worked a GLR funded work train on the Hartney sub in 1985, on duty 23 hours a day, 7 days a week...

Running Extra...

Neither Here nor There by Bill Bryson is the book I'm currently listening to. Description of an Italian train ride: "The train was crowded but I found a seat by a window. Everyone on the train passed the time by sleeping. At Naples I emerged from the train only to encounter 27 taxi drivers that wanted to take me somewhere nice and distant...I bought a ticket for Sorrento. The train was packed with sweating people and very slow, stopping every few hundred feet at some suburban station where 100 people would get off and 120 would get on."

Rapido Trains' CP Angus Shops centre-cupola caboose is now shipping. First schemes out of the yard include TH&B as well as fanciful GN and Santa Fe. Now if Santa would only get my CP van down the chimney and under the tree...maybe if he's still working in January.

The whistle ban debate has reared its ignorant and uninformed head here in Kingston again. Have we learned nothing from local tragedies in recent years? Building over/underpasses at most of the remaining level crossings would be impractical due to engineering challenges, thus leaving level crossings as the only option.

VIA Corridor Consists 1991-1995

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:33:00 +0000

VIA Corridor consists in the first half of the 1990's were changing due to modernization of equipment. LRC cars provided the rolling stock for most corridor trains, except for daily afternoon VIA Nos 62/63 and Nos 168/169 on weekend nights. LRC locomotivs were still operating as were 6300-series F-units, but 6400's powered most trains.

No 63 on April 1/91 is all blue&yellow: 6442-15410-9618-York Club-3253-5569-5546-3202-5531 (above)

Four afternoon trains on April 14 are representative of most VIA Corridor trains:

6905-3453-3367-3351-3362, 6423-3315-3335-3334, 6422-3462-3319-3341-3337, 6414-3470-3316-3314-3315.

No 62 on April 27 has two types of locomotive and two ex-CP Canadian coaches.

6439-6303-15460-102-112-3224-5584-5583-3202-Club St Denis-9640:

Within a month, Nos 62 and 63 would become LRC consists, using surplus CP baggage cars, such as May 12/91: 6409-6407-3331-3316-3367-3372-3303-3322-3346-3464-8610.

No 63 stops at Belleville on February 17/92. 6438-613-3462-3337-3342-3345-3463:

Other ex-CP baggage cars in use included 612, 615, 8607, and 8609. Baggage 613 and business car 96 bring up the tailend on December 28/91:

Changes to Nos 62/63 left Nos 168/169 as the most interesting trains to watch, which I did a lot in the summer of 1991. Since these trains used conventional equipment, they were often used to ferry equipment from the Toronto-Vancouver trains to Montreal for maintenance.

July 26/91 No 169: 6452-5646-3218-5444-Strathcona Park:

May 31/91 No 169: 6442-Allan Manor-5449-3219-5586-Saint James's Club-Chateau Salaberry-Chateau Varennes-VIA/CN 94.

July 12/91 No 168: 6902-5504-3202-5537-Dufferin Manor-Bell Manor-Chateau Laval-612.

July 12/91 No 169: 6304 (new paint, Bombardier builder's plate)-5576-3204-5585.

August 2/91 No 168: 6442-6414-8509-Evangeline Park-5585-5576-3212-5499-5522.

August 5/91 No 168: 6916-3242-5623-3237-5611-5622.

When an LRC car axle incident led to the LRC fleet being sidelined, from March-May 1992 it was back to 6300's or 6400's/SGU's with blue&yellow equipment.

March 30/92 No 63: 6425-15478-9624-3201-5458-5529-5576-3224:

March 24/92: 6920-6309-3201-5458-5529.

April 6/92: 6928-6514-5569-3201-5531.

Montreal's Pointe St. Charles shops was the location of many stored ex-VIA F's in March, 1993. Soon, VIA's new ex-Union Pacific baggage cars started to appear, such as 8621.

April 24/93: 6429-8621-3460-3319-3326-3359-3303-3305-VIA/CN 94:

VIA's evening Montreal-Toronto expresses operated with one or two LRC locomotives. November 24/93 VIA Express 1905 WB: 6920-3 LRC cars-6907.

January 31/94 VIA Express 1850 EB: 6915-6907

6416, baggage car 8621 and 6 LRC cars make a station stop at Belleville with CN 9516 in the background on March 16/95:

No 57's equipment operates west of Toronto to Windsor, seen at Bayview Junction.

September 25/93: 6427-8618-3461-3325-3305-3343-3329-3332:

A trip to Ottawa on February 7/94 revealed the following VIA cars stored at Ottawa Union Station pending disposition: 9654, 9667, 2503, 2510, 2513, 3039, 757, 754, 5594, 5736, Greenwood, Hudson Bay, Algonquin Park, Sibley Park, Riding Mountain Park, ex-Rock Island baggage 618.

Viahogger shares some thoughts on working the "blue&yellow fleet" before their retirement:

"I loved riding on the fleet with their leaky steam valves, comfortable seating and spacious interiors. They were in deserate need of a rebuild; many of the cars were literally falling apart with rust and decay. Failures of heating, AC or electrical system were a regular occurrence. They did put in many years of reliable service, and when they were maintained they were alright cars to work on."

From 1993-1995, 6400's with three LRC cars dominated VIA Corridor trains. A VIA train to London, westbound out of Toronto Union had three ex-CP coaches on May 17/94: 6442-8120-8100-8108.

Running extra...

Just finishing Sails on the Horizon by Jay Worrall. A ripping good yarn of derring-do on the high seas with Commander Charles Edgemont of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Feisty Quaker Penelope Brown meets and marries Charles. Read it if thou hast the time.

CN engineers are on strike. Managers are running the trains, with a 30 mph speed limit. Many trains today are 35 mph. CN No 149 was doing closer to 45 - gotta keep those containers moving.

Postscript: One day of trains at Portage 1980

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Here's a list of all the CN and CP trains that passed through Portage on June 16, 1980. Only about half of the trains were photographed at West Tower, in the previous post:

0811 EB: CP 5900-4511-general freight-434585
0831 WB: CP 5930-5773-COFC/TOFC-434509-434382
0916 WB: CN 9155-4132-4321-4305-9197-4235-grain etys-76571-79492
CN station: 1076-9623-9637, 4407-4413-Jordan spreader 50944, 9482-9402
1049 WB: CP 5921-5596-3008-COFC/general freight-434633
1137 WB CN 9637-9503-grain etys-79365
1155 WB: CN 9482-9402-ballast lds-79834
--Lunch break--
1322 WB: CN 9498-5217-5240-general freight-76664-79533
1348 WB CN 1367-1352-1076-45 grain etys-79300
1413 EB: CN 5215-9605-9549-9470-5199-TOFC/autoracks-79629
1424 WB: CN 9479-9407-9505-potash etys-79714
1431 WB: CP 5714-5505-grain etys/general freight-434460-434455-434503
1453 EB: CP 5923-8770-grain lds-434433
1558 WB: CN 9557-9519-9473-103 cars general freight-79585
1610 EB: CP 5525-4502-81 grain lds-434537
1636 WB: CN 9615-9644-99 lumber etys
CP station: 6569-437000.

The day ends as it began, with a CP train powered by an SD and a Century, in the powerful Prairie sunlight (who says Alcos didn't run west of Winnipeg?). The head-end trainman is on the porch, ready to pick up orders at the station, as the CN train cools its heels at West Tower, waiting for the CP eastbound to clear the diamond.

West Tower Portage la Prairie, Manitoba June, 1980

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:32:00 +0000

West Tower is a CN-CP interlocking located on the west side of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Double-tracked CN Rivers Sub and double-tracked CP Carberry Sub from Winnipeg split at Portage. CN's River Sub continued west to Rivers and Saskatoon, and CN's Gladstone Sub headed north to Gladstone and Dauphin. CP's Carberry Sub continued west to Brandon and Regina, and CP's Minnedosa Sub headed north to Minnedosa.

Seldom-used branchlines included CN's Pleasant Point Sub 78 miles south to Brandon, and CN's Oakland Sub 53 miles north to Amaranth. Here are two days' action at West Tower from 29 years ago. On June 16, 1980 0916 WB: CN 9155-4132-4321-4305-9197-4235 pass the West Tower sign and cross CP's Carberry Sub (top and below) heading west on the Rivers Sub with grain empties, general freight, and cabooses 76571-79492:

In the previous hour, 0831 WB: CP 5930-5773 bang across the diamond with autoracks and piggybacks. At left is the CN-CP connecting track which carried VIA's Canadian from CN Rivers Sub to CP's Carberry Sub at Portage:

Non-enclosed auto racks carry products from the Big Three automakers west out of the morning sun. CN's Rivers Sub is in the foreground, with a signal shed and grain elevator at right. A motorcar set-off beside the shed made a handy railfan seating area. CN's Gladstone Sub is just under the third autorack. Vans on this train were 434509-434582:

That afternoon, this 45-car train, mostly grain empties is travelling west on the Rivers Sub. Check out those spark arrestors, 1348 WB: CN 1367-1352-1076.

Twenty-five minutes later, an amply-powered CN hotshot approaches West Tower, hauling piggybacks, Showa and Dart containers and Datsuns. The heavy rail of CP's Carberry Sub bears signs of regular lubrication of the diamond trackwork. 1413 EB: CN 5215-9506-9549-9470-5199.

Seven minutes after a westbound CN train of potash empties headed up the Gladstone Sub, this CP westbound heads up the Minnedosa Sub. 1431 WB: CP 5714-5505 I had to hike it across a small field to get this photo, as the CP track is quickly diverging to the north here. The train carried a couple of dimensional loads on CP bulkhead flats, empty grain cars, and vans 434460-434455-434503.

This eastbound grain train passes the few boxcars at the United Grain Growers elevator at Eighth St, while the tailend with 434433 is still crossing CN at West Tower, far left. MLW power was rare but not unheard of west of Winnipeg. 1453 EB: CP 5923-8770.

On June 17, 1980 0837 WB: CN 4308-4326-4227. This general freight is westbound on the Rivers Sub the following morning, with lots of grain empties, a C&NW piggyback trailer, ACR gondola and caboose 79265:

Ten minutes later, two Geeps bring in 19 grain loads from the Gladstone Sub. CP has green flags up for a slow order near the diamond. 0847 EB: CN 4303-4327.

Sixteen minutes behind that short grain train comes a healthier train of grain from the Gladstone Sub, plus a Burlington flatcar, UP covered hopper and caboose 79579. CN Rivers Sub is at left, CP Carberry Sub in foreground. 0903 EB: CN 9652-5027.

Running more than two hours late, VIA's Super Continental passses the West Tower signboard. Instead of a Park Car, Athabasca brings up the markers behind Chateau Vercheres and Chateau Rigaud. A redboard shows on the CP-CN connecting track at right. The eastbound Canadian is not expected soon. 0923 EB: VIA 6507-6606-CN 4102.

The last West Tower train is a westbound hotshot with piggyback, containers, Milwaukee Road boxcar, empty CP stock cars and van 434433. In a few minutes, CN 1076-1352-1367 will return with grain loads less than 24 hours after heading west. The sun has reappeared for another pleasant summer-like morning of trainwatching in Portage. 1002 WB: CP 5630-5637-4710.

Running extra...

Some of the views shown here would not be possible today, as trees have grown up around the West Tower area. Train lengths and horsepower have also grown, although if all the units in some of these photos were online, the number of horsepower would have been considerable then too.

The 30th anniversary of the CP Mississauga derailment generated a lot of interest in my hotbox detector post. Does the phrase "Three bubbles, no troubles" ring a bell? I hadn't heard it before, but it means three zeroes on the display board and the train is safe to continue on its way. AKA "All black back to the hack Jack."

Former Oiler Craig Simpson and perky Olympian Jamie Sale' won CBC's Battle of the Blades. This is a Canadian version of Dancing with the Stars, kinda like Skating with the Scars. Everyone is very polite and there's no trash talk save some amiable bickering for the camera during practice. Canadian reality programming at its finest.

VIA Corridor Consists 1996-2000

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:33:00 +0000

Between 1996 and 2000, VIA Corridor consists were no longer steam-heated. The transition from steam generators to HEP (Head-End Power) rendered the last ex-CN blue & yellow cars obsolete. Stainless steel cars originally built for US railroads such as NYC, ACL, RF&P and Southern were purchased by VIA, updated and entered Corridor use. Cars and locomotives received an updated paint scheme including the Canada logo as a politically-inspired initiative. Consists were the most standardized they'd been since the pre-VIA CN era. Amid mostly 6400-led consists of LRC cars, I observed my first HEP car in 1995:

May 24/95: 6410-8618-3468-3335-3343-3324-3366-3339-4004.

And by the summer of 1996, the HEP cars with their yellow/blue striping were becoming more prevalent:
July 6/96: 6417-8622-3456-3360-3351-3322-4117-4121.

August 16/96: 6404-6410-8621-3462-4121-4117-3318-3333-3324-3358-3362. The two HEP cars are behind the VIA 1 LRC car:
My first all-stainless steel HEP consist:

September 7/96: 6404-8621-4000-4106-4102-4119.

November 8/96: 6423-4115-4116-4110-4103-4003.

To commemorate a premiers conference in Jasper, Alberta special logos were applied to the consist the provincial leaders travelled in. Eventually these cars returned to Corridor service. Coaches 4106 and 4112 also had these logos applied.

November 23/96 No 60: 6430-4122-4111-4118(logo)-4114(logo)-4001-8622.
April 6/97: 6421-8137-4123-4117-4109-4005-8618.

August 11/97: 6419-4122-4120-4115-4118-4109-4103-4111-4106-4001-8619-6403.

On August 17, 1997 another 10-car No 57 led by 6418 passes the Bath Spur wye. The long train needed two locomotives, with 6428 bearing the markers:

June 5/98 No 650: 6429-4111-4122-4118.

6429 wears the Home Hardware promotional scheme in August, 1997:

September 1/98 No 52: 6917-3466-3301-3362-3353, No 53: 6905-3460-3308-3371, No 40: 6425-3303-3343-3473. 6430 heads a four-car No 43 through Smiths Falls, Ontario:

LRC locomotives still prowled the Corridor, powering train Nos 52, 53, 66 and 67. At dusk, the Montreal-Toronto LRC-powered express has just crossed the Rideau Canal and screams through sleepy Kingston Mills:

A typical Corridor consist train, 6400-3334-3312-3458 has stopped at Mi 179.6 Kingston Sub, after a fatal collision with a vehicle at Mi 180. The Ontario Provincial Police check out the unit:

Cars begin to appear bearing Canada (C) lettering: November/98: 3314, 3309, 3322, 3475, 3363, 3305, 3359, and January/99: 8619, 4001.

March 13/99: 6450(C)-8622(C)-4001(C)-4111-4124-4113(C)-4105(C)-4112. The Canada logo is visible below dual Kool-Aid logos on 6432 on May 12, 2000:

October 8/99 No 66: 6919-6 LRC cars-6902, No 67: 6919-5 LRC cars, No 68: 6409-4106-4120-4115-8126-8130-4003. At 1825 August 24, 2000, No 66 Eng 6914 and four LRC cars at a crossing west of Trenton, speeding out of the setting sun.

On a summer morning a month earlier, overnight train No 51 passes Mi 179 at an eye-rubbing 0550, with 6404-3 HEP coaches-64xx-two HEP cars-Chateau Lemoyne-Laurentide Park. By 2002, this train would be operating with Renaissance equipment.

Two wacky consists usher us into the new millennium:

July 3/00 No 68: 6417-3358-3314-3315-4119-411o-4109-6451(dead)-6405(working/Kool-Aid)-6411(working/Kool-Aid).
And what's this? An F-unit leading a VIA train at this late date? No, it's unexpectedly bringing up the markers of No 68 at 2019 on July 18/99: 6445-4105-4122-4111-4001-6302. Leased to MUCTC/AMT in Montreal, 6302 is being hauled eastward. A scrambly last sighting of aVIA F-unit in the Corridor.

Running extra...

This is the second in a series of posts on VIA's Corridor consists. Each post will cover a different era (working backwards in time). The eras are somewhat arbitrary but are generally based on the equipment that formed the consists.

What if? What if VIA had refurbished its blue-and-yellow ex-CN cars instead of the Budd equipment built for CP's The Canadian? Now that CN's Agawa Canyon tour train is using former Rio Grande, ex-CN/VIA Tempo equipment, 34 or so of these classic ex-CN cars are no longer used. Are they fully-depreciated, finished their second career and heading for a scrapper?

Listening to Jeff Shaara's The Rising Tide, a Second World War fictional tale of the campaign from North Africa and Sicily. From a macro introduction of history and strategy, the story takes the reader right into the front-line in a convincing account. Wear a poppy and remember our veterans this week.

CN Ballast Trains, Part 1

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:25:00 +0000

During the summer track maintenance season, CN operates ballast trains to distribute ballast along specific sections of trackage. These trains are usually followed by gangs with tamping and surfacing equipment. Ballast pits system-wide supply ballast to each region, although now with dedicated ballast trains, these pits can be located farther from where the ballast is needed. A fleet of open hoppers, CN 300000-300429 and CN 300806-301472 built in 1957-58, equipped with longitudinal discharge gates to distribute ballast along the rails. In 1985, 2037 backs its train into Queens 4 (above), and in June 1980, 4310-4307 prepare to haul a ballast train west out of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba:

Its cars were part of an 86-car ballast train which arrived in Portage on June 20 behind 9402-9482-tank car CN 80125-brown 300591-301214-300600-301351-orange 302460-302304-90178-90476-90362-302398-302306-302338-302362-302355-302262-302343-302119-302323-302370-302307-302291-302303-302595-90207-90024-302354-302349-90340-90034-90252-90190-302301-302371-302329-302274-302265-302103-302377-302311-302310-302358-302312-302319-302332-302397-302302-302588-302333-302317-302320-302107-302342-302580-302347-302250-302331-302361-302387-302399-302386-302315-302286-302305-302330-302583-302316-302344-brown 301157-300231-300641-300982-300847-300439-300633-300809-30133-301419-301326-300618-300334-300542-301365-301120-300372-301246-301334-caboose 79460. Before leaving town, the ballast train waited to meet VIA's 15-car eastbound Super Continental with 6509-6610-CN4106:

In September 1995, 4136-4129 headed a working ballast train, comprising a few flatcars of new ties and 29 ballast hoppers eastbound at Mi 184 Kingston Sub:

As the ballast train works uphill, VIA 6417 pulls 8619-4004 and 5 LRC cars downhill, blowing for the crossing at Mi 184. The blue cans of spikes are another sign of impending track work:

Sectionmen walk (or run) along the uneven shoulder of the ballast while they hand-crank the hopper gates to drop ballast. As each car empties, they crank open the hoppers on the next car. A favourite technique to loosen unco-operative ballast in the cars was to let the train's slack run in and out a couple of times.

Meeting a westbound freight behind 5379-5184, spreading has stopped temporarily. The sectionmen climb aboard the nearest ballast car ladder and ride to the next location. The train later tied up for the day in Queens track 1.

Partial consist of this train: CN 300768-301410-300010*-300098-300812-300889-301448*-300510*-300577*-300746-300764*-301065-300611-300369 and 15 more cars. (* denotes cars in original Canadian National block-lettering scheme, others wear the wet-noodle scheme)

Running extra...

Voting in our Trackside Treasure favourite VIA era poll revealed major interest in two eras, 1976-81 (53%), and 2001-09 (23%). Thanks for voting, and I'll be sharing some boffo consists from the early CN to VIA transition years.

Speaking of stone ballast, The Temptations' signature Papa was a Rolling Stone begins with an awesome plucked bass part, and adds hi-hat cymbal, guitar, Wurlitzer electric piano, handclaps, horns and strings all on a single chord, B-flat minor.

Stone Phillips, former anchor of Dateline NBC, named his son Streeter. The Mainstreeter was a Northern Pacific streamliner, and another US railroad, the Chicago & Northwestern was famous for its "Pink Lady" ballast, produced by a ballast pit in Rock Springs, Wisconsin. http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~maher/air/air14.htm

VIA Corridor Consists 2001-2009

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

VIA train consists in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor represent equipment types seen on other intercity trains, and to some extent longer-distance trains. In the first of a series of posts on VIA's corridor consists in VIA's various eras, let's explore the most recent, and current era. In 2001, the purchase of Renaissance (UK Nightstar) cars had just been announced. General Electric P42DC's in the 900-series entered service, and all but one of VIA's last F-units, the 6300's, were retired. The last of the LRC locomotives were also retired, and coaches were LRC and HEP stainless-steel cars. Many corridor trains were 1 locomotive, 3-5 cars, with baggage car-equipped train Nos 57/60 arguably the most interesting trains to see.

March 9/01 No 64: 6419-3466-3332-3373-3323.
March 9/01 No 51 0535 WB: 6416-4113-4001-4115-6453-4122-Burton Manor-Evangeline Park.
March 10/01 No 60: 6417-6457-8622-8108-4002-8136-4009-4100-4116-4118-4114-4003.
July 18/01 No 67: 6921-3 LRC cars.
July 18/01 No 66: 6903-3 LRC cars.
July 18/01 No 68: 6428-4109-4106-4009.
August 4/01 No 60: 6418-8618-3365-4113-4111-4116-4110-4102-4007.

P42's roll out: 902 with 5 LRC cars on No 47 on June 9/02 (top)
901 leads a four-car No 65 viewed from the east leg of the Bath Spur, Mi 190 Kingston Sub on June 26/02:

June 9/02 No 66: 911-7 LRC cars-907.
June 9/02 No 67: 912-3471-3354-3304-3319-3369-3321-3320-3366-3316-3470-3456-917.
June 26/02 No 68: 6415-4118-4108-4005-3313.
July 19/02: 6408-3467-3372-3361-3370-3601-3464-905.

GE meets GE - VIA No 56 Eng 917 meets CN No 365 Eng 2671 at Belleville on August 15/03:

On a snowless December 22/02 CN No 363 was in emergency, delaying VIA trains. Nos 642 and 60 made simultaneous station stops at Kingston. No 60's second unit is CBC 50th anniversary unit 6403, one of the commercial paint schemes applied to VIA 6400's: Home Hardware, Telus, Spiderman, and Loto-Quebec:

Another two-unit No 60, likely due to the March break:

March 11/06: 6420-6406-8618-4009-4004-8101-4117-4111-4122-4114-4118-4109.

Most VIA corridor trains used LRC cars, but the HEP cars continue to be used for Nos 57, 60, 68 and 69. Operational variations include extra cars during peak periods, the use of lounge car Glenfraser on some trains, or J-trains consisting of two trainsets joined together, with only one crew as far as Brockville, such as Nos 52/40 and 648/668.

May 31/06 No 69: 6401-4005-4108-4120-4115.

May 31/06 No 68: 908-4002-4112-4119.

November 27/06 No 61: 902-3470-3455-3363-3304-3340-3315.

November 27/06 No 45: 914-3463-3368-3309-3311.

On a cloudy June 3/06, 6407 has an 8-car HEP consist in tow at Queens East:

Another No 57 consist October 14/07: 6415-8622-4002-4004-4121-4110-4101-4117-4120.

A mixed HEP/LRC consist on Family Day:

February 18/08 No 45: 6421-3460-3361-3354-3321-3367-4114-4111-4121-4004-4001-8621-919.

2009 saw the announcement of F40's, HEP and LRC fleet refurbishing, as VIA moves towards a sunny next era.

Running extra...

Michael Palin's Himalaya is the book I'm currently listening to. Michael's account of the departure of a steam train from Peshawar, Pakistan, "There is time to indulge the voyeuristic pleasure of railway travel. Surreptitious view of high walls, alleys and back gardens. Glimpses of life backstage. As the train passes it gives a look-at-me whistle. The animals run away from it. The children run towards it."

Well that weird family with their errant balloon has had their 15 minutes of fame. Top story on Global, CNN and our local newscast. The balloon did resemble a jiffy-pop popcorn bag.

An SNL fake ad once featured a vehicle air-bag that puffed up like jiffy-pop after a collision, so fresh popcorn was available for the driver while waiting for the tow truck.

Hotbox Detectors

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:56:00 +0000

When the distance between railway employees started to exceed the distance an axle takes to turn into a hotbox, it was time for Canada's railways to introduce some new technology. Longer and heavier trains, more and varied dangerous commodites, and greater concern for the economic, environmental and safety risks to neighbouring communities also contributed to the implementation of wayside hotbox detectors.

The development of wayside detectors meant that train crews bore even greater responsibility for the safe movement of their own trains. CP's detectors (MacGregor, Manitoba, top and Shannonville, Ontario, above) had wayside monitoring equipment connected to a large digital display board. The board displayed the location of the hotbox or other defect such as dragging equipment or sticking brakes, based on the train's axle count, counting forward from the tail-end of the train.

Tail-end crews read the display from the van or Park car, and if there was a defect, the type and side would be indicated by five lights mounted above and below the board. Top-left: defect on left side of train. Top-middle: multiple defects. Top-right: defect on right side of train. Bottom-left: dragging equipment. Bottom-middle: system operational, detector operating. The display readout was 11 inches deep, 30 inches high and 48 inches wide. Views of CP installations from aboard VIA's Canadian, Nipigon Sub (above) and Griswold, Manitoba:

By 1983, CP had installed 67 detectors in Ontario alone. Double-track segments of CP's network necessitated the placement of two detectors per site. On CP's double-track east of Winnipeg, Manitoba, here's a double-track detector installation at Mi 83.3 Keewatin Sub, near Molson:

CN's detectors didn't have display boards. In October 2001, crews installed a detector at Mi 179.6 Kingston Sub. A backhoe dug a hole, then there was shovelwork to be done. Even with all this technology, somebody still has to get down in the hole and dig:

The detector location is chosen based on track profile (relatively flat, not requiring braking near the installation), regular spacing across a subdivision, road access for the signal maintainer, and proximity to cities. Crews don't use the radio in the vicinity of the scanner, as they listen for the message : "CN detector Kingston [Sub] North [track] temperature [# degrees] C, speed [in mph], detector out." The message is transmitted by a short aerial placed atop the signal cabinet, and is only audible near the detector.

A simple "HBD<--" spray-painted on a nearby telegraph pole points the way to the new detector. Dragging equipment impactors are located parallel to the ties, with the hotbox detector beside the rail:

Nearby installations are at Mi 190 to the west and Mi 163 to the east(below).

Detector information is also transmitted to a remote detector operator (RTCMech in Edmonton) who communicates with the rail traffic controller, who in turn communicates with the train crew. When the detector at Mi 179 was installed and tested, the entire menu of message programming choices was given, including every CN subdivision, numbers etc.

Running extra...

The November 10, 1979 CP Rail derailment in Mississauga led to widespread hotbox detector installation. Hazel McCallion was mayor of Mississauga then, as she still is. Born in 1921, she doesn't actually have to campaign much anymore to be elected.

Just finished listening to Words that Work by Frank Luntz. He introduces 21 words and phrases for the 21st century, suggesting "peace-of-mind" insteady of "security", government "investment" instead of "spending", but in an obvious oversight, didn't mention "quick and dirty" at all. Polls and pols, such as Tom DeLay and Newt Gingrich receive lots of attention, belying Frank's work environment.

CP crosses CN at Shannonville

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:44:00 +0000

CP's Montreal-Toronto single-track mainline crosses over CN's Montreal-Toronto double-track mainline at Shannonville, Ontario. The crossing is one kilometre west of Shannonville Road, at Mi 214 CN Kingston Sub and Mi 84 CP Belleville Sub. CN No 308 behind 5631-2504 glides under CP girders at 1045 last Saturday.

The steel bridge creaks and pings as sunlight warms its piers and the plywood shims between its bridge timbers and ties. Blue jays and crows call overhead, a chipmunk chides and dragonflies drone...anymore wildlife and it could be a Disney movie. CN No 149 is planning the unexpected setout of DTTX 680385 into track BY21 in Belleville Yard, with the help of the RTC and the Belleville trainmaster, as he slams by at 1140 behind 2563-2684.

If CP had a freight train nearby, it would look great up on the bridge. Their Belleville Sub crosses back to the north over the CN at Cobourg, Mi 265 Kingston Sub.

CN No 305 is stopped just east of the crossing circuit at Shannonville Road, waiting for 149 to make his move. At 1245, 2257-5699 throttle up to gently lift their 145 cars (34 boxcars, 48 covered hoppers, 45 tank cars, 2 empty bulkhead flats and 16 autoracks) out of the sag, under the CP and into Belleville for a crew change.

VIA No 57: 6439 (three headlights)-8615-4001-4009-4114-4122-4107-4118-4116 pulls into Belleville's VIA station at 1325. 305 waits its turn at a respectful distance for a signal out of the yard.

VIA No 60: 913-8619-4006-4002-4003-4111-4119-4120-4108-4103-4109 will soon arrive, just as 305's tailend crosses the Moira River. 305 is starting to pull:

Is this anything? North to Alaska meets the Mainline of Mid-America in Upper Canada. An Alaskan Agriculture covered hopper with Illinois Central reporting marks, now owned by CN. Here's IC 10152:

Running extra...

PM Stephen Harper on tonight's news riding NB Southern 2318, promoting the government's economic stimulus. Security detail members scampering over newly-spread ballast. Speaking of the economy, empty autoracks being hauled out of Belleville yard this week for loading in Oshawa.

CN scrapping more of their 640xxx-series blue 5-pak well cars, which have largely been replaced by Trailer Train well cars of various configurations, as well as Wisconsin Central boxcars, non-hicube.

Debut episode of "Trauma" tonight, opening line "You can never have enough saline, can you Terry?"

CN's Kingston Industrial Spur, Part 2

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:12:00 +0000

The west end of CN's Industrial Spur in Kingston included track KM54. This track led to a partly-covered door-level platform at Weldwood lumber. In 1980, PGE 5344 and BCOL 5258 were being unloaded.

In 1981, BCOL 40025, in the newer darker-green scheme, built 10-71 was at Weldwood:

Other boxcars spotted at Weldwood: CN 592508, 568638, 567039, CP 290443 and BCOL 4943 and 40879. After the Industrial Spur crossed Gardiners Road, it curved away from CN's Kingston Sub double track and led to the Northern Telecom phone cable plant. In this aerial view, the spur can be seen just below the parking lot, as it dog-legs back into the plant property:

At Northern, there was a car storage/runaround track KM51, and unloading tracks KM52 and KM53. Covered hoppers of polypropylene and polyethylene pellets for wire insulation arrived from Hercules in Montreal and C-I-L in Edmonton and Sarnia. In September 2000, 4118 and 4115 were pushing cars into the plant property. The plant closed in 2003.

In June 2000, NCLX (ex-DOCX) 44608 was off-spot for the plant, in front of the DuPont warehouse shown in Part 1:

In 1981, DOCX 44627 Sclair and ACFX 56634 Hercules were also off-spot, at the Cataraqui Spur team track KM02:

A CN covered hopper was being lifted from the team track by the local in 1981:

In July 1980, 40-foot CN boxcars 424187-421888-427196-421150 are on the team track, being loaded with hay for Manitoba farmers:

The team track was also a handy place for CN to store work equipment. Burro crane 50408, gondola 148878 and caboose 79295 were sitting still for the weekend in November, 1980:

Brooks Scanlon of Redmond, Oregon double-door boxcar USLX 17009 was spotted in 1980. The KEC Lumber rep arrived with tape measure to measure the shipment of lumber. Note the load-restraining devices behind the opened plug door:

When the Cataraqui Spur was realigned and team track KM02 relocated east of Gardiners Road, KEC Lumber unloaded its lumber shipments there, as from flatcar CP 315687 in 1985:

Tank cars of asphalt from Ashwarren asphalt in Millhaven were spotted on the new team track in March, 2004. Imagine hearing two Geeps pushing several of these loaded cars up the hill on the Cat Spur into the team track. The asphalt was heated, unloaded and trucked west to Millhaven, where a two-track unloading facility has since been built.

CN also found the new team track useful for tucking away work equipment after a day's work. Newly-arrived track gang equipment is here on several flat cars in December, 1994:

CN crane 50483 and accompanying gondolas were spotted here while working along the Kingston Sub picking up scrap rail in June, 2003:

Running extra...

Noticed all those annoying modern advertising slogans with loads of periods in them? Like Wal-Mart: Save Money. Live Better. Sears: Good Life. Great Price. Imagine if this scourge had struck years earlier? Pennsylvania Railroad: Standard. Railroad Of the World. CB&Q: Way. Of the Zephyrs. And CN: Serves All. Canada.

Blog partner Steve Boyko has been a one-man Winnipeg wrecking crew, putting out a plethora of posts including photos and video of the local rail scene there. His blog, Confessions of a Train Geek is consistently the most-updated on the Trackside Treasure blog roll.

Evening TV in the past week has included an affable Barack Obama on Late Night with David Letterman, as well as the bizarre Kanye West-Taylor Swift un-acceptance speech. Tonight it was jolly Michael Moore's turn on Larry King Live, plugging his new movie on capitalism. In all this, the new series Glee has emerged irreverent and not taking itself at all seriously.

Wooden Water Towers

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:32:00 +0000

CN and CP enclosed their steel water tanks in wood, during the steam era when the water filled the tenders of thirsty locomotives. Stoves in the wooden water towers burned coal to keep the water in the steel tank from freezing, except where terminal steam heat was available. The towers measured 40 feet in height to the roofline, enclosing a twenty foot-tall steel tank. A float inside the tank connected to a galvanized iron ball on the roof gave a visual indication of the water level. The CP water tower at MacGregor, Manitoba is shown in 1984 (above, with an extra westbound of grain empties behind 5742) and on a June evening in 1980 (below):

The MacGregor water tower was later moved to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin. Note the former Midland caboose which did not survive the elements, and is in considerably worse shape than in my earlier Midland post, in these L.C. Gagnon photos:

A plaque gives some of the history of the the water tower and of its move to the museum:

Water towers that existed into the 1980's often became municipal water towers. Also in 1980, the tower at Miami, Manitoba is alongside the 1889 Northern Pacific station, and the ball is riding high. The tower was destroyed shortly thereafter.

On a 1986 road trip through Saskatchewan, I encountered two more water towers still standing. Harris is on CN's Rosetown Sub, across from the elevator track where three covered hoppers are spotted, including a CN slabside:

Looking from the other end of elevator row, the tower blends in with the trees. The Harris water tower later became part of the Harris town museum in 1992.

A quintessential prairie scene at Wartime: wooden water tower, wooden grain elevator, and arrow-straight track. CN's Elrose Sub extends to the horizon, and my rented Chevy Cavalier cools its tires, out of the baking sun in the water tower's shadow:

The elevators were dismantled by 1993, but the water tower outlasted them.

A different design on CP, at Spanish, Ontario in 1979: concrete base, wooden tank with steel bands:

CN supplied track gangs with potable water in tank cars. The tanks were either painted silver, like CN 51679 blt 12-16, or sprayed with insulation, like CN 80204 blt 4-29, to keep the water cool during the hot, prairie summer trackwork season, here in Portage la Prairie in 1984.

CN's Kingston Industrial Spur, Part 1

mile179kingston@yahoo.ca (Eric) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:43:00 +0000

CN's Industrial Spur served industries in west-end Kingston. Branching off the north track of CN's Kingston Sub at Mi 178.5, the spur served a DuPont Canada warehouse, Weldwood lumber distributor (track KM54), and Northern Telecom's telephone cable plant (tracks KM50-53), as shown in this 1985 CN car control diagram. The DuPont warehouse, on 560-foot track KM55, shipped fibre produced at the lakeside DuPont plant served by CN's Cataraqui Spur. The fibre was trucked to the warehouse and shipped out by rail. During 1979-80, a colourful collection of brand-new American boxcars arrived at the warehouse for loading. Vermont Railway VTR 12039, blt 12-78, at Queens coupled to an orange SSI boxcar:

Milwaukee Road MILW 12319, repainted 2-79:

ROCK 300793, blt 11-78, spotted with SLSF 42072:

Railboxes RBOX 30795, blt 11-78, and RBOX 31071, blt 12-78:

Warwick Railway WRWK 5200, blt 1-80, leased to Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac:

Vermont Railway VTR 13213, blt 6-79:

Southern Railway SR 531836, blt 4-79:

Many of these photos show the proximity of the DuPont spur to the Industrial Spur, which was adjacent to and slightly below the roadbed of the Kingston Sub. Other boxcars spotted at DuPont: PC 167254, CN 579158, 562617, SR 525058, 531733, 526776. A few years ago, 5 or 6 CN 40- and 50-foot boxcars were spotted at the warehouse, representing the end of rail shipping. The track was then removed, pavement added, and transport trucks now shuttle around the south side of the warehouse, where the spur was located.

Running extra...

This is one of a series of posts covering Kingston's rail-served industries. I'll be profiling the tracks, plus switching operations and cars handled on each track, over the years I was able to photograph them. Previous posts covered the Cataraqui Spur and CP's interchange at Queens. Industrial Spur, Part 2 will cover Weldwood, Northern Telecom and more on the Cat Spur team track.

Listening with interest to Captain Joshua Slocum's "Sailing Alone Around the World". He just cleared Tierra del Fuego, where he sprinkled carpet tacks on the deck to deter unwanted guests (Fuegians) while he slept below. How tacky. His use of arcane sailing vocabulary would send even an experienced sailor searching for a glossary of nautical terms.

Captions of Industry: A photo in the August issue of Trains magazine incorrectly identifies a five-pack of liquid cargo containers on CN No 149 as a carload of aluminum ingots. Liquid containers cannot have other containers stacked on them. No 149 normally lifts the ingot traffic on the headend, setout earlier by No 369 at Belleville. "Get me rewrite! DPM where are you?"