millhaven extension
Trackside Treasure
Friday, April 4, 2014
Propane Facility at Millhaven
Who said railways are in decline? Or that railways only tear up their trackage, not build anything new? Who says there are no new customers? Well, in Millhaven, just east of Ernestown station at Mi 188 Kingston Sub, an existing facility is newly-enlarged and now rail-served. Having made a couple of visits to the site over the past few months, I'd like to share some photos of this newly rail-served operation. Visible from Lennox & Addington County Road 4 which runs north from lakeside Millhaven to Highway 2, some views from the overpass are in order. VIA heads west, with the propane lead visible (above) as I trudge north along the county road, with the historically-designated Ernestown station to the west that I visited in 1985 at track level (below):
The connection to CN's Millhaven Spur looking east of County Road 4.The new track approaches from the right, joining the service track just east of the distant signals of the Ernestown interlocking and crossovers:
A closeup, taken at the limits of my camera's digital zoom, shows the newly-ballasted track making a bit of a jog before joining the service track at Millhaven; here errant graffiti taggers have left their marks:
The lead makes a model-railroady staked S-curve as it heads southwest from the service track, entering a gentle horseshoe curve toward the facility:
Now heading south, the spur temporarily parallels the county road. Compare the snowy March view to the June, 2013 roadbed-only verdant view below:
Another nine month-difference shows two views of the roadbed and drainage ditch, with heavy equipment at the propane facility site. Previously, propane was delivered here by transport truck. Take notice of the new greyish storage tanks now in place while you play Spot the Trackmobile!
A view from the end of the triple unloading tracks shows the lead arriving from the north, heading east to a tail track serving three tracks.A Cruickshank Construction trailer is nearby. Presumably, the Trackmobile shown will trundle cars along the spur, to and from the service track.
Try this on your model railroad - piles of gravel to stop errant cars from crashing through that new chain link fence!
The Trackmobile rests on the middle track while a hi-rail crane and trailer repose just west of the tail track.
I shall return, hopefully to find some cars spotted here!
Running extra...
No fuel like an old fuel. An evening trip to Brockville tonight found us passing an eastbound CN VMSX oil train behind 2280, 5480 and another 5400-series Oakway repaint. The same day that my newspaper reported that hearings in Ottawa suggested 15 km/h through urban areas. Slick! Westbound, we passed a stopped CN No 377 in the same location with GLNX, UTLX and CTCX cruders on the tailend. 5729-5725 had shed their conductor, trudging back along the ballast in the pouring rain.
Surprisingly but thankfully, I've received no X2F-related spam messages after my most recent post on this shiny, black petroleum-based plastic invention.. Not even a couple. What a joint!
Nice series of rolling stock shots dating from the 1980's by Gary Todd, Ph D on flickr.
David Letterman, the Indiana grocery-baggin' weatherman is retiring. Bud Melman, The Guy Under The Seats, early morning show band leader Frank Owens, recurring bits with Teri Garr, Mandy Patinkin and Tony Randall...there are so many. "I'm not wearing pants!" As a fan, also from the 1980's, I wish Dave and Thunder Bay's own Paul Shaffer all the best!
Posted by Eric at 4/04/2014 07:39:00 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: CN Kingston Sub
Monday, March 31, 2014
The X(2F)-Files
There was a time in HO model railroading when there was neither a standard coupler nor a standard coupler pocket. It was a dark time. Modellers were building kits from scratch, using ingredients like basswood, brass and other organic elements, or building rudimentary commercial kits. But how could the newly-popular HO-scale kits be coupled together and operated like tinplate, Lionel and larger-scale trains - quickly and reliably, often at high speed?
UNIFYING
Most early HO car kits came packed with a pair of cast metal, dummy AAR-type couplers and rarely would the couplers of one manufacturer work with those of another. Mantua, K&W, Baker and Walthers offered automatic couplers, though none was compatible with another. European manufacturers had their own designs. At the same time, early Kadee, Hobbyline, and American Flyer had their own designs. Then, the horn coupler, of which the X2F was only one of several specific models, was developed by an National Model Railroad Association committee headed by Paul Mallory. At the time of its development, the coupler was a significant advance over certain other coupler designs in its various capabilities. The coupler committee was outside of the standards committee, perhaps realizing even then that creation of a standard coupler might never happen. Paul Mallory even denied he headed the committee, nor would he admit what type of coupler he preferred! Nevertheless, the new X coupler, X1, early X2 through X2E, and finally X2F variants were developed. The X2F coupler was unveiled at a manufacturers' meeting in New York City about 1955.
UNDERDOG
NMRA, however, being a reasonably democratic organization, put the question of coupler standardization to a vote of its membership and the membership at large decided against using the horn coupler as a standard. The NMRA, however, does have the S-2 coupler standard. The NMRA would not even call the X2F its official coupler. Most members preferred the idea of standard coupler pockets which would permit use of any coupler. This was perhaps a longer-lasting, more important development to 'serious' modellers, since many 'serious' modellers considered the X2F a horror. [Ed note: I use the term 'serious' here loosely. I also use the term 'loosely' loosely. I consider myself a serious modeller, though I associate the term 'serious' modeller with one who is stodgy, snobbish and condescending.]
The horn coupler did become a near 100% standard on most HO train sets. Athearn, Model Die Casting, Varney, Mantua, AHM and others soon packed X2F couplers with their major kit lines. In my experience, almost invariably, whenever two cars refused to couple to each other, they were MDC cars with the cast metal underframe pockets. An agonized cry of "Must be Roundhouse cars!", would echo throughout the HO scale yard. Preferred by manufacturers because the couplers could be cast on a sprue with other plastic kit parts, the coupler was not proprietary, its use being free from royalties. Various forms of the X2F standard included the 'large hole' Athearn body mount style, and the 'small hole' Tyco Talgo truck design:
UNDERESTIMATED
Standardization was desirable to get maximum effectiveness from the horn design, since the many plastics and metals used in the coupler's manufacture by various producers have different frictional properties when coupling, especially when spring tensions also vary because of the use of different springs: brass or steel spring, hair spring, nylon, plastic, etc. The X2F was a significant achievement and because of its low production cost and satisfactory operating capability, did permit interchangeability of thousands of HO cars and locomotives for the type of buyers not generally capable of making such conversions themselves. Kadee evolved into its present form and became the de facto standard for the great bulk of 'serious' modellers. Due to patent expiration, McHenry, Accurail and Intermountain, Bowser and Bachmann have introduced new, almost-compatible couplers.
UNEQUALLED
(at least on my layouts, for over 30 years)
Five reasons I still use the X2F coupler:
1. Supplied with the vast majority of cars I've bought. No retro-fit required.
2. Works well, especially when body-mounted. Truck-mounted styles tend to derail more, especially on backup movements. (Note to self: convert or sideline these cars.) I recommend snipping off the lowest part of the coupler for better operating through turnouts.
3. Works on a variety of radii, tight curvature, turnouts and crossovers. Weatherable, but try not to paint the coupler faces - too much friction!
4. One piece. Simple. Oh, and a nearly-endless supply.
5. No need for layout-mounted magnets or giant fondue sticks descending from heaven, in order to uncouple cars. (Certainly, while effective and time-honoured, my X2F uncoupling method is just as unrealistic. But it too works.)
UNREPETANT
I get some unusual reactions when I admit (My name is Eric...and I use X2F's) that I still roster a complete fleet of well over 300 X2F-equipped HO cars and locomotives. This includes the only X2F-equipped Rapido Trains Angus van in all of Canada, perhaps the world:
Fellow modellers contact me to offer me free Kadees. They genuinely want to help me. They tell me, "X2F's? You're a rebel!", or "I assume it's due to budgetary restraints". While I appreciate their generosity and good intentions, I'm firmly committed to using X2F's and I'm OK with their continued use.
To reinforce the above, here are a couple of recent photos showing a load of X2F's arriving on my Vancouver Wharves layout. CN road repair truck crewmen from the car shop work at unloading them:
Loading X2F's one-by-one into the section hirail boom truck:
To remove any temptation to switch over, I've just shipped my small stockpile of Kadees to fellow modeller Taylor Main in PEI. UK modeller Keith Webb recently wrote to express solidarity, "I have a big pot of X2F's for you. I'm quite happy to give these to you, as in my eyes, if you're having fun, why change what you do?" A very welcome and enlightened viewpoint, Keith!
Just email me when you find one...mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca.
PRIZE UPDATE: Congratulations to speedy Trackside Treasure readers Elijah Hall and Troy Melody for their sharp-eyed, rapidly-returned entries. You both win a Trackside Treasure prize that will not be a bag of X2F's. Special honourable mention to Roman Ptashka for keeping me honest and providing the following graphic proof for his entry:
While not initially planning a contest, my intense inspection of my coupler graphic made me realize that I could lose precious credibility if some hawk-eyed reader pointed out the presence of (horrors!) non-X2F couplers in the photo. (pssst...I think I spotted various non-X2F couplers in each letter). Great to have such faithful, interested and engaged readers aboard!
Running extra...
Frank Milotte's Ottawa Northern and Western layout was recently featured on blog partner Chris Lyon's Lyon Valley Northern. Some aspects of Frank's layout grew on me a bit slowly, but one thing I came to appreciate was the dogbone layout design. Specifically, the 'centre-stage' aspect that allowed trains to appear at various levels, parading in front of the operator in runpast fashion.
Fitting in with the classic, some would say anachronistic, I say timeless theme of this post, Part 1 of Chris' series is entitled 'A Step Back in Time'. Part 3 is a Layout Tour.
My wife finds Pinterest very useful for her hand-made greeting cards, as well as getting and sharing new ideas. She told me it was easy to use, and as often happens, she was right! I've found it the perfect spot to keep photos I intend to use for modelling, as well as prototype photos that don't appear on trackside Treasure. Check out my I Should Model This! and other boards. Perhaps you will also find it a useful medium.
What's on your layout? Mine will eventually look just like this: my Pinterest Vancouver BC Modelling board, into which I've been 'pinning' interesting digital images of Vancouver railroading and urban scenery. On the board you'll find this Phil Mason photo of CP Rail's 'N' Yard, taken in 1982. This photo started it all for me, changing my modelled locale from western Canada (Winnipeg) to very much farther western Canada (Vancouver-below). Watch for an upcoming layout tour of my HO scale Vancouver Wharves layout.
Posted by Eric at 3/31/2014 07:24:00 PM 6 comments: Links to this post
Labels: model railroad
Winning the 2014 CARBODY Award!
(March 31 UPDATE: Cold medication. I just realized this whole CARBODY award has been some sort of medication- and sickness-addled dream sequence. Like Dorothy waking up back in Kansas, like Ebenezer Scrooge attributing his dreamed-of Christmases to an 'undigested bit of beef', this is what is now clear to me. Clear as my head is becoming. This blogging business is not about accolades, awards, or any kind of formal appreciation. What is important is the continued readership and camaraderie of those who frequent Trackside Treasure.
Now, unlike the accepting Auntie Em, Professor Marvel and farmhand Hickory (above), the timing of this update might lead you to believe that this is some sort of calculatingly-concocted April Fool's Day prank. Well, stay tuned for the next post. That one will be only be explained away by some as a seasonal joke!
(March 30 UPDATE: I received a call from the board secretary at CARBODY, Shirley Eugeste. Change in venue from the Royal York ballroom to the Bloor-Yonge TTC station food court, near Tim Hortons on Tuesday. Interestingly, the Northern Ontario Board Of Directors Of Your Scale HO Model Engineers (NOBODYSHOME) will be represented, as will the Northern Ontario Scale HOer's (NOSHO's) will be in attendance. I'm still planning on calling in to work to book a personal leave day on Tuesday so I can attend.)
I'm pleased and humbled to announce that Trackside Treasure has been awarded the 2014 CARBODY Award. I'm sure you've heard of this award. It's a pretty big deal around the internet. Not just any blog is granted the honour of showcasing the licensed, prestigious photograph of this beautiful gold blingfest in their sidebar. (You may be thinking of the PEABODY Award, but that award is given for meritorious service in broadcasting. Different thing altogether: that award process is apparently unusually rigorous, involving 1,000 submissions and 30 committees! Whoa!)
When I received the congratulatory phone call from the board chair, I was in the bathroom. After gathering myself together and collecting my thoughts (both of them), I checked the answering machine and could not believe my ears. What had I done to deserve this honour? Not much, I thought. Not too darn much. Not so, said the board chair. I was humbled. I laughed. I cried. I tried to be sincere. I sure hoped this was not a scam.
When I asked what 2014 CARBODY meant, I was assured that it stands for the Canadian Amateur Railway Blog Of Da Year. It's an acronym. CARBODY that is, not 2014. That's just a number. (And a recently-patched ex-UP CN unit.)
But I digress, as usual. It would appear that it's this type of digression that garners this kind of award. That and more - rambling, mission creep, non-sequiturs, segues, sensational rumours, work-arounds and a general disregard for the starched-collar world of rivet-counters and louver-counters that rules the rail enthusiast back track of the internet.
I'd like to thank my wife for her incredible support. Her repeated entreaties of "I'm sick of hearing about your train s***!" have not deterred me one bit. I'd like to thank my children for disavowing any association with my ramblings-on, simply asking their mother "Just what the heck is Dad talking about?"
Most of all, I'm looking forward to being picked up at my door and whisked to Toronto for the prestigious presentation ceremony, which takes place just before noon on April 1. Wish me luck.
Posted by Eric at 3/31/2014 12:00:00 AM 10 comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
VIA 6651-6653: Three Survivors
VIA Rail received five F9B's from CP Rail. These B units were renumbered at Montreal's St-Luc Shops in February 1979 - VIA 1961-1965, ex-CP 4473-75 and 4477-4478 respectively. Purchased for $5,000-$7,000 each on September 28, 1978 - three were real survivors. Well into the late 1980's these three units were still in active service with VIA Rail! Interestingly, CN would only allow the ex-CP units to be renumbered into their 6600-series, reserved for B-units after modifications were made to bring the units up to CN standards. At Calgary in May 1986 (above), 6651 is added to two ex-CN units on my train, to power No 1 through the mountains. Those Action Red portholes and winterization hatch give away her CP Rail heritage.
6651 (ex-1962) was released from Ogden Shops January 21, 1983. Repainted with CP-style numerals, but not rebuilt, retaining only one steam generator from its CP days. VIA's Canadian at Winnipeg in March, 1982 had 1962 in its power consist (photo immediately above and all below by Brian Schuff at Winnipeg unless otherwise noted). Interestingly, 1962 caught fire on CP's Laggan Sub on July 7, 1982, one month before its shopping at Ogden. At Winnipeg in wintertime:
Eastbound at Portage la Prairie: "Dude, where's my baggage car?":
6651 was still operating on the Canadian in 1985, 1986 and 1987, latterly with 6404, shortly thereafter assigned Toronto. Besides 6651 on my train in 1986 (top photo) my only other observation of 6651 was in September 1985 - 6651 was between 6312 and 6616 on No 1 at Vancouver. In 1989, it was retired and stored in Toronto. Now preserved in Cranbrook BC, in 'original CP condition'.
6652 (ex-1963) was released from CN Pointe St Charles December 16, 1981. Operating on the Canadian in 1984-1986, I observed her twice in Portage la Prairie in June 1984, and on No 9 at Parry Sound, ON in June 1987, before 6652 was stored in Toronto in 1987. Operating in the corridor in 1987-1988, the unit was overhauled in 1988 or 1989 losing its tall winterization hatch. I observed 6652 on the overnight Cavalier at Kingston on March 5, 1987 behind 6408 (this was my first F40 sighting). Then in 1989, 6652 was operating on the Canadian and in the Corridor. With two steam generators installed at PSC, 6652 was the last of the three units to operate. Stored at Vancouver, the unit deadheaded from Vancouver to Winnipeg with two sisters, behind 2 6400's, languishing at the Winnipeg Maintenance Centre until being scrapped by General Scrap in Winnipeg on October 17, 1993.
6653 (ex 1964) released from CN Pointe St Charles May 14, 1981. Here she is as 1964 in August, 1979 at Calgary (Brian Schuff collection):
6653 was operating on the Canadian from 1981-1984, and I observed her in August, 1981 and again in June, 1984 (strangely unphotographed) at Portage la Prairie, MB. Later operating with CN F7A's out of Winnipeg in 1986, then the Corridor before being stored in Toronto in 1987, where she remained for several years. Two photos at Winnipeg, in the company of former CP and CN units:
Like 6652, this unit contained two steam generators.
Interestingly, the other two non-rebuilt F9B's were stored in Montreal by 1984, scrapped in September off that year. All five ex-CP F9B's had VIA numbers reserved for them, though 6650 and 6654 were never used (1961 and 1965 respectively). Though CP 4476 was one of the first locomotives to be repainted in VIA yellow & blue, becoming VIA 1931 on December 12, 1978, it was only for six days! Due to a predicted numbering conflict, she was quickly renumbered again at Angus on December 18, 1978!
Thanks to Chris Cullen of North Vancouver BC for providing additional information. Also, thanks for Rapido Trains for waiting to release their F9B's until I got this post ready for publication. Talk about timing, eh?
Running extra...
Charles Cooper's Railway Pages are a great source of information. Some of my favourite pages on Charles' site: Research and Writing a Book, What's New in Publications now listing all three of my books on VIA Rail (scroll) and his Excellent and extensive links list. Lots-o-links!
Dave Winter's Winter Valley Regional Railway site recently included two photos from the 1980's on his Proto-File page. Interestingly, I was able to find complete consists in my Trackside with VIA - The First 35 Years book that match 6785's train at Belleville:
and 6531's train near Trenton:
What are the chances that I observed and recorded the consists of these trains, within an hour and 50 miles of where Dave photographed them, 31 years ago? Apparently pretty good. Thanks to Dave for posting these photos and allowing readers like me to chip in with some additional information!
Posted by Eric at 3/19/2014 11:20:00 PM 12 comments: Links to this post
Labels: VIA
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Springtime at Kingston Station
Is the word 'springtime' an exaggeration? Perhaps, but the signs were there. The air was warmer, at least when standing in sun if not in shadow. Our great-nephew stayed with us for a couple of his March break days, and one item on his agenda was train-watching. To me, that agenda item makes him a great great-nephew. On March 10 and 11, our evenings were partly spent at Kingston's VIA station. Don't let the snow in the photos fool you. Spring is coming. So was more snow: 20 cm last night!
The only freight train we observed was slick with these eastbound oil loads. Though I'd predicted the lead unit would be red, white & blue, it turned out to be a repaint, albeit with BCOL sub-lettering and those weird super-sized Homewood shops cab-side numbers. Tagging along behind BCOL 4641 at 1712 as it passed the 'E' sign (above) were 2621-IC 2697, seen passing the 'F' sign (below). Great-nephew's eyes grow wide as the UN 1267-laden VMSX tank cars pound by: 28316, 28319, 311869, 311074 and others say 'tanks for the memories' as they recede to the east.
VIA No 55 is on Track 2 just past the 'C' sign at 1720. With 906 on the head-end and 6415 trailing, 3468-3330-3353 rattle along in between. Who doesn't like riding the escalators to reach the under-track tunnel?
Take the 'A' train?....
As you'll see, I don't believe it's possible to present enough photos of VIA's new Business Class cars. Very clubby. Very photogenic. Twenty minutes behind No 55, No 66 arrives with 3451 trailing 908, then 3316-3328 (Renaissance scheme) -3325-3473.
Brought to you by the letter F. For Freight trains, please. (If it was really springtime, the station attendant would not be wearing a toque.)
VIA No 67 was being bustituted this night, due to a trespasser fatality near Cornwall. Passengers were told to wait for the bus to arrive...from Belleville...to take them back through Belleville...to Toronto! No 46 arrived at 1800 behind 6409, dragging old-school VIA 1 car 4001-3457-3361-3370. The handicapped sign is prominent.
The next night at 1650, VIA No 44 arrives ten minutes late behind 903. Renaissance scheme 3464-3368-and Ren 3348 trail. Fire extinguisher sign caught my eye:
Normally, only the characteristic 'hockey-stick' platform light standards mar the views here, as noted in this earlier post and shown in every photo gracing the cover of my first book on VIA Rail. One above the car looks like special lighting to show the 'Business / Affaires' lettering on 3464's side:
The decades-old metal sign implores you to 'Keep off Tracks'. Sound advice.
The sign above the door on the construction trailer at the west end of the station shows CN's 24-hr emergency number. Our great-nephew, being a truck aficianado, noted the hi-rail wheels on both pickup trucks and the larger boom truck and asked thoughtful questions about how the trucks move along the rails!
E is for...Eccident? Look at the damage to the corner of the front corner of 902's monocoque on the engineer's side, also visible in the top photo of VIA No 55 arriving at 1728. 902-3474-Ren 3319-3367:
Years ago, my Dad coined the phrase 'Careful fingers!!' to protect a young visitor's digits, and the phrase stuck. VIA has posted 'Careful thumbs!!' signs on the cab entry doors of P42DC 918, among others. No 66's power leads 3452-3365-3313 at 1747. It looks like the the cab door handles have caused a few blue thumbnails, and perhaps some blue language, too!
Trains rapides. Eloignez-vous des voies signs mark the rear of Ren Business Class car 3455, trailing 917 and leading 3318-3306-3334 on No 46 at 1802. English trainslation: Really, really fast trains. Distance yourself of the tracks! If you know what's good for you!
And that's just what we did after No 46 left. The great-nephew is task-oriented. His checklist for the evening: Train station...check. Pizza Pizza. Running trains in the basement. Playing Legos. Or as I might call it, Best Evening Ever!
Running extra...
Last weekend's Kingston Rail-O-Rama found me arriving on Kingston Express bus 1364. Finds included some Tim Reid and Bob Hunter Kingston railfanning photos bought from the irrepressible Liz Reid, some Vintage Tyco (searchlight car!) from Ron Barrett (going postal in a good way!) and several additions to my railway library, including my annual Morning Sun Books volume - CP Facilities Volume 1. Home aboard Kingston Express 1370.
Prolific bloggers: Chris and Connie, over at BIGDoer. Check out their then and now now and then.
A new CN caboose project website includes this photographer's photo of CN 79707 Dubbya.
Posted by Eric at 3/13/2014 08:54:00 PM 7 comments: Links to this post
Labels: CN Kingston Sub, VIA
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Welcome aboard Trackside Treasure - Trips, Trains and 35+ Years Trackside with Canada's Railways.
TOP IMAGE! Marysville broom, by Chris Wilson.
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Trackside TreasureReal Good Real TrainsCPR 1201 on Saint John NB's Reversing Falls bridge. Byron Thomas photo.GTW Airslide hopper. Gary Todd flickr photo.VIA 6212-6128 after colliding with heavy equipment on June 18, 1980 between Saint John and Moncton - East Riverside Golf Club. Ouch.6212 headed to Mtl PSC next day. Additional info from Wendell Lemon. Byron Thomas photo.Why do we keep looking at picture of this mess? Because we just can't look away! CP 4650 at Hudson Falls, with a classy D&H 7303. Stephane Eric Bisson photo.CP Jordan spreader working Dever Road yard, NB. Byron Thomas photo.CP 437422 in NB, Byron Thomas photo.CPR wash racks at John Street, Toronto in 1956.Used to wash The Canadian consist. Jim Parker photo.CPR wash racks at John Street, Toronto. Jim Parker photo. Note Royal York Hotel in background.VIA SW1000 204 at Montreal in 1988. Ebay scan.VIA Revelstoke Park at Winnipeg, 1985. Oh, so steamy! Ebay scan.Ex-CP 1405 Montreal, 1984.Hamilton, 1980. Vans plus 40-foot reefer. Ebay seller ID painted out.DWC 608796. Ebay seller ID painted out.CN 209822 8-hatch reefer. Ebay seller ID painted out.CN 73137 Portage la Prairie 1981. Ebay seller ID painted out.I don't usually link to photo web sites, but this A.W. Mooney Discovery Train consist at Ottawa, dated May 13, 1981 is a real gem. Debuting in Kingston in 1978, this train will appear in a future post on Trackside Treasure.CN 52494 Jasper road repair car, 1977.Ebay scan.VIA ex-CP F9B 6652!Just what I'm talking about in this post:http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2014/03/via-6651-6653-three-survivors.html At Barrie, 1986. Ebay ID removed.VIA 6787 eastbound at Belleville, September 1984. Note CN grain boxcar. Ebay scan.First day of spring. VIA No 85 arriving London , ON on the Guelph Sub. Courtesy Bruce Chapman.CN GMD-1 1905! Windsor, ON! Yucky green scheme! Hi-cubes! Ebay scan.CP 105 ex-UP 5611 baggage for sale by tender by CP Rail in Calgary. https://www8.cpr.ca/snpevweb/snp/Pages/ViewTender.aspx?tender=3630For sale by tender. CP 105 ex-UP 5611 in Daylight colours. Hey, if CP is selling it...VIA 6784 October 1982. Brockville pocket track. Ebay scan.VIA 6781 July 1985. Brockville pocket track. Ebay scan.VIA 6770 August 1984. Brockville pocket track. Ebay scan.VIA 6763 July 1982. Brockville pocket track. Ebay scan.Ex-CN 9500 57-foot auto boxcar. More details here: http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca/2011/10/cns-double-deck-auto-transporters.html A.W. Mooney photo from Railpictures.ca: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=14091VIA 6772 July 1984. Brockville pocket track. Ebay scan.Brockville, ON. March, 1980 - VIA 6775 approaches the station track with a westbound VIA train. Taken from the cab of a CN SW1200RS (not SP - that's the reflection of a coupled boxcar) Ebay scan.Brockville, ON. March, 1980 - VIA 6775 approaches the station track with a westbound VIA train. Taken from the cab of a CN SW1200RS (not SP - that's the reflection of a coupled boxcar) Ebay scan.Confederation train 1967 Vancouver. Ebay scan seller ID removed.CP Rail bay-window caboose 434267. Ebay scan seller ID dealt with.The Canadian (or the Dominion?)at Kenora, 1966. Ebay seller ID removed.The Canadian's Montreal and Toronto sections at Sudbury, 1966. Ebay seller ID removed.White Canadian drumhead. Ebay seller ID removed.Red Canadian drumhead. Ebay seller ID removed.CP 5001 undated Jim Parker photo. Note the stripes on long hood end!Canadian commuter train at Vaudreuil station 1983 by Mark LLanuza, via FlickrSilverstreakerama!CN wedge snow plow 55207CN Washago, ON water tower, 1973. Jim Parker photo. Note that International CN truck!GP40TC's from GO Transit hustle a CN slag train through Bayview Jct., 1973. Amazing John Eull photo.CN No 403 westbound through Winnipeg in 1987. Amazing photo by John Eull.VIA engine 901 has been separated from the consist of VIA No 57 as the firefighters do their thing. Mike T photo.VIA engine 901 on fire at Alexandria Mar 2. Mike T photo. Toast anyone?Postcard view Revelstoke BC with PRR, NYC and Zephyr sleepers. Blizzy63 Flickr photo.Canadian Pacific WB Local at West Toronto DiamondsAn interesting movement at Westmount's CP Glen yard. CP 8435 wih two CP Rail-painted baggage cars and a wooden, end-cupola van. Removed Ebay seller's watermark from photo. Undated.CN 6791 undated, looks like Cornwall. Removed Ebay seller's watermark from photo.
Tracksidedication
Tracksidedication
Scintillating Sceneramics Now a Sceries!
Sceneramics Part 1...In MILW and CN Service
Sceneramics Part 2...In VIA Service
Sceneramics Scequel
Sceneramics...Tiny Lettering
Trackside Treasure now on Pinterest: All Boards
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UCOR (Useful Collection of Railblogs) First Section
And Now 2 New Books...Trackside with VIA: Cross-Canada Compendium! And Consist Companion!
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CP Rail Manitoba & Minnesota Subdivision
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Extra Train Stuff, Etc.
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Fast Food and Trains
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Prince Street Terminal
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CCFC ! Classic Canadian Freight Cars...the Series
Alberta & Saskatchewan Grain Cars
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CN Double Deck Auto Transporters
CN Environmental Logo Covered Hoppers and Boxcars
CN Grain Boxcars
CP Grain Boxcars
CV White Boxcars
Canada's Cylindrical Grain Cars
Manitoba Covered Hoppers
UCOR (Useful Collection of Railblogs) Second Section
Train of the Week
Commonwealth Railways CL Class - I'm gonna write about this CL class from the former Commonwealth Railways of Australia. It is a very interesting locomotive, especially to those of us in N...
1 day ago
THE BEACHBURG SUB
A few surprises from the past year - As Beachburg Sub approaches its anniversary, I have been combing through photos of my adventures and came across a few shots that could only be described a...
2 days ago
Lyon Valley Northern
REAL TIME COAL OPERATIONS - To help celebrate the 1/2 million You Tube views on CNLVN, I have put together a real time video which depicts what the FNG operators do with the Coal Drag...
2 days ago
oil-electric
A Tale of Two Tunnels: St Clair River - As we learned in our previous post, Seattle Tunnel Partners will need to excavate a large "retrieval shaft" in front of Bertha, their ailing Tunnel Boring...
5 days ago
The Walker Express
A Quick One – Kellino Street Meet - I was out and about with my daughter on March 29th and I decided to stop by Kellino Street for some potential train watching. The spot there is good becau...
1 week ago
Rapido Trains Blog
The Twelve Days of China - Barely conscious at Pearson Airport, waiting for an 01:30 departure… The past few months have been a blur. August and September were spent travelling throu...
2 months ago
ETU (Excellent Train URL's)
Canadian Freight Car Gallery
KingstonSub.com (VIA 1:1 and 1:87 Scale)
Lance Mindheim's Layout Design Blog
Rolly Martin Country (Railroading North of Superior and Across Canada)
VIA's F40PH-2 Fleet
Retro Railfan Reports (Previous Posts)
▼ 2014 (17)
▼ April 2014 (1)
Propane Facility at Millhaven
► March 2014 (6)
► February 2014 (4)
► January 2014 (6)
► 2013 (53)
► 2012 (51)
► 2011 (52)
► 2010 (46)
► 2009 (41)
► 2008 (18)
Posts in production...
Winnipeg Whiplash & Manitoba Misadventures
VIA's Plethora of Paint Schemes
VIA to Montreal in a Blizzard March 1993
VIA mobile road units
VIA Splits Trains
Q is for QOPX...the Chips are Down!
Ledcor installs Fibre Optics, 2000
Industry Signs for your Model Railway
I Left my Heart in BC's Cisco
Great Lakes Carbon...in Alberta??
DuPont and Invista Cars
Dangers of the Calgary-Edmonton Dayliner
Cars at Kingston's CP Express
Canada's Most Scenic Trainwatching Location!
CP's Carberry Sub west of Portage la Prairie
CN's fibre-optic plow train on the Kingston Sub
CN's Wellington Street Yard in Montreal
CN's Unique VI&E Covered Hoppers
CN's Special Expo86 Boxcars
CN's Millhaven Spur...1998 Derailment
CN's Blue Five-Pak Well Cars...scrapped
CN's Blind Mice F-Units
CN Reweigh Symbols
CN "Black Widows, Hellcats, Kittens and Thundercows"
A Visit to Sask Pool's Elevator at Stranraer, Sask., 1986
Kingston's Rail-Served Industries...the series
CN's Aluminum Spur
CN's Bath Spur serves Lennox Generating Station
CN's Cataraqui Spur, 1977 Tour
CN's Cataraqui Spur, Part 1
CN's Cataraqui Spur, Part 2
CN's Hanley Spur, Part 1
CN's Hanley Spur, Part 2
CN's Hanley Spur, Part 3
CN's Industrial Spur, Part 1
CN's Industrial Spur, Part 2
CN's Millhaven Spur
CN's Millhaven Spur, 1997 Tour
CN's Operations at Queens
CN's Outer Station, Part 1
CN's Outer Station, Part 2
CN-CP Interchange at Queens
CN-CP Interchange: Colourful Cars
Cars on CN's Counter Street Team Track
Cars on CN's Millhaven Spur
New propane facility at Millhaven
VIA Corridor Consists...the series
VIA Corridor Consists 1976-1981
VIA Corridor Consists 1982-1986
VIA Corridor Consists 1987-1990
VIA Corridor Consists 1991-1995
VIA Corridor Consists 1996-2000
VIA Corridor Consists 2001-2009
Railfanning and Modelling Portage la Prairie
A Day at Portage la Prairie, 1982
An Afternoon at Portage la Prairie, 1984
Ballast train on the Minnedosa Sub, 1985
CN & CP serve Portage's Manitoba Pool 'B'
CP's Portage Switchers
CP's Portage Switchers, Postscript
Memories of Portage and East Tower
One day of trains at Portage, 1980
Portage Layout Planning
Portage Layout Trackplans
Portage Then and Now 1980-2010
Portage Then and Now 1980-2010 Part 2
Portage Then and Now 1980-2010 Part 3
Portage's UGG Elevators
Trackside Modelling Portage, 1984
Trackside Modelling Portage, Operations in the 1980s
Trackside Modelling: Engro Fertilizer Dealer
West Tower, 1980
Looking for all posts on a particular topic?
CN Kingston Sub (69)
Ontario (67)
VIA (62)
CN (54)
Manitoba (51)
CP (40)
freight cars (30)
model railroad (15)
Saskatchewan (14)
Maintenance of Way (13)
grain elevator (13)
ONR (7)
derailments (7)
Alberta (6)
Photography (4)
caboose (4)
British Columbia (3)
VIA 1970's-1980's Recordings on youtube by E-series-8-4-4
Canadian VIA Trilogy
F-units double-whistling 1980
Forgot someone! 1978
MORE BELL ! 1978
Stompin' Tom Connors Tribute
Turbos at Kingston, 1977
This Budd's for you!
This Budd's for you!
CN Kingston Sub Daily Freights and Times*
*Times OS at Kingston
*Times approximate and subject to change
106 Vancouver-Montreal 2200/Variable
107 Montreal-Vancouver 0500
112 Vancouver-Montreal/Variable
120 Toronto-Halifax 0400
121 Halifax-Toronto 0200
148 Chicago-Montreal 2200
149 Montreal-Chicago 1200
305 Moncton-Toronto 0900
308 Toronto-Moncton 1000
309 Joffre-Toronto 0030
310 Toronto-Joffre 0100
368 Toronto-Arvida 1000
369 Arvida-Toronto 1000
371 Montreal-Toronto 1100/Variable
372 Toronto-Montreal 2230
373 Montreal-Toronto 0500
374 Toronto-Montreal 0100
376 Toronto-Riviere des Prairies 2100
377 Riviere des Prairies-Toronto 2000
704&705 Oil
706 Beamer AB-St Romuald Oil
710 Oil
720 Oil
760 Winnipeg-Saint John/Riviere des Prairies Oil
A Must-Read 21 Years Later... Guess that makes me a slow reader:
A Must-Read 21 Years Later... Guess that makes me a slow reader:
Detraining CN Kingston 1972
Detraining CN Kingston 1972
CP Stacked
CP Stacked
Milwaukee Super Dome
Milwaukee Super Dome
A Favourite Cartoon from Maclean's magazine
A Favourite Cartoon from Maclean's magazine
-"Oh, he's fast enough..."- - thanks to Glenn Gillis!
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Why I Blog
To find out why, check out my initial post and first anniversary post, and second anniversary post.
VIA's Cars Currently in the Corridor
3300-3372 LRC 68-seat Coach
3451-3475 LRC VIA 1 Club
4000-4009 HEP VIA 1 Club
4100-4122 HEP 68-seat Coach
8130-8147 HEP 62-seat Coach
8618-8623 HEP Baggage
VIA car types mentioned in my posts (all blue-and-yellow except *ex-CP)
'Club'-series Club Galley
'E'-series 4S-8R-4DBR sleeper
'Green'-series 6S-6R-4DBR sleeper
'I'-series 24R sleeper
100-129* Coach
500-517* Skyline Dome
600-617* Baggage Dorm
'Chateau'-series* 4S-8R-3DBR-1DR sleeper
'Manor'-series* 4S-4R-5DBR-1DR sleeper
'Park'-series* 3DBR-1DR Lounge observation
425-435 Dinette
750-765 Buffet Lounge
1337-1378 Diner
2500-2514 Cafe Bar Lounge
3024-3039 Cafe Coach Lounge
3200-3252 Cafe Coach
5180-5307 64-Seat Coach
5382-5436 60-Seat Coach
5437-5654 Coach
5700-5752 Dayniter
9475-9488 Baggage Crew
9600-9673 Baggage
15400-15494 Steam Generator
Rather Sketchy Profile
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Eric
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TIBS (Things in Bottom Sidebar)
Saintjohnrailfan's Ultimate Adventures
Back To Blogger - Well, after some consideration, I'm going to bring my blog back to Blogger. Not really sure why. I guess I'm just bad at keeping things consistent. I still...
3 months ago
Prince Rupert Rail Images
8896 on the Waterfront in the snow. - Found this photo of 8896 I took some time ago on the waterfront and thought I'd post it.
1 year ago
More things that remind me of an episode of M*A*S*H*
One Man's Garbage... - *In one of his whimpering appeals on the show, Frank pleads, "I ask for so little, and I give so much." Ever feel the same way, though you don't plead it...
1 year ago
Dust On The Tracks. .East Of The Rockies
2816 Shakedown Trip To Carseland - Part 1 - If you wish to follow along in Google Earth, here is the kmz file for download. May 13th, 2011 Sleep was restless! May 14th, 2011 I arrived at the Canad...
2 years ago
Header Photos
I have a habitually short attention span for header photos - usually the photo is something I've seen that catches my eye, and I trust it'll catch yours, too. I just can't keep the same photo up there for more than a few days' run. Whenever I ask the photographer for permission, appropriate credit is always given. Either way, I'll provide more detail whenever I can in the welcome message that follows the photo. If I can't, I'll make something up.
Post text and post photos by Eric, except as otherwise noted. Simple template. Powered by Blogger.
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Rest area
Hiking
In-line skating
Biking
Mountain biking
Snowmobiling
Wheelchair access
has inducted the Paul Bunyan State Trail into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, based on merits such as scenic value, trailside amenities, and excellence in management and maintenance. Come check out this Hall of Fame trail for yourself!
The region is rich in history, having been inhabited for centuries before French explorers came to the area. Thirteen recorded prehistoric sites have been identified near the Paul Bunyan State Trail alone. The Ojibwe and Dakota were present in the area until explorers entered the region and the logging and railroad industry took over. Most towns along the trails have a rich railroad and logging history. Now they are popular vacation destinations and provide trail access points, rest areas and services. They also provide a major part of the regional identity and sites of historic interest.
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