tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36802642793421371922024-03-17T23:02:27.247-04:00THE BEACHBURG SUBRailways from Ottawa and beyondMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comBlogger415125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-1925653692669654672024-03-15T08:49:00.000-04:002024-03-15T08:49:57.700-04:00Wednesdays at the Overpass (Part II)<p>In the last post, I explored some different ways of shooting the same train at the same spot, since I often meet westbound Via Rail Train 59 around Hunt Club Road on Wednesday evenings. Let's be honest. If you are going to take up rail photography in Ottawa, you have to be prepared to catch lots of Via Rail corridor trains and think of creative ways to mix up your images. I often see photos taken at Fallowfield Station on various social media channels and I have to say, the shots all look pretty much the same. I am as guilty of this as anybody, which is why I don't go to Fallowfield much these days, unless it's in search of Via's new Siemens trains or something unique. </p><p>The last post covered my shots taken from the spring through to the end of July. In August and into the fall, the elements around the tracks began to change, which at least gives you something else to play with other than your angle. </p><p><b>August 9</b><br /></p><p>In August, I returned to a spot just east of the tracks at the edge of a plaza on Antares Drive. This time, I tried to get a shot of the train before it proceeded under the overpass. This time around, P42 911 in the Love the Way wrap is leading the charge west toward Fallowfield. The sunlight on this evening was a little harsh, as the cloud cover was almost nonexistent. But I like the lines of the overpass. Also, note the switch stand in the left of the frame. That switch stand was soon to be removed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vlTVWHgPSQ1IB0a1U5sEzHSw9ZqPrTyQug6YimJKmpwh8gMrie1aZHl9HDL8XTKl4UaUyUICmes60B5BJlljEZnsnhAuJKI_HzM0c-2pITxzEhdV_QyNPCJ3RN_fco3CpgAJTxa0AsAnY58NCunNa4V-U3U4rc4B4qSm56sPm-mIldRK_4cxbSRfMHjh/s4000/P1050904.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vlTVWHgPSQ1IB0a1U5sEzHSw9ZqPrTyQug6YimJKmpwh8gMrie1aZHl9HDL8XTKl4UaUyUICmes60B5BJlljEZnsnhAuJKI_HzM0c-2pITxzEhdV_QyNPCJ3RN_fco3CpgAJTxa0AsAnY58NCunNa4V-U3U4rc4B4qSm56sPm-mIldRK_4cxbSRfMHjh/w640-h480/P1050904.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>August 23</b></p><p>Okay, so this is not the Hunt Club overpass, but this flyover over Prince of Wales Drive is very close to the overpass. I chose this spot on this evening, since it allowed to assume a perch in the shade. This flyover, made of stone, is just past the point where the Beachburg Sub crosses the Rideau River. I have considered trying to get a shot of the train crossing the river, but I haven't yet found a vantage point to capture this image. Something to work on for this year. Still, I love this spot. The only downside is there are a fair number of hydro wires to work around. You can see the tip of one in the top right corner.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIzNjf3GoogcnEfPGpAspepW36_zi8RUz_aTtD_K5LiqeVSFLwOKIp2yKA-9rQeYe7wdlpnKpSzp2Fuoy7asJD1ITcxJUdfVHAS6Bl4922yPJPlkKPxyKtfFpdCwOtXw_5gJWmY9CP6REnBD-XB1tNq5A3jTA_KgJ7XPoVZUfjZZe-hb6OrdcKhQIAvIG/s4000/P1050953.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIzNjf3GoogcnEfPGpAspepW36_zi8RUz_aTtD_K5LiqeVSFLwOKIp2yKA-9rQeYe7wdlpnKpSzp2Fuoy7asJD1ITcxJUdfVHAS6Bl4922yPJPlkKPxyKtfFpdCwOtXw_5gJWmY9CP6REnBD-XB1tNq5A3jTA_KgJ7XPoVZUfjZZe-hb6OrdcKhQIAvIG/w640-h480/P1050953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Sept. 14</b><br /></p><p>The following week, I decided that I would try to capture an image of the train beneath the overpass, as it made its way past the concrete pillars. This experiment almost didn't work because, as you are following the train past the stationary pillars in front of it, your camera will sometimes focus in the pillars and not the train. That obstacle, combined with the harsh sunlight at this spot in the evening, made for a few wasted frames. I did manage a few frames where the F40 came into view fairly well, so I think it was worth a try. I'm not sure I would try this shot again in this spot, without a better game plan.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVzJkz8r1LyA_BrFomhDnqAs9YFgK8p2AAFNfJX4tFpcTvMxLUID-_-lNZjqWQ1ixG7RnOUwp8elzEKt9i5gIo4RPziZCD3Hh_AGPYzoxThRfPic0q7uBU1hoT8wnCfh_xK9An918Q-hHh3erxeXBw6ZMtL07tYRvuvH36Tks4kzGb5_oWCYlu_4xIVsy/s4000/P1050969.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVzJkz8r1LyA_BrFomhDnqAs9YFgK8p2AAFNfJX4tFpcTvMxLUID-_-lNZjqWQ1ixG7RnOUwp8elzEKt9i5gIo4RPziZCD3Hh_AGPYzoxThRfPic0q7uBU1hoT8wnCfh_xK9An918Q-hHh3erxeXBw6ZMtL07tYRvuvH36Tks4kzGb5_oWCYlu_4xIVsy/w640-h480/P1050969.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>Sept. 20</b><br /><p></p><p>The following week, I decided to try a wider shot from a vantage point quite a bit west of the spots I had tried before. The problem on this evening was the sun was washing out the train in most shots, especially since the consist was made up of silver HEP cars. I stuck with it since I figured I could work with some shadows. Even this shot is somewhat unsatisfying. I left this shot unedited, just to show you how difficult the sun can be at times. The sky is washed out and the only thing really saving the shot is the shadows from the nearby brush. You will notice that the spur serving Bentley Avenue is in the process of being dismantled in the foreground.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqWTcyUz8gPXEE8awVYfrrelW_5oq6jndqcxczJQQZ7ZkFJPoBHTk3825fwXR8csBFdzjB9TgX-N-Y5O6436rF2L7HUAEGy6ymm4vMtXg6JUseU-e9hNvqplalANpI-aitsXHazoYKn5oG91PU-_Qno0MxT3jLM-pWcwLEcklJNaAA1oVIu4jz-4GfuRu/s4000/P1050991.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqWTcyUz8gPXEE8awVYfrrelW_5oq6jndqcxczJQQZ7ZkFJPoBHTk3825fwXR8csBFdzjB9TgX-N-Y5O6436rF2L7HUAEGy6ymm4vMtXg6JUseU-e9hNvqplalANpI-aitsXHazoYKn5oG91PU-_Qno0MxT3jLM-pWcwLEcklJNaAA1oVIu4jz-4GfuRu/w640-h480/P1050991.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Sept. 27</b><br /></p><p>I've used this angle before but my goal on this evening was to capture some of the changing colours in the leaves trackside. You can even see the signals peaking out from beyond the turnout at Federal Junction. I always like it when I can capture those signals in a shot, which is not always possible. On this evening, I made sure to set up a fair bit west so I could capture the bend on the track. I tried to get a shot of the train coming around the bend, but my focus was distracted for a moment and I didn't get the train on the curve. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xLdAYmbIkiuRKvjbnikiV9Af3fpATaOhj6c4TJljXNhU-MJ_HhGPIEblvFPfOVNjp_QgV5e9ruHvhbo-PB6KDJFWnF6vRPG8zJa77zCNlOi2Qq91zmc3J3uKNYv7A78c3vD6x8UCggwijBhyrQE8zR9pff1wO6W5DVbPULQTtaoSzC66cO5Fce36vN6E/s2048/P1060014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xLdAYmbIkiuRKvjbnikiV9Af3fpATaOhj6c4TJljXNhU-MJ_HhGPIEblvFPfOVNjp_QgV5e9ruHvhbo-PB6KDJFWnF6vRPG8zJa77zCNlOi2Qq91zmc3J3uKNYv7A78c3vD6x8UCggwijBhyrQE8zR9pff1wO6W5DVbPULQTtaoSzC66cO5Fce36vN6E/w640-h480/P1060014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Oct. 11</p><p>October was a bit of a lost month for me, due to many factors, so I wasn't really thinking of anything creative when I took this shot, although I like the colours trackside. The evening light at this hour was beginning to dim significantly, which made for less glare, but the trackside colours hadn't really changed the way I wanted to them to change, since the warm summer seemed to delay the colours in the Ottawa region. The P42's headlights also didn't help. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczt_hDxGWtl7d8gUgIH8izNAXcY6IzRSjwWVrLhteG1JDfDwKM7TDY3iIRImKXW9Ja8GTIQkLLBddJDrM8BmuANpoqSYlj4mdb55DZhFYopiFs8JTbD4G2gLrrDq6u-9Qcjsec8QJIUts7TCo4J5Y-bHQVkrrKtS1ivwp-_QHid1-tHNqB1uPPQJvURbM/s4000/P1060031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczt_hDxGWtl7d8gUgIH8izNAXcY6IzRSjwWVrLhteG1JDfDwKM7TDY3iIRImKXW9Ja8GTIQkLLBddJDrM8BmuANpoqSYlj4mdb55DZhFYopiFs8JTbD4G2gLrrDq6u-9Qcjsec8QJIUts7TCo4J5Y-bHQVkrrKtS1ivwp-_QHid1-tHNqB1uPPQJvURbM/w640-h480/P1060031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Oct. 18</b><br /></p><p>Note the difference in daylight from the last shot. This was my first attempt at getting a vertical shot at the overpass, although I was in a familiar spot, looking toward Federal Junction, on the north side of the overpass. This shot is blurred, as I was only armed with my iPhone on this evening. I don't think I was planning on getting any shots that evening, but I decided to do something at the last minute. I don't mind a blurred shot, as it conveys speed and drama when done right. I'm not sure I achieved that with this shot, but it's different than the shots I had captured earlier that summer, so there's at least that.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6jLTg9NKOizknoalDkgcskoNwnjcku0ga79rsKwHBYoMbcWWs0zQPegKgR_gy4fYUH1dXVUAUsPl99W4SXwRK4P2wu2KeLIQrd66atd9o73p_zDyQ9MGn64Ihm5XEbctf-xftdr0JUnVmWyOssR8zgLjxozK-smNUp7wmVxXMHUZYwQdvQVh_Vssdlmf/s4000/P1060055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6jLTg9NKOizknoalDkgcskoNwnjcku0ga79rsKwHBYoMbcWWs0zQPegKgR_gy4fYUH1dXVUAUsPl99W4SXwRK4P2wu2KeLIQrd66atd9o73p_zDyQ9MGn64Ihm5XEbctf-xftdr0JUnVmWyOssR8zgLjxozK-smNUp7wmVxXMHUZYwQdvQVh_Vssdlmf/w480-h640/P1060055.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Nov. 1</b></p><p>This was the end of the line for my experiment with Train 59. This shot does not really convey how dark it was on this evening. There was a storm cloud making the daylight disappear rapidly, in addition to it being November. I didn't do much in the way of experimenting on this final meet. I figured a shot in the evening twilight would be enough to make this shot stand out. Sadly, many of the shots didn't come out as sharp as I would have liked, so I chose this one, which was reasonably crisp, even though it has the guy wire in the way. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19m8tjQvNmamGhR0nKAbv2CaoLn3vYoXimoZFP6NZr73RojYjueJ9C-_zEsEGTQJz8lSFTIv8Fam1-NRPalpbW05eb-p5nEGwagfT7t96If4NRxH-N4CVXLX6V5QVs_Bu_2_WReZe4tzrRTpWD8rDcT7HS7c2czx92L-RYdIHgFCkKiZ8H4Dkzzyub_nb/s4032/IMG_5490.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19m8tjQvNmamGhR0nKAbv2CaoLn3vYoXimoZFP6NZr73RojYjueJ9C-_zEsEGTQJz8lSFTIv8Fam1-NRPalpbW05eb-p5nEGwagfT7t96If4NRxH-N4CVXLX6V5QVs_Bu_2_WReZe4tzrRTpWD8rDcT7HS7c2czx92L-RYdIHgFCkKiZ8H4Dkzzyub_nb/w640-h480/IMG_5490.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now that the time change has come and gone, I have more daylight to play with, which means I am starting to think of new areas in this part of the city to get some train shots. I'm not sure I will be able to get new shots, but I'm willing to give it a try. As I said, you have to take what you can get in Ottawa, since there are few options. At the very least, you can change the background, even if you can't change the trains.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-4667232512113116782024-03-05T10:46:00.000-05:002024-03-05T10:46:45.270-05:00Wednesdays at the Overpass (Part I)<p>Last year, I spent many evenings watching Via Rail's westbound Train 59 pass by the Hunt Club Road area, since I was there every Wednesday evening as my daughters were at a nearby dance class. The school does not allow parents to watch, which is actually a good thing for me, as it gives me the time to run errands and sit trackside each week. While taking photos of the same passenger train each week in the same way seemed like a waste of time, I decided early on that I was going to try and get as many different shots as I could. Over the course of the year, I did manage to capture some interesting angles and some differences in the train's consist. These meets also allowed me to take shots of the efforts to dismantle an old industrial spur along Bentley Avenue, just to the west of the Smiths Falls Subdivision.</p><p>Train 59 departs from Ottawa's main train station on Tremblay Road every weeknight at 5:49 p.m. It meanders its way west along the Beachburg Subdivision through the city and crosses the Rideau River where it then proceeds over a stone flyover over Prince of Wales Drive before it heads through Federal Junction, where it enters the Smiths Falls Subdivision and begins to veer southwest. </p><p>The train passes by Federal and Hunt Club Road around 6 p.m., as it enters a stretch of track where the less severe speed restrictions allow it to open up a bit. Train 59, which is led by a P42 or F40, usually has four to six cars. They are often the old HEP silver coaches, although it does sometimes have LRC coaches. Train 59 makes stops in Fallowfield, Smiths Falls, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Trenton Junction (conditional), Cobourg, Oshawa (conditional) and Guildwood (Scarborough, conditional), before arriving in Toronto at 10:33 p.m. </p><p><b>April 17 </b><br /></p><p>My first week where I caught the train was April 17. In this case, I decided to camp out on the east side of the tracks at the back of a parking lot off Antares Drive. The benefits of this spot include capturing the sky behind the train, although it can be a double-edged sword with the shadows. I tried this spot a few times with mixed results. In this shot, F40PH-2 6436 leads four of the old silver coaches under the overpass on a grey April evening. I do like that this spot gives you a great backdrop of the overpass. That long stretch of steel girders above the train makes for an interesting backdrop. Given the tough light, I didn't mind the shadows in the image. You can also see pieces of old rail in the foreground.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0YfDwfbXylXl4l-UHpCYXA_lNakcJ356gNE1bxzSfHTi1LUYj3BRTeQ6ArlEcQmp9olGI7lQj9ur-h5vqE2GvNFo0DxTdzzmdwhBIJwUeUSZuJfcKzn6wgjCpU3ocvzrcJL02hpseVrmlhGpjJnvJ9SkVE1rFuUa2YTywc5zB5II9Z_8D3Ye1Bm6FjM/s4032/IMG_3852.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0YfDwfbXylXl4l-UHpCYXA_lNakcJ356gNE1bxzSfHTi1LUYj3BRTeQ6ArlEcQmp9olGI7lQj9ur-h5vqE2GvNFo0DxTdzzmdwhBIJwUeUSZuJfcKzn6wgjCpU3ocvzrcJL02hpseVrmlhGpjJnvJ9SkVE1rFuUa2YTywc5zB5II9Z_8D3Ye1Bm6FjM/w640-h480/IMG_3852.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>April 26</b></p><p>Shortly after that first shot of the year, I returned to the same spot on Antares Drive, to see if I could get a better image under sunny skies. I did like the blue and the clouds I got in this shot, but the shadows cast by the evening sun meant I was on the wrong side of the tracks to get a decent, clear shot. As the train got closer to my vantage point, the darker the shadows became, which was a disappointment, so I stuck with some shots where the train is a little further back. In this case, F40PH-2 6407 was leading a string of four silver coaches in different Via liveries. This was a typical look for this train, as it often sported the old silver coaches over the course of last year.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlH8aUZDfpYY3DQUgFJrIffWLT0MDCLkF_M94MO5CNqUcqlFPFxobk3IKXLad_vt3iklKjmASRBReGLRiEK6eiSe0DEnsai78pcF86XwVV6eJu9VheCrnUVweh6LrmC6bWBKkv3JQ4XqARhN6oHVbSjgtHwTUTfH7osNQ_3K0rUu1Rao9ID6e97IGcNOX/s4032/IMG_3912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlH8aUZDfpYY3DQUgFJrIffWLT0MDCLkF_M94MO5CNqUcqlFPFxobk3IKXLad_vt3iklKjmASRBReGLRiEK6eiSe0DEnsai78pcF86XwVV6eJu9VheCrnUVweh6LrmC6bWBKkv3JQ4XqARhN6oHVbSjgtHwTUTfH7osNQ_3K0rUu1Rao9ID6e97IGcNOX/w640-h480/IMG_3912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>May 3<br /></b></p><p>In May, I started off by taking a shot from the top of the Hunt Club overpass, looking north. This is a spot where you can get a pretty dramatic shot of trains from straight on, or from a side perspective. In this case, I went with a straight-on shot. 6407 was again leading the way, with six HEP cars in tow this time. In this shot, you can see the first hints of spring as the trackside brush and foliage are turning green. This perspective also allows you a chance to get some smoke in a shot, which is always a fun added element that shows some drama. Often, the trains are gearing up as they emerge from the turnout from Federal Junction. The one drawback is the guy wire that cuts through the middle of the train. I have worked around this wire in other shots, but in this case, I didn't. It doesn't kill the shot, but it is an annoyance. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm9TEXUsaYhbakRWCuwz9yT6vVyOKfs3dtLAUl_gbMbXFM7VZAbgT2OQ0OFjl4oyH6O-F0UMnDUdS_pCo60gOxhczYWmPcqTMn-ZA2jRcAVkfTgYdDt7JHG4zXtlvkuE0_4PGud0Nqixn2JyCttZucjBylPLQgvh_SyuDdBjzm6ZIWGPHHLzZBSoCNACj/s4000/P1050330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm9TEXUsaYhbakRWCuwz9yT6vVyOKfs3dtLAUl_gbMbXFM7VZAbgT2OQ0OFjl4oyH6O-F0UMnDUdS_pCo60gOxhczYWmPcqTMn-ZA2jRcAVkfTgYdDt7JHG4zXtlvkuE0_4PGud0Nqixn2JyCttZucjBylPLQgvh_SyuDdBjzm6ZIWGPHHLzZBSoCNACj/w480-h640/P1050330.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>May 10</b></p><p>The next week, I tried another shot from the overpass, but a little to the west, so I could get a better profile of the train. The natural light was steadily improving with each week, as was the weather. Still, the wire did present an obstacle. In a few shots, I simply zoomed past the wire, but I found that the image was too close to the rails and didn't offer any other elements. So I decided to share this shot, which has the wire prominently showing in the foreground. Sadly, the natural light was making it a bit too prominent. However, by keeping the shot a bit wider, I managed to get the high voltage power lines in the background, as well as the HLS Linen Service facility to the right of the tracks. You can just make out a piece of the signal tower near the curve in the track. As the year went on, I tried to get that signal in shots, but it was challenging. This time around, it's again 6407 leading six silver coaches. A typical look for this train.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqdqbKKAkFhVO-7ldKjSX6-m-4CbW_trmEmpVtm-D_nEEYcjcBAFZJu9MHezf2RFwiPYIeiI6wIhHGN0UMdHgA7KPXn6urnW3Yh74Ergz5P8DeiRObxWcE5V7sNdVC1cohoE7NOBV1zh_zM5z3VdHfgbqKrMR2qYVt_7mN1qeBZPQ9LHlctMexSHvtPQT/s4000/P1050344.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqdqbKKAkFhVO-7ldKjSX6-m-4CbW_trmEmpVtm-D_nEEYcjcBAFZJu9MHezf2RFwiPYIeiI6wIhHGN0UMdHgA7KPXn6urnW3Yh74Ergz5P8DeiRObxWcE5V7sNdVC1cohoE7NOBV1zh_zM5z3VdHfgbqKrMR2qYVt_7mN1qeBZPQ9LHlctMexSHvtPQT/w640-h480/P1050344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>May 17</b><p></p><p>The following week, I worked around the wire and went for a more traditional (at least for me) shot of the train up close. I used to take these shots a lot more when I restarted pursuing rail photography about 12 years ago. I don't take these types of shots much anymore, but once in a while, they're fun. In this case, you can see what the trade-off is when you use your zoom function to get past that overhead wire. The image of 6411 is taken from the same perspective as the week before, but you don't get much of an appreciation for the city around the tracks. The shadows were pretty fierce at that moment, which is why I chose to stay on the west side of the overpass. I will say that, the crew of Train 59 would sometimes give me a wave when I was on the overpass. They must have caught on at some point that there was always a guy taking photos on Wednesdays. I always appreciate this courtesy from train crews. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiBYbC-tNNqB39q5wLkCkZIgpqXN3T9UBtm32ywjTls6J0787a6wquhSMKhrAB2AgbM6Ra1d5RupkLyhzciOdHtNnVptIV1I3wFMvGiQdPUItG0qeuYzZ8QWmCKj_0LjYAM47Y_JtDcXg6xbQJJnaX2V7p7Ck23F5KOJj9m0SSxLLTA_-f5UrPYvBFN-g/s3581/P1050388.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="3581" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiBYbC-tNNqB39q5wLkCkZIgpqXN3T9UBtm32ywjTls6J0787a6wquhSMKhrAB2AgbM6Ra1d5RupkLyhzciOdHtNnVptIV1I3wFMvGiQdPUItG0qeuYzZ8QWmCKj_0LjYAM47Y_JtDcXg6xbQJJnaX2V7p7Ck23F5KOJj9m0SSxLLTA_-f5UrPYvBFN-g/w640-h460/P1050388.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>May 24</b></p><p>I would love to say this next shot was the result of some deliberate idea or planning, but the truth is, I was a late getting onto the overpass when I heard the rumble of the F40 gearing up. I knew I had only a few seconds to get something. On the east side of the Hunt Club overpass, there is a break in the brush where you can get a quick shot of a train, if that is what you are after. I won't say this is what I was looking for, but I did like the outcome. Sometimes, I find the best railway photos are the shots where the train is not the dominant part of the image. The shadows were once again quite difficult to work with, so I had to touch up the image a bit to soften the shadows. I actually like this shot. It was a spontaneous effort to get something. The perspective, trees and brush all make it unique among the many shots I took of Train 59 last year.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphentz7IJH-LY-nw4qF11iRaHhu2j07tICIE6aUAR7L-uayfB1dYFm7dfVXsM8e5emKP0nD6o-XNPhTGnrRgua84aef4tihogaeA_1rAq6jrVmnndP2-vOtiLIEp8o41Ut_iGnkCXZDkc40FERjOs5kgVoK7cw98zsjR1kLbkFHpzVIBkJTfVJk_kNIkKWw/s3236/P1050416.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2526" data-original-width="3236" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphentz7IJH-LY-nw4qF11iRaHhu2j07tICIE6aUAR7L-uayfB1dYFm7dfVXsM8e5emKP0nD6o-XNPhTGnrRgua84aef4tihogaeA_1rAq6jrVmnndP2-vOtiLIEp8o41Ut_iGnkCXZDkc40FERjOs5kgVoK7cw98zsjR1kLbkFHpzVIBkJTfVJk_kNIkKWw/w640-h500/P1050416.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>July 12 </b><br /></p><p>In June, various other life events prevented me from getting shots. When July rolled around, I picked up my chase again. On a bright evening in early July, I decided to get back to track level. However, instead of setting up on the east side of the tracks off Antares Drive, I tried the west side of the tracks. This was a challenging spot to work with, because you have to get through a fair bit of undergrowth to get to the fence. Also, when you emerge beneath the overpass, it's apparent that someone is living beneath the west side of the overpass, so I tried to keep a respectful distance and not bother this person. I did get some shots of the train before it emerged into the shadows beneath the overpass, but I wanted to share a shot of this F40 beneath the overpass. You can see the consist has shrunk to four cars. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX6WGHjiKt93vL2LrPGVsMoFsrRhbn6uCoflz5UZDYriKaHWK5uyuF0Kr56TS0gEOeXlvkLEhRFA3iPPd75HEhsI6VFIqZG_AcRnIDvoxuwO531EQkTF15BUAnHz-MJGynyWhWN6WoQrSJ-op7Dqris7upFlKbRuP9aIKaPmlAAZ-ASnUy-LJztaKEUdr/s3140/P1050619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3140" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX6WGHjiKt93vL2LrPGVsMoFsrRhbn6uCoflz5UZDYriKaHWK5uyuF0Kr56TS0gEOeXlvkLEhRFA3iPPd75HEhsI6VFIqZG_AcRnIDvoxuwO531EQkTF15BUAnHz-MJGynyWhWN6WoQrSJ-op7Dqris7upFlKbRuP9aIKaPmlAAZ-ASnUy-LJztaKEUdr/w640-h412/P1050619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>July 19</b></p><p>The following week, I took up my next challenge of getting the train coming around the bend, just past Federal Junction. This required a fair bit of preparation and staging, since the train rounds the bend pretty quickly, so you have to be ready. In this case, this was the first time I saw Train 59 being pulled by a P42. I like how this shot turned out and it's a good example of how a great railway shot doesn't need to have much train in it. In this case, the train is a small part of the image, but I like that it's rounding that bend and picking up speed. You have to look closely, but you can see the red signal hiding behind the trees to the right of the track. I have another version of this shot, cropped a fair bit but I like the long line of the track in this image. And you will see there is no wire in the shot. I set up my camera beneath it. No small feat getting all these elements in one image without that pesky line in the middle.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN83QFguikhO-yPN9iqPmYJk_fCNVdi-mRb88CgIFnm4S8-jG_BCN802GWWNR0eNQrx54wb1kDuwNkSrjzMuFBHX6R3Q7-oiMMb8UT9URn6bZO3ptyMtZBPiapUjtZCh8hD96-uflab4L3O2mRMXHj37ss1L7bbU8TCFEgKE7ChiLEIDSdmb-v9OnLyhn/s4000/P1050647.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN83QFguikhO-yPN9iqPmYJk_fCNVdi-mRb88CgIFnm4S8-jG_BCN802GWWNR0eNQrx54wb1kDuwNkSrjzMuFBHX6R3Q7-oiMMb8UT9URn6bZO3ptyMtZBPiapUjtZCh8hD96-uflab4L3O2mRMXHj37ss1L7bbU8TCFEgKE7ChiLEIDSdmb-v9OnLyhn/w640-h480/P1050647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>July 26</b><br /></p><p>To finish off this first part, I'll share the other time I tried something from the west part of the Hunt Club overpass. My idea this time was to get a shot that was less of a wedge shot and more of a side view. Given the person living on this side of the overpass, I camped out well out of this person's area and tried to find a perspective that lessened the impact of the sun. This going away shot gives you the perspective of the entire train, being pulled by a P42. The LRC coaches are a mix of liveries, not to mention a wrap. The train is passing by the now dismantled industrial spur next to Bentley Avenue, which you see just to the right of the second last car. The building to the left of the train is the former Ottawa Sun headquarters, where I worked for a few years. I wasn't sure if this shot worked out as well as I had planned. The train was a bit blurry in the earlier shots, which was a bit disappointing. But I liked the fact that I captured a perspective I hadn't considered before. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEyLuj6PH5cUnDReIsghZVupg1j3ESC2Bxx-lDCTtP40jPmk_1FBg9yN_4_EWqcyY_NeeczTKE82A0ictvJDkLSaEXeo7R3SESMzDR1grahFbLWjmmhSweigAhtduqOJlG1pLhpmWnz4X5icP4W0PZ0xpX-ALLR4o1y7om4BHozsuxzc5RLf7k26EWA-I/s4000/P1050686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEyLuj6PH5cUnDReIsghZVupg1j3ESC2Bxx-lDCTtP40jPmk_1FBg9yN_4_EWqcyY_NeeczTKE82A0ictvJDkLSaEXeo7R3SESMzDR1grahFbLWjmmhSweigAhtduqOJlG1pLhpmWnz4X5icP4W0PZ0xpX-ALLR4o1y7om4BHozsuxzc5RLf7k26EWA-I/w640-h480/P1050686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I kept taking shots of this train until November, when the light simply didn't permit any further shots. It was a fun experiment, which I might take up again this year, although I'm not sure what I might attempt this year. I might just go to watch the train. I know there is an Ottawa-bound train that comes east shortly after Train 59, so I might try and get shots of that train instead this year. Since my daughters' dance class is a bit longer than it was last year, I have a bit more time on my hands, so I will try to make the most of it.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-52383700844127651252024-02-25T08:42:00.003-05:002024-02-29T18:39:35.382-05:00Running Back to St. Jacobs (Part II)<p>As I mentioned in my last post, I had the chance to take some shots of the antique trains that are parked in St. Jacobs, a tourist town just north of Warterloo, Ont. I was in the area last November for a conference where I was giving a mental health presentation. <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2024/02/running-back-to-st-jacobs-part-i.html">In my first post</a>, I focused my shots on the south end of the rail yard, which is situated behind a residential street, just a few blocks from the main street. Just a short block north on Isabella Street, there is another residential street that dead ends at the tracks. From this publicly available viewing point, you can get some shots of the north end of the yard, where there are a number of pieces of rolling stock near the maintenance facility. </p><p>You have to be careful in this spot, because there are private residences and small businesses near the track. To be safe, I stayed on the road and used my camera's zoom, to respect private property.</p><p>I also took some shots from the edge of the railway's parking lot, so I could get a shot of this old Budd RDC car, numbered 6135, with a hasty WCRX operating mark stencilled in. The car appears to be used for storage at the moment. The car is still sporting its old Via colours, although I would assume at some point, the railway is going to change its colours to its crimson and grey scheme. </p><p>The car, which is an RDC1 unit, was originally built in 1957 for Canadian Pacific and eventually made its way onto the Via Rail roster, where it served its final Via days on the railway's Vancouver Island operations, before that passenger service was shut down due to deteriorating track conditions. This car is not listed on the WCR website, so I'm assuming it's a fairly recent addition. Given its CP origins, a makeover in the maroon and grey scheme would seem fitting.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJBmtomFBtOGpzACRKVS21RPPT5VB_giCMin2F0g4loZ9XCW5E04PAl35QDzFgEbZJ5EtmLiCxAb8n-RqJzt_bJVRg-hRg-a3mgD3ncxByH2Sl4wMsEKmdP4I83YEjWKoGZZy27WBVnIbTK6S2V_QdSzzkC-iQ6b16agITBTTbBcNrTBTLuAC-f652O2j/s4000/P1060105.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJBmtomFBtOGpzACRKVS21RPPT5VB_giCMin2F0g4loZ9XCW5E04PAl35QDzFgEbZJ5EtmLiCxAb8n-RqJzt_bJVRg-hRg-a3mgD3ncxByH2Sl4wMsEKmdP4I83YEjWKoGZZy27WBVnIbTK6S2V_QdSzzkC-iQ6b16agITBTTbBcNrTBTLuAC-f652O2j/w640-h480/P1060105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Before I get to the shots from the north end of the yard, I should add in one final shot I took from the south end. Although WCR is very much a CPR-styled tourist operation, it should be noted that it operates on the old CN Elmira Subdivision and it does roster one unit still in CN paint. In this case, the unit was already decked out in garland and lights for its Christmas runs. </p><p>Sadly, every time I visit the WCR yard, this old GMD1 is hiding behind the MLW units. The engine, numbered 1012 (ex-CN 1437), is in the CN olive and yellow paint scheme, which predated the now ubiquitous wet noodle scheme. This railway appears to love heritage schemes. On its website, I noticed that the 1958-built unit was still in its CN safety scheme colours and numbered 1437 when it started pulling for WCR. At some point, it was renumbered and given the heritage CN look. I'd love to get a shot of this unit one day, as I do not have a single GMD1 shot in my collection. So close!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEMO7hl9bTtjW7aL7LFF8d8hyphenhyphen2tw49QmRh3beBljW6abC5DiSpU6kTXhtZw0NsR3cXgmyqwCYaODWy-W6U8oSUFTFiiYl3aBeRueFVvjj4hUcvdSD4Dn0ruiK37v5endgNihKqqPQhFLfPw_uR4zjDwHqTfFAACAF1Qn2aNJA4AadP3-7x1cRicauYsAG/s4000/P1060104.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEMO7hl9bTtjW7aL7LFF8d8hyphenhyphen2tw49QmRh3beBljW6abC5DiSpU6kTXhtZw0NsR3cXgmyqwCYaODWy-W6U8oSUFTFiiYl3aBeRueFVvjj4hUcvdSD4Dn0ruiK37v5endgNihKqqPQhFLfPw_uR4zjDwHqTfFAACAF1Qn2aNJA4AadP3-7x1cRicauYsAG/w640-h480/P1060104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Moving on to the north vantage point, this unlettered six-axle heavyweight sat by itself, basking in the morning sun near to where I was standing. Upon close inspection of the photo, it appears this car was once lettered for WCR but seems to be undergoing some cosmetic work. It's still painted maroon, so I assume at some point it will once again sport some grey and yellow accents of the old Canadian Pacific scheme. I would imagine it will be relettered Waterloo Central Railway at some point. It's hard to track its history, as I couldn't identify it on the railway's website roster.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgvEvADUd6mcOSFDIrmfL9KipLaqgoZhnWu6TVO5oaUeTfw0Vn35vHlKcFdHWgYDsKc2CvA7cMpEZdI6Hor53c4Ux2hSXh7LX0p6XsQQvp_wmfXYbK7RUbBpAsUgOeC0SGfb0Rj6pFcDg-7dHx6R5WL-Jbr2xvBJlCgTPt-KLKtVkaRE3u4fvvb2GFott/s4000/P1060109.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgvEvADUd6mcOSFDIrmfL9KipLaqgoZhnWu6TVO5oaUeTfw0Vn35vHlKcFdHWgYDsKc2CvA7cMpEZdI6Hor53c4Ux2hSXh7LX0p6XsQQvp_wmfXYbK7RUbBpAsUgOeC0SGfb0Rj6pFcDg-7dHx6R5WL-Jbr2xvBJlCgTPt-KLKtVkaRE3u4fvvb2GFott/w640-h480/P1060109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Toward to maintenance facility, I captured something under a tarp, which was partly shielded from my point of view by an old maroon passenger car. I'm not quite sure what they have under that tarp. I can see some safety rails at the end and some chains, but that's not a lot to go on. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQZzO5LFx2bXKHihAOi_RSMsQQNgDmdTdCyNjHRtBAE-ISqBX5bdGIcR-tp9qvHsFWYTduBhUgxMGnLktlUOX2THH47LZZAmzOPEOjizVhzd-KxXOVBwvV7tnZywtV6EUpif9Uv-9ZeVVBDCtJGm7gycFvczmzuDPH7Fm9YJeKr5vq8lu2kWTbCBh7ehq/s4000/P1060106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQZzO5LFx2bXKHihAOi_RSMsQQNgDmdTdCyNjHRtBAE-ISqBX5bdGIcR-tp9qvHsFWYTduBhUgxMGnLktlUOX2THH47LZZAmzOPEOjizVhzd-KxXOVBwvV7tnZywtV6EUpif9Uv-9ZeVVBDCtJGm7gycFvczmzuDPH7Fm9YJeKr5vq8lu2kWTbCBh7ehq/w640-h480/P1060106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Right beside the tarped-off mystery car, I got a peak at WCRX 79482, a caboose clad in a maroon vintage CPR scheme. Again, the CPR scheme might make you think this is a vintage CPR van, but it's actually one of 548 CN cabooses from the Pointe St-Charles shops in Montreal. This one was built in 1971. The last CN van built in Quebec was in 1977, according to the WCR website. I find it incredible that there were once nearly 600 of these vans plying the rails across CN's system. How times have changed. This caboose came to the tourist railway in 2007 in a red CN scheme. It was returned to its original number and repainted after 2021.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd19wgsD0mqgvHpa9drEASsOhvPgEUowBLIWbc2XwTYJCOUWobdSmvD_Y8QmWTQjeeCBbb_WbNJuArTk7h6brz8qwMkIAfIhQepWNJNKj0gvo6QjVNkh8CH-LxkYkmKV8pqGTrqkGuTeXBFoKaHCPWweCTb5A4RtCT_6kdtUzCkbnLDDv3oRmTuPes6Ma/s4000/P1060108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd19wgsD0mqgvHpa9drEASsOhvPgEUowBLIWbc2XwTYJCOUWobdSmvD_Y8QmWTQjeeCBbb_WbNJuArTk7h6brz8qwMkIAfIhQepWNJNKj0gvo6QjVNkh8CH-LxkYkmKV8pqGTrqkGuTeXBFoKaHCPWweCTb5A4RtCT_6kdtUzCkbnLDDv3oRmTuPes6Ma/w640-h480/P1060108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I hope you enjoyed this post, as it really is like strolling through a museum. I still have yet to see this railway in action, at least at a time when I have a camera with me. I did see it in action years ago when I lived in Kitchener-Waterloo, although I wasn't in the habit of taking train photographs at that time. </p><p>From its origins as the St. Thomas-based Southwestern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society to its incarnation as the Waterloo Central, this organization is succeeding in an area where a tourist railway has failed in the past. Its ambitious plans, meticulous attention to detail and determination really do seem like a blueprint for other tourist operations.</p><p>Possibly the next time in am in the Waterloo Region, I can figure out a time to actually catch these old antiques in action. That would be a treat.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-60675823933598850552024-02-14T09:35:00.003-05:002024-02-14T09:35:22.150-05:00Running Back to St. Jacobs (Part I)<p>Back in November, I was in Kitchener-Waterloo for a conference, where I was giving a mental health presentation. I made sure to carve out some time trackside, as KW has some unique rail photo opportunities. You can read about my time trackside in Kitchener <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/12/along-main-line-in-kitchener.html">here</a>. My first stop was St. Jacobs, a small community north of the City of Waterloo. St. Jacobs is known for its area old order Mennonite population (think horse and buggies) as well as its tourist industry, which is very much a mainstay of the local economy.</p><p>The Waterloo Central Railway has a yard located in the town, which serves as its maintenance facility and starting point for some tourist excursions. At one point, the WCR operated from the former Waterloo train station, but the rails south of St. Jacobs are now all occupied by the Ion light rail system. CN still operates local freight operations during off hours, <a href="https://www.traingeek.ca/wp/between-the-buildings/">which you can read about in this Traingeek.ca blog entry</a>. But the area is off limits to the WCR.</p><p>You might recall I've been to this yard a few times, which you can read about <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-little-railway-that-could-waterloo.html">here</a> and <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/06/deja-vu-in-st-jacobs.html">here</a>.</p><p>This time around, I arrived in the early morning, as this was the only time I had to take photos. I was quite happy to get a few shots of the WCR's former Essex Terminal Railway caboose, clad in a wrap that would be useful for its Christmas Train. The railway added some nice touches, like the HOHO 2023 operating mark. Also, as a communications professional, I always like it when a business includes its web address in a visible spot. I remember a marketing professional telling me she couldn't understand why a company would ever hesitate to share its website at every opportunity. </p><p>You can even see the WCR speeder to the left of the caboose as well as a Budd-build RDC unit behind the caboose. I got all these shots from a small park next to the railyard, which offers you some great vantage points to get photographs. It's like visiting a rail museum for free. There is even a street just north of this park that ends at the tracks, where you can get some shots from a different vantage point, but stay on public property (the street). There are signs here that clearly show you where you can and cannot go, as there are homes and a small trackside business here. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihU5-m_oMXVB9F-PBEfQfBmAfCBoatdnQn1Q8m8ApoyCZ6Qw8YjamyoiCJ-meF7xvDh-VX612YAx5udVs9kUppQ1a9MJHWbpcrguyZyLOM2u69sDLYKYCuEOajDjplcRwKc-QzoDktpfJyKFeDtzv8cV8N5bafAU-_HWSWpHvp1OibOIOSssurrpdIk8S8/s4000/P1060094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihU5-m_oMXVB9F-PBEfQfBmAfCBoatdnQn1Q8m8ApoyCZ6Qw8YjamyoiCJ-meF7xvDh-VX612YAx5udVs9kUppQ1a9MJHWbpcrguyZyLOM2u69sDLYKYCuEOajDjplcRwKc-QzoDktpfJyKFeDtzv8cV8N5bafAU-_HWSWpHvp1OibOIOSssurrpdIk8S8/w640-h480/P1060094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>There were some other interesting things to see in the yard, as the railway was clearly getting ready to assemble a Christmas train. If you look closely at this old passenger coach, you can see that the crews had already strung up lights around the windows and across the top and bottom of the car. The WCR is clearly influenced by a love of vintage Canadian Pacific colours, as many of its cars and locomotives sport CP's maroon (Tuscan red, technically) and grey scheme, which was officially ditched in 1968 for the action red multimark livery.</p><p>This coach, however, is actually a former CN coach, built in 1954 by Canadian Car and Foundry. It served well into the Via Rail era, where it took on the blue and yellow scheme, before finding its way into the BC Rail fleet, where it became known as Sunset Beach, and finally the Orangeville-Brampton Railway. Coach 1978 has been with WCR since 2018. </p><p>In previous years, WCR kept some of its coaches in the blue and yellow Via Rail scheme. I was lucky to get a shot of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-little-railway-that-could-waterloo.html">one of the last coaches to sport this scheme</a>. I was happy I did, as I have great memories of these old blue and yellow cars as a kid.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdm6-Yc98Uy0up8tgu4hXUhVr97SjFvYqFx-hX1-k7ubKPS1hD9-3Ys6AwyzF1AImU1G3HosDBWICrDIF1WKNRIwQOBwqr5fhECcJLW_1ZXw79D_xHHHreWeXgYm28Ld6_sDl3jDxHv7vdXkDKkag7KqHJ_QXF50Ut92D2tWfHxAxS0i8DkQYAco8ulOe/s4000/P1060095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdm6-Yc98Uy0up8tgu4hXUhVr97SjFvYqFx-hX1-k7ubKPS1hD9-3Ys6AwyzF1AImU1G3HosDBWICrDIF1WKNRIwQOBwqr5fhECcJLW_1ZXw79D_xHHHreWeXgYm28Ld6_sDl3jDxHv7vdXkDKkag7KqHJ_QXF50Ut92D2tWfHxAxS0i8DkQYAco8ulOe/w640-h480/P1060095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a sun-drenched shot of two S13s 1001 (left) and 1002 in the yard. Each unit was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1959. While each bears the colours of the pre-action mark CP, these units were actually Pacific Great Eastern (later BC Rail) units upon delivery. After serving out west, they spent time on the Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway as 501 and 502, before moving further east and operating for the Ontario Southland Railway with the same numbers. They have been with the WCR since 2018. It's incredible to think of how much revenue service these old units have seen.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlcWLgJ7rbdLh5Rhbjh9HpAMbcW20Lxw2KPV-kjVUgpSqCb6rLTfn_RvJFLBzGMVPw2rPGBejZCNawQUUb_hHEaTAT6TRR0c9qbsPWYU8wtTM7-GlC6gNSgrGn8O8mIFqpSd3Z4JnxsHbZ7ndzCc2zCJmyRQhaea50mC0wB9H6WiCmRU3ZH6wSM14j1x4/s4000/P1060096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlcWLgJ7rbdLh5Rhbjh9HpAMbcW20Lxw2KPV-kjVUgpSqCb6rLTfn_RvJFLBzGMVPw2rPGBejZCNawQUUb_hHEaTAT6TRR0c9qbsPWYU8wtTM7-GlC6gNSgrGn8O8mIFqpSd3Z4JnxsHbZ7ndzCc2zCJmyRQhaea50mC0wB9H6WiCmRU3ZH6wSM14j1x4/w640-h480/P1060096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>A little deeper in the yard, another MLW unit, this one ex-CP S3 6593, was sitting with a mixed consist, including 1930s vintage ex-CN baggage car 8751, a tank car and a former Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo boxcar. Unlike the other units, this one was originally a CP unit, built in 1957. For Ottawa railfans, they might be interested to know that CP sold it to the National Research Council, where it served as the NRC switcher at its ground transportation research centre along the old CP Prescott Sub, near the Ottawa International Airport. It was sold to the WCR in 2012. Here is a <a href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3125278">cool shot from its move from Walkley Yard back in 2012</a>. This unit began its work in these maroon and grey colours before being switched to action red, so this is likely a fitting scheme for this old unit.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBCVbs2DPAdVy1BYAH5B4780CvJ0Kqzj5SCXYbhV-RqblkTIwuJFiz3xzg1cxGxo6Gy4lqMxvTk5uphYd_QJt9pl-q2zINLzANeffdgY1lbWfL8qZaI1P-mTFMJ-xhM17Grx1tgPILIpYmn4P0BplOqqwjlsgCwpZL9zlUqjtYc5YMVYMzTiLmd8nZOuX/s4000/P1060100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBCVbs2DPAdVy1BYAH5B4780CvJ0Kqzj5SCXYbhV-RqblkTIwuJFiz3xzg1cxGxo6Gy4lqMxvTk5uphYd_QJt9pl-q2zINLzANeffdgY1lbWfL8qZaI1P-mTFMJ-xhM17Grx1tgPILIpYmn4P0BplOqqwjlsgCwpZL9zlUqjtYc5YMVYMzTiLmd8nZOuX/w640-h480/P1060100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The railway explains on its website that its small collection of rolling stock is for the purposes of television and movie work, where productions might need to include a freight train in a scene. Since the WCR also <a href="https://waterloocentralrailway.com/equipment/cpr1238/">has a steam engine on its roster</a>, I would imagine have a tank car might come in handy as well for the purposes of feeding the engine water.</p><p>All in all, it was a fun visit to this area. I will share a few more images from this morning in another post, since there was quite a bit to see in a brief time.</p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-2325053136556985462024-02-04T08:56:00.001-05:002024-02-05T08:24:58.142-05:00Railway Reads: The Petrolia Spur has the goods, maybe a few too many<p>A few years ago, I read a self-published book, The Petrolia Spur, by Petrolia history buff Tom Walter. You'd be forgiven if you wonder why anyone would write a book on a spur line that was less than five miles long. But the Petrolia Spur wasn't just any branch line. It was a line that was wholly financed by the captains of the burgeoning oil industry in this boom town in the 1860s. In many respects, this book tells a good chunk of the story of the birth of North America's petroleum industry. So it's not just a book about a small piece of track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15s2NkCW6a1XHpWnwIXenpIXhMz9SzRDb-pGHagVZgFOvxMOUZdmHY9-7V4kl8mNN73-sL5thceJ_U7AdIQoY07dn8pK1uU_W641uflQcMSKZRb3vBawPtRtlT1znJNS04GabVj7ecWbsz-sMGJO9MdOjLyKGJtcUijF9r6uWH4GisyKJs_kptx_8zw/s3717/IMG_3607.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3717" data-original-width="2895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15s2NkCW6a1XHpWnwIXenpIXhMz9SzRDb-pGHagVZgFOvxMOUZdmHY9-7V4kl8mNN73-sL5thceJ_U7AdIQoY07dn8pK1uU_W641uflQcMSKZRb3vBawPtRtlT1znJNS04GabVj7ecWbsz-sMGJO9MdOjLyKGJtcUijF9r6uWH4GisyKJs_kptx_8zw/w311-h400/IMG_3607.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>Walter deserves full credit for the sheer depth of his research on this rail line and its connection to the town, which was for many years an affluent, influential boom town whose influence was global in reach. I say this without much hyperbole, as many of the so-called hard oilers who figured out how to find oil and get it out of the ground soon travelled the world and shared their expertise throughout Europe and other spots where crude was waiting to be tapped.<p></p><p>Walter focuses much of his research on the railway, of course, which began as a Great Western Railway branch, before giving way to the Grand Trunk and eventually the Canadian National. There is much to discover in this rail spur's story and Walter did an outstanding job of scouring the historic records and news articles, not to mention interviewing people who remember this rail line, which was finally torn up in 1994.</p><p>If you sensed there was a but coming, here it is. Writing a history book is not an easy task, as there are sometimes countless pieces of information to cobble together into a narrative. This is where I find the Petrolia Spur sometimes becomes too ambitious in its reach. There are many instances in the book where the overall story of the railway and its connection to Petrolia's development gets somewhat lost in a recap of newspaper articles and inconsequential details. <br /></p><p>I found there were a few too many asides in the book, where space was taken up exploring inconsequential rail collisions, derailments and too much prose focusing on the station agents and their lives. I understand that this book is mainly for the people who live in and around this town and those who are fascinated by local railway history like me. However, I think this book might have benefited from a more thorough edit that could have streamlined the main story and discarded some of the less important divergences. In my opinion, many of these stories that do not fall into the main narrative could have been collected into a chapter of fun railway stories.<br /></p><p>If you are willing to overlook some of this overabundance of ambitious detail, there are many interesting elements of this town's railway story that might surprise you. The rich collection of historic photographs gives you a surprisingly thorough depiction of what this railway operation, including the engines and rolling stock, actually looked like. Also, the author includes a number of appendices, like the architectural plans for the historic Petrolia railway station. These additions are excellent resources for those looking to model railways in this area or those who simply want to better understand some of the technical elements of the railway operation. Again, full credit for the breadth of research.</p><p>The author's passion for rail history shines through in his writing. As I mentioned, it comes across as unfocused at times, but I think this is a function of the sheer amount of material he was able to uncover. But he does succeed in presenting a complete story that very much gives you the big picture, rather than just a narrow local narrative. </p><p>You just need to sift around a bit to piece it together at times. If you are interested in this book, your best bet would be to contact someone in Petrolia or call the town hall. I would imagine the book is available at local independent bookstores in the area. If you want to borrow my copy, you'll have to come to Ottawa. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-19479894696240562302024-01-24T07:54:00.000-05:002024-01-24T07:54:07.508-05:00The Magnificent Seven: Highlights of 2023<p>Last year was a year where my railfanning was quite concentrated. I saw a lot of Via Rail action, mostly because my evening schedule on Wednesdays allowed me to meet the same westbound train many times. Rather than taking the same shot over and over again, I began experimenting with different angles and ideas, which ushered in the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">Year of Different</a>. There was also a chance meeting with CN's Arnprior Turn, a few sightings of freight trains along Highway 401, lots of photography from a trip to Stratford, a few cool shots from Kitchener-Waterloo and a couple of other scattered highlights.</p><p>I like to temper the railfan posts with other posts that are more focused on history and research. Sadly, those posts were in short supply last year, for a variety of reasons. All told, I was able to get 37 posts online last year, which was my highest output since 2019. I have considered easing my pace to biweekly this year for a while, but a recent influx of new material means that I can continue my current pace for now.<br /></p><p>So, the highlights...</p><p><b>January</b></p><p>At the tail end of Via Rail's buffer car period, I found myself at Ottawa Station and was able to get a shot of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/04/capture-vias-rainbow-era-while-you-can.html">Via Rail buffer car 8318 <i>Craig Manor</i></a> bringing up the rear of westbound train arriving from Montreal. It wasn't long after I took this shot that an investigation into the structural efficacy of the old silver streamliner cars showed that they were safe to use without the need for an extra car. But it was fun to see so many outliers in the corridor for a while.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Pl_oNVRVmCaXSpz-Gt-EUEUFzZmT6gYTh72OkYSAkP-XF-DUdTM3UHFy9rEQp-PnGm1svs5Ynv13TISr1QSnl6tRjcjmZrwzoGjY1pMs3roa_5c-cThbYLAWbJK89mMZA0jgO0Q1wjturxVlaEkdAlL9y1wxGHPXiR7Up1TOyJzWTf9ONMRFvWSaOGV/s3999/P1050105.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="3999" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Pl_oNVRVmCaXSpz-Gt-EUEUFzZmT6gYTh72OkYSAkP-XF-DUdTM3UHFy9rEQp-PnGm1svs5Ynv13TISr1QSnl6tRjcjmZrwzoGjY1pMs3roa_5c-cThbYLAWbJK89mMZA0jgO0Q1wjturxVlaEkdAlL9y1wxGHPXiR7Up1TOyJzWTf9ONMRFvWSaOGV/w640-h446/P1050105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>May </b><br /></p><p>In late May, I was happy to be able to get a first glimpse of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/06/catching-up-with-next-generation-of-via.html">Via Rail's new Siemens equipment at Ottawa Station</a>. This was Train 24 bound for Montreal. It would be a few months before more of this new equipment began entering into regular revenue service across the corridor, so this catch was fun, as there were still just a few in operation last spring. It was a difficult morning to get quality images, as the harsh morning sun and scarce clouds made for some harsh glare. The shots near the Belfast Road overpass were a little easier, but the sky was a complete washout.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB89jdbpAkTZEgZbnU13OXz_oyAWbyQ6oFXDnBdqx2cyngZ7yfT-xJiSpPDmFfcAnMeYqSxTXLTNck3iWYFQ5XAQVUJHChO7daauH1E1XYNmUpS1eUt0Cr9XkVm1Na9nQ1NWBVOMwhp0hfbppT7fmNBynQNzfxBVdRLv4zb_M4KAXh0V-V0RLwSF_Gg_s/s3897/P1050468.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2923" data-original-width="3897" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPB89jdbpAkTZEgZbnU13OXz_oyAWbyQ6oFXDnBdqx2cyngZ7yfT-xJiSpPDmFfcAnMeYqSxTXLTNck3iWYFQ5XAQVUJHChO7daauH1E1XYNmUpS1eUt0Cr9XkVm1Na9nQ1NWBVOMwhp0hfbppT7fmNBynQNzfxBVdRLv4zb_M4KAXh0V-V0RLwSF_Gg_s/w640-h480/P1050468.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>June</b></p><p>As I was driving my daughters to dance class in the Colonnade Road area, I saw the Arnprior Turn returning on the Beachburg Sub to Walkley Yard. I managed to catch the train on the Prince of Wales flyover, which was one of my finer catches, given the scenic location. I have caught several Via Rail corridor trains at this spot in the last year, but this catch was special.</p><p><a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-ghost-that-haunts-me-part-ii.html">Read the post here</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV-SXx2FUq-jCiw7N6TvNnPynfey_pEurMklqVSXmXYMy0ZCI_REMBs9y4mEyaRaIVMlTp8bjnxtPxRH3E-GF-oGoZSRd10kOidOCRdk6Cs1VC-mTvi9_XmLnvPONe7hS5IOZkUz4nLO66cZ2QD981X4DxuubhQnL1XVMT4NkrP0UrQpkbqjBmBgiYwH6/s3196/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="3196" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV-SXx2FUq-jCiw7N6TvNnPynfey_pEurMklqVSXmXYMy0ZCI_REMBs9y4mEyaRaIVMlTp8bjnxtPxRH3E-GF-oGoZSRd10kOidOCRdk6Cs1VC-mTvi9_XmLnvPONe7hS5IOZkUz4nLO66cZ2QD981X4DxuubhQnL1XVMT4NkrP0UrQpkbqjBmBgiYwH6/w640-h408/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>August</b></p><p>It's always a coup to catch something unusual, especially when it's something that you won't likely be able to see again. In late July and early August, I was in Stratford, where <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/08/get-on-go-while-you-can-stratford-part-i.html">I was able to catch an arriving GO Train that was making its way west back to London</a>. Metrolinx has since shuttered this service, which was a pilot project linking London to Toronto in a commuter service. I often see these trains when my family travels through Toronto on Highway 401, but being able to see these trains in a small city like Stratford is a case of capturing some rare mileage. I'm glad I did.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-tNLBzZhSgd3FfSsqYKqSoly0qB4FqM-mFD91t-y4nCppO8FH0phLKn4yWal9EwGRy_uOcEErAW_pabjHQsr3zvC4zz6SjQYCoj0Y301OAKc23thXkJlHyPx0v93O7bOCZvJNp1rYcQeRa-8R6QzHszBNZCwcxXKz5HkiiC_hcURg9_KyoEcE3nJyPsx/s4000/P1050886.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-tNLBzZhSgd3FfSsqYKqSoly0qB4FqM-mFD91t-y4nCppO8FH0phLKn4yWal9EwGRy_uOcEErAW_pabjHQsr3zvC4zz6SjQYCoj0Y301OAKc23thXkJlHyPx0v93O7bOCZvJNp1rYcQeRa-8R6QzHszBNZCwcxXKz5HkiiC_hcURg9_KyoEcE3nJyPsx/w640-h480/P1050886.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>November</b></div><p></p><p>I don't want to give away too much since these images are for a post that has yet to be shared online. However, my family found itself in Kitchener-Waterloo in November, which gave me several opportunities to railfan, including<a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/12/along-main-line-in-kitchener.html"> in Kitchener, where I saw some local yard action</a>. Nothing special, but photos of a freight train in an exotic location are always fun for me. But it was in St Jacobs where I was able to capture some cool images that are worth mentioning. This town, north of Waterloo, is home to the Waterloo Central Railway yard, where the tourist railway has built an old-fashioned trackside flagstop platform and shelter. I have a model train structure just like this. It was cool to see something like it in real life. More shots from this yard to come soon.<br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYr2LfqagDB_nN92fOpA7nVV8XkD1b8DiR-ShUoitX1Fj_kuc6U5D-nij2uqXbwafsC4GNX4JqW8AQJyaw4YVXE4t1oEbXBAKlyckkuCWbgaUi3Lf5eIi6xYBX2Ri7oqmvTa61lx_ghsOjBpzc274cYb6yehBNLqIzGdV0hFsXpY9QCZuqk5TgRWg_VuY/s4000/P1060110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYr2LfqagDB_nN92fOpA7nVV8XkD1b8DiR-ShUoitX1Fj_kuc6U5D-nij2uqXbwafsC4GNX4JqW8AQJyaw4YVXE4t1oEbXBAKlyckkuCWbgaUi3Lf5eIi6xYBX2Ri7oqmvTa61lx_ghsOjBpzc274cYb6yehBNLqIzGdV0hFsXpY9QCZuqk5TgRWg_VuY/w640-h480/P1060110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Favourite shot of the year</b></p><p>I can't think of a shot I like more than this. I have one or two that are for upcoming posts that come close, but I have to say that this is my favourite. To be able to catch a CN freight on the platform in Stratford as it makes its way past some GEXR units was just about the perfect shot for me this year. It includes all the things I love. I love small towns, short line railways and seeing freight trains, since it is such a rare treat for me. <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/10/beachburg-sub-post-400-time-to-give.html">You can see the full set of shots in this post</a>.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfmGPtdjB1n9NI_VzuVLG5BA9f9zS46cEvBpPjGER1KScvIRO7DjFIGHYLJfes4y8rWajDVmGrBmKtpowp6bETF7EkC4cf6oT8Z5IJFoEr1tVG2bzpYQuE3lCAYHb72ikZ-AvSFA5JUppGQWHzk0fUSu4Nt2PYUdV4TK3F89SF1-YHR1ccgt1Da5eNu0I/s3498/P1050848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="3498" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfmGPtdjB1n9NI_VzuVLG5BA9f9zS46cEvBpPjGER1KScvIRO7DjFIGHYLJfes4y8rWajDVmGrBmKtpowp6bETF7EkC4cf6oT8Z5IJFoEr1tVG2bzpYQuE3lCAYHb72ikZ-AvSFA5JUppGQWHzk0fUSu4Nt2PYUdV4TK3F89SF1-YHR1ccgt1Da5eNu0I/w640-h324/P1050848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>Train 59 </b><br /></p><p>I needed to include a shot of Via Train 59, since I have caught this train more than any other in the past year. After taking photos of this train through the spring and well into the fall, I realized how many different methods I had tried to get shots of this westbound train. I intend to collect all these shots in a post sometime this spring. This shot below might be my favourite from last year. The shaggy trackside greenery adds a nice contrast to the train just past the curve in the Smiths Falls Sub.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbPZj4IEegvovr91xxL4ooGZ_LVW3NiqLQbATdZC0O2Qy65430goToHa_A4JXZntO3idWZ_45gEkQ_zcovfabbwHO2-Bsk-Li_95MGpsaYJLOKEHd1Wf7n2Bx7KTrIWaSfkY3XTBuTSpZW4j61HrvZM8VsrlIQfD8i5AijAZ-gS0FZzA662XVBS7FGpL2/s2134/P1050386%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="2134" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbPZj4IEegvovr91xxL4ooGZ_LVW3NiqLQbATdZC0O2Qy65430goToHa_A4JXZntO3idWZ_45gEkQ_zcovfabbwHO2-Bsk-Li_95MGpsaYJLOKEHd1Wf7n2Bx7KTrIWaSfkY3XTBuTSpZW4j61HrvZM8VsrlIQfD8i5AijAZ-gS0FZzA662XVBS7FGpL2/w640-h286/P1050386%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>There were other highlights from 2023, including winning the first ever <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/08/standing-on-shoulders-of-giants-my.html">Trackside Treasure Annibursary prize for excellence in railway blogging</a>, an award initiated by one of the most prominent rail bloggers in Canada, Eric Gagnon.</p><p>This blog also logged the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/07/beachburg-sub-10th-anniversary.html">10th anniversary of its birth</a>, which was a nice accomplishment. Then there was the 400th post. </p><p>All in all, there was much to celebrate in 2023. Here's to many more posts. Thanks for continuing to be along for the ride. I appreciate every person who reads and reaches out.</p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-59758122781962020892024-01-14T18:14:00.001-05:002024-01-14T18:14:30.580-05:00Not quite a wonderland, but...<p>I left it until the final day of Christmas vacation to get out there and do a little railfanning in Ottawa. It was a very quiet couple of weeks with my kids at home, which is exactly what I needed after a hectic couple of months leading up to Christmas. But I was feeling the itch and I figured I might as well get a few shots of the new Via Rail Siemens equipment while there was actually snow on the ground. I would not call it a winter wonderland, but it was something a little different. It was a dry couple of weeks through Christmas, so the sight of falling snow was a welcome sight, even if it was a bit chilly for photography, at least by recent standards.</p><p>True to my desire to get a variety of different photographs, I started by taking a shot at the signals just east of the Fallowfield crossing, the left of which was showing straight green over red. The signals to the right govern the movement of trains on the Fallowfield passing siding, when it is used. They are almost always showing red over red.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ka5k9BEgXlUMBkPlaw8DSf3h3sqXSMVqqn4gDNSIsaxnVg_KTKFD7sfhV3k1_OQPk9_ndXMwrcvsTB_6msdPSjRB_zQ04kbIn5_vy2fiVbPUiCrlo_TNgWv2i9ZsBKXph0vW4_GALFibUh5byVtXqpbow_zgwM6S5sEzyicTfXdySSIZn61y1cliIBKx/s4000/P1060133.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ka5k9BEgXlUMBkPlaw8DSf3h3sqXSMVqqn4gDNSIsaxnVg_KTKFD7sfhV3k1_OQPk9_ndXMwrcvsTB_6msdPSjRB_zQ04kbIn5_vy2fiVbPUiCrlo_TNgWv2i9ZsBKXph0vW4_GALFibUh5byVtXqpbow_zgwM6S5sEzyicTfXdySSIZn61y1cliIBKx/w640-h480/P1060133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I then moved to the end of the east parking lot of the station, to get an unobstructed view of the train approaching from the east, as the lot was full and the views from the west lot did not look promising. My daughter came out to see "the new Vias" as she calls them. She has taken to doodling the Via and CN logos at home, which is a hopeful sign. I'm not sure I made a railfan of her, but I have managed to get her interested in hockey, so maybe trains aren't a huge stretch. </p><p>The approaching Siemens consist was headed up by the control cab car in the lead and the locomotive at the rear. A blog reader said these trains don't have much of a horn. Since Via trains usually use a horn as they approach the Woodroffe Avenue crossing before the station, I was curious to hear what they sounded like, but I didn't hear any horn from this train, which was Via Train 43.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelMF1yqdJ2dIHCLIZn21Gue3YE0Vugx5T_5F_hhi5fHGKW9OoQgHzUhpzsASHlppIPu_nkrmxK8lF125J0evrRo9TjVaSKv635do5-fBmpWzVIxEWmSitaLoo18z1wq1a7FWmu7Pq-j22LGV2f-vfuPtuX5fN28urYe_pMf51MN8MHNvdg7PqUzLFCUUY/s4000/P1060146.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelMF1yqdJ2dIHCLIZn21Gue3YE0Vugx5T_5F_hhi5fHGKW9OoQgHzUhpzsASHlppIPu_nkrmxK8lF125J0evrRo9TjVaSKv635do5-fBmpWzVIxEWmSitaLoo18z1wq1a7FWmu7Pq-j22LGV2f-vfuPtuX5fN28urYe_pMf51MN8MHNvdg7PqUzLFCUUY/w640-h480/P1060146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Let's get the obligatory 3/4 wedge shot in there. As much as I am trying to get different shots these days, I still have to take some of these more straightforward shots, as the new Siemens units really do demand it. That's car 2303 in the lead.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1kvVglUgwOu8svyTdnryBaj8TPLZvKD-YgeYo9-vl9uoXA1r9rlSyUV4ii_ctAamY7p_rZuwkn6NbBRt4zzwqIuqrCJElakXoylWGB7ELwUfAhBDxVWY8loSmEDIDOTWl_TLHOUIN_gEW88KHcR1phEPhumoBm-oKfuSUN9QU7ZffhbDV78OK3S41LA3/s3374/P1060160.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2482" data-original-width="3374" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1kvVglUgwOu8svyTdnryBaj8TPLZvKD-YgeYo9-vl9uoXA1r9rlSyUV4ii_ctAamY7p_rZuwkn6NbBRt4zzwqIuqrCJElakXoylWGB7ELwUfAhBDxVWY8loSmEDIDOTWl_TLHOUIN_gEW88KHcR1phEPhumoBm-oKfuSUN9QU7ZffhbDV78OK3S41LA3/w640-h470/P1060160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I like to get shots of trains loading on the platform, since it is a different image. I try to position myself far enough away from the crowds, to avoid taking photos of anyone that would allow them to be recognized. I like this shot, since I made sure to frame the Via logo on the locomotive in the upper right corner. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qe9LIp7WsPvaI1XwysGNKi2dYpVCiyikJciJWKKLLMuyh3c7MCWjUEZ5UHzPSqLCUU7cyr5PbMu8TvGMb61a03sAy6j0e_mHKl-rgKSymCdD8KwX7PjJGSPfzWC06kPd-FhNOFU2zILXxNiYCd3o8yXok2w5dsrgKhjTj4QuOhNVcmdjrwhzE0nSzIVb/s3903/P1060166.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="3903" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qe9LIp7WsPvaI1XwysGNKi2dYpVCiyikJciJWKKLLMuyh3c7MCWjUEZ5UHzPSqLCUU7cyr5PbMu8TvGMb61a03sAy6j0e_mHKl-rgKSymCdD8KwX7PjJGSPfzWC06kPd-FhNOFU2zILXxNiYCd3o8yXok2w5dsrgKhjTj4QuOhNVcmdjrwhzE0nSzIVb/w640-h480/P1060166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next, I tried to get a shot of locomotive 2204 at the end of the platform. It was a little trickier than I thought it would be since the Siemens trains are a fair bit more lengthy on the platform than the more usual consists with P42s/F40s and a mix of 4-6 cars in tow. Even with the double-enders that Via has been using in recent years, this train was sitting much closer to the eastern edge of the platform. I had to angle myself carefully to stay on the edge of the platform and get a shot safely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwfD-TeJhAfyXEXLs1FPMSrQowyP_IncUyppGEUkkLwakcZ_GHp0KuJHYydnievJLcgfIOvVJyG_0zUrq46wncRfdYYEIr6zgC5DK_BN9q_UgYA_Jbk-ELfw2zD7IgSQrLC_43fEUKPRtIPmS-0EpPMldDts0p7XjsfetZa2-P5f15DwoveV3c2x9UX1I/s4000/P1060163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwfD-TeJhAfyXEXLs1FPMSrQowyP_IncUyppGEUkkLwakcZ_GHp0KuJHYydnievJLcgfIOvVJyG_0zUrq46wncRfdYYEIr6zgC5DK_BN9q_UgYA_Jbk-ELfw2zD7IgSQrLC_43fEUKPRtIPmS-0EpPMldDts0p7XjsfetZa2-P5f15DwoveV3c2x9UX1I/w640-h480/P1060163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Before leaving, I went to the west parking lot to get some more shots of the train making its way west toward the Fallowfield crossing. Luckily, the western lot was mostly empty near the end so I was able to get a shot of the train leaving, but the light standards at the edge of the lot didn't help with the image. Those shots didn't work out, so I focused on framing the train against the signals near Fallowfield Road. I like this shot best, as it captured the snow against 2204.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitowhnCq8O6ZonoYtfsD5NqReObY1gYvl5GSlsgjqxcjTi3nzg1aJxRvcDj7MiCAZ7p12gOlLieSUxWUAghx1aKwYfaUnXh4gRcGXBL5l9dYBbPCBZzJ1pC6Yp25IEp-Wrm67szdHIX5ZusU2utu7bXQQ3xiSzN0yLu8aVrG9CrvSiuePFEdQa49T9d38t/s4000/P1060172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitowhnCq8O6ZonoYtfsD5NqReObY1gYvl5GSlsgjqxcjTi3nzg1aJxRvcDj7MiCAZ7p12gOlLieSUxWUAghx1aKwYfaUnXh4gRcGXBL5l9dYBbPCBZzJ1pC6Yp25IEp-Wrm67szdHIX5ZusU2utu7bXQQ3xiSzN0yLu8aVrG9CrvSiuePFEdQa49T9d38t/w640-h480/P1060172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>All in all, it was a fun, quick trip to the station and my daughter thought the new train was pretty slick. She is looking forward to our family's first train trip to Toronto in June, when we will take our daughters to their first Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre. I was glad in a way that we received some unexpected snow (this as before the massive 20-25 cm snowfall we saw on Jan 22-23) and well into Sunday, as it allowed me to get some winter railway shots. It's just not as fun when the winter shots have no snow on the ground. A good first effort for 2024.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-91800499048042054662024-01-04T18:02:00.000-05:002024-01-04T18:02:00.434-05:00Dive right into 2024 (Stratford Part IV)<p>Happy New Year, fellow friends of the iron horse. I was considering how to start the new year and what to write about when it hit me. Just start with some cool train photos. That was what I decided. There is lots of material left over from last year's adventures, which will be shared over the weeks and months to come. Sadly, I wasn't able to make it trackside over the Christmas holidays, but that's okay. There was very little snow after Dec. 25 and I was still working my regular hours at home, so the opportunities for something seasonal didn't materialize. <br /></p><p>So let's start with some shortline summer action shots, shall we? On July 30 while in Stratford for a family reunion, I had a chance to stop by the Stratford station to see if there was anything going on in the yard. Luckily, there was. The GEXR crew had two geeps idling in the yard and ready for some work. Later on, <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/09/mainline-freight-action-near-station.html" target="_blank">CN 568 came passing through, which you can check out in this post</a>. In the harsh early morning sunlight, I wandered around the yard from publicly accessible vantage points, as the crew assembled a string of hoppers that seemed to be destined for Goderich or other points along the GEXR Goderich Subdivision. Here's a shot from the crossing. The morning sun was washing out the sky, but I still like this shot.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFcF6ygcp4K4ZRlkARQhWJPhS94HjSN-Inh-0CxDlA2hRxU1Bb3eUxRXK7sHX881lG5JfHHoi7uqlXT180sG4FUdSaxKYtxKIHje8iOTfRhPFkueb87iCBoKOyBjuRZA7u_-rtcMmACfyRb73EcgBPJOUiL8fE72zJRTClhWJtfhnN5cu1cTdkTVqR2-/s4000/P1050778.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFcF6ygcp4K4ZRlkARQhWJPhS94HjSN-Inh-0CxDlA2hRxU1Bb3eUxRXK7sHX881lG5JfHHoi7uqlXT180sG4FUdSaxKYtxKIHje8iOTfRhPFkueb87iCBoKOyBjuRZA7u_-rtcMmACfyRb73EcgBPJOUiL8fE72zJRTClhWJtfhnN5cu1cTdkTVqR2-/w640-h480/P1050778.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have a friend who takes shots from this vantage point, so I decided to follow his lead and get an overall shot of the yard action. This is in keeping with what I started last year, in <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">the Year of Differen</a><a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">t</a>. the goal is to get some railway images that aren't dominated only by the train. In this case, I wanted to get the grain elevator and the overall yard in the image. I didn't get all that I wanted, but I think this shot conveys the overall size of this railway operation.</p><p>Here's another example of a shot that is different. I wouldn't have taken this shot even a few years ago. The crew in this shot is getting ready to couple its two hoppers with a few more cars, some that are hidden behind the boxcar. It's the human element that I like in this shot, even though the morning sun did not do me any favours.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aLwsJwCbkdXMOMKc-G1ad4HOh3XSCH9RAcO004O3vU6KWYu_ihKNKaeFpXojlqaApXDOay_h1Hkbbgy2x6UjQU9qajg6Gg3Oxb8bReq7UuOs0UGE1yO89mrdT4UrXydlbkBQnLshpML2q8ETgX6iYyWGOD6lw_0vRwIH84ME0PjrHcy09Sqsq4zHq49M/s4000/P1050777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aLwsJwCbkdXMOMKc-G1ad4HOh3XSCH9RAcO004O3vU6KWYu_ihKNKaeFpXojlqaApXDOay_h1Hkbbgy2x6UjQU9qajg6Gg3Oxb8bReq7UuOs0UGE1yO89mrdT4UrXydlbkBQnLshpML2q8ETgX6iYyWGOD6lw_0vRwIH84ME0PjrHcy09Sqsq4zHq49M/w640-h480/P1050777.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The engines went back and forth getting the cars the crew needed to take up the Goderich Sub, which allowed me to think about different shots and elements to capture. There's nothing like a good smoke shot! In fact, <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2016/11/smoke.html">I dedicated a previous post to smoke</a>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoe5U1YWQWf0_UJddie17EgrUaGt9DmNGp4ZG9qYyiwrt2lyCrJK3uMN5v9jPi8pwd-RmS11esatqN-HGWYunZZFnm8Y32Ms19VshYioo-CdvDUL9h-c-oaaIwz_IOURdIrMArQrFEnACURBeIm3AYidXNju26wNbWwZEBfvmme1OY5I5xsBmJTT0o2KY/s4000/P1050767.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoe5U1YWQWf0_UJddie17EgrUaGt9DmNGp4ZG9qYyiwrt2lyCrJK3uMN5v9jPi8pwd-RmS11esatqN-HGWYunZZFnm8Y32Ms19VshYioo-CdvDUL9h-c-oaaIwz_IOURdIrMArQrFEnACURBeIm3AYidXNju26wNbWwZEBfvmme1OY5I5xsBmJTT0o2KY/w640-h480/P1050767.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>As everyone knows, GEXR is a shortline owned by the Genesee & Wyoming Inc. shortline company, so it's not uncommon to see orange units in the yard that aren't technically GEXR units. In this case, the power was supplied by a Southern Ontario Railway GP38-2 2111 and Huron Eastern GP38-2 3510. Here's a closer look at the Huron Eastern logo, which is a small departure from the G&W logo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBN-APsHijTFZxXyhEN8QPNm_bozjxSucfvTsTCBzGeFVZhU3Vq08CLbFWSCtc0IMz3RPQ8YE-JTFuRkLnZciLnqrjGG1M9QPvXl6a9lKh_lV48KxeZafli2vqA1ShcVkd1j_yO_TaOmsFjW1hfo0jQeMAFB3JqYYA81gFfrJvkYovhVz5wV5jt49cW6W/s4000/P1050740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBN-APsHijTFZxXyhEN8QPNm_bozjxSucfvTsTCBzGeFVZhU3Vq08CLbFWSCtc0IMz3RPQ8YE-JTFuRkLnZciLnqrjGG1M9QPvXl6a9lKh_lV48KxeZafli2vqA1ShcVkd1j_yO_TaOmsFjW1hfo0jQeMAFB3JqYYA81gFfrJvkYovhVz5wV5jt49cW6W/w640-h480/P1050740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>While SOR has been absorbed back into the CN empire, HESR continues to operate close to 400 miles of track in Michigan's thumb area and into Flint and Saginaw in the lower peninsula of the state. Here's something that I thought was odd, though. Since I have been taking shots in this yard in Stratford, I have spotted more G&W units that are not GEXR than I have actual GEXR units. I would imagine the reason for this is that things are likely quite fluid between the various operations that G&W oversees across North America.</p><p>One more observation from this shot. The aftermarket horn on the SOR unit, as it was moving across the crossing, was more like a car horn than a train horn. It was quite pathetic, to be honest! I often see people on train forums that can rhyme off the actual make of horns on engines. In all honesty, that is a level of detail I just don't have room for in my brain.</p><p>Here's shot that required some editing, as the morning sun was playing havoc with my shots. I decided I would accept some form of distortion and shadow for the chance of getting a shot of the engines in action against the backdrop of the grain elevator. I liked how this turned out, despite the obvious imperfections. It screams early morning or late evening. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenGZriAnYinZv0suB945QK9vZQ5vLqSGhIkhTEfpUQkpfQg05xAlO_U6CHG_JwCjs3laOnhn2JXCra6LwuzWRD8BJxew3_4K3GdiiU4r-CjKdbeNRcROxOkEnpKiCq99_wDjAEUXkhRE1PJkizLXZ1Hea8At8FXaHknlR6luP2RkWRspoJOpIg7UgosIR/s3895/P1050753.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2921" data-original-width="3895" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenGZriAnYinZv0suB945QK9vZQ5vLqSGhIkhTEfpUQkpfQg05xAlO_U6CHG_JwCjs3laOnhn2JXCra6LwuzWRD8BJxew3_4K3GdiiU4r-CjKdbeNRcROxOkEnpKiCq99_wDjAEUXkhRE1PJkizLXZ1Hea8At8FXaHknlR6luP2RkWRspoJOpIg7UgosIR/w640-h480/P1050753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's one final shot with a blue sky in it, as the sun was throwing me a bone. The shadows were harsh still, but the colours came through pretty well in this shot as the crew stretched out its consist before backing it up again to pick up more cars. I didn't stick around for it to depart, as my daughters were getting a little impatient, so I decided to wrap up my wanderings shortly after taking this shot and a few more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmgsORCyAdNsC-pPrkUSZCzYywTXXeBn3k5uP0v7U7EbhCGbtToaadwbVHuH1u9oINV7Tm-sDA4C3UqKcLcQLEtYMFmO5g1zXT51ZUIZuY5_pOOM4XP6rgd6OkQC0QFlIbZr_ITGQtb2mTfHU8-4UL8Zu4Qtz4aIEgW8xlUfC-BbkJABwG-t8_ui1INUz/s4000/P1050775.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmgsORCyAdNsC-pPrkUSZCzYywTXXeBn3k5uP0v7U7EbhCGbtToaadwbVHuH1u9oINV7Tm-sDA4C3UqKcLcQLEtYMFmO5g1zXT51ZUIZuY5_pOOM4XP6rgd6OkQC0QFlIbZr_ITGQtb2mTfHU8-4UL8Zu4Qtz4aIEgW8xlUfC-BbkJABwG-t8_ui1INUz/w640-h480/P1050775.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking through my photos from Stratford this summer, I can see I have a lot more to share. This early morning bit of shunting was fun to see but there were a few more surprises the yard still had to offer me. However, it wasn't until I returned to Stratford in November that these surprises were fully revealed. All in all, it was a fun bit of railfanning on a pleasant July morning. And that wasn't counting the mainline freight that came through later on.</p><p>I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break. Here's to more rail musings and conversation in the year to come. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-46988077392918372862023-12-22T08:36:00.004-05:002023-12-22T17:44:57.576-05:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year<p>It's the end of the line for another year. It feels like it did when I was in university and took the train home from Ottawa, arriving in Sarnia. I remember the relief of getting off the train and onto the platform, where my brother was usually the one to pick me up. I feel that way now, sitting in my home office, reflecting on the year and getting off the train, so to speak.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWmPzLMUJbImnEbOQLLYG9N1ZdwpIHX3_WsVfK51WtPiVA8illltageCNQVj2sOVqVH3q058VocC2pG_2swPKoLfTKkECaaBSAN-TF3tdq6SvIJpiY2mVAGolLkPfMM0DTwat7m5IB8XbVEHdsoz3B-SiPbpRZHSK5UpGdKTkWAjD2GUqnkPenOTrLsUX/s4032/IMG_5492.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWmPzLMUJbImnEbOQLLYG9N1ZdwpIHX3_WsVfK51WtPiVA8illltageCNQVj2sOVqVH3q058VocC2pG_2swPKoLfTKkECaaBSAN-TF3tdq6SvIJpiY2mVAGolLkPfMM0DTwat7m5IB8XbVEHdsoz3B-SiPbpRZHSK5UpGdKTkWAjD2GUqnkPenOTrLsUX/w640-h480/IMG_5492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Without getting into detail, this has been a tough year for me and my family, although there have been some bright spots, to be fair. However, I feel more relief than anything that school is winding down today as is my wife's teaching schedule, as well. I'm relieved that the next few weeks at work will likely be quite light, which is great for me as I work from home. It means time to relax with my children with no imminent demands other than spending time with family.</p><p>I can't help but think that, someone, somewhere, is on a train right now, going over their year so far at university. They're proud of what they've accomplished on their own, but they're also secretly thrilled to be going home to their old bed and to the waiting arms of their empty nest parents.</p><p>I can't help but think of some older folks who are taking the train to visit with their grandchildren in a distant city, ready to relive the memories of their own family Christmases, when their own children were just little. Now they can see Christmas through the eyes of their grown-up children, who are carrying on the family traditions in their own way.</p><p>Finally, I can't help but think back to the countless hours I've spent on the train over the years, mostly between Sarnia and Ottawa. They were mostly happy times, as I watched the scenery roll by, talked to friends or listened to music as I relished being home with my family. Now that I'm older and my family doesn't really travel as much at this time of year, I think of those times on the train with greater nostalgia. </p><p>I think of the time I sat behind Walter Gretzky on my way home and how he was holding court with countless people who were coming up to him just to say hi and shake his hand. I think about my high school friend (who went to Queen's University in Kingston) and I spending hours on the train, just cracking each other up for hours, which made the time go by much faster. I think about catching one of the last trains into Ottawa before the massive ice storm essentially shut the city down.</p><p>So many memories, and these are just a few.</p><p>Railways will always hold a special place in my heart, given their role in my family's history and in my own life. Writing about them is a pleasure and it's been quite therapeutic during this very challenging year. </p><p>I will be starting up the blog at some point next year. I might ease the pace to biweekly for a bit, given personal circumstances and my mental health, but I can assure you I have lots of material to share, much of it left over from this year. </p><p>And that's not even considering some train watching I might be able to do over the holidays.</p><p>I thank everyone for stopping by this year. Merry Christmas everyone, and all the best for 2024.</p><p>Cheers,<br /></p><p>Michael <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImqPx3l-nwM5WezYS9xEbcA-pmjRItKxzPdgcm0msySZQRvznZWg0Vv2smZSiYumO3z1y_YyLDjW72FHid-TG8p41IJ4CgrfoGS_PFoij7pLc9LjFgms6ag89mwV6XxHBAMVQFnFK-txW80Z3Jm45dEctMLpzhjj4EYdRcbnnmeiE9Br_uihSSDDcCGtU/s4000/P1050134.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImqPx3l-nwM5WezYS9xEbcA-pmjRItKxzPdgcm0msySZQRvznZWg0Vv2smZSiYumO3z1y_YyLDjW72FHid-TG8p41IJ4CgrfoGS_PFoij7pLc9LjFgms6ag89mwV6XxHBAMVQFnFK-txW80Z3Jm45dEctMLpzhjj4EYdRcbnnmeiE9Br_uihSSDDcCGtU/w640-h480/P1050134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /> </p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-62550697077820136622023-12-12T10:01:00.004-05:002023-12-13T07:46:16.783-05:00Updated: The curious case of the coat hanger<p>This has been a weird year, to be sure. Without getting into details, I have faced a fair bit of adversity, which will culminate in a court hearing where I will attempt to secure a peace bond next week against someone harassing my family. There have been other fairly serious incidents I have found myself dealing with this year. I count about four major challenges, including this latest incident. So any and all pleasant surprises mean that much more to me.<br /></p><p>Through all of the adversity, I am proud to say I have managed to maintain this blog at a rate of about three posts per month, which has been a great source of pride for me and a relief, to be honest. My passion for railways is almost a form of meditation. I find that I can sit trackside, or on a station platform, and just let the sound of the wind and the nearby buzz of life clear my mind. It's my happy place, no matter where the station is or what's happening around me.</p><p>Here's one small surprise that has capped off my year. I came across this hanger at a nearby church a few weeks ago, which was a cool surprise. It got me to thinking.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAmuLdOgyL9tBT7H0kGJHPoFfrItTpLCiHzO_uMNliCc5dM6PndWcI5Rpf4B-HvXqwCftvLEU2KEhNXsgIl7JVAQbZk3cYdIJ-rEGhBR7lzhDawpOviG-qeox5wXxN8WXeVKGO9hH9CziqvqO2nTOjTBAb3CChNGowhb5Iun12IDMJ9OqzbGO7Ne4r54c/s640/IMG_5761.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAmuLdOgyL9tBT7H0kGJHPoFfrItTpLCiHzO_uMNliCc5dM6PndWcI5Rpf4B-HvXqwCftvLEU2KEhNXsgIl7JVAQbZk3cYdIJ-rEGhBR7lzhDawpOviG-qeox5wXxN8WXeVKGO9hH9CziqvqO2nTOjTBAb3CChNGowhb5Iun12IDMJ9OqzbGO7Ne4r54c/w480-h640/IMG_5761.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>When was there ever a time when a railway made its own coat hangers? I thought of a few possibilities. I thought possibly CN had them at its stations, for first class travellers. Maybe they were in place at CN offices? Eric Gagnon of <a href="http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca">Trackside Treasure</a> suggested as well that they could very well have been in place in sleeping compartments on long distance trains, which also makes sense. Here's a view below from a postcard, which shows both CN and CP westbounds in 1971 at the new Ottawa Union Station. Possibly some of these hangers were on this type of train, if it was a long distance train. If it was in corridor service, likely not. Note the Alco/MLW unit on point on the CN train.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxJQnmC-a9GPJqdfrnjVEt9DppB1s7TvIVaHAV40GXLYB1kk5gtJ8lN1q4MEoYBRYPJqas2WcwpzFiULNkocKfog-x5x6gOGvgIAkJ6FrOZ-HAVsSj1bCobUKLxgfbHS-xP6PNsYug_3XQSppUJvtf-yCblchrpzfHyfMahcBej3JmieoNcxaFARe8RZ9/s1600/CN-CP%20Union%20OttawaJune26-71.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxJQnmC-a9GPJqdfrnjVEt9DppB1s7TvIVaHAV40GXLYB1kk5gtJ8lN1q4MEoYBRYPJqas2WcwpzFiULNkocKfog-x5x6gOGvgIAkJ6FrOZ-HAVsSj1bCobUKLxgfbHS-xP6PNsYug_3XQSppUJvtf-yCblchrpzfHyfMahcBej3JmieoNcxaFARe8RZ9/w640-h414/CN-CP%20Union%20OttawaJune26-71.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Eric also recalled that Via Rail had its own hangers that were brown, with the yellow Via logo standing out in raised plastic. </p><p><i>Ed. Note: Originally, I thought this hanger may have been from the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa's classiest hotel and a former CN Hotel property. In my distraction this week while putting together the post, I somehow forgot to add in this original theory of mine. Thanks to Kevin for reminding me! </i><br /></p><p>It made me nostalgic for a time when railways were businesses that were all encompassing operations, from the station, to the rail yard, to the intermodal truck trailers, to the seats on a passenger coach to a ship, to an airplane. There was a time when railways did it all. Who remembers the old orange CP Air planes? I do. </p><p>Needless to say, I took a hanger from home and swapped it out with the CN hanger so I could have a small piece of railway history in my house. I did wonder how these hangers managed to make it into this church. CN was once a thriving operation in Ottawa, but it has not had a major presence here in some time, especially on the passenger side. I am guessing that someone must have worked for this railway locally and taken the hangers to the church before they were thrown out. Just a guess. The hanger is mostly made of wood with a strong steel underframe. They were clearly built to last.<br /></p><p>As we approach Christmas, I had one more image to share. Recently, I was in Waterloo with my family. During my time there, I was able to visit St. Jacobs and the Waterloo Central Railway yard in town. I will have lots of images to share of this yard next year, but there is one image I did want to share of WCR's Christmas caboose. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOsfIUo-1WQ7yOSw0Vq1eghs65x4ibcO7ciSq5ygoZkaPaCDlIlk9s6MKAHeufTGL0Zx2IBuRUvQHxfCyo_QdlCpq56TxqpdvQhHCtLmOsVjrMGe5QPvqK5BlQT_diIBfpbsyIcO-mjJWFxYs-lJ6aP0OgKUhBfp3HRjrk7nrpmu-1BFVusiqtsevKijp/s4000/P1060094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOsfIUo-1WQ7yOSw0Vq1eghs65x4ibcO7ciSq5ygoZkaPaCDlIlk9s6MKAHeufTGL0Zx2IBuRUvQHxfCyo_QdlCpq56TxqpdvQhHCtLmOsVjrMGe5QPvqK5BlQT_diIBfpbsyIcO-mjJWFxYs-lJ6aP0OgKUhBfp3HRjrk7nrpmu-1BFVusiqtsevKijp/w640-h480/P1060094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Even the reporting marks (HOHO) are done with great care. Kudos to this railway for its attention to detail. My daughters were with me at the time and they really liked this caboose. They insisted that I take a few pictures of them in front of it. </p><p>When we visited, the WCR had not yet started offering holiday trains for families, but they were clearly getting the consist ready. A few of the old maroon passenger cars in the yard had been equipped with Christmas lights. It made me think of the time I saw the CP Holiday Train, bedecked in lights, in Finch, Ont. in 2016.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BwGP-Y8OtQ9-80lro3ZDo-eiu8rLf-e8jRdvC18OdTGUlqjAa-EDam8TCQGiFvK9Cw0YP1DSJFn42xyKD0yo7StjBo_JUkyvXoqYauC2D3m94bG6tdPfDhCGjv4uvt2q4SmzGXL-9Zr73v478lETpZ4gCZ99KszNO69cLKlpgogILs-5gJfX0XbBuR0I/s3949/CP%202323%20Finch%20Ont.,%2011-27-16%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2350" data-original-width="3949" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BwGP-Y8OtQ9-80lro3ZDo-eiu8rLf-e8jRdvC18OdTGUlqjAa-EDam8TCQGiFvK9Cw0YP1DSJFn42xyKD0yo7StjBo_JUkyvXoqYauC2D3m94bG6tdPfDhCGjv4uvt2q4SmzGXL-9Zr73v478lETpZ4gCZ99KszNO69cLKlpgogILs-5gJfX0XbBuR0I/w640-h380/CP%202323%20Finch%20Ont.,%2011-27-16%20(87).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The caboose was a nice scene on a chilly November morning. </p><p>I bring up these things just to point out a few bright points and a few surprises from this last year, which has been a challenging one. Here's to a few more brights spots on the horizon.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-73427433598126143192023-12-01T12:24:00.001-05:002023-12-01T12:24:22.423-05:00Along the main line in Kitchener<p>I don't know what it is about Kitchener, but I have had some good luck in this city in the few times I have visited the area. You might remember that <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2018/01/making-up-for-lost-time-catching-up.html">I caught some GEXR action in the grey and rain</a> one time at the Lancaster Street crossing in 2018. In November, I was in Kitchener-Waterloo for a conference where I was giving a mental health presentation, which left me with some spare time to do little exploring and some railfanning in St. Jacobs and in Kitchener. </p><p>Much has changed since I got those shots of the Goderich Exeter Railway in 2018. For one, the Guelph Subdivision in now back in CN's hands while the trackage east of the city into Toronto is essentially in the hands of Metrolinx. The last time I was in Kitchener last year, I didn't catch anything. But on the whole, it's been a spot where I've had a lot of success. It makes up for the years I lived in the city and didn't take any railway shots. <br /></p><p>This time around, when I was approaching the Lancaster Street crossing near Victoria Street, I noticed that a CN conductor was flagging the crossing, which I found a bit curious, since the signals and gates were operating. It turned out, there was a crew in the Kitchener yard assembling a train. I managed to park my car in a nearby parking lot and walk down a sidewalk to get a few shots of the motive power shunting cars near the crossing. This was the first shot, which was taken from the west sidewalk on Lancaster. There were three four-axle geeps at work, two with the sergeant stripes. Interesting that the lead unit did not have its headlight on. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR63qXALOH09Upzqn7sdLFQkNL7IRZS6tW6zRND00z59slt1ofoCAc1Yy6TfBcpL-u62GOIgOvdh1x1HGmIy0HpcTuExU86YDiYymyVPpHrwqqGiyBxjE6cb8mrGKfCT-bJYp4nvsRzAqXaiC_FVtF0-P7FcxrsuHtEZ2U67Kkf6zX5PFLteBBDVm9QMYH/s3198/IMG_5535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="3198" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR63qXALOH09Upzqn7sdLFQkNL7IRZS6tW6zRND00z59slt1ofoCAc1Yy6TfBcpL-u62GOIgOvdh1x1HGmIy0HpcTuExU86YDiYymyVPpHrwqqGiyBxjE6cb8mrGKfCT-bJYp4nvsRzAqXaiC_FVtF0-P7FcxrsuHtEZ2U67Kkf6zX5PFLteBBDVm9QMYH/w640-h366/IMG_5535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a shot closer to the crossing. You can see that the crew had the power partially on the main line, as they hitched onto some hopper and tank cars in the yard. I waited around for a few minutes, to see what they were going to do, but my daughters were a little restless in my car, so I decided to move on. The early morning sun was not making it easy to get a shot, since many angles were a no-go due to the harsh light washing out images and casting unworkable shadows.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u4ljeFQ7cyZgKHd6sq_Fnp2sxXtWbgGmXxAPTa1g72YZz5rfRekmqoUqxei4BdD4fwWqUEu9vr_eVwAchEPZrcT45OXvD1v14Gs5voeXqbZjpoqvAlKAChJ_XACOYir6oCCJLZYpfyeOOxTW4heDR9Hsc1oLOERRcDKfdpkBChDJcnjHWvFNd-1cO_Um/s3380/IMG_5540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="3380" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u4ljeFQ7cyZgKHd6sq_Fnp2sxXtWbgGmXxAPTa1g72YZz5rfRekmqoUqxei4BdD4fwWqUEu9vr_eVwAchEPZrcT45OXvD1v14Gs5voeXqbZjpoqvAlKAChJ_XACOYir6oCCJLZYpfyeOOxTW4heDR9Hsc1oLOERRcDKfdpkBChDJcnjHWvFNd-1cO_Um/w640-h410/IMG_5540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>We were about to leave the area and make our way to the nearby Kitchener Via station near the corner of Victoria and Weber streets when the crew had the geeps moving again. They moved back into the yard in a position where the light was over my shoulder. it made for a decent shot, especially with the curved track. The zoom on the camera made it seem like I was in the yard, when I was still at the Lancaster crossing. Always stay on public property and be aware of the train's movement. Again, even with the engines moving, there was no light on the lead unit shining.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ux25pkx_OFACGBIFCX1PyCUnG3MbtdESZMifwkEXeLWBHJIHUIm97HGe7q7oKuMSq3PLAb8-koslbQSvHfPFPQ78Jhnk3P04EwWytvk6XFZdYdZPUSXqZllHvz5V8bbNuoiWBAv6FFicYu2QjdbSpuG1aeYnKIBKqmbcSBkhlIhwd6C6LHoBJPnMAv36/s3896/P1060119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="3896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ux25pkx_OFACGBIFCX1PyCUnG3MbtdESZMifwkEXeLWBHJIHUIm97HGe7q7oKuMSq3PLAb8-koslbQSvHfPFPQ78Jhnk3P04EwWytvk6XFZdYdZPUSXqZllHvz5V8bbNuoiWBAv6FFicYu2QjdbSpuG1aeYnKIBKqmbcSBkhlIhwd6C6LHoBJPnMAv36/w640-h480/P1060119.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Within a few minutes, we were at the Via station just to see if there was anything to see, as I often say. See what there is to see. It's something railfans in Ottawa usually resort to, in the absence of a sure thing. The signals on the main line suggested there was nothing to see, which was fine. I like the Kitchener station. It's a nice old station, even if it's a little ragged around the edges. It's clearly seen better days, but it fits the character of Kitchener, which is as tough a town as I've ever seen. Also a town of good people, I should add. Great people, in fact. To be honest, it did appear as though some maintenance had been done to this old station in recent years.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNsGqhCRAmWGukhcTaU8UOlrCJ4v3HFRzscPC4sB0cfLkKsrRwAQPvnR75DN30HHw-K0IptQv6dq43kB8Nh2AaFBxDvQsx3MPVzztsONQS-mQkmSC8BSrNCDW6yj0cUS2vbjJgl1WkuSEojuyzG-teuQ6waRPtxzLx4_HzpawG7RMTACqQcQTrJaWpfbF/s4000/P1060122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNsGqhCRAmWGukhcTaU8UOlrCJ4v3HFRzscPC4sB0cfLkKsrRwAQPvnR75DN30HHw-K0IptQv6dq43kB8Nh2AaFBxDvQsx3MPVzztsONQS-mQkmSC8BSrNCDW6yj0cUS2vbjJgl1WkuSEojuyzG-teuQ6waRPtxzLx4_HzpawG7RMTACqQcQTrJaWpfbF/w640-h480/P1060122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I took a quick shot of the station and roamed the platform a bit. I've taken Via from Kitchener into Toronto a few times, since when I lived in the city, the GO Train service was not yet established. Speaking of the GO Train, as I looked east down the tracks from the eastern edge of the platform, I could see the trains parked on a spur just past the Weber Street flyover. In this shot below, I wanted to get as much of the cityscape in as I could. Here you can see the topography that the rail line traverses, a piece of the flyover and the GO Trains on the north side of the main line. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WmmXquubcTlBGf1PwaO-mtF7H6LGClnpm-r4puI8TxIv_FVRyKoEIa-_dbO0gcELkNLRBd0WlDqhGy1Lc3O836N1-Vr5VrNDXSsN4t5EYrhX9Aaz5uWxkIuZI3nXlSMAgHVAh8Ulbm6FLDMwEvBbEL-D1HsWoZRoPPB62Bg4FuMowrba0RCOH9jY-Fci/s4000/P1060123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WmmXquubcTlBGf1PwaO-mtF7H6LGClnpm-r4puI8TxIv_FVRyKoEIa-_dbO0gcELkNLRBd0WlDqhGy1Lc3O836N1-Vr5VrNDXSsN4t5EYrhX9Aaz5uWxkIuZI3nXlSMAgHVAh8Ulbm6FLDMwEvBbEL-D1HsWoZRoPPB62Bg4FuMowrba0RCOH9jY-Fci/w640-h480/P1060123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The last shot I took was an attempt to get the trains in the shot with fewer visual distractions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LArnikp5LToJB0vZwotKuMDakDEGp4tZMpIw5g9zCbWk_gaGxlfEj1524K5a5KBr4NR5zkASld4tOJrUcaqgW-8HpTYy3O1Ntqfi8K6bl9g5b9ahUn2AXX10iTVwddoL8gpFP6mnsfgJEGME7g9UqOQwRgEJCdnSFnYl9jCBbu5isuZKz36O7VXNW1o_/s4000/P1060126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LArnikp5LToJB0vZwotKuMDakDEGp4tZMpIw5g9zCbWk_gaGxlfEj1524K5a5KBr4NR5zkASld4tOJrUcaqgW-8HpTYy3O1Ntqfi8K6bl9g5b9ahUn2AXX10iTVwddoL8gpFP6mnsfgJEGME7g9UqOQwRgEJCdnSFnYl9jCBbu5isuZKz36O7VXNW1o_/w640-h480/P1060126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm not sure it's all the much better, but the other shots where I zoomed in were not as sharp as this image. I made sure to keep the signals in the shot as well as the main line, as I think the topography is a visually interesting element. </p><p>On the same trip, I took my girls up toe St. Jacobs to have a look at the Waterloo Central Railway yard on the Elmira Subdivision. That trip unearthed some surprises, which delighted not only me but my daughters as well, but I will save that for another post. </p><p>All in all, it was a fun trip back to a city where I lived for a short while. It's interesting that I maintain such fondness for a place where I barely lived two years. I chalk it up to the people I met when I lived there. I will say this about Kitchener. Good people. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-41560213601031867102023-11-20T10:23:00.005-05:002023-11-20T12:01:14.431-05:00On The Road Again<p>I'm pleased to be able to offer up something new, which is a little less heavy than my previous two posts. I thank those of you who reached out to me regarding my post about mental health and the situation my family and I find ourselves in at the moment. I'm happy to say that the situation has stabilized as the police have helped us restore calm for the time being. My mental health has improved and I am starting to feel more like myself again.</p><p>Recently, my family went on a short trip to Waterloo, Ont. for a music conference. This was a business trip for my wife, as she is the chair of a provincial music association. For me, I was giving a mental health presentation, but it was also a chance to get out of Ottawa and visit family in nearby Stratford. I have a pile of interesting pictures from Stratford, including some images from my summer visit, but I will save those for other posts.</p><p>I should also note that I had a chance to visit the Waterloo Central Railway yard in St. Jacobs and the CN yard in Kitchener, both of which yielded some cool, and even unexpected, shots. It was an incredibly productive trip for me as a train-starved railfan. <br /></p><p>For this post, I wanted to share some images captured while my family was travelling to and from Waterloo. <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2016/09/on-road-in-london-and-toronto.html">This has always been a fun game I have played while on Highway 401</a>. In this case, we had incredible luck, as my wife managed to get some fantastic images of trains.</p><p>Our first meet was in Kingston, as we were approaching the Highway 15 interchange, where the CN Kingston Subdivision is visible from the highway. An eastbound local had made its way past the highway overpass <i>(Ed note: A reader said the photo was likely taken near County Road 11A)</i> when my wife captured this image. The train is being led by CN ES44AC 2933, with two boxcars and a long string of covered hoppers in tow. As we were going in opposite directions, I give my wife full credit for getting this shot. I have really grown to love these shots, which are from a distance and do not have any of the 3/4 wedge effect. It's almost a full-on parallel shot. I am of the opinion that a train image doesn't need to have the train as the dominant feature in the image for the shot to be compelling.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGhkQAbD5pMYUgLYYiBG3SzAlKDWoP1FeGNti1NfCDzubRfWRvyEZFe1VqKDPH2fdR0fCXSTBSwEmYX7ieJK4HHE0TEmp7NGAUbv7j97ZYQeyGwljFRo5-vaW0xJzmd037tug91Nm-NJ0cPTxosQ5eCJsMDH9KLcvfFopEwYVvj5-mqyESPrZAHShnr3v/s3206/IMG_5328.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2369" data-original-width="3206" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGhkQAbD5pMYUgLYYiBG3SzAlKDWoP1FeGNti1NfCDzubRfWRvyEZFe1VqKDPH2fdR0fCXSTBSwEmYX7ieJK4HHE0TEmp7NGAUbv7j97ZYQeyGwljFRo5-vaW0xJzmd037tug91Nm-NJ0cPTxosQ5eCJsMDH9KLcvfFopEwYVvj5-mqyESPrZAHShnr3v/w640-h472/IMG_5328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>We didn't see anything else on our way, since we were driving fairly late and the darkness prevented any further shots. But I did get this shot of a fading western sunset as we were on the 401 in the Toronto area. I was in the passenger seat at the time, I should add. All these images, in fact, were taken from the front passenger seat. Safety first!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjDbPsZkm2WZxCeCOA-LAAuvDOlW5YSp9BUz0d977dJfZyR96KuZDxz1hVa76lXAP7ujPvQf4nBhFSkO0MAHBJbbK5Gji9bpLZ8EB-xB6qBdqEidnEF53EczHB8kPb7qA-HjLJM6ZEanx4AIAA3DDawO1LiHNeF-voafjKK0BUu1slSny2EqTt4-qIHK1/s4032/IMG_5507.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjDbPsZkm2WZxCeCOA-LAAuvDOlW5YSp9BUz0d977dJfZyR96KuZDxz1hVa76lXAP7ujPvQf4nBhFSkO0MAHBJbbK5Gji9bpLZ8EB-xB6qBdqEidnEF53EczHB8kPb7qA-HjLJM6ZEanx4AIAA3DDawO1LiHNeF-voafjKK0BUu1slSny2EqTt4-qIHK1/w640-h480/IMG_5507.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>On the way home, we took the 407 toll highway, as we were leaving on a weekday morning and the traffic around Toronto was a major obstacle to our timely return to Ottawa. I'm glad we took the 407, since we were able to catch this image of three CN units resting near its Brampton yard. This is second time I've caught a string of units on this flyover. Unlike the other time I caught engines on this bridge, this time around, these are all heavy hitters. The last time,<a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-old-guy-in-lead.html"> I remember catching an old GP9 warhorse</a>. This image, again, is courtesy of my wife in the passenger seat. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5eClgFo15qkiiW0eYFXt9PrkyGvyNbbWXuWBjEMxzP6RJnwv9FudDZIhetxPT2BAXosTNboFkENAVnSF8t1WqrxPTdPCAtBGU1gHTwzF1VMk-VqbBvgw1nJpbH6r0Dwm-0lNsiaI6KcntcpyGKcsu0ONj6Tzc5HUdIuZg3fImp64THXj9JOds6LoMNlM/s2834/IMG_5364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2834" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5eClgFo15qkiiW0eYFXt9PrkyGvyNbbWXuWBjEMxzP6RJnwv9FudDZIhetxPT2BAXosTNboFkENAVnSF8t1WqrxPTdPCAtBGU1gHTwzF1VMk-VqbBvgw1nJpbH6r0Dwm-0lNsiaI6KcntcpyGKcsu0ONj6Tzc5HUdIuZg3fImp64THXj9JOds6LoMNlM/w640-h400/IMG_5364.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>A little further along, after we had rejoined the eastbound 401, we were travelling through Clarington on the east side of the GTA when we levelled up to an eastbound freight train that was moving at a pretty good clip.</p><p>My wife managed to snag a pretty decent shot of the DPU unit operating mid-train. Once again, I love that this shot captures more than just the train. The cloud bank in the sky and the scattered sunshine makes for a visually interesting image. You can see the DPU peaking out between some brush, as well as some lumber cars, a boxcar and a tank car. The DPU is CN 2222, an ES44DC.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWgp11gxVlPLJBydW7AJrME4chdYEOdDvbK6IQp9OM3AszuXuQOulPDA985ShLCMjNze5KF6KMiEcXl3d72JrS4mi_vrDPAoBs-xglFbP0S9Km-Ud_KRfvO0T823yLKoVKAxStuqGRf3-UrH8z90RDMzrR5gUvpw386z6m9Xw80oVzxk8VbqyRqR8c7N3/s4032/IMG_5369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="4032" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWgp11gxVlPLJBydW7AJrME4chdYEOdDvbK6IQp9OM3AszuXuQOulPDA985ShLCMjNze5KF6KMiEcXl3d72JrS4mi_vrDPAoBs-xglFbP0S9Km-Ud_KRfvO0T823yLKoVKAxStuqGRf3-UrH8z90RDMzrR5gUvpw386z6m9Xw80oVzxk8VbqyRqR8c7N3/w640-h332/IMG_5369.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sadly, we were not able to successfully get the front end of the train, as the roadside brush and the differing speeds of the train and our car meant we couldn't find a clear line of sight, although I will say that the train was lead by a lone unit, possibly another ES44DC. I can't be sure, as I only had time to quickly glance over since I was driving.</p><p>As I have mentioned before, I always try to snag a few bonus train shots when I am travelling along the 401, as the CN mainline parallels the highway for a stretch in Kingston, as well as in parts of Toronto. We did pass by CP trackage a few times in our travels as well, but I was not able to catch any CP trains, which is a shame.</p><p>Much of my photography this year has been remarkably consistent in that the railways featured on this blog are predominantly CN and Via. In the coming weeks and months, I aim to change that, simply by sharing some great shots of the Goderich Exeter Railway in Straford and some shots of the Waterloo Central Railway in St. Jacobs. </p><p>Stay tuned.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-79768539969600829482023-11-09T11:58:00.002-05:002023-11-11T17:24:31.076-05:00A Remembrance Day story of bravery, second chances, gratitude and trains<p>I have often shared stories of my father's side of the family, since my grandfather and all my uncles worked for the Canadian Pacific or Via Rail at one point in their lives. One story I have not told is the story of my mother. And yes, railways play a large part in her story as well. I am sharing this story now, as it is close to Remembrance Day in Canada and this part of my family's story is quite compelling.</p><p>My grandfather on my Italian side (we called him Nonno) came to Canada following the end of the Second World War. He had been forced to serve in the Italian army under Mussolini and then had to retreat back to Italy while avoiding the Germans, when Mussolini was assassinated and the Italians left the Axis powers. </p><p>The story about my grandfather goes that he and his friends found themselves disbanded as part of an occupying force in the former Yugoslavia. When the army disbanded, they had to ditch their uniforms and sneak across the entire country under the cover of night, to avoid Germans, who were hunting down Italians as traitors. My Nonno relayed to my uncle that they had to rely on the kindness of the people whose country they were occupying, to provide them food, clothes and places to sleep. What made things worse for his group was that one of their comrades was injured and could not walk. </p><p>He told my Nonno and the other troops to leave him there, but they made the decision that he was not going to be left behind. Instead, they fashioned a sled and used their belts to drag him across the country until they safely returned to Northern Italy. The did it because they all agreed they couldn't face his family if they left him in Yugoslavia. It's an amazing story and it's the only war story that I know of in my family. It's hard to imagine someone I know being forced to survive like that. </p><p>My Nonno came to Canada on his own and took a job as a track labourer for the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Crowsnest Pass area in British Columbia. There he worked until he could earn enough money to secure passage for his family to come to Canada (Both of my grandfathers worked for the CPR). My Nonno never forgot what Canada had given him: A second chance. He lived in the Italian community in Windsor and was one of the people who built the Fogolar Furlan Italian community centre. To the day he died, he always had an Italian flag and a Canadian flag where he lived. This shot below is a rare image of him and my Nonna in Windsor in the 1950s. That little guy wandering around is my Uncle John (Giovani).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNycmoe8N89dwG23Cuqx8cs0KEsS4vTmjPbpsUjthyphenhyphenCFM33jj1t4j5-a5yiXRJviFhFlCVKVDFEmJ9YTss8VCf_3a4DDj430qpved8okY-fbLBdcdhCZE1bMlAbXXO9frm81ax3tyNTspAMzLqoDrEf8zZ3n4PotyRoGONeaLtrEygjxFXluDs13z2Ibo/s1212/IMG_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1212" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNycmoe8N89dwG23Cuqx8cs0KEsS4vTmjPbpsUjthyphenhyphenCFM33jj1t4j5-a5yiXRJviFhFlCVKVDFEmJ9YTss8VCf_3a4DDj430qpved8okY-fbLBdcdhCZE1bMlAbXXO9frm81ax3tyNTspAMzLqoDrEf8zZ3n4PotyRoGONeaLtrEygjxFXluDs13z2Ibo/w640-h418/IMG_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>My mother came to Canada when she was seven years old. She didn't remember much of the ship that took her from her home in Northern Italy to Halifax. But she told me that her first memory of that time landing in Halifax at Pier 21 was how cold it felt, which shocked her. She told me as well that she remembered sitting on long wooden benches at the Pier 21 processing facility, as her family was brought into Canada. I had a chance to visit this historic site and it was a powerful experience for me, a first generation Canadian on my mother's side. Her entry in Halifax would have been around 1956. It's quite possible that she was brought to Windsor by a steam engine. Possibly. This would have been right around the full transition to diesel F units.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1N-1wL0_zmWbcoiOMjie3HO1fWuYZ5AiSoVIgpf2LiCjwn2Wm7_k2x9WZAO9GJZRELxKaWij0wzjT2HgGc8vTOcCv3BVrbv23Qmsf-WPNTrPpG96sWl5vy_9lhvU82myquV9zolwaW5i9mNXU9NifItHDQeQ8fWW6YB4XQEvjIDMB0z2RDX8huyX_kou/s3300/Steamie%20Date%20unknown%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="3300" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1N-1wL0_zmWbcoiOMjie3HO1fWuYZ5AiSoVIgpf2LiCjwn2Wm7_k2x9WZAO9GJZRELxKaWij0wzjT2HgGc8vTOcCv3BVrbv23Qmsf-WPNTrPpG96sWl5vy_9lhvU82myquV9zolwaW5i9mNXU9NifItHDQeQ8fWW6YB4XQEvjIDMB0z2RDX8huyX_kou/w640-h486/Steamie%20Date%20unknown%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I wonder about her route. I doubt it took her through Ottawa. If it had, she would not have gone through the Tremblay Road station, as the downtown Union Station was still operational, next to the Rideau Canal in the 1950s. But if she was on a train with diesel power on CP, it would have looked something like this below, I think. This is the eastbound <i>Dominion</i> with an E unit in 1967. It would definitely have been on cars that were maroon and grey,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsM16J_5AVBJqKgwkr7VpYmK5D6h08c_4jJSRxa_PkL9ASRyyn5xX6VB8ztBHsTsrSGhdp3X0YWeGGjbYGtSDHquamS6YTarziaLw1vo61K7Ia-uRQ447gWyf4iBGraSUuZ5P_QunkiVmedkqE5JFXAsIUEbI81HWMSUEBDHwDXt6ZgOCAmjds7haHz3O/s1623/CPR-Ottawa1967-Rideau.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1623" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsM16J_5AVBJqKgwkr7VpYmK5D6h08c_4jJSRxa_PkL9ASRyyn5xX6VB8ztBHsTsrSGhdp3X0YWeGGjbYGtSDHquamS6YTarziaLw1vo61K7Ia-uRQ447gWyf4iBGraSUuZ5P_QunkiVmedkqE5JFXAsIUEbI81HWMSUEBDHwDXt6ZgOCAmjds7haHz3O/w640-h408/CPR-Ottawa1967-Rideau.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Could she have ridden on an old heavyweight maroon coach like these on the CPR Christmas Train in Finch Ont.? I wonder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d8zTAEIJSv0CiNV8-4ydnAjyenmHzFuhrLwZOzMulW7ko9Q8zOCF4cC9M7_bUmKkr6EjFpqLSAKGqJe2THvpskByfQge-n2eDNl_pYPNT4cuwM9O6bZPJ-a1RA4xrxOjyzGNgeMvpvvqJAmqpi0WuoaGAvoGbUpOVNFUw76cJhKpyy0toZOIEbfDgqsu/s4000/CP%202323%20Finch%20Ont.,%2011-27-16%20(71).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d8zTAEIJSv0CiNV8-4ydnAjyenmHzFuhrLwZOzMulW7ko9Q8zOCF4cC9M7_bUmKkr6EjFpqLSAKGqJe2THvpskByfQge-n2eDNl_pYPNT4cuwM9O6bZPJ-a1RA4xrxOjyzGNgeMvpvvqJAmqpi0WuoaGAvoGbUpOVNFUw76cJhKpyy0toZOIEbfDgqsu/w640-h480/CP%202323%20Finch%20Ont.,%2011-27-16%20(71).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>From Halifax, my mom only told me how utterly long and exhausting the train ride was that brought her all the way to her new home in Windsor, Ont. I can't imagine how much of a shock it would have been to immigrants to truly experience the immensity of this country for the first time, which is unlike anything in Europe. I don't know what railway she would have taken, but I assume it might have been a little of both the CNR and CPR, given where her trip started and where it ended. I can also imagine there were likely connections to be made in Montreal at the old Windsor Station (Windsor Station in Montreal, explain that to an immigrant heading to Windsor!) and in Toronto at the Union Station.</p><p>My mom ended up growing up in Windsor, where she graduated from an all-girls school, St. Mary's Academy, before embarking on a career in teaching. She told me growing up in Windsor was tough in the 1950s and 1960s, as Italians were subject to fierce discrimination, which is understandable given their role in the Axis powers under their dictator. </p><p>But it was a happy ending for my mom, as she found a peaceful life in Canada, free of the uncertainty and poverty in post-war Northern Italy. She didn't tell me all that much about her entry into Canada, except to say that it was an eye-opening experience on the train. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp8T8iM12L4h6ZrlK9TAo9-KPmmZSWnoX3LDpehT8wCzT9xolAfAdmkRdKN76vfTt7qUZP11Nl6Xkj61gAf7_knIzro1GPB2is7RyMRCoMpsI_yy1vQzSd8MdVKKyP8TpgWi_0BigVHmTxE_vJDtzNVMEmvC6ou4pn5DwUhQ4VHmXaMD3dETgthM3RM2u/s1656/img333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="1164" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp8T8iM12L4h6ZrlK9TAo9-KPmmZSWnoX3LDpehT8wCzT9xolAfAdmkRdKN76vfTt7qUZP11Nl6Xkj61gAf7_knIzro1GPB2is7RyMRCoMpsI_yy1vQzSd8MdVKKyP8TpgWi_0BigVHmTxE_vJDtzNVMEmvC6ou4pn5DwUhQ4VHmXaMD3dETgthM3RM2u/w450-h640/img333.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>My Uncle John, My Nonno and me at Heritage Park in Calgary in the early 1990s.</i></b></div></b><p>I wonder how many other families have similar stories about this country involving a train bringing them to their new home. Every Remembrance Day, I have mixed feelings, given my family history. I am thankful for those who served for my benefit. I have only ever considered myself a Canadian. I am lucky that my grandfather on my father's side was exempted from military service, since he was missing a finger on his trigger hand. </p><p>Despite my Italian family's history, which began on the wrong side of the Second World War, this country gave them a second chance, and much of that was due to the sacrifices of the brave Canadians who served for my family's freedom. For that, I am thankful and I remember.</p><p><br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-76814070518076888762023-11-02T12:52:00.008-04:002023-11-03T08:31:31.669-04:00Every picture tells a story, sometimes a story you don't expect<p>I want to share a few photos with you that tell stories that you would never know about, unless you took the photo. I am sharing these photos, some seen before, to illustrate a point. I have often sought refuge trackside amid the storms of my life. And when I mention storms, I'm not talking necessarily about tough times. Yes, we all go through tough times. I'm talking about the mental health struggles that I experience when some of these tough times pop up in my life.</p><p>Exhibit A is this photo I took of Via Train 59 last night in the dying daylight around 6 p.m. It was taken from the Hunt Club Road overpass. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJXTc3W8XGocLoK-8UFc9wG2O3H4_dGp-UmraCruzyvMwCCHHOXsS6F3H1P2EQntL0PBh0mMJvBR2GKML2ChqNK2s07bpJkFHnnY1Omi5X6F2aciiTgutZX1yoSavIx1eMXPHKmihWrMHHFd-bpDVMyOMnRVe2xp1vGaD6806fD2ggICbDGqK6EtQNdli/s4032/Nov%201%20-%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJXTc3W8XGocLoK-8UFc9wG2O3H4_dGp-UmraCruzyvMwCCHHOXsS6F3H1P2EQntL0PBh0mMJvBR2GKML2ChqNK2s07bpJkFHnnY1Omi5X6F2aciiTgutZX1yoSavIx1eMXPHKmihWrMHHFd-bpDVMyOMnRVe2xp1vGaD6806fD2ggICbDGqK6EtQNdli/w640-h480/Nov%201%20-%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I have been taking a photo of this train each Wednesday for months. Most evenings in the summer, it was something to do while I waited for my daughter's dance class to finish. I intend to share all the different styles and angles I employed over the course of this year at a later date.</p><p>But last night, I allowed myself to think about the people riding that train. Were they happy? Were they going to see loved ones? Was their journey bittersweet as they might have been leaving family? Were they headed toward some exciting adventure in Toronto? Were they getting off at one of the stops in between? </p><p>In many ways, the train is a microcosm of our society. There are so many stories being told on each train that takes people from Point A to Point B. The stories lie in the why. Why are people going where they're going? Why are they taking the train? Why this train? Why the evening? </p><p>I had a similar moment like this in 2016 when I was a father for the second time and I was driving around my baby daughter to get her to relax a little bit. She didn't like me all that much and was not too happy when Mom went to work and she was stuck with me, a person who couldn't feed her. </p><p>So, we went for drives in the country and one time, I took this shot near Twin Elm, which is one of my favourite shots of all time. I thought about the people in that train at that moment, and wondered about their stories and the welcome they would receive when they reached their final stop.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzA1E2G0btiyTAPlIMCnq3c5clp2rdQSfCHv43fUoh8xpJNlJyAkJZjjqmE9xh02YI-ciCnMzl_-zGcDJgn27xooov8EXLqDiyNcbbiJ2dT6Kjxl6eQjjdNGB6_jBK-7pl52E8HkKKIsEavPMA0GWOc0wCdoByr8WZd7RRDpfq_N3VQh0AouCRimEB0Ly/s3611/TwinElmRoad408pm-Jan14-16%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="3611" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzA1E2G0btiyTAPlIMCnq3c5clp2rdQSfCHv43fUoh8xpJNlJyAkJZjjqmE9xh02YI-ciCnMzl_-zGcDJgn27xooov8EXLqDiyNcbbiJ2dT6Kjxl6eQjjdNGB6_jBK-7pl52E8HkKKIsEavPMA0GWOc0wCdoByr8WZd7RRDpfq_N3VQh0AouCRimEB0Ly/w640-h376/TwinElmRoad408pm-Jan14-16%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's one final image to share that is connected to the first two. In each case, merely seeing a train coming down the track has allowed me to leave my everyday worries, if only for a minute, and become a kid again, marvelling at this massive machine thundering toward me. That sense of awe has never really left me. </p><p>This final image is from Sarnia in 2014, when I caught a train heading west into the St. Clair Tunnel. You can see it going downgrade pretty fast in the shot.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz6o-MexuLypKTutZCz8yoiyXCA2I7EeZ4jNzv8ZdfFEgUD3oYoc1nItQs2ivXsOW5-BNs5gIFAaDqKflRWw4zjO5h2wrW14OD1de7peb17Yv5D4moBQ1Nm2Spb8LgpknkZUbjo4q4bSYiBz7pQKzj5Pbp__AhyoWEyY0cY8ua1SlyvaoZuzkCJxiWmOD/s3341/CNSarniaAug18-14%20(41).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2249" data-original-width="3341" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz6o-MexuLypKTutZCz8yoiyXCA2I7EeZ4jNzv8ZdfFEgUD3oYoc1nItQs2ivXsOW5-BNs5gIFAaDqKflRWw4zjO5h2wrW14OD1de7peb17Yv5D4moBQ1Nm2Spb8LgpknkZUbjo4q4bSYiBz7pQKzj5Pbp__AhyoWEyY0cY8ua1SlyvaoZuzkCJxiWmOD/w640-h430/CNSarniaAug18-14%20(41).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>In each case, catching these trains and watching them offered me a break from everyday life. In the case of the image just above, I can clearly remember how much I was struggling with my mental health when I took some time for myself and went hunting down trains before meeting my friend for lunch. At this moment, I remember struggling with the effects of my antidepressants, which were wreaking havoc on my body. I remember hardly being able to hear my friend at lunch, since the medication was making my ears ring or buzz. This was the in the initial stages of a long process where I realized I had to stop taking certain medications to preserve my hearing. Now, nearly 10 years after taking this shot, I have surgery coming up to repair my hearing, which has been affected by medication and a rare hearing disease. I am hearing impaired, which I don't often admit.</p><p>In the case of the second image of the Via near Twin Elm, I was suffering from debilitating anxiety since life with a newborn is tough, especially when you're an insomniac, like I am. Another symptom of my anxiety disorder. At that moment, I recall how tired I was when I took that shot, but how much relief I felt in getting a cool image that made me happy and allowed me to share something compelling with my railway friends online.</p><p>The first photo, taken last night, is the hardest for me describe, because I am going through an extremely difficult time right now. My family has had to make use of the Ottawa Police to protect us from someone in our neighbourhood who is intimidating us and guests to our home. This week, we were successful in getting the police to warn this individual to leave us alone, which was met with a half-hearted agreement. We also have initiated the process to seek a peace bond against this person. </p><p>We have spoken to the police far too many times since September 12, when this mess began. I won't get into too many details, but my family is now in the process of considering moving, as we don't feel safe in our own home. We had to resort to calling 911 last week, which was met with my wife being put on hold for 45 minutes before she was told there would be no response. That resulted in me filing an official complaint through the Ontario body that polices the police.<br /></p><p>I was not at home when this last incident happened, which was awful for me, as I had to rush home, with two crying daughters, hoping and praying that my wife was okay.</p><p>Things have cooled off since last week, but everything in my life that should either be a priority or should bring me joy, is taking a back seat to this awful situation. My first priority is to ensure my family's well-being. This blog has not been on schedule as of late, due to this ever-present threat and my debilitating anxiety.</p><p>So last night's photo allowed me to think about something pleasant, if only for a few moments. That's why railways will always be a part of me. Ever since I was a kid, trains have made me happy. It's something that is in short supply right now. We really need to cling to things that bring us joy in life. </p><p>This November, the <a href="https://ca.movember.com/">Movember</a> movement has expanded its mission to also focus on men's mental health, suicide prevention mainly. Men are four times more likely to die of suicide than women. That's a staggering statistic. I ask that if you know of anyone raising Movember funds this month, please consider a donation. </p><p>And keep doing what you love. You never know how important the little things might become. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-24408916776775235032023-10-22T12:11:00.002-04:002023-10-22T12:11:34.153-04:00Fall Observations in Ottawa<p>Today seems like the typical October day we are all accustomed to here in Ottawa. It's cold, rainy and the leaves are falling from the trees like the rain. We're finally seeing some colour in the leaves, thanks to the overly warm late summer weather vacating the region. </p><p>I haven't done a great deal of railfanning lately, some of which is due to a stressful situation that has been ongoing since early September. This has taken its toll on my mental health. I don't usually share things like this on here, but this is the reason my posts have not been punctual and I really don't know what hiding the reasons does for me. As a mental health public speaker, I am reminding myself to just own it. So, that is my explanation. </p><p>I did get trackside earlier this week and noticed that the Siemens work crews were busy dismantling an old industrial spur near Hunt Club Road, on the Smiths Falls Subdivision. This image below, taken from the Hunt Club overpass, shows some of the results of the work on the mainline.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwmzVcjWRoEQSRwms138j6boQOMHLwQ7jLA1gcZXmJDqDXlsctyiqXBvEa1CWuWIJvzJHvgGlKkpYgmz6SRp1TqWR9biPWjPem9-y6cCzm_nbYqU-_-FMJI-FGdL5NJtYKv5j45aSLKtWs-0YxDcBkweqntQGMSuLlRLMz2Eax0j5DOwWIVpP_MeU-7-D/s4000/P1060048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwmzVcjWRoEQSRwms138j6boQOMHLwQ7jLA1gcZXmJDqDXlsctyiqXBvEa1CWuWIJvzJHvgGlKkpYgmz6SRp1TqWR9biPWjPem9-y6cCzm_nbYqU-_-FMJI-FGdL5NJtYKv5j45aSLKtWs-0YxDcBkweqntQGMSuLlRLMz2Eax0j5DOwWIVpP_MeU-7-D/w640-h480/P1060048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Siemens is the successor to RailTerm, which was the company that maintained much of Via's network of tracks in this city. The old spur, which once connected a few businesses on Bentley Avenue to the mainline, still runs behind a few light industrial operations. This image below shows the spur's connection to the mainline now completely dismantled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwuFWf59m_PPAo1b1ctBc9yGWQMLddG-AUx4Dxd06WySIlDWjAECqQAhG5lE4-RaheZoDLHgjPiqpNCc8jPdGsUo6excrJa9SUEqHr4-i9KovOjeu4ODV3kAOKW4aEzqGS2skLXMMNavcbT4BR2QbXJmU_ldJu-rI9Mo-A3nMRa8ZY4vRPtzqtq222K5v/s4000/P1060058.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwuFWf59m_PPAo1b1ctBc9yGWQMLddG-AUx4Dxd06WySIlDWjAECqQAhG5lE4-RaheZoDLHgjPiqpNCc8jPdGsUo6excrJa9SUEqHr4-i9KovOjeu4ODV3kAOKW4aEzqGS2skLXMMNavcbT4BR2QbXJmU_ldJu-rI9Mo-A3nMRa8ZY4vRPtzqtq222K5v/w640-h480/P1060058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The trackage behind the fence doesn't look like it's been used in a number of years, as much of the trackage is completely surrounded by brush and weeds. I can't even begin to guess when there was last rail service to this spur. It seems like 10 years at the very least.</p><p>This shot below shows the old switch stand, ready to be hauled away.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl1BoUEfIcmgifug1KLMeCZAVofVLhQrjDNeCY_Ad3NmcvwIwniL-W9IUg_ol-bZXV5o3QaJnitrIJFTml4Si-cBKJrbtEiPuvXIoOxHoYpcNVsrxf53aKDN7Z7AL2UKcuVXqcLl-IpmS43QU0JgilcvSWvEBfHAwZNDdVYi0Bfn5F-_PoNcl5_GoSbHZ/s4000/P1060060.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl1BoUEfIcmgifug1KLMeCZAVofVLhQrjDNeCY_Ad3NmcvwIwniL-W9IUg_ol-bZXV5o3QaJnitrIJFTml4Si-cBKJrbtEiPuvXIoOxHoYpcNVsrxf53aKDN7Z7AL2UKcuVXqcLl-IpmS43QU0JgilcvSWvEBfHAwZNDdVYi0Bfn5F-_PoNcl5_GoSbHZ/w640-h480/P1060060.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>While I was up on the overpass, I waited for westbound Via Train 59, which passes by this area every evening around 6 p.m., which works for me as I am in the area waiting for my daughter's dance class to finish. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fytP0y5P9-_-uOEqXXNlQSukdjrneb0kofwirtrpMFzQp9-RddrW7nnI6rLshbwryN6axFyWVqaIv82X0Vi1cxEMD93vLyJ35JMoy9QWuKHPpLzAY5UeTaqIOv-y2Qi3wfCS6O7h8LX0KC76nKkIdKf5U5Osdkr6_iTBp92KaWY4iNvLHLqBtoanjJFX/s4000/P1060055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fytP0y5P9-_-uOEqXXNlQSukdjrneb0kofwirtrpMFzQp9-RddrW7nnI6rLshbwryN6axFyWVqaIv82X0Vi1cxEMD93vLyJ35JMoy9QWuKHPpLzAY5UeTaqIOv-y2Qi3wfCS6O7h8LX0KC76nKkIdKf5U5Osdkr6_iTBp92KaWY4iNvLHLqBtoanjJFX/w480-h640/P1060055.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've been setting up here for a few weeks, while I still have some evening light, but I'm thinking that the gathering darkness at this hour will shut down my weekly shots of this train for a while. To be honest, I've run out of ideas for new ways to shoot this train. I've been trying to get a fall shot with lots of colours in the trackside trees, but the unusually warm weather has kept much of the foliage from turning colour. You can see hints of colour in this shot, but it's not what I wanted.</p><p>I'm hoping that, possibly, things will get a bit more interesting soon, as Via Rail has expanded the usage of its <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/06/catching-up-with-next-generation-of-via.html">new Siemens train sets</a> to include a number of Ottawa-Toronto trains. It'll be nice to get some shots of the new equipment, while there's still a novelty to it. I'm sure we'll grow a bit tired of it soon enough.</p><p>Also, OC Transpo is testing its new diesel light rail trains on the expanded Trillium Line, which will now connect from its former southern terminus at Greenboro to Riverside South, with a branch to the Ottawa International Airport. This is likely cold comfort to people who rely on this service, as it was slated to be operational by the end of the year, but is now scheduled to begin next year. The delay is disappointing, but given the complexities of the pandemic and severed supply lines, it's not a big surprise that these delays pushed back the start date.</p><p>Hat tip the Bytown Railway Society for completing its long renovation of <a href="https://bytownrailwaysociety.ca/index.php/equipment/cn-passenger-car">CN passenger coach 4977</a>. The BRS showed off the newly refurbished car on its Facebook page recently and it looks great in its olive green livery. Given the limitations of what the society can do on its trackage at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, it seems like the society is going to try and find a home for the car where can it can actually be put to use. It's a shame the BRS no longer has access to active rails. </p><p>Another tip of the hat to the BRS for successfully completing the new home for its 4-8-4 steam locomotive 6200 on the lawn in front of the museum. The move to a new spot necessitated the laying of temporary track and a move of the old hulk for the first time in many years. The old brute looks great, as the BRS made a few cosmetic upgrades to give the engine a nice shine that befits its status as an Ottawa icon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMVUNY4ua9JJn9fba72oZBk60EVzrP6fFNVklDQg_fqZaa9d8N7J6dqXaKiCRiPuyfkMbHV4u-3lzRl-jsBUCEsCMUWTEiDvWfQmd2A7qE1gPEzCYl5UkpPmTtfMosTQlcZNXspNNt-Sv0jSPksdUO-RH5qKPr829leRk4htc1wryciwMFKHG_Z2Ws90E/s4000/March8-13%20021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMVUNY4ua9JJn9fba72oZBk60EVzrP6fFNVklDQg_fqZaa9d8N7J6dqXaKiCRiPuyfkMbHV4u-3lzRl-jsBUCEsCMUWTEiDvWfQmd2A7qE1gPEzCYl5UkpPmTtfMosTQlcZNXspNNt-Sv0jSPksdUO-RH5qKPr829leRk4htc1wryciwMFKHG_Z2Ws90E/w480-h640/March8-13%20021.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's a shot of the engine from 10 years ago, without its number plates or brass bell. Its looks evene better now.<br /></p><p>I'm hoping to have a little more to share in the coming weeks, as my family will be travelling and I will have the chance to get to other parts of the city, due to a number of appointments outside my west-end neighbourhood. Sometimes, I need the necessity of appointments and business to get out there and explore a bit soemtimes. Whatever it takes.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-71585239318517579872023-10-09T12:02:00.002-04:002023-10-09T12:02:33.708-04:00Beachburg Sub Post 400: Time to give thanks<p><b><i>Stratford, Part III </i></b></p><p>A little serendipity on this Thanksgiving Monday in Canada, as I was sifting through my recent photos and wondering what to share for this latest post. When I scrolled through my recent posts, I realized that this post will mark my 400th since I began this blog in 2013. There have been a few bumps along the way and a sabbatical, but it's still pretty cool to reach 400. Think of how many hockey players have reached 400 goals or how many baseball players have reached 400 home runs. It's a little different on the Interweb, as you can easily produce and proliferate at a prodigious pace (that pun is for Eric Gagnon of <a href="http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca">Trackside Treasure</a>). Nonetheless, I am happy to hit this round number. <br /></p><p>In late July and early August, I was in Stratford for a family reunion, which allowed me several opportunities to see trains. You can see the photos of a <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/08/get-on-go-while-you-can-stratford-part-i.html">meet between a GO Train and CN freight in this post</a>. Or, if you prefer freight, you can check out some of the rolling stock on the freight train waiting in the hole for the GO Train. Those images of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/09/mainline-freight-action-near-station.html">CN 581 and a few interesting cars are in this post</a>.</p><p>Earlier during my stay, I caught a westbound freight train making its way through the yard, although the train was initially waiting behind a signal to proceed, so I was lucky to get the chance to set up and get a few shots of it waiting. Since I could not see the signal from my vantage point on the public platform, I'll leave it to you to figure out.</p><p>This was my first shot of CN 568 westbound, waiting to proceed from the signal, which is not seen in this image. You can see the Masterfeeds elevators just to east of the yard and a few strings of covered hoppers. This was not an easy shot to get. There are a number of visual hazards at the edge of the Stratford station platform that were not there prior to the GO Train experiment in Southwestern Ontario.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajMcFEqB9CABQCVIX22_Hv3Uo4KWSy1PD80Nn2v3bMWLoJt00VDIpsbyKA5lR5i8BSyjZ6gsIySqljqqEleizA-OMWtiW-jNnWwAnjXwO8j3-_izxAa3epqRcUrUzeZSgAq7NSMbRuLZQ_ZL0pawj90PErNnFbjx7oH5dhm8hppYUFu8HbIJL70p4jXnx/s3909/P1050829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3909" data-original-width="2933" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajMcFEqB9CABQCVIX22_Hv3Uo4KWSy1PD80Nn2v3bMWLoJt00VDIpsbyKA5lR5i8BSyjZ6gsIySqljqqEleizA-OMWtiW-jNnWwAnjXwO8j3-_izxAa3epqRcUrUzeZSgAq7NSMbRuLZQ_ZL0pawj90PErNnFbjx7oH5dhm8hppYUFu8HbIJL70p4jXnx/w480-h640/P1050829.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>This shot gives you an idea of what you need to work around when you see a westbound train approaching the platform. Not an easy task to work through these distractions to get a clean shot!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBihERYt5b4Z5F1y_OyVxBr3G3eunuyrpWa9wLlAA9pelhB6s-u5-17GpwGAcmOpL-rZWUglRIVNv0ay88_duZG4MjxpGkRa8kOLINlasDb-crDfTLxggUY0X7ZXJ0cJAbCT8_JZoUCSO69RmRyiMsU345fkKew_UhlrWmep9uRXzo5sX6ctTCZ5KnJ9iM/s4000/P1050828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBihERYt5b4Z5F1y_OyVxBr3G3eunuyrpWa9wLlAA9pelhB6s-u5-17GpwGAcmOpL-rZWUglRIVNv0ay88_duZG4MjxpGkRa8kOLINlasDb-crDfTLxggUY0X7ZXJ0cJAbCT8_JZoUCSO69RmRyiMsU345fkKew_UhlrWmep9uRXzo5sX6ctTCZ5KnJ9iM/w640-h480/P1050828.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Since the GO Train service to London will not continue beyond the fall, the platform erected to accommodate GO passengers with disabilities might not last much longer. Via does not make use of this ramp, as its trains are too short to reach it. The railway has its own equipment to accommodate passengers with disabilities. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jvV1R-sXq8qhNanPqitw0UZx8m3KqolmYLpQ-7dsm6qq2YiXo8JugUgI2Q1MTueb7d6ofhuEQnlsQsg4CAE52EOV0qOS14xKmm5L8bqoMKzd8kdvhP70oUK2RZESfyoGDFkgBSbUhQz9eKYVoQQc9n6apbDSZd12SjUPXqymoS-noWp3RrSugkk-Rg7E/s3498/P1050848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="3498" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jvV1R-sXq8qhNanPqitw0UZx8m3KqolmYLpQ-7dsm6qq2YiXo8JugUgI2Q1MTueb7d6ofhuEQnlsQsg4CAE52EOV0qOS14xKmm5L8bqoMKzd8kdvhP70oUK2RZESfyoGDFkgBSbUhQz9eKYVoQQc9n6apbDSZd12SjUPXqymoS-noWp3RrSugkk-Rg7E/w640-h324/P1050848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The cloud cover was actually a blessing for me as I awaited this train to make its move, but sadly, the sun peaked out for a few minutes, which meant I was on the shadow side of the train. I backed up on the platform and picked an image I wanted to get. I decided to frame the CN westbound against the parked GEXR GP38-2 and the covered hoppers in the yard. I call these images railway family tree shots, where you see multiple railways together in an image, but not as shared power on a train. You might recall <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2017/02/making-lemonade-again-part-ii.html">I did the same in Smiths Falls in 2017 with a passing westbound Via train and some parked Canadian Pacific GP20s</a>.</p><p>The reason I chose this freight train to feature on a Thanksgiving post is because it was mainly a grain train, as the two CN geeps were pulling a consist of mainly covered hoppers. Not the most exciting thing to see, but when you rarely see freight trains, you're always thankful. I also thought that a train that might be carrying part of the annual grain harvest was as good as anything to feature as we count our blessings.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f6aaw341SVv6MZUV7K3AGEaPMjlaGfPC97hHzl6tOrDCW6XQb-AkOCR_jnMiNI-nGUyH20q0nqBRj5nqOGDGH24xQeHATd6LXU74mgcc9xPWQsGarUrFszlCCPBzqxnQvGt6q2-eq67SrgPbGDjcFZyIm9RePua-h7_aYa579kko3rJd-bFy7FMcMI3d/s3877/P1050853.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2297" data-original-width="3877" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f6aaw341SVv6MZUV7K3AGEaPMjlaGfPC97hHzl6tOrDCW6XQb-AkOCR_jnMiNI-nGUyH20q0nqBRj5nqOGDGH24xQeHATd6LXU74mgcc9xPWQsGarUrFszlCCPBzqxnQvGt6q2-eq67SrgPbGDjcFZyIm9RePua-h7_aYa579kko3rJd-bFy7FMcMI3d/w640-h380/P1050853.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Two paint schemes and an old GP9 warhorse to boot. I was happy to see and old GP9, as even Ottawa has seen a scarcity of these units lately. Over the years, CN has used a fair number of GP9s in the Ottawa area, but the power of choice in Eastern Ontario these days seems to be the GP38-2s, from what I've seen. It's been a few years since I've seen a GP9 in Ottawa.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ4C2aG30i4uMZ2LJEf08cJgP_tXdv53l83mYVJei_aiItAejaqFIMibmMRFhXytkCHjsCAA_ZK9EJgc7Dfl08HIcptRG148jYiJiIyPVzpj5sBpXFZIYvH4eXLuorfP82saLECe4ZsSFIcGOyMYCJIEr7p4L1-pagyukNAJ-NzW-qN6dETeQ2Wwuwd_l/s4000/P1050855.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ4C2aG30i4uMZ2LJEf08cJgP_tXdv53l83mYVJei_aiItAejaqFIMibmMRFhXytkCHjsCAA_ZK9EJgc7Dfl08HIcptRG148jYiJiIyPVzpj5sBpXFZIYvH4eXLuorfP82saLECe4ZsSFIcGOyMYCJIEr7p4L1-pagyukNAJ-NzW-qN6dETeQ2Wwuwd_l/w640-h480/P1050855.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Note, I said the train was made up of mainly covered hoppers. There were a few tank cars in the consist, surrounded by hoppers. A little variety is always nice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69WDjVUFUQ0SBt9agIIUwfHdlYcTFY9WqyZwqwp_T1gFSBAqmmE5luV0P84Pcwk35SLTU_MZ88mY8XjoMkGzd9ssZBnCeKHwN1RO8LuJtaO2GlUFr_o7QXGe99Of6rXpVkYcCmdOwdYZtV49-CoPjaXgIYTRUKYu45wiO8Mfp_HzY-AfUNZfAO6OKN2XP/s4000/P1050861.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69WDjVUFUQ0SBt9agIIUwfHdlYcTFY9WqyZwqwp_T1gFSBAqmmE5luV0P84Pcwk35SLTU_MZ88mY8XjoMkGzd9ssZBnCeKHwN1RO8LuJtaO2GlUFr_o7QXGe99Of6rXpVkYcCmdOwdYZtV49-CoPjaXgIYTRUKYu45wiO8Mfp_HzY-AfUNZfAO6OKN2XP/w640-h480/P1050861.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The cloud cover returned quickly, which cast a fair shadow over the train as it made its way by Downie Street, next to the station. Not an easy day to get a clean shot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJbonkWVe2BisQcmbYqziDYGEb2mwBft7u_4hUgw6puNGe57nGQyMAOkNn0ortYLonW-yNFs92fucZCFAnLp9zPFdK00SbH4TzvJk7kS8lGs1PXbVx5AVVd5ikY1mMi0iVtoPCmhOfeK6z2mUf3njDKhhWwy0vIL3f6oN0AK-SUoiNLXJpm1bVEhfYpRU/s4000/P1050862.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJbonkWVe2BisQcmbYqziDYGEb2mwBft7u_4hUgw6puNGe57nGQyMAOkNn0ortYLonW-yNFs92fucZCFAnLp9zPFdK00SbH4TzvJk7kS8lGs1PXbVx5AVVd5ikY1mMi0iVtoPCmhOfeK6z2mUf3njDKhhWwy0vIL3f6oN0AK-SUoiNLXJpm1bVEhfYpRU/w640-h480/P1050862.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's one final shot of the train rounding the curve past the station. I tried my best to get a shot of the entire train, including the engines, but the visual distractions could not be avoided in this shot. Still, as I have been making an effort to do different things this year, I like the results of this shot. Remember, <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">2023 is The Year of Different</a>. Go out there and find a new perspective, new angle, new approach to your railway images.</p><p>So, as I circle back to the theme of gratitude as I complete Lap 400, I would like to thank everyone who drops by to read my meandering musings on the railways and helps me out with advice, information, tips and photos. I have gotten to know a few people through my blogging over the years and I am thankful for their friendship and guidance.</p><p>Happy Thanksgiving. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-26824397041856431152023-10-02T08:34:00.004-04:002023-10-02T08:34:56.012-04:00Moving the People in 1940<p>Twenty or so years ago, I met up with my family in the Niagara Region over the Easter weekend, as it was a reasonable half-way point between where I lived at the time (Ottawa) and where they were (Sarnia area). Over the course of our adventures, we happened across this antique shop that had items flooding every room of a somewhat dilapidated old farmhouse. I remember the uneven floorboards and endless curiosities. As antiques aren't really my thing, I spent some time going through old issues of Life Magazine. I found one of the older issues from 1940 and bough it for something like $5 or so, just for the historic value of the old stories.</p><p>There are some fascinating stories about the Second World War in the magazine, but the old relic eventually made its way onto a bookshelf and sat there for many years, untouched. Recently, as I was going through other items in the bookshelf, I dug out the old magazine and started leafing through it again. I was quite surprised to find five railway advertisements in the magazine, which was a pleasant surprise.</p><p>The ads speak of the unparalleled comforts of the passenger trains of the Union Pacific (the Challengers), the Santa Fe (El Capitan) Southern Pacific (Arizona Limited) and the New Haven (Pullman Standard streamliners). There was even an ad for Lionel Trains.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtl58EXFm6a_0AYx7qj1K8fB_65wuPXXtww4RkDWZ0xR1COlQXvnvTTbbCBB00sBuN1bJLmE1o0Mb3ncHRW2ZTZ1RHsHs3sH8oTZn-63UIRtzrvUfXynT6qSjOdn7o5vCuPD3EBvMk_ckskulBFNRVTEaHkeP_qWlysV5vi-weE9SS29-CXuUXyfRqE4E/s665/Screenshot%20(192).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="270" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtl58EXFm6a_0AYx7qj1K8fB_65wuPXXtww4RkDWZ0xR1COlQXvnvTTbbCBB00sBuN1bJLmE1o0Mb3ncHRW2ZTZ1RHsHs3sH8oTZn-63UIRtzrvUfXynT6qSjOdn7o5vCuPD3EBvMk_ckskulBFNRVTEaHkeP_qWlysV5vi-weE9SS29-CXuUXyfRqE4E/w260-h640/Screenshot%20(192).png" width="260" /></a>When I read the ads for each railway, there were a few things that really struck me. The first was how much description went into the ads and how important rail travel was in North America, particularly in 1940. We all know what role the railways played during World War Two in mobilizing hundreds of thousands of troops to fight on the side of the Allies in Europe and later in the Pacific theatre against the expansionist Japanese empire. </p><p>One question you might have is why a railway would advertise in 1940, at a time of global conflict. I had to check my history to see when the United States entered in the Second World War. Sure enough, it was following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 7, 1941. War was declared with Japan on December 8, while Germany declared war with the United States on December 11, given the the Nazi-led administration was friendly with the Japanese emperor. </p><p>By way of comparison, Canada had already been in the war since 1939, as our country was quick to support the United Kingdom. <br /></p><p>So, given that historical context, it makes a little more sense for the Santa Fe Railway to advertise its passenger services between Chicago and Los Angeles in 1940, although even without the U.S. being at war, I still wonder about the wisdom of this type of advertising. The reason I wonder is that it was generally accepted that by November 25, 1940, when this ad ran, the country was still very much feeling the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930s.</p><p>But there are clues in this advertisement that allow you to understand the railway's thinking. The most obvious point to consider is that this is a promotion for El Capitan, the discount streamliner that often played second fiddle to the railways' Super Chief, the railway's flagship luxury passenger train, which began running in 1936. </p><p>The difference between the two trains was the Super Chief had many amenities that El Capitan did not, including sleeping cars, which was the major difference. The running time between the two cities was quite impressive at just a shade under 40 hours for both trains. Both trains made twice-weekly departures in each direction.<br /></p><p>Given the importance the railway placed on its passenger service, there was priority given to these trains on its fairly straight route between the Windy City and Los Angeles. And whereas the Super Chief was dubbed the Train of the Stars, as it was known to host celebrities, El Capitan was very much the People's Train, which hosted people who needed to get from Point A to Point B without much fuss. Given the economic realities of the country in 1940, the promotion of this discount train makes sense in a national publication like Life.</p><p>A few things to consider about this train. </p><p>1. Despite its economy-based fares, the train featured a lounge and a "counter service" diner featuring Fred Harvey meals. These two amenities were a step down from something one might find on the Super Chief, but it shows you how the railways placed great importance on passenger travel in times past.</p><p>2. The railway advertised the services of a "courier nurse" on this train, whose job was not defined in the ad, but it seems this job was close to what was once known as a stewardess. There is a small photo of someone helping passengers recline their seats and sleep for the overnight portion of the journey. </p><p>3. Going from Chicago to Los Angeles would cost you $39.50 in 1940, or $65 round trip, although the one-way fare could be augmented with a $5 surcharge for extra fare, although that is not clearly explained in the fine print. The round-trip ticket would run you $65 between these two cities.</p><p>4. The Bank of Canada inflation calculator estimates that this fare would cost the equivalent of $783 today, although I doubt those figures, since the inflation situation in Canada is likely skewing that number a little higher than it should be. Even so, $39.50 sounds like a large sum in 1940, at a time when money was scarce.<br /></p><p>5. In 1940, the Santa Fe was clearly advertising the benefits of its streamlined FT locomotives and cars, as you can see from the prominent image of the train near the top of the ad. This would have likely been quite a novelty at the time, as the transition to diesel engines was not yet fully realized on most railways. Given the lack of servicing these diesel units required when compared to steam engines, the timing of this journey would likely have been reduced a fair bit, making it attractive to passengers.</p><p>And, in case you're wondering, a subscription to Life cost $4.45 in 1940. Stay tuned for more vintage ads from this old magazine. It turned out to be a fascinating historic find and an educational tool to explore railway history.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-24705234443353462522023-09-20T07:52:00.003-04:002023-09-21T07:13:45.224-04:00Summer Observations in Ottawa<p>Over the course of the summer in Ottawa, there have been a few railway developments worth noting. Happily, we won't have to dwell on the city's ill-fated Confederation Line light rail service terribly long. Those who live here know that this system continues to experience severe operational problems, relating to the fact that the trackage was found to be improperly installed. After another service stoppage, repairs to the rails to allow trains to properly negotiate curves and the discontinuation of many double-long trains have allowed the commuter line to return to operation in some form.<br /></p><p>I digress. I could also mention the many delays that are pushing back the start of service on the newly expanded Trillium Line, which thankfully is powered by diesel light rail trains. That operation seems likely to be operational at some point toward the end of the year or early next year, depending on the update you believe from the city. There have been sporadic sightings of test runs in the past few months, as the builders are trying to finish partially completed stations all the way out to Riverside South.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzkTQ6gq76l-7TGSngTm1TQLDpL1B3wboKiYEWPi9yfDfSuWJqiPczRslLuZRZCyH8SS_OgxppoeBAs7kPMaxKhNRhtp1Ex7j_s1rVGUOz1cMeMjBt55DIK1dCIG5YtVzrG5gIclt3LDUTLghJud_rauA_58U9k3ck89HdVR4A1tTepaRwgozG_t_wkFO/s3304/P1050288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2271" data-original-width="3304" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzkTQ6gq76l-7TGSngTm1TQLDpL1B3wboKiYEWPi9yfDfSuWJqiPczRslLuZRZCyH8SS_OgxppoeBAs7kPMaxKhNRhtp1Ex7j_s1rVGUOz1cMeMjBt55DIK1dCIG5YtVzrG5gIclt3LDUTLghJud_rauA_58U9k3ck89HdVR4A1tTepaRwgozG_t_wkFO/w640-h440/P1050288.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /></div><p></p><p>Can we move on? Talking about the city's light rail system is such a drag.</p><p>The good news is that Via Rail Canada recently <a href="https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/all-aboard-via-rail-adding-two-new-trips-between-ottawa-and-toronto-this-fall-1.6551870">announced the restoration of more service to and from Toronto</a>, which is the result of increased demand for rail transportation. Two more trains have been added, as of Sept. 1, which restores services to and from Toronto to roughly half of what was available to travellers before the pandemic. The restoration of service in Ottawa is part of a larger return to normal across the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. </p><p>For local railfans here, I can't imagine two more Via Rail corridor trains will elicit much enthusiasm, but I suppose it can only hasten the imminent arrival of the new Siemens equipment, which continues to arrive from its U.S. manufacturer. More trains means more equipment needed, right? <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx9UHQCOK3DhOmKHEDhckJBJ_jDJqUga_1n6eoc6eQWBA6_3OmYf_YnD9Gy0YM5aDIH-jEDcHav0MjDVd2XKIzNHIr3N0WScbHke13k30L1xtHo3mmjHpKvZBGpgH6oEQ7NXhr4dVNfTOFoozCHHJnc1XZKGDlFW67CTZd49lAd3n5DxF7rW60n_lcjk2/s4000/P1050436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx9UHQCOK3DhOmKHEDhckJBJ_jDJqUga_1n6eoc6eQWBA6_3OmYf_YnD9Gy0YM5aDIH-jEDcHav0MjDVd2XKIzNHIr3N0WScbHke13k30L1xtHo3mmjHpKvZBGpgH6oEQ7NXhr4dVNfTOFoozCHHJnc1XZKGDlFW67CTZd49lAd3n5DxF7rW60n_lcjk2/w640-h480/P1050436.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I haven't done a lot of wandering about the city this summer, especially not trackside, although I have had a number of opportunities to catch Via Train 59 westbound on Wednesday evenings, as I am trackside at that time when my daughters are at a nearby dance class.</p><p>I noticed over the summer that an industrial spur that once served some small industry on Bentley Drive has been disconnected.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NQbhTi2euRoPrDMRkKuELZv8g063NIoGIhCGoUFzUwJJB-UbVRgVLBptk6pBT2X3zP0Z5b3UvV8qgna-zcY24QVxRegrh_Vz9BR4w8RxKq8B2iajH-3mziqizXMCTOaB0GwYr215J-LkeffJBtB-tLV2PwfJkJXk_1l4LwOP_YOuhp-laGZutLIBGAGT/s4000/P1050587.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NQbhTi2euRoPrDMRkKuELZv8g063NIoGIhCGoUFzUwJJB-UbVRgVLBptk6pBT2X3zP0Z5b3UvV8qgna-zcY24QVxRegrh_Vz9BR4w8RxKq8B2iajH-3mziqizXMCTOaB0GwYr215J-LkeffJBtB-tLV2PwfJkJXk_1l4LwOP_YOuhp-laGZutLIBGAGT/w640-h480/P1050587.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>This is a shot taken in July from the Hunt Club Road overpass. Over the course of the summer, I haven't noticed much work being done beyond the initial removal of some of the rails at the switch point. I wasn't surprised to see this, as this spur has been covered over with weeds and brush for a long time. It doesn't look as though it's been used for years. And it doesn't seem as though CN has much interest in reaching out to small industry to maintain carload service along any of these spurs in west Ottawa. The slow rolling CN exit from Ottawa drags on, as the railway seems to be maintaining the remaining service to a few customers and that's it. </p><p>If there were any interested parties looking to start a short line service here, they have yet to materialize and it doesn't look like there's much infrastructure left to work with, even if someone had the notion to get started here. Sad, but that's how a multibillion-dollar transcontinental railway operates. There is little room for small backwater operations that don't meet its margins.</p><p>I have not seen CN's Arnprior Turn returning to Walkley on the Wednesday evenings when I am near the Beachburg Sub near Merivale Road. Although, it's always cool to see the remnants of the old Northern Transcontinental line when wandering along the tracks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33mE89Z0ttWS4No8ir8L72o6RdoEgrFp2Hi0JVtoUk51nktHmXaeisq-Iwt4vvuxZoMhYDpwX8eI43MtZ5A-932KbZuNzx2zwd8GdSA359sVksgHY3OwajzIgqKqomVuTqVjNTrWGoy5-V6kyRg3pW9RhLCKa02woO43Zvi7kX-4a7Afq_4a6c3SDUeX-/s4000/P1050668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33mE89Z0ttWS4No8ir8L72o6RdoEgrFp2Hi0JVtoUk51nktHmXaeisq-Iwt4vvuxZoMhYDpwX8eI43MtZ5A-932KbZuNzx2zwd8GdSA359sVksgHY3OwajzIgqKqomVuTqVjNTrWGoy5-V6kyRg3pW9RhLCKa02woO43Zvi7kX-4a7Afq_4a6c3SDUeX-/w480-h640/P1050668.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Much of this old infrastructure has long since been removed from the Beachburg Sub. However, a few of the old searchlight signals remain, turned aside form the tracks, like this one, which was staring forlornly off at the adjacent soccer fields. </p><p>Later this year, I'd like to share some of the many shots I have taken of Via Train 59, an evening departure from Ottawa Station that passes through Federal Junction around 6 p.m. each night. I have tried to get as many different creative shots as I can around this junction, which is almost completely hidden from view. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9-nDqqoZd7CvZdWRzNMceAZ_kSV7i1GHH0VEq9japxE3hqXYVHojullqsuqb8-vpu5rtDa42n8ML95vrj6RIwapfo_94r2GuM83tpTQ24D1X9txr5l_TVpEF298dJmm46sKX1jr7P3di6covJfyLsGwls-MqNjBUolo1rqf6nwNJJEYbnrFjGdxbZqrD/s4000/P1050966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9-nDqqoZd7CvZdWRzNMceAZ_kSV7i1GHH0VEq9japxE3hqXYVHojullqsuqb8-vpu5rtDa42n8ML95vrj6RIwapfo_94r2GuM83tpTQ24D1X9txr5l_TVpEF298dJmm46sKX1jr7P3di6covJfyLsGwls-MqNjBUolo1rqf6nwNJJEYbnrFjGdxbZqrD/w640-h480/P1050966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a shot I got below the Hunt Club Road overpass, near Gurdwara Drive. The shot proved to be tough as something would be blurry, and it wasn't going to be the train. I don't know if I will try this vantage point again, as it was extremely difficult to keep the train in focus with the camera I have. </p><p>However, I was reasonably happy with this shot, as the F40 and the first class coach match each other with their wraps. Much of this train was wrapped, in fact, but it was not a complete matching set.</p><p>The fall hopefully will bring with it some more interesting shots and possibly more variety. I did manage to travel to Waterloo near the end of summer, but my time was completely booked up, which did not allow for any rail sightings. </p><p>I still have a great deal of material to share from Stratford, the GTA and a few other unexpected places, thanks to the contributions of friends. For now, this is what passes for news from Ottawa. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-65680957219005379922023-09-10T10:17:00.002-04:002023-09-15T07:41:18.344-04:00Mainline freight action near the station (Stratford, Part II)<p>In a <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/08/get-on-go-while-you-can-stratford-part-i.html">recent post, I shared a few images of evening GO Train 3775 returning west </a>and stopping in Stratford, en route to London. This is part of a pilot project where Metrolinx is providing weekday commuter service between London and Toronto's Union Station. For commuters along the Guelph Subdivision, the imminent discontinuation of this service will likely come as a disappointment. For me, I was grateful to catch the evening GO Train, complete with an old F59 trailing, in a rare setting. </p><p>The bonus was that, as I waited for the GO Train, a eastbound CN mainline freight train was waiting for the GO Train to pass. This train, CN 581, was led by three idling engines, which were parked east of the Via Rail station, close to CN's yard office on Regent Street.</p><p>The parked freight was carrying mainly covered hoppers, making it quite possibly a grain or agriculture-related movement, as the Guelph Subdivision passes through some of Ontario's richest and most productive farmland. I was quite pleased to capture an image of an old Burlington Northern three-bay covered hopper, still visually intact sans graffiti. </p><p>This car has 4,750 cu. ft. of storage space, made in 1992 by Trinity Industries for BN, all numbered in the 467XXX series. Given its fairly recent build date, that makes it positively new, in terms of the railway-branded fleets that are becoming less and less common these days. I know a lot of railway vets dislike BN's cascade green and white scheme and its ultra modern symbol, but I always liked it. It must have something to do with not growing up with BN's more well-loved predecessors, the Burlington Route, Great Northern and the Northern Pacific. I'm too young for them.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafRi-HWuflIMWt0VIr0vhux5OxPyvnk-dgoM9lG4cHkI3bGFNujbZvqaCDqrtUtQWywgUU_MODHozhf7beywwoWibvjzcerMoE4k3LREs77jZVVedvXbqRIzcb78iQz2mtzhWEGsOwRKlmkX7JeseVvqtSGZtaTx25Hk7ojB0vsP_vaTSPkbviqthidP_/s4000/P1050869.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafRi-HWuflIMWt0VIr0vhux5OxPyvnk-dgoM9lG4cHkI3bGFNujbZvqaCDqrtUtQWywgUU_MODHozhf7beywwoWibvjzcerMoE4k3LREs77jZVVedvXbqRIzcb78iQz2mtzhWEGsOwRKlmkX7JeseVvqtSGZtaTx25Hk7ojB0vsP_vaTSPkbviqthidP_/w640-h480/P1050869.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /></div><p></p><p>The train had quite a few of these old BN hoppers, still lettered BN, although this lettering is, of course, one of many combinations belonging to BN successor, BNSF Railway. In the late summer, this is the type of train that is quite common in this area, not to mention on the Goderich Exeter Railway, which originates in Stratford. I did catch a GEXR yard job preparing to embark for Goderich earlier in my stay in Stratford, but I'll save that series of photos for another time. That train was also very heavily weighted with covered hoppers.</p><p>Once the GO Train made its way west, I made my way east down Regent Street, which parallels the Stratford Yard. From a public vantage point, I managed to capture a shot of the head end of Train 581. There were some visual hazards, but I think they add to the scene quite nicely, as they put the image of this train in context. The head end was led by GP40-2 9449, which was given the new CN.ca scheme in recent years. The second unit, also a recent convert to the CN.ca scheme, is GP38-2 7501, although it does not have a wide safety cab hood, as 9449 does. The final unit is GP38-2 4725, still in its original sergeant stripes. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv331sa490BS1UAKqOpjeRKMhqbI57kFdGr2vAJ1nUL3n_g9fphV4yM1GHNttsxpH-EdbGC-b5whjhKv-DbiZ7OhFbE301AXnDM5_Lm94GpnEbdPnQ8sZd0HEnz82JbsvjcpJc7QaVhwgsS0hz-6r9I6VVxIO4SG5-qQgwMs21yKbIuTQuTX_ewfN201I/s4000/P1050898.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv331sa490BS1UAKqOpjeRKMhqbI57kFdGr2vAJ1nUL3n_g9fphV4yM1GHNttsxpH-EdbGC-b5whjhKv-DbiZ7OhFbE301AXnDM5_Lm94GpnEbdPnQ8sZd0HEnz82JbsvjcpJc7QaVhwgsS0hz-6r9I6VVxIO4SG5-qQgwMs21yKbIuTQuTX_ewfN201I/w640-h480/P1050898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>You can also see the first car is an Ontario Northland ribbed boxcar, with the chevrons logo. Behind the parked freight were a large string of covered hoppers that were parked closer to the Masterfeeds agricultural products concrete elevator complex, which is on the east end of the yard, near the Romeo Street flyover.</p><p>Here's a closer shot of the two lead units, taken from Regent Street.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MQh0Mk7Punw7dhZbZXNaCdy-9WXH9ALifmArUr9PWEoVNUnCJeSp-p3Ozdk_r2EIxl9YZE8II2hKbOYZDUmVie4vrqCiZSPVAlSTVF9IFPhG_dffJmWZYZ6wz7R08reKzgEjoweug09XTv9WCYLpVts-p6os6Hs1RNK-scmHesNXY8KZFB2-MEEmeo6O/s4000/P1050899.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MQh0Mk7Punw7dhZbZXNaCdy-9WXH9ALifmArUr9PWEoVNUnCJeSp-p3Ozdk_r2EIxl9YZE8II2hKbOYZDUmVie4vrqCiZSPVAlSTVF9IFPhG_dffJmWZYZ6wz7R08reKzgEjoweug09XTv9WCYLpVts-p6os6Hs1RNK-scmHesNXY8KZFB2-MEEmeo6O/w640-h480/P1050899.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /></div><p></p><p>In both shots, you can see what appears to be a moveable wooden ramp, no doubt used to unload boxcars for use in carload service deliveries to local customers. I'm not sure how much business CN does like this, but it seems to me that this would be why they would keep this ramp around. Also, I'm guessing it might be used if they need to move heavy construction equipment onto a train for MoW service. These are just guesses on my part. <br /></p><p>There was also one other cool sighting in the yard, as I explored it from all angles from the surrounding streets. On the side of the yard opposite the station, there was this electrical unit that was parked on a heavy-duty flatcar. I could only get so close on public property to get a proper shot of it. As we were leaving Stratford to head home, I saw a large contingent of local public utility vehicles carting this unit onto a truck for use somewhere in the local electrical grid.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-bd4S-e24ak-CLFdhZSjlk0I3RDLY3PWyxUj2_ruHqwk0hic3YlJq55WNeponl6YdsZ40KBFutgdi_AknbBK0T2ccZ8FTKaKAu26WfAYgtPH4LRzxKfQq3lgqGb4Eb4OqI1tpLEQEOsG22NswelHizaKCHevj4AZphz6P4ZhKTu1nuZYt99YO79VqDTa/s4000/P1050818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-bd4S-e24ak-CLFdhZSjlk0I3RDLY3PWyxUj2_ruHqwk0hic3YlJq55WNeponl6YdsZ40KBFutgdi_AknbBK0T2ccZ8FTKaKAu26WfAYgtPH4LRzxKfQq3lgqGb4Eb4OqI1tpLEQEOsG22NswelHizaKCHevj4AZphz6P4ZhKTu1nuZYt99YO79VqDTa/w640-h480/P1050818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The other rolling stock sightings were part of the GEXR move, so I will save those images for another post.</p><p>This meet between the freight train and the GO Train was one of many such sightings that dotted my weekend in Stratford. I was quite happy to catch so much action in Stratford, which can be a hit-or-miss place to railfan these days, unless you're there to catch the regularly scheduled Via service. And yes, I did get a few shots of a Via passenger train making its way to the station, since it was carrying members of my extended family into town for a family reunion. </p><p>More material for another post. Stratford proved to be a gold mine this summer!<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-41978653755273967802023-08-30T08:05:00.006-04:002023-08-31T09:03:43.003-04:00The curious history of Fallowfield Station's name<p>Fallowfield Station is <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/08/happy-21st-birthday-fallowfield-station.html">21 years old this year</a> and, for its entire history, has drawn confusion over its name. Look through old news coverage of the station when it opened in 2002 and you will see that people wrote letters to the editor of the Ottawa Citizen, asking Via Rail to change the name of the station to Barrhaven, where it is located in the southwest of Ottawa's urban area. </p><p>There are a few interesting points to consider when considering why the station is named Fallowfield. The most important point is that the station is technically located on Fallowfield Road, which is an arterial road on the northern edge of the massive suburb. That is a reasonable enough explanation on its face, but it's not that simple. Those who know their geography in the Ottawa area know that a small rural village, located between Bells Corners and Richmond, is called Fallowfield. This beautiful rural community traces its routes back to the 1870s. It boasts a beautiful old stone church, St. Patrick's, which sits atop Steeple Hill (naturally), just off Old Richmond Road. </p><p>For our purposes, it's important to note that the Fallowfield community is located nine kilometres away from the actual station that bears its name. Using St. Patrick's as a reference point, Google Maps shows that the distance from the Steeple Hill area, where many Fallowfield residents live, to the station is 9.1 kilometres. For Ottawa area residents, this is no longer an issue, as most people understand the station and the community are not the same thing, but for people unfamiliar with this city, it begs the question why the station would be named Fallowfield.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qeiNJmdVQeO37NVWKCQRophwNcilrkwto_5MljdyWKkuaVxjh0LNVBouowofPkACPozQpPF3T_9r5-i06fYURQQqkI0mtaHmeMcVqSPuu4n53bhrv7GzA6Ag7cD5U8Ebn8El8iNx54eLUK3oh80E1U2b46LeRi_YTjP5KfIT1kEkSGzGYQVUveVRTh62/s4000/P1050394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qeiNJmdVQeO37NVWKCQRophwNcilrkwto_5MljdyWKkuaVxjh0LNVBouowofPkACPozQpPF3T_9r5-i06fYURQQqkI0mtaHmeMcVqSPuu4n53bhrv7GzA6Ag7cD5U8Ebn8El8iNx54eLUK3oh80E1U2b46LeRi_YTjP5KfIT1kEkSGzGYQVUveVRTh62/w640-h480/P1050394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The second point to consider is that the station's name is not without precedent. Consider that Via Rail's suburban station in Scarborough is called Guildwood, although in that case, the station is located in a community by the name Guildwood, that eventually was subsumed by Scarborough. Also, Via Rail's station in Hamilton is called Aldershot. Both of these names predate Via Rail, so neither of these unique choices can be credited to Via. But for our purposes, there is historical precedence for giving a station a name that does not align with the community it serves. </p><p>It's important to note that railways have often located their stations in areas that are most advantageous to them, rather than what is convenient to the town they serve. This was often done to discourage land speculators from benefiting from selling overpriced land in an area where a railway was expected to be built. In some cases, a station was built along a rail line that bypassed the nearest town altogether. Look at Gananoque's station in Cheeseborough as an example. In the case of this town, a branchline was opened to the station so the town wouldn't be left behind. Also, look in Ottawa's south end, where the old CP Prescott Subdivision as once located. Consider how far the Manotick Station area is, where the line was went through, from the actual community of Manotick. <br /></p><p>In the case of Fallowfield Station, the name is not the product of Via Rail shenanigans. It was the product of an OC Transpo suburban pack and ride facility for its city buses. The park and ride facility was built at the corner of Fallowfield Road and Woodroffe Avenue before Via Rail began to consider opening up its station.</p><p>This is where the bizarre railway policy in Ottawa municipal politics enters the picture. When Nepean city council began lobbying for a train station in Barrhaven, one idea was that the Via station would be a useful resource for people in the west end of the Ottawa urban area, who didn't want to travel to the Ottawa Station, east of Ottawa's downtown to catch a train to Toronto. </p><p>But even more than the convenience factor for west end residents, the Via station was seen as an important potential link in a commuter railway network using existing rails in the city. Look at the news coverage from the late 1990s and early 2000s and you will read about numerous local politicians extolling the virtues of a multi-modal commuter station that linked together buses, commuter trains and Via Rail. The idea was for the station to be a GO station, in addition to a link on the Via Rail network.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIi_6lG8ABQ8CgUc1euEyEIa7D7gIJ-SS5wPnWMHDX8jhlp7yG0kJcYnov6lIn9EXQKUXGDYfLSgpb5242e62EEqozq-qYTBIG5fX0aJE9LBBpa8vW-HbG9MNhUZbEYIZLT_QIpQibturMnmgrQufMCIAci64fjaPNB23FBF2ziODmfQzxDYUYBoaX6q1/s4000/P1050395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIi_6lG8ABQ8CgUc1euEyEIa7D7gIJ-SS5wPnWMHDX8jhlp7yG0kJcYnov6lIn9EXQKUXGDYfLSgpb5242e62EEqozq-qYTBIG5fX0aJE9LBBpa8vW-HbG9MNhUZbEYIZLT_QIpQibturMnmgrQufMCIAci64fjaPNB23FBF2ziODmfQzxDYUYBoaX6q1/w640-h480/P1050395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>When I was researching the history of the station, there it was in black in while: proof that this city once had a coherent, reasonable commuter railway policy that included the common sense notion of using the infrastructure in place to move people to and from the suburbs into the core using existing rail. </p><p>Of course, those notions of using existing rails were repeatedly dismissed by so-called progressive visions of a more European rail network, using electric light rail vehicles on a new right-of-way on an east-west axis. We know the rest of that story, which is still sadly unfolding today.</p><p>So, why Fallowfield Station? Well, because at one point, Fallowfield Station as supposed to double as a commuter rail station for OC Transpo, so it needed to have the same name as the OC Transpo park and ride bus station that was already in place.<br /></p><p>When successive councils repeatedly quashed the idea of using existing rails to serve as a basis for commuter rail service in the city, the name for Via Rail's Barrhaven station became even more questionable. Eventually a decision was reached to include the name Barrhaven in parenthesis on the station signs. <br /></p><p>As Paul Harvey used to say: Now you know, the rest of the story.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHLQ5_jqLgTomwYsmJ1fgYgTCxnGHNxLoCWfEsKLRztRrCbvo1TJa-PA36ufg8oVmILYwaN09jzBl2FhFo_qVXYdAs5AjTu8UIE3JOvYDEu3ArNWmaadFHHRZXO-MyPCJtpdsrWojuRq0P5DWe3EVuLE7BRF8fvpAPozPkrB0Hau_T9WzpASz14g8Tvth/s4000/P1050401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHLQ5_jqLgTomwYsmJ1fgYgTCxnGHNxLoCWfEsKLRztRrCbvo1TJa-PA36ufg8oVmILYwaN09jzBl2FhFo_qVXYdAs5AjTu8UIE3JOvYDEu3ArNWmaadFHHRZXO-MyPCJtpdsrWojuRq0P5DWe3EVuLE7BRF8fvpAPozPkrB0Hau_T9WzpASz14g8Tvth/w640-h480/P1050401.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-77525119472542732232023-08-21T07:52:00.002-04:002023-08-21T07:52:45.493-04:00Get on the GO, while you can (Stratford, Part I)<p>My family recently returned from a trip to Stratford for a family reunion. It's been two years since we've been here. Stratford is best known for its annual summer theatre festival, which has a decidedly Shakespearean flair. For my purposes, it serves as the headquarters of the Goderich Exeter shortline railway. Stratford also serves as the regional hub for Canadian National, which assumed operations on the Guelph Subdivision after leasing out the line to GEXR until 2018. </p><p>On my recent travels to Stratford, I was lucky to be able to spend a fair bit of time at the town's railway station. On the whole, I was able to see two mainline CN freights (CN 568) as well as one GEXR yard job as the crew prepared to head north on GEXR 581. Part of the weekend required a short stay to pick up family on the platform, as they were arriving from London. So that was another one to add to my list. </p><p>Perhaps the rarest catch was the evening eastbound GO Train 3775 from London, as it stopped in Stratford en route to Union Station in Toronto. It's this train I wanted to focus on first, as it is the rarest of birds one would expect to find in a small town like Stratford. Metrolinx launched a pilot project in 2021 to connect a number of southwestern Ontario cities to Toronto via a GO Train. That project will conclude this autumn, without a permanent link being established. All the same, I was able to find myself at the station just after 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 as 3775 made its way past a stopped CN westbound 581. A meet! Two for one! I tried to capture a shot of the control cab making its way to the platform with the Masterfeeds elevator complex in the shot. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHQ9guDDWJ-uMux3Bn3k5MtLcPTl0aAv7QMJFGmWScCUPDh4vJgU5_MMFpNwwpwYGd9pHtp9bQUo_2oQklkzVT4ZdXaIfbp9YVYcZ3i6guSh8FsSzyDjasPx_G1TY_KiYdc6dTiLvCWyGLOR-Bgyz2TbloaM-xtqsLCVQwP1FSiW1k4d_Pl4K-sIaVboQ/s4000/P1050872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHQ9guDDWJ-uMux3Bn3k5MtLcPTl0aAv7QMJFGmWScCUPDh4vJgU5_MMFpNwwpwYGd9pHtp9bQUo_2oQklkzVT4ZdXaIfbp9YVYcZ3i6guSh8FsSzyDjasPx_G1TY_KiYdc6dTiLvCWyGLOR-Bgyz2TbloaM-xtqsLCVQwP1FSiW1k4d_Pl4K-sIaVboQ/w640-h480/P1050872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>This was a surprisingly difficult shot to capture, as Metrolinx has a wooden platform on the edge of the station platform that was obstructing my view. There was also a CN employee in a car parked right next to the tracks. I managed to adjust my zoom and aim my shot in between these visual hazards to get this shot. You can see the searchlight signals appearing double red to the left of the GO Train. CN 581, which was on the second track in the yard, was stopped with three units in the lead. The train was all covered hoppers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMicDI3H4TF7jKv7_vM8MnmrNHh_k3SSqx2mXWC8AbMEiI-m99rOKfs9B2LYPFpmeyv2u9ApjZiSzduhWKb6Q-U5oWmcCXDmSyLUeLvbaSZGO_SvUeRwq9JQOi6ojzBVi1LrY5m22W1G4aucSdPPS1Azn-N0OfPmxC49tB_kC0HxbZjng2azAlHch1vvJ/s4000/P1050879.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMicDI3H4TF7jKv7_vM8MnmrNHh_k3SSqx2mXWC8AbMEiI-m99rOKfs9B2LYPFpmeyv2u9ApjZiSzduhWKb6Q-U5oWmcCXDmSyLUeLvbaSZGO_SvUeRwq9JQOi6ojzBVi1LrY5m22W1G4aucSdPPS1Azn-N0OfPmxC49tB_kC0HxbZjng2azAlHch1vvJ/w640-h480/P1050879.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>This shot shows you a bit of the visual hazards that could not be eliminated entirely as the GO Train made its way to the station platform. This pilot project by Metrolinx is one that had me scratching my head, to be sure. I'm not sure a two-hour-plus milk run is what qualifies as commuter rail. I did notice when my family arrived on Via Train 87 that the train seemed to be quite full, so I would imagine there was some understanding between Metrolinx and Via about this GO service, which to me is otherwise encroaching on intercity passenger rail service, which is not in its mandate.</p><p>Of course, given the size of the Greater Toronto Area, GO already extends quite far on either side of Toronto, making a run out to London not entirely out of character, although to me it's too far. The train leaves London at the crack of dawn and arrives back in London fairly late into the evening. I suppose it's a cheaper option than taking Via, but it begs the question in my mind, which company should be providing this service? It seems to me to be Via, given its mandate to provide intercity service. </p><p>All of this is a moot point, as the GO service will be ending soon, which made me quite happy to catch this train in Stratford. My wife and I also made a quick trip to St. Mary's, near Stratford, where we took photos of the town's beautiful train station as well as its towering train bridge. There is also a GO platform in that city (watch for my St. Mary's post in the near future). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-ZcgAZoT6i0sbrCl-b1DmejVFrWV8sJG-9WBKxllgJkwcZY83R6W7XgNgp5jXEqEF8JLseY-VYbIZ66Hj0mO0hE0pew1dYb4IfZafNsKAjYQ43vsy1BWjyw0UMZCsoMB3o6kJrryB_8tZcVx13e086kmRxo6lFNf8ES2sEguh0aRB3EWHWc0oZ3jPwe_/s4000/P1050882.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-ZcgAZoT6i0sbrCl-b1DmejVFrWV8sJG-9WBKxllgJkwcZY83R6W7XgNgp5jXEqEF8JLseY-VYbIZ66Hj0mO0hE0pew1dYb4IfZafNsKAjYQ43vsy1BWjyw0UMZCsoMB3o6kJrryB_8tZcVx13e086kmRxo6lFNf8ES2sEguh0aRB3EWHWc0oZ3jPwe_/w640-h480/P1050882.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Seeing this commuter service so far outside the GTA made me wonder why something like this hasn't even entered the local discussion in Ottawa in recent years, as Ottawa tries to sort out its light rail nightmare called the Confederation Line. In an upcoming post, I will share some recent history from Ottawa where leaders were in fact calling for commuter rail on existing rail lines in the city. Alas, I think more people were entranced by the thought of a more European electrified light rail system on a brand new right-of-way, which leads in part to the mess we've inherited today. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYGb8AU7d0AlA_EskXqsohT4hQ2Ne2iCEZGwwHTIitLiXD8YumtXcVnptV3pm6SmVqPxt99I28rhQFVhhQN8PbbObDF5YOKOjFJarAxU2xlMfdXPjfd--sVHIyUSEE4HgWu2p7H6in__G0uI3rFqrFtU9ZGxcJhJWkDm7m6VQOypJascn3U6F3bTNIAeH/s4000/P1050883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYGb8AU7d0AlA_EskXqsohT4hQ2Ne2iCEZGwwHTIitLiXD8YumtXcVnptV3pm6SmVqPxt99I28rhQFVhhQN8PbbObDF5YOKOjFJarAxU2xlMfdXPjfd--sVHIyUSEE4HgWu2p7H6in__G0uI3rFqrFtU9ZGxcJhJWkDm7m6VQOypJascn3U6F3bTNIAeH/w640-h480/P1050883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The slight curve on the Guelph Subdivision just past the station does make for some great pictures, although the evening sun was washing out the sky a fair bit. I was not expecting to see an old F59PH unit at the tail end, as these old beasts have mostly been replaced by newer, sleeker MPI MPXpress units, but there it was, rounding the curve as I snapped away.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5zsgnlDO_Ql81MqR9e8L70DLZQCxQU5rSoAjxvk02YbtTY80f-p9VI-6JBElKq9dYv7ziudMwNfgBbkVb5GDc_aarX_RgFcCvPm65ftRIIeThQRliwYxY5mGLVXzva-LLQUs3cDHOrRELZy8-oxiJ2OVqfxwRNpuI43k4l_GtmmI-PVWwcSQ81QONqZJ/s3896/P1050893.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2921" data-original-width="3896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5zsgnlDO_Ql81MqR9e8L70DLZQCxQU5rSoAjxvk02YbtTY80f-p9VI-6JBElKq9dYv7ziudMwNfgBbkVb5GDc_aarX_RgFcCvPm65ftRIIeThQRliwYxY5mGLVXzva-LLQUs3cDHOrRELZy8-oxiJ2OVqfxwRNpuI43k4l_GtmmI-PVWwcSQ81QONqZJ/w640-h480/P1050893.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>One final shot of the westbound as it makes its way past the Downie Street crossing. I was happy to capture a few shots without local traffic obstructing my view of the train as it made its way back to London.</p><p>I was happy that I could capture a few shots that I will file under different, as this year is the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">Year of Different</a>. However, it got me to thinking about how much of an opportunity Ottawa missed in not using the rails it has (and recently had) to try some sort of GO Train experiment in the city. In a future post, I will examine what GO service could have looked like in the city, if it had not been for the differing views of our local leadership.<br /></p><p>All in all, it was a good catch and it was even better since there was a waiting freight in the hole as well. I will share shots of that train in the next Stratford post. <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-81780042769557600632023-08-15T07:42:00.003-04:002024-01-23T10:52:45.727-05:00Standing on the shoulders of giants: My blog's acceptance speech for an award!<p>I'm not one to bask in glory, by any means. Especially when it comes to my blogging efforts, I try to maintain a humble attitude with what I am sharing. I can always learn something new from someone and I am always prepared to acknowledge when I am off the mark (off the rails, at it were?). That said, I have tried to curate an intelligent, informed and interesting blog about railways in Ontario <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2013/04/all-aboard-welcome-to-beachburg-sub.html">since launching the Beachburg Sub in 2013</a>. </p><p>My inspiration came from a few blogs I noticed immediately in 2010. One of those blogs, <a href="https://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/">Trackside Treasure</a>, just celebrated its 15th anniversary, which makes it a wily veteran by Interweb standards. Much to my shock, I noticed my blog was not only mentioned in the Trackside Treasure <a href="https://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2023/08/trackside-treasures-fifteenth.html">15th anniversary post</a>, but this blog was also lauded.</p><p>The Beachburg Sub has won the first ever Trackside Treasure Annibursary Prize. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7zLG-L9y3FQwSKXOqdU0Qb-CgRHF9w40OUnAf_jF-paOot9gk0FY6b9_6rFk3KHey2v8oJu07VZM5mZceKQ8dp-mQRD9rnHTajzHwT1MzN9KPG7BE7WJUQs9hmQPJ5m5oqsT1a7Tni_8nuPNJ2x1zxZwbi7booNSd6z_BjV4d1KW1zpkwaXRQ-exfX1T/s550/TRACKSIDE%20TREASURE%20ANNIBURSARY%202023%20Michael%20Hammond.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7zLG-L9y3FQwSKXOqdU0Qb-CgRHF9w40OUnAf_jF-paOot9gk0FY6b9_6rFk3KHey2v8oJu07VZM5mZceKQ8dp-mQRD9rnHTajzHwT1MzN9KPG7BE7WJUQs9hmQPJ5m5oqsT1a7Tni_8nuPNJ2x1zxZwbi7booNSd6z_BjV4d1KW1zpkwaXRQ-exfX1T/s320/TRACKSIDE%20TREASURE%20ANNIBURSARY%202023%20Michael%20Hammond.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Trackside Treasure's Eric Gagnon is one of the most knowledgeable and thoughtful bloggers that Canadian railways have seen. He is always generous with his time when you have a question (which I often do) or when he comes across something he thinks would be of interest to you. I cannot tell you the number of times he has saved one of my posts or given me an idea for a new post, just by reaching out via email. If you have not checked out his blog, I would highly recommend you take a day and explore all it has to offer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO9dBXWGzhUlWNYeg84Ox0F5qK9g4d2x_Um76KgVhnGFneHNOBfReUAnnv0BDNXnhDf8gyJymIINRdZyvRlK-S2FPCQP6qUOov02Gkj-5qPawTicCtXDAVfFEgFZxa_VxJuXlNsmhFouM1nth0vMYzhe2M-GvnREKPfXf7kkwyouea-0O4Ct7Fwf9zR9n/s4000/P1040944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO9dBXWGzhUlWNYeg84Ox0F5qK9g4d2x_Um76KgVhnGFneHNOBfReUAnnv0BDNXnhDf8gyJymIINRdZyvRlK-S2FPCQP6qUOov02Gkj-5qPawTicCtXDAVfFEgFZxa_VxJuXlNsmhFouM1nth0vMYzhe2M-GvnREKPfXf7kkwyouea-0O4Ct7Fwf9zR9n/w640-h480/P1040944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Eric is based out of Kingston, so I thought I would use one of my shots from Kingston Station last November as a tribute to Eric and his continuing efforts as a rail enthusiast and <i>historian</i>, dare I suggest.</p><p>I first discovered Trackside Treasure in 2009 or 2010. I had just lost my job as a reporter, due to the Great Recession and had to move from Kitchener back to Ottawa, where I accepted a temporary job in communications with the Government of Canada. The job was a thankless one with far too much downtime at first, which did not help my mood much. I was quite sad about losing my job as a reporter and was a very reluctant public servant.</p><p>One day, I found his blog and I began reading posts about trains, which I found very comforting at a very difficult time. When I returned home to my apartment after discovering the blog, I spent a few hours just reading through the posts. It was like the world's best train magazine, but everything was Canadian and the geography was familiar (i.e. - No windy posts about some narrow gauge steam-powered scenic railway I have no interest in somewhere in the wilds of America).<br /></p><p>Through Eric's extensive knowledge, including his technical expertise, I have learned a lot about trains and the railway industry. It took a few years, but I decided to take the plunge myself and began this blog in 2013. The rest, as they say, is history. I have traded messages with Eric many times since my blog began and am happy to share that Eric is just as warm and genial via email as he is on his blog.</p><p>That is why I appreciate it when people I look up to appreciate my efforts, however modest my scribbles may be. As part of the Annibursary, I plan to pay a visit to the <a href="https://rmeo.org/">Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario</a> in Smiths Falls before the end of the summer, to support their efforts in preservation. Call it paying it forward.</p><p>Indeed, I would not have started blogging had I not discovered Eric's blog, or even Steve Boyko's <a href="https://www.traingeek.ca/wp/">Traingeek</a> blog. There are many other blogs I visit, including <a href="https://rollymartincountry.blogspot.com/">Rolly Martin Country</a> and <a href="https://princestreet.wordpress.com/">Prince Street Terminal</a>, to name a few. They all offer their own unique take on railways. All are interesting and worthy of your time. And there are many more out there.<br /></p><p>That's why my acceptance speech for this award is titled, Standing on the shoulders of giants. It's because I am. These are the blogs that are the measuring stick. I just hope that this blog lives up to their high standards.</p><p>My thanks to Eric Gagnon. May Trackside Treasure continue to be that brilliantly glowing searchlight signal in today's murky times!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx8FVGjvKti9O_kuFYjBbK74ddloj4Mh6145v6r6xdATs5bujGXhgS9WU1J0HQsRwiMzRcGEpvx10lOJXa1cH6tlZp1vRVu0umeO9Ktk3UrlLsnki3N3wWdCMuiMh5i4OtYeYCbsKHsiYy9-3acUzgIifHsVg93To53d4Awp09TbnnDMG1M-xElKaIC1x/s4000/P1050819.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUx8FVGjvKti9O_kuFYjBbK74ddloj4Mh6145v6r6xdATs5bujGXhgS9WU1J0HQsRwiMzRcGEpvx10lOJXa1cH6tlZp1vRVu0umeO9Ktk3UrlLsnki3N3wWdCMuiMh5i4OtYeYCbsKHsiYy9-3acUzgIifHsVg93To53d4Awp09TbnnDMG1M-xElKaIC1x/w640-h480/P1050819.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-49142039845383688342023-08-10T07:18:00.002-04:002023-08-10T16:15:26.102-04:00Happy 21st Birthday, Fallowfield Station (Part I)<p>Here's a quick trivia question. How many Canadian cities have more than one active passenger railway station? This is easy for many railfans. Montreal has its Central Station downtown as well as Dorval Station to the west. Toronto has Union Station as well as Guildwood Station in Scarborough. And, for the last 21 years, Ottawa has had its Central Station on Tremblay Road, which is east of the downtown, as well as Fallowfield Station in the southwest neighbourhood of Barrhaven.</p><p>The story of this suburban station is an interesting one, and it requires a little bit of local and national history to understand how it came to be. After all, it's a rare feat for any city to open a second railway station in the 21st century, never mind an urban centre like Ottawa, which had a population around 800,000 when Fallowfield was opened in 2002.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu1QyHZSu7tt01nU4sNir7rB1YJSRENN1ak_Eq5ikeFUvvrsb1iTViMca0fwErGEzrEtJlE25WH75pWcyqEBZJSUDlIi7Rb6VmylTqATPzlme1i8d1Ec1JenquGvONLGn-2Jt8Ep37hQZEEqGEaur8DITcF-HFdN-8Yh93U64h1d9wwRe3V0qrCN5UQ/s1897/Train46April13dusk4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1897" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu1QyHZSu7tt01nU4sNir7rB1YJSRENN1ak_Eq5ikeFUvvrsb1iTViMca0fwErGEzrEtJlE25WH75pWcyqEBZJSUDlIi7Rb6VmylTqATPzlme1i8d1Ec1JenquGvONLGn-2Jt8Ep37hQZEEqGEaur8DITcF-HFdN-8Yh93U64h1d9wwRe3V0qrCN5UQ/w640-h478/Train46April13dusk4.jpg" width="640" /></a><i><b> </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>I began taking shots at Fallowfield Station in 2012. This is a shot of Fallowfield Station at dusk in 2013 as a P42 leads an eastbound corridor consist into the station before finishing its run at Via's main station on Tremblay Road.</b></i></div><p>So how does a station get built in an urban centre in what was then known as Ottawa-Carleton? Well, that is your first clue. Up until 2001, the City of Ottawa as we now know it was an urban centre that housed 11<i><b> </b></i>separate municipalities, including the old City of Ottawa, Gloucester to its east, Nepean to its west, as well as Kanata, Vanier, Rockcliffe Park and some other townships and smaller municipalities. </p><p>Nepean, for our purposes, is the most important of the former municipalities, since it encompassed a huge chunk of land to the west of the old City of Ottawa. Given its massive suburban neighbourhoods and communities, the issue of transit in this geographically large former city was critical. In the 1990s, the city council for Nepean put great emphasis on transit as one of its priorities. There were also strong voices for better regional transit at the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, which was the senior level of local government that handled issues that transcended the boundaries of the old municipalities.</p><p>One area that required transit solutions was the burgeoning community of Barrhaven, which is now a city in and of itself, with a population north of 50,000 alone. Despite the efforts of Nepean city councillors and regional councillors, nothing was done with the idea for a west-end train station until a former Nepean city councillor and regional councillor broke into federal politics.</p><p>Former Nepean Councillor David Pratt, who would go on to become a minister in the Paul Martin government, was the champion who revived the idea of building the Fallowfield train station in 2000, when the government had set aside $400 million for Via Rail infrastructure improvements. It's important to note that, at this time, Via Rail had many friends in the federal government, including Transportation Minister David Collenette. Collenette would be Via's last true blue friend in government, as he was a big proponent of railways as a solution to many modern environmental and infrastructure challenges.</p><p>Surprisingly, from Mr. Pratt's proposal in 2000, the idea to build a suburban train station did not take long to become a reality. With the political will in place, the project gained traction and started quickly. The project was officially unveiled in June 2001.<br /></p><p>Already, there were elements in place, such as an OC Transpo Park and Ride parking lot for commuters at the corner of Woodroffe Avenue and Fallowfield Road, on the northern edge of Barrhaven. At this point, the bus-specific Transitway system of bus lanes had not been completed to Barrhaven, but was on its way. </p><p>In November of 2002, construction of the $1.2-million station was completed and regular service as a stop began. The train station is the first stop on all westbound Toronto trains and the last stop on all eastbound trains terminating at the Tremblay Road station. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfkHGtR8-AHnSX8W4Wx_q0pdovpzd3iMUh0A_UBFJ6guqDmSgP-v0ha1hhTwuBqZyqwerSRhMpp8_ut5f9Fk46Uwo4m4x54CuyOOneLJaI6zfu_wnsuNIKTnZOmtgH0NrTeSyW-sRLK7xyHUpQ9PiWUaaMu1orr-SG9ZysibnRVeZe_AIM6C7HXqjzg/s813/Screenshot%20(220).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="813" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfkHGtR8-AHnSX8W4Wx_q0pdovpzd3iMUh0A_UBFJ6guqDmSgP-v0ha1hhTwuBqZyqwerSRhMpp8_ut5f9Fk46Uwo4m4x54CuyOOneLJaI6zfu_wnsuNIKTnZOmtgH0NrTeSyW-sRLK7xyHUpQ9PiWUaaMu1orr-SG9ZysibnRVeZe_AIM6C7HXqjzg/w640-h402/Screenshot%20(220).png" width="640" /></a></div><b><i>This is a scanned image from the Ottawa Citizen of former Transportation Minister David Collenette (left) and former Via Rail Canada Chairman Jean Pelletier (right) on the first day of operations at the Fallowfield train station in November 2002.</i></b><p></p><p>The opening of the station was imperfect, as Via Rail had a multibillion-dollar wish list of items it needed to modernize its fleet and operations at the time. However, the $400-million government funding did not go nearly far enough in addressing any of those operational goals, which tended to overshadow the opening of the suburban station.</p><p>There were plans leading up to the opening of the station for Via to establish overnight service to Toronto, which never happened. There were also plans to shorten the travel time between Ottawa and Toronto, but this never really happened, although it can hardly be expected that shortening time would be a guarantee when Via is a tenant of CN on much of the rails between Ottawa and Toronto. </p><p>Via now controls its own rails on the Smiths Falls Subdivision to Smiths Falls and the Brockville Subdivison (ex-CP) to Brockville. From there, it is a tenant on CN rails all the way to Toronto and beyond. This means it is at the mercy of CN dispatchers, who often give priority to their own freight trains. There is also the matter of Metrolinx GO Trains in and around Union Station, as well.<br /></p><p>The opening of the Fallowfield station happened not long after Via had discontinued service in Prescott, Trenton and Maxville in Eastern and Central Ontario. In many respects, it was a time of mixed messages and uncertain fortunes for Canada's national passenger railway. Even then, its fleet of F40PH-2 locomotives and HEP cars seemed old. Its LRC coaches had long since been imperfectly coupled onto the F40s, since the original Baombardier-built LRC locomotives had proven unreliable in the corridor. The railway's experiment with British renaissance cars was not yet on the horizon, although we all know how that turned out. </p><p>Much like today, Via was an operation in flux, in search of a more secure future with better equipment. But, as a Crown corporation subject to political whims of the government of the day, planning is never easy for this railway. It certainly wasn't easy then either, despite the backers it had in its corner.<br /></p><p>In the next post, I want to tackle some questions about the station. Why was it called Fallowfield Station? Why not Barrhaven? Why was it built where it now stands? Why not closer to the more populated parts of Barrhaven? Can you ride the train between the Tremblay Station and get off at Fallowfield? </p><p>Indeed, there is more than meets the eye when you're talking about this station.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-89957081824606728392023-07-28T18:57:00.000-04:002023-07-28T18:57:13.012-04:00Beachburg Sub 10th Anniversary: Something Old, Something New<p>It's a little late to be celebrating something that passed in April, but when I was clearing out my email folder the other day, I came across something from 2015 and it made me a bit nostalgic for the early days of this blog, when blogging was more of a thing online.</p><p>On April 30, 2013, I began blogging about railways in Ottawa and elsewhere, while mixing in my reminiscences of times spent trackside throughout my life. Inspired by blogs such as <a href="http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com">Trackside Treasure</a> and <a href="http://www.traingeek.ca">Traingeek</a>, I decided to give it a go. Truthfully, I only had about 10 ideas that I started with, based on my limited number of historic railway photos from my youth. I look back and wonder how I managed to keep this initiative on the rails, given the scarcity of material to work with in Ottawa.</p><p>When my thoughts began to return trackside at that time, my initial wanderings took me to the Via Rail station on Tremblay Road as well as the west-end station on Fallowfield Road. At the time, it had been so long since I had taken photographs of trains, everything was new and a novelty. This initial collection of early photos, combined with my trove of older photos from my youth, was barely enough to maintain about half a year of posts, so I eventually began going trackside more often and accepting submissions from friends and family. <br /></p><p>It was through these interactions with other railfans that I began to learn much more about railroading in Ottawa, including the existence of a weekly freight train that plied the Beachburg Sub rails each week on its way to Arnprior.</p><p>To be more specific, in 2013, CN made two west-end runs per week, as it made a separate run up the Smiths Falls Subdivision to Kott Lumber and SynAgri during the week, while returning on Sunday to collect empties. I can't imagine such a bounty now that all west-end freight service has been combined into one run up both the Beachburg/Renfrew and Smiths Falls Subs.</p><p>But when I began mentioning the Arnprior Turn, CN's weekly freight train, something happened. Word got out among railfans and my blog began to attract a wider audience, some of which has stuck around to this day. CN 589 has been a popular subject from Day 1 and it has generated more activity on this blog than anything else. That was why I was shocked to see this submission in an old email, which I had never posted. So, here it is eight years later.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFrsiujJ7SwkmTEnZUn7flgYji_t92wp9aWFXgwFb6-An5qowe-yCADq8xkqTmpiVdtWLZbIS-fAuOnCU5ozEY4xy0IWKG_l6NPeBs77A6T2-J_bOwh2kopwTwGEJnBimHcnVUQZGhSuTwP1UCnhscibauaSF-jrrmPtUdSxb3Q-jSl_qcxNCLPkrpi2-/s2592/2015%20Arnprior%20local%20pic.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFrsiujJ7SwkmTEnZUn7flgYji_t92wp9aWFXgwFb6-An5qowe-yCADq8xkqTmpiVdtWLZbIS-fAuOnCU5ozEY4xy0IWKG_l6NPeBs77A6T2-J_bOwh2kopwTwGEJnBimHcnVUQZGhSuTwP1UCnhscibauaSF-jrrmPtUdSxb3Q-jSl_qcxNCLPkrpi2-/w640-h426/2015%20Arnprior%20local%20pic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is a near perfect shot submitted to me by a reader named Patrick. It was taken near the March Road Tim Hortons in Kanata in June 2015, while the crew was stopping for a coffee before heading west to Arnprior. To be honest, I haven't heard from Patrick in years so I don't know if he's still in Ottawa so I will simply go with his first name and thank him belatedly for this cool image. <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-first-glimpse-of-arnprior-local.html">You can see his other contribution in this post</a>. You'll notice from these 2015 images that there's just a single unit (GP38-2 4703) leading this train. Back in 2015, this train was a single-unit operation. CN didn't start doubling up its units until the last few years. Most of my shots of this train are with a single unit.</p><p>Since the early days, I have managed to navigate the ebbs and flows of what the local railways offer here in Ottawa. I have also survived two severe bouts of mental illness to keep this blog going. I have never mentioned this before on this blog, but I was inspired to mention it now, thanks to Steve Boyko, the man behind <a href="http://traingeek.ca">traingeek.ca</a>, one of the best railway blogs I have ever found. Steve has been open about living with mental health challenges, and I will support him by saying I live with mental illness. I won't get into it too much, other than to say that I have become a mental health advocate since I started this blog, because it's a cause I believe needs more attention. I don't plan on saying too much about it here, but I am open to anyone asking me any questions, as I am a <a href="https://happinessprojectottawa.weebly.com/mens-mental-health.html">public speaker on this topic</a> and am always there to help people.To be honest, this blog has proven to be quite good for my mental health, as it sustained me through some of my darkest moments in 2015-16. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSY2fbP-y0qIu1BSzqzkyZj9vdFBfKLlBH_SMmlyW9P_QseZ7Ez0O4hX_BNcwQxHoOkL0yJ6n53srBV7aVf0xxieQXpnhq-8bKqwvFPk85Z_9BbcwFRtwXrO8xNZPOhNFr195gP_cni_Q-yffj9a_mH43NfTLQj_6JWUXrxtllERq75HWiXNgaf2KwMwy/s585/bLOGGING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="585" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSY2fbP-y0qIu1BSzqzkyZj9vdFBfKLlBH_SMmlyW9P_QseZ7Ez0O4hX_BNcwQxHoOkL0yJ6n53srBV7aVf0xxieQXpnhq-8bKqwvFPk85Z_9BbcwFRtwXrO8xNZPOhNFr195gP_cni_Q-yffj9a_mH43NfTLQj_6JWUXrxtllERq75HWiXNgaf2KwMwy/w640-h322/bLOGGING.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I recall sitting in front of a screen and doing research on railways, all the while trying to keep my anxiety and depression at bay. Somehow, that wasn't what derailed this blog. The pandemic took care of that. In 2020, when the full impact of the Covid outbreak meant the world was shutting down, I found my life to be incredibly confined, with kids learning from home and very little options for entertainment. I should have gone trackside more often, but I found that I was exhausted by blogging and constantly chasing photographs to generate new material. Also, the pace of posting a new entry every week proved to be impossible. So, I parked the blog in 2020 for a prolonged sabbatical, although at the time, I thought it was a retirement.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeT_Zj60v17eZdwXTO-VD_I7W-etpFCACKT4YBK01Fcug3P412DOid9GtlyXvzIsytkE5A5wfTDeu63nHsbHm-En94LvvWA-2NTFLl9cUvXZF3zsfLnSYSFT6p8GaRPy8zT_6niFZ-dvb-PRuH1OwI70y_O_5nXdNX4xlWiY70Eo4wWByRAjalgGCntfQ/s4032/IMG_0644.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeT_Zj60v17eZdwXTO-VD_I7W-etpFCACKT4YBK01Fcug3P412DOid9GtlyXvzIsytkE5A5wfTDeu63nHsbHm-En94LvvWA-2NTFLl9cUvXZF3zsfLnSYSFT6p8GaRPy8zT_6niFZ-dvb-PRuH1OwI70y_O_5nXdNX4xlWiY70Eo4wWByRAjalgGCntfQ/w480-h640/IMG_0644.JPEG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>But it was a trip to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario that brought me back. I found this trip energizing, as my daughters and I strolled through the grounds of the old CN station in Smiths Falls. Shortly after that visit, I began to look at the photos I had stockpiled over my break and found that I had more than enough to keep the blog active for half a year, provided I slowed my pace to bi-weekly. That seemed to work for me and things got rolling again, albeit at a more sedate pace.</p><p>A lot has changed since I began this blog, including the continued surge of railfans sharing the majority of their passion on social media. Truth be told, I have not really recovered the original readership I was blessed to amass initially. Some of my railfan friends have returned, but some have moved on. That's okay. I like to write about railways and whoever drops by is a bonus. I don't focus on my numbers all that much, although it's always neat to see that I've hit upon something that people enjoy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_XY0DZR2b_7L1JvseKXfm_TlJsSeOhw_eBC2snKLr-AwtgUunHncT2lFawK5YWZkUpHrQsvmW-C_GKjIn-fkZzeQLexHWX2gNew38EMALOIGB5Nk-KHe485gRhIZWlMGt9zCACPKVz7jncbTr7xWi6i81ebFK4QxsQWxiH0apE57Dou5VD97KA-DuXbR/s3140/P1050619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3140" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_XY0DZR2b_7L1JvseKXfm_TlJsSeOhw_eBC2snKLr-AwtgUunHncT2lFawK5YWZkUpHrQsvmW-C_GKjIn-fkZzeQLexHWX2gNew38EMALOIGB5Nk-KHe485gRhIZWlMGt9zCACPKVz7jncbTr7xWi6i81ebFK4QxsQWxiH0apE57Dou5VD97KA-DuXbR/w640-h412/P1050619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Since the beginning of this year, I have increased my pace to every 10 days, meaning I am posting about three times a month. I don't know if I will continue this pace or go back to bi-weekly, but I have found that picking up the pace keeps me more disciplined in my writing, which is good for my mental health.</p><p>I have also focused a fair bit this year on trying new approaches to railfan photography, as evidenced by this shot I recently took beneath the Hunt Club Road overpass. This summer, I will be visiting some different places outside Ottawa, which will give me the chance to possibly shoot some freight trains and other railway scenes. That will be a nice break from the seemingly endless parade of passenger panoramas I have amassed trackside in Ottawa this year.</p><p>Through the years since beginning, I have been blessed to connect with many good people who have helped me in many ways. I have also had a chance to shoot railway scenes in Toronto, Markham, Scarborough, Oshawa, Ajax, Montreal, Hull, Kitchener, Waterloo, Sarnia, Corunna, Courtright, Wyoming, Stratford, Bloomington, Indiana, Kissimmee, Florida, Lakeland, Florida, Plant City, Florida, Kingston, Bedell, Kemptville, Smiths Falls, Ogdensburg, New York, London and a few other places I am probably leaving out.</p><p>It's been an interesting decade. From the heartbreak of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2014/11/last-glimpses-of-beachburg-subdivision.html">CN pulling up the Beachburg Sub north of Nepean Junction</a> to the thrill of <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2022/08/summer-observations-in-ottawa.html">CP bringing its business train to town last summer</a>, it's been a journey filled with twists and turns. It's hard to believe I am now 392 posts into this initiative, closing in on 400 and looking ahead to 500. Railways have always been a part of my life. I am endlessly fascinated by them and like nothing more than sharing my thoughts and images with like-minded people.</p><p>Thank you for being along for the ride.</p><p>hammond.michael77 AT gmail dot com <br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-12168974709380220462023-07-20T07:14:00.000-04:002023-07-20T07:14:16.030-04:00The ghost that haunts me (Part II)<p>In the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-ghost-that-haunts-me-part-i.html">first part of this post</a>, I shared a few photos of CN's Arnprior Turn crossing the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-ghost-that-haunts-me-part-i.html">Merivale Road flyover</a> as it returned to Walkley Yard recently. I was extremely lucky to capture this shot, as it is a rare opportunity to capture something different in and around Ottawa. I recently dubbed this year the <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-year-of-different.html">Year of Different</a>, as it seemed to fit with my goal to capture some different railway images for the blog. Truthfully, it was done out of necessity as well, since the overwhelming majority of my images this year have been of Via Raul corridor trains. There are only so many images you can capture of F40s and P42s and four LRC or HEP cars. Sure, it was cool capturing some <a href="https://beachburg.blogspot.com/2023/04/capture-vias-rainbow-era-while-you-can.html">rarer Via rolling stock during the tail end of the buffer car period</a>, but that has come and gone, leaving me with fewer options for railway images to capture.</p><p>So, as I mentioned in the first part of this post, I caught images of 589 crossing over Merivale Road, while traffic was stopped. When it began moving, I knew I might have a chance to catch 589 crossing over Prince of Wales Drive, since its speed is severely restricted on the last remnants of the Beachburg Sub. I decided to give it a try, as I had time to spare before my daughters' dance class on Colonnade Road.</p><p>Colonnade parallels the Beachburg Sub for a short stretch in what was once known as Nepean, just north of Hunt Club Road. There was a parking lot to pull into, which allowed me to get a clear vantage point of the old stonework flyover that takes mainly Via Rail corridor trains over busy Prince of Wales Drive. The one issue I encountered was I barely had enough time to set up, which meant I couldn't run fast enough to get a spot beyond the wires. In weeks past, I have caught images of Via Rail's westbound Train 59 on this bridge a few times, which I will be sharing later.</p><p>This time, it was 589 I was desperately trying to catch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TW7oSdxRb8mkhMP1w3AXNIoViuM5ScCxMptSk959njumI4nfiV0LlpruE6PHBIG77zUjxtafvHbRtChXyfwsEOWWvMp5Cc3z87DEUxDA_UJGihRNPTWrVqVcSvJd8ugRwr4kTfg0fIendwy7s9EODoixINibx5z2_hmdU883_Yc7q9lemyy3MrQ5LGQ-/s2743/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="2743" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TW7oSdxRb8mkhMP1w3AXNIoViuM5ScCxMptSk959njumI4nfiV0LlpruE6PHBIG77zUjxtafvHbRtChXyfwsEOWWvMp5Cc3z87DEUxDA_UJGihRNPTWrVqVcSvJd8ugRwr4kTfg0fIendwy7s9EODoixINibx5z2_hmdU883_Yc7q9lemyy3MrQ5LGQ-/w640-h384/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>I was really happy with this shot, given that it was rushed. I would have liked to have been beyond the hydro poles, but this was the closest I could get as my timing was extremely rushed. I like that I captured two old GP38-2s with the sergeant stripes. The old stonework flyover is a nice feature as well, as it goes well with the old geeps. The only giveaway that this image isn't from the 90s or 80s is the parade of newer cars on Prince of Wales.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZFRMuv6QyvN8D09NgbB8Gt3MHlFU-MviAjB2XYOSNCOkGDADCaLadZMhqe2_FtfKBtKSW4ge6TTdY9hZL0qdgsgvx4XYx0WFXfdR1abBHcJdCluHmU2auFKndDrR1ndCMEs4cA1qXAMDPiV-n_EVsBUH4SKpcirB8MOaU0kboj96xnSUHff15xO9vHpY/s3233/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(8).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1971" data-original-width="3233" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZFRMuv6QyvN8D09NgbB8Gt3MHlFU-MviAjB2XYOSNCOkGDADCaLadZMhqe2_FtfKBtKSW4ge6TTdY9hZL0qdgsgvx4XYx0WFXfdR1abBHcJdCluHmU2auFKndDrR1ndCMEs4cA1qXAMDPiV-n_EVsBUH4SKpcirB8MOaU0kboj96xnSUHff15xO9vHpY/w640-h390/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(8).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here's a shot of the caprolactum empties it is bringing back to Walkley after unloading at Nylene Canada earlier that day. This meet fulfilled my Year of Different objectives well, as I was able to capture an image of a freight train in two new spots and each shot was taken from a vantage point that was not a 3/4 or wedge shot. The evening light was just about perfect, as the clouds in the sky reduced any potential shadows that would have required a fair bit of touch-ups afterward. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0HxH4t0hZ-Fh5GtUu-yfWrV-9yzcDprYXyUuFqbxIQ52iAM9JU0HHgTXurxvquYphPekzEdEdGP13avQ75dGz6JRJn9XUDvHRKOinSlaLxA7zfsOgHoIVZ8h_imPYAuO8l4MiPyFR21KHEyrnNRu4P2lYCQxMJ8RQA2_FToqF9V8vNg9_grPqChpth5h/s3737/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(23).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="3737" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0HxH4t0hZ-Fh5GtUu-yfWrV-9yzcDprYXyUuFqbxIQ52iAM9JU0HHgTXurxvquYphPekzEdEdGP13avQ75dGz6JRJn9XUDvHRKOinSlaLxA7zfsOgHoIVZ8h_imPYAuO8l4MiPyFR21KHEyrnNRu4P2lYCQxMJ8RQA2_FToqF9V8vNg9_grPqChpth5h/w640-h360/Prince%20of%20Wales%20Drive%20(23).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>One final shot of the last three tank cars before I headed back to take my daughters to dance class. If you look carefully, you can just make out the cab of the geep to the extreme left of the image. All in all, it was a lucky meet and a wise decision on my part to bring along my camera after initially toying with the idea of not bringing it along.</p><p>My daughter's dance classes have resumed after a short summer break, which means I am back in this area on Wednesday evenings, which allows me to hope that I might catch up with the Ghost once more over the summer months. Last week, we were too late to catch it, but I did capture a shot of Via's Train 59 heading under the Hunt Club Road overpass. I saw a few interesting things while in the area, which I will share in an upcoming post.<br /></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.com3