Trackside Log for Saturday, November 26, 2005

This morning was grey and snowy but I figured it would make for interesting photography so I headed to Merritton to see the Maple Leaf. On the way there I heard Norfolk Southern train 327 get a clearance through the working limits around Glenridge. I showed up at Merritton the same time it did. It just had two NS GE's so I didn't worry about it much. Norfolk Southern train 328 was also on the way, but its train separated in the single track near Grimsby holding everything up.

• 1033 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 2665-NREX 3928
• 1045 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 706

Thanks to 328 the Via was forty minutes late. I then decided to head up to Port Robinson to catch 328 again.

• 1118 Welland - NS 328 east - NS 2665-NREX 3928

The NREX 3928 is ex-UP 3928; nee MP 6028. While driving to Port Robinson I heard Canadian Pacific train 256 south get permission to enter the Canadian National Stamford subdivision and follow 328. I headed to the junction at Brookfield to see 256.

• 1134 Brookfield - CP 256 south - CP 8533-CP 5737-CP 5776

A special Via train was to be going to Niagara Falls so I headed back to Merritton to wait for it.

• 1324 Merritton - CN 154 east - CN 5707
• 1405 Merritton - Via 93 east - VIA 6442

The flags on the engine and the dome car on the rear were a nice change of pace for the Grimsby subdivision. Not a bad day actually. I photographed trains from five different railways: Amtrak, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Norfolk Southern and Via Rail. My goals were met for the day so I left for Binbrook to visit my family.

Trackside Log for Friday, November 25, 2005

Once again I stopped by the Canadian National tracks in Merritton on the way to work. On the way there I heard both 331 and 332 call for permission to pass the rule 42 limits between mile three and eight of the Grimsby subdivision. I don't think I mentioned this before, but the work between mile three and eight is replacing the railway overpass for the Queen Elizabeth Way. The highway is being widened to three lanes but the old railway bridges were only able to accomodate two. New steel bridges are replacing the existing concrete structures.

• 0730 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 2621-CN 5547
• 0744 Merritton - CN 332 west - CN 2671-CN 2692
• 0818 Merritton - CN 339 east - CN 2513-CN 5537

It wasn't overly exciting power but at least there weren't any SD75I's and the Canadian cab C44-9W was nice to see. Alas it was time for work so I continued my way to Welland.

I had a late lunch and swung by Canadian Pacific's Welland yard. Train 162 was switching and train 256 was just arriving.

• 1254 Welland - CP 256 south - CP 9593-CP 9541
• 1256 Welland - CP 162 south - SOO 6000-CP 6080

I then stopped off to pick up a sandwich at Tim Horton's before heading to the Canadian National Stamford subdivision to see the two CP trains again and Norfolk Southern train 328 which I heard down in St. Catharines. While heading over I learned that Canadian Pacific train 167 was also on its way. It was proving to be a busy hour.

• 1415 Brookfield - CP 167 west - CP 6054-CP 5721-SOO 6007-CP 9536-CP 5578-CP 5822-CP 5942
• 1429 Stevensville - NS 328 east - NS 8921-NS 6657
• 1444 Stevensville - CP 162 east - SOO 6000-CP 6080
• 1455 Stevensville - CP 256 east - CP 9593-CP 9541

After the excitement I headed back to work but stopped by Welland yard again to see train 167 again. The crew outlawed in the yard and I was able to record all the unit numbers.

• 1528 Welland - CP 167 north - CP 6054-CP 5721-SOO 6007-CP 9536-CP 5578-CP 5822-CP 5942

That was actually pretty fun but I had to head back to work again.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, November 22, 2005

I had to go into work tonight and on my way home I heard train 430 obtain permission to pass through the working limits from mile three to mile eight of the Grimsby subdivision. I knew I could make it to Merritton before it, and it was on my way home, so I figured why not take a look even if it is dark.

• 0039 Merritton - CN 430 west - CN 5779

There were over twenty coil cars on the head end. After that excitement I headed home, eventually to bed.

I wasn't going into work until later today so I dropped by Merritton again for the morning. A few CSX detours have been coming through because of a derailment on the old New York Central St. Lawrence Division.

• 0901 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5701-BCOL 4626
• 0922 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5696-CN 2583

Bridge 6 was up and 421 had to wait for about a half hour.

• 0958 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5696-CN 2583
• 1006 Merritton - NS 327 west - UP 4221-NS 6522
• 1011 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 706
• 1131 Merritton - NS 328 east - BNSF 9402-NS 8862
• 1138 Merritton - CN 332 west (CSX detour) - CN 2518-CSXT 8666-CSXT 8660

At that point I headed to work. A train 331 east was on the way that I suspected to be another detour since 331 is normally a westbound. I planned to catch it near Welland by taking a quick break from work. My timing was good. By the time I got to Netherby Road it was calling out the signals at Port Robinson.

• 1248 Netherby Road - CN 331 east (CSX detour) - CN 2644-CN 5772

Well, it wasn't CSX power but I'm pretty sure it was a detour. Oh well. Back to work.

Trackside Log for Monday, November 21, 2005

This morning I dropped by Merritton again before work. As I left home I heard NS 327 obtain permission through a foreman's limits at mile 9 of the Grimsby subdivision. I had a slim chance of seeing it in Merritton but it beat me. I only saw its tail pass by. While waiting for a pending train 422 I heard an emergency call. It turned out that train 331 struck and likely killed a tresspasser at mile 39 in Hamilton at approximately 0905.

• 0928 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5552-CN 2513

No traffic was getting through Hamilton around the police investigation so it looked like I was out of luck. I had hoped to catch 421, 97 and 328 but they were all delayed and I didn't have enough time to wait for them before work.

Trackside Log for Sunday, November 20, 2005

It was a nice morning although I was very tired. I was at work the night before until 0230. I wasn't out very early but my primary target, the "Maple Leaf", is only at 1000.

• 1013 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 706

The "Maple Leaf" was delayed for a few minutes by bridge 6 and train 430 was waiting on the other side.

• 1021 Merritton - CN 430 west - CN 5608

That's the first time I've ever seen train 430. I heard that train 332 was on its way over the Stamford subdivision so I hung around for it.

• 1117 Merritton - CN 332 west - CN 5679

By this time it was getting boring and my patience was at a premium because of fatigue so I headed back home.

Trackside Log for Sunday, November 13, 2005

Today I wasn't feeling terribly energetic, but I did want to see the Maple Leaf. I headed to St. Catharines station to see it since it was cloudy and fairly dark. While stopped at the station I would be able to photograph it on slide film.

• 1003 St. Catharines - Via 97 east - AMTK 716

While waiting for the Maple Leaf I heard CP train 167 north get a clearance from Brookfield to Welland. I was led to believe that it would have brand new CP ES44AC's on the train so I headed up to Welland yard, keeping my ears tuned in case it got a clearance out of town. When I arrived at the yard 167 was just pulling through and would be lifting.

• 1112 Welland - CP 167 north - SOO 6042-CP 5664-CP 5640-CP 5647-CP 8715-CP 8714

I had a friend visiting later so I headed home. Actually it was a rather rewarding day.

Trackside Log for Saturday, November 12, 2005

Today I headed to Hamilton to meet up with Marcus. While driving on the Queen Elizabeth Way through Jordan I heard NS 327 calling out signals ahead of me. I caught up to him at Stoney Creek and headed to Hamilton yard hoping to get there first. As it turned out Marcus was there too. Marcus was unaware that 327 was just down the tracks.

• 0910 Hamilton - NS 327 west - NS 5610-NS 2874
• 0918 Hamilton - Via 97 east - AMTK 709

Marcus and I decided to head to Aldershot after stopping by Hamilton West. While at Hamilton West CN 331 with two SD75I's and 385 with a C44-9W and an SD75I headed up the Dundas subdivision in tandem.

• 1003 Aldershot - CN 332 east - CN 2501
• 1011 Aldershot - CN 435 west - CN 2505-CN 5417-CN 4110
• 1100 Aldershot - CN 422 east - CN 5515-CN 5734

Train 435 had finished switching Aldershot and pulled out of the west end of the yard to get back on its train.

• 1112 Aldershot - CN 435 west - CN 2505-CN 5417-CN 4110
• 1114 Aldershot - CN 148 east - CN 2520-CN 5523-CN 2515
• 1133 Aldershot - CN 390 east - WC 6941-IC 6015-CN 7003-CN 4121
• 1152 Aldershot - CN 154 west - CN 5611

Marcus had to take off so I headed up to Copetown to see what else CN might show up with.

• 1248 Copetown - Via 72 east - VIA 912
• 1255 Copetown - Via 73 west - VIA 6415
• 1329 Copetown - CN 330 east - CN 2513-CN 2531
• 1359 Copetown - CN 392 east - CN 5679-CN 2654
• 1400 Copetown - CN 393 west - CN 2556-CN 5505
• 1513 Copetown - CN 434 east - CN 2424-CN 5550

The sun was going down in the west and I only knew about another eastbound which was getting nigh on impossible to photograph, so I headed home. Not a bad day although there was nothing truly exciting.

Trackside Log for Friday, November 11, 2005

I got up early again today so I could go trackside before work. After getting petrol I headed to Merritton. When I got there a westbound signal was already lit and CN 331 was asking a foreman for permission through his rule 42 at the Queen Elizabeth Way overpass.

• 0810 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 5747-CN 5684

I'm getting pretty sick of those two SD75I's. They've been on 330/331 for at least a week! Train 422 was getting ready in Port Robinson and 332 was at Duff on CN. CP 256 had just left Brookfield so I missed it. I wasn't going to be able to catch any of them so I headed to work. One train is better than none.

Trackside Log for Thursday, November 10, 2005

This morning was much brighter than yesterday. I stopped off at Merritton before work again to see what CN had around.

• 0802 Merritton - CN 338 west - CN 5754-WC 6908
• 0828 Merritton - CN 339 east - CN 2525-WC 6934

Well, that was fun, but once again it was time to head to work. CN 422 was on the way but I didn't really have enough time to wait for it.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, November 9, 2005

This morning was really miserable and dark. I opted to head straight to work but wanted to duck out briefly hoping to catch CP 167 because it had two new GE locomotives. I almost missed it. I got to Welland yard just as it was heading out the north siding switch. I quickly decided to bolt to Boyle figuring I could make it there. I did with about one minute to spare. It was still ugly weather but oh well, it's digital so it isn't costing me anything. Considering how much rain was falling, the photos aren't too bad.

• 1005 Boyle - CP 167 north - CP 5643-CP 5657-SOO 6617-CP 9510-CP 8708-CP 8709

And then back to work. I was gone less than thirty minutes. After work it was still hideously dark but I heard a CP southbound coming so I went to catch it.

• 1647 Wainfleet - CP 248 south - CP 8627-CP 5639-CEFX 2792

Then it was really dark so I headed home.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Once again I headed to Merritton before work to see what CN would run. I also took work with me this time and wrote documentation while waiting for trains. I got there at 0720 and before long a clear signal went up for a westbound.

• 0751 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 5701-CN 5640
• 0904 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5759-CN 9619-CN 5233
• 1011 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 703
• 1019 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 5819-NS 7066

There wasn't much activity but since I brought my work with me I got a lot done. I needed to head toward Welland anyway so I decided to catch 328 again. A CN crew was replacing rail at approximately mile 13 of the Stamford subdivision so 328 was going to have to stop and wait at Cambridge. I went to catch him at the Welland River in Port Robinson.

• 1103 Port Robinson - NS 328 east - NS 5819-NS 7066

Next I headed over to CP in Welland where a work train was dumping ballast and a southbound was on its way.

• 1144 Welland - CP job 2 work train south - CP 3032
• 1210 Welland - CP 248 south - CP 9596-CEFX 2798

With that it was back to the office to see what was up there.

Trackside Log for Monday, November 7, 2005

I dropped by Merritton on the way to work again this morning. I was later than I'd hoped but managed to see something nonetheless.

• 0804 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5759-CN 9619-CN 5233

I then started to meander toward Welland. I heard that 331 was approaching Port Robinson so I swung by. While waiting for 331 the NI dispatcher mentioned that 339 was still on the Halton subdivision. That's quite late.

• 0831 Port Robinson - CN 331 west - CN 5747-CN 5684

Wow. That was exciting. That power was the same as 330 on Friday and 331 on Saturday. Oh well, it was time for work.

Trackside Log for Sunday, November 6, 2005

This morning started out not too bad. It was a light overcast, but fairly bright… until I left to photograph the Maple Leaf again today. Dark mean clouds were coming from the southwest. Oh well. I went to Merritton to photograph it anyway. While I was waiting I could hear thunder and see a few lighting flashes. I was hoping the rain would hold off long enough for me to video the Maple Leaf coming out of the storm, but no such luck. It started to rain quite heavily just before it showed up.

• 1008 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 703

You can see the rain in the photos. I'd had enough of that and headed home.

Trackside Log for Saturday, November 5, 2005

This morning the weather wasn't looking very promising, but I wanted to see the Maple Leaf again. I figured on heading to St. Catharines station to photograph it. At least it would be stopped and I wouldn't have to worry about motion blur on my slide photos. I arrived at the station in plenty of time, with the hopes of catching another train or two before the Maple Leaf showed up. No such luck, although a westbound was waiting on the other side of the Welland Canal for bridge 6 to lower.

• 1010 St. Catharines - Via 97 east - AMTK 716
• 1017 St. Catharines - CN 331 west - CN 5747-CN 5684

Drat! The battery died in my digital camera, so no photo of 331. Oh well. The weather was dismal, and I had things to do, so I headed back home.

Trackside Log for Friday, November 4, 2005

I took a quick break from work today hoping to catch NS 328 but instead wound up catching two CP trains on the Hamilton Subdivision instead.

• 1024 Brookfield - CP 167 north - CP 5587-CP 6029-CP 5420
• 1053 Dain City - CP 248 south - CP 9760-SOO 6000

While waiting for 248 I heard that NS 328 still hadn't left Hamilton. Hokey smokes! Oh well, back to work.

After work there was still a bit of light left so I dropped by CP's Welland yard. Nothing was going on there, but I heard that Job 3 was over at CN's Southern yard and that CN train 330 was on its way out of Port Robinson. So I headed over to the bridge on the CN Stamford Subdivision that passes over the CP Hamilton Subdivision.

• 1641 Welland - CN 330 east - CN 5684-CN 5747

It was pretty dark by now so I headed home. On the way I heard CP train 419 north get a clearance but it was too dark to do much about it.

Trackside Log for Thursday, November 3, 2005

I stopped off at Merritton before work again today. When I arrived CN 421 was there waiting for Bridge 6 which was raised for the upbound Canadian Steamship Lines "Frontenac".

• 0848 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5707-CN 9619-CN 9601
• 0852 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5763-CN 2438

Train 422 passed by on the north track behind 421 but I'd photographed the power the day before on 421. Next up was train 339 which was much later than I'm used to.

• 0901 Merritton - CN 339 east - CN 5701-CN 5640-CN 5505
• 0933 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 5691-CN 2675

Train 331 met Via 97 at Jordan. This is the portion of the CN Grimsby Subdivision that CN removed the south track from a couple years ago. This includes the track on the trestle over Jordan Harbour.

• 1010 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 716

The "Maple Leaf" has gotten interesting again with the addition of the P32AC-DM 700's.

• 1230 Merritton - CN 154 east - CN 2562

I don't know what happened to NS 328 but the last train for me was CN 154 before I had to go to work. Bummer.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, November 2, 2005

This is becoming a habit. I stopped off at Merritton before work again. It was a nice sunny morning which I knew was going to cause problems with westbounds. When I arrived at Merritton at approximately 0715 CN train 332 was already going by. I didn't get a chance to see the power. Before long I heard NS 327 west ask permission to pass a rule 42 on the Grimsby subdivision. Great! It would be coming right out of the sun. I took a photo from the shaded side by using the road bridge to block the sun. All in all it was kind of crappy.

• 0742 Merritton - NS 327 west - EMDX 9049-NS 9648
• 0818 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5763-CN 2438
• 0847 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5541-CN 5424

At least 421 was nicely lit. Then it was off to work.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, November 1, 2005

On the way to work this morning I stopped off at Merritton again. I heard a horn at the west end of St. Catharines as I got into my truck. It turned out to be CN train 421 east. You can't get from my house to the track in time to see a train in that situation without driving all the way to Port Robinson so I missed it. On the up side I'll likely be able to see that power tomorrow on train 422. I also heard CP 256 south get a clearance from mile 53 to Welland on the Hamilton subdivision. The plan was to catch it after CN train 422 west that had just left Port Robinson.

• 0804 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5799-CN 5268-CN 2568

Nothing else was pending on CN so I started making my way to Welland. I first stopped off at Lock 7 of the Welland Canal where two ships were headed downbound.

• 0815 Lock 6 - Algoma Central Marine "Algowood" entering Lock 5
• 0830 Lock 7 - Lithuanian ship "Kapitonas Marcinkus" exiting Lock 7

As I finished photographing the Kapitonas Marcinkus it began to rain. I heard CP train 256 get its clearance from station name sign Welland to station name sign Brookfield East but opted not to photograph it because of the weather. Off to work I went.