Trackside Log for Sunday, February 26, 2006

Today was the Copetown railroad show and the weather was beautiful. I got a fairly early start to catch Via 70 with the Superbowl engine.

• 0803 Copetown - NS 328 east - NS 9085-UP 4681
• 0843 Copetown - Via 671 west - VIA 6429
• 0915 Copetown - Via 70 east - VIA 6424
• 0954 Copetown - CN 396 east - WC 6926-BNSF 7885-BNSF 8018-CN 5526
• 1035 Copetown - CN 399 west - CN 2609-CN 5702
• 1113 Copetown - CN 392 east - CN 2686-CN 2506
• 1243 Copetown - CN 394 east - BNSF 6731-CN 2634-CN 2425-FURX 8135
• 1256 Copetown - Via 73 west - VIA 6428/VIA 6409
• 1304 Copetown - Via 72 east - VIA 920
• 1423 Copetown - CN 331 west - CN 5349-CN 5742
• 1459 Copetown - CN 385 west - CN 5622-CN 9567-NS 7550

After 385 I visited the train show for a while before returning home. On the way home I stopped by Aberdeen and RaiLink's yards.

• 1545 Aberdeen Yard, Hamilton - CP 230 power - CP 6056-CP 5768-CP 5669

There was essentially nothing at RaiLink. Only 1201 and 4200 were present. It was a nice day although there were few trains. A number of people dropped by throughout the day and we had some good chatter.

Trackside Log for Saturday, February 25, 2006

Today I was to meet Marcus so I left St. Catharines for Hamilton. On the way I heard NS 328 call a foreman at Hamilton West so I headed for Victoria St.

• 0835 Hamilton - NS 328 east - NS 9141-FURX 3002-HLCX 7175
• 0848 Hamilton - NS 327 west - NS 9085-UP 4681

After the two NS trains I drove to Aldershot.

• 0914 Aldershot - Via 97 west - AMTK 715
• 0925 Aldershot - CN 399 west - CN 9540-UP 8328-UP 4923-CN 5739
• 0926 Aldershot - Via 70 east - VIA 6406

While I was at Aldershot Marcus was at Plains Road. Just as I was about to head over to meet him 399 went into emergency. The head end was stopped at Snake Road bridge.

• 0949 Aldershot - CN 271 west - CN 5500-CSXT 7679

Our goal for the day was the Paris area. After meeting Marcus we set our course west.

• 1034 Copetown - CN 392 east - CN 5708-CN 5635
• 1037 Copetown - CN 399 west - CN 9540-UP 8328-UP 4923-CN 5739
• 1057 Brantford - CN 399 west - CN 9540-UP 8328-UP 4923-CN 5739
• 1059 Brantford - CN 384 east - CN 5638-CN 2635
• 1112 Brantford - MTTX 95449 w/ vat
• 1126 Brantford - CN 383 west - CN 2569-CN 5693
• 1145 Brantford - CN eastbound - CN 5793-CN 2606
• 1224 Brantford - CN 580 west - CN 7039
• 1234 Brantford - Via 72 east - VIA 917
• 1326 Paris Junction - Via 73 west - VIA 6409

There wasn't much happening on CN and we heard the eastbound London pickup get a clearance out of Blandford with two westbounds to meet. We figured we could catch the second train in Drumbo.

• 1453 Drumbo - CP 243 west - CP 9522-CP 9663

Just before 243 arrived we heard the detector at mile 27 of the CN Grimsby subdivision. We didn't bother waiting for the pickup.

• 1517 Princeton - CN 398 east - CN 2515-CN 5521-EMDX 781-BNSF 6184
• 1626 Princeton - CN 393 west - CN 2682-CN 2533-BNSF 6949
• 1629 Princeton - Via 76 east - VIA 6439
• 1707 Paris - CN 148 east - CN 5294-UP 9286-UP 9032
• 1741 Paris - Via 675 west - VIA 6424
• 1752 Paris Junction - CN 330 east - CN 5742-CN 5349
• 1804 Paris Junction - CN 331 west - CN 5415-IC 6112-NS 8907

It was rather dark so Marcus and I called it a day.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, February 22, 2006

I had a dentist appointment this afternoon and headed to Paris afterward. It was a nice day so it seemed to be the perfect day to photograph some trains.

• 1356 Paris Junction - CN 271 west - CN 5522-UP 4136
• 1511 Paris Junction - CN 331 west - CN 5524-CN 2415
• 1522 Paris Junction - CN 385 west - CN 6011-NS 8907-CN 4114
• 1543 Paris Junction - CN 393 west - CN 2606-CN 5793
• 1604 Paris - CN 394 east - BNSF 5443-MRL 332

It was starting to get dark so I began my journey home. As luck would have it I caught up to train 394 and decided to photograph it again at Aldershot.

• 1702 Aldershot - CN 394 east - BNSF 5443-MRL 332

After that fun I continued home.

Trackside Log for Sunday, February 19, 2006

It was a nice morning with a few clouds and a brisk -9 degree Celcius temperature. I decided to start the day in Merritton.

• 1004 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 715
• 1022 Merritton - CN 332 west - CN 5743

I was meeting my dad for a Hamilton Bulldogs game so I drove there to continue railfanning.

• 1138 Aldershot - CN 556 west - CN 7054-CN 7025-CN 7046
• 1146 Aldershot - CN eastbound CWR - CN 7059-CN 4117

The rail train stopped under Snake Road bridge and then reversed onto the Dundas subdivision.

• 1156 Aldershot - CN 421 west - CN 2406-CN 5523

Just as the rail train was starting to drop rail on the Dundas subdivision the RTC called to ask the rail train to clear at Aldershot for train 392 that was at Massey's. Train 331, with two SD75I's, crept up the cow path to wait for 392 and Via 73.

• 1235 Hamilton West - CN 392 east - CN 5635-BNSF 4497
• 1312 Hamilton - CN 556 west - CN 7054-CN 7025-CN 7046

On my way past the Bunge plant (formerly CanAmera Foods) I noticed that the switcher was outside.

• 1401 Hamilton - Bunge switcher - Bunge no #
• 1514 Hamilton - Via 92 west - VIA 901
• 1537 Hamilton - CN 338 west - CN 2696-CN 5436-CN 5432

After 338 it was time to meet my dad for the hockey game. After the game (Bulldogs won 3-2) I noticed a westbound headlight as I crossed the Grimsby subdivision at Victoria Street.

• 1849 Hamilton - Via 98 west - AMTK 706

Then I continued home.

Trackside Log for Sunday, February 12, 2006

It was a beautiful, brisk, sunny morning that begged for me to go trackside. There was another Bulldogs game so I didn't venture too far from Hamilton. Copetown was my destination.

• 0900 Copetown - CN 410 east - CN 5407-CN 5697-CN 523-CN 7521
• 0909 Copetown - Via 70 east - VIA 6416

I made a quick dash to Tim Horton's and upon my return heard that 392 was stopped by the hot box detector at mile 18. Additionally 391 and 331 were on the way. Train 331 was having difficulty with a hose bag that threw them into emergency three times.

• 1117 Copetown - CN 391 west - CN 5556-BNSF 4768-UP 9663
• 1118 Copetown - CN 392 east - CN 5356-CN 2596
• 1146 Copetown - CN 331 west - CN 2522-CN 5618
• 1151 Copetown - CN 148 east - CN 2653-GTW 5956-CN 5643
• 1202 Copetown - CN 399 west - CN 2407-BNSF 4411-BNSF 339

Hokey smokes! Train 399 had a GP60B. Marcus and I followed the BNSF for days in 2001 and I spent a couple of days on the BNSF last year and hardly saw a "B" unit and then CN throws one at me. Sheesh!

• 1248 Copetown - Via 72 east - VIA 6407
• 1300 Copetown - Via 73 west - VIA 911/VIA 6409
• 1400 Copetown - CN 330 east - CN 5635-CN 2591
• 1413 Copetown - CN 390 east - CN 5329-CN 5418
• 1419 Copetown - CN 393 west - GCFX 6051-WC 6911

I wanted to see Via 92 and it was closing in on game time so I left Copetown for Hamilton.

• 1520 Bayview Junction - Via 92 east - VIA 6427

Train 385 was working Aldershot but took too long setting out a bad order car. Off to the hockey game.

Trackside Log for Saturday, February 11, 2006

Today I was going to a Hamilton Bulldogs game. The morning was really snowy so I made myself busy at home until noon. I figured I would meander my way to Binbrook to meet my sister for the game. I heard that CP train 256 was heading for Welland.

• 1250 Fenwick - CP 256 south - CP 9594-CEFX 1051

I drove ahead of 256 while it stopped for paperwork in Welland.

• 1341 Brookfield - CP 256 south - CP 9594-CEFX 1051

CP job 3 was lifting cars from CN's Southern Yard and obtained a clearance back to Welland after 256 cleared.

• 1406 Welland - CP job 3 north - CP 3038-CP 3096

After photographing job 3 exiting the tunnel under the canal I continued to Binbrook.

Trackside Log for Sunday, February 5, 2006

It was Superbowl Sunday and Via was running a train for the occassion. I decided on Copetown to see it. When I got there a light engine from train 332 went backwards east to rescue a stalled train 383.

• 0902 Copetown - CN 332 east rescue power - CN 5671
• 0913 Copetown - CN 332/383 west - CN 5671-CN 2519-CN 2506-CN 5717
• 0928 Copetown - CN 399 west - CN 5645-CN 5362-CN 2415
• 0945 Copetown - CN 382 east - CN 5639-CN 2551
• 1012 Copetown - Via 70 east - VIA 6419
• 1016 Copetown - Via 677 west - VIA 6424/VIA 6425

I had accomplished my primary objective, photographing the Superbowl train, and I really wanted to go home.

Trackside Log for Saturday, February 4, 2006

I ventured out to Hamilton to meet up with Marcus. While on the QEW I saw CN train 331 and NS train 328.

• 0912 Aldershot - Via 97 west - AMTK 709
• 0923 Aldershot - Via 70 east - VIA 6416
• 0931 Aldershot - CN 385 west - CN 5638-CN 5445-CN 6023
• 1007 Aldershot - CN 382 east - CN 2663-GTW 5956
• 1048 Hamilton Junction - CN 331 west - CN 5606-CN 5415-CN 5550
• 1203 Aldershot - CN 393 west - CN 2595-CN 2580
• 1242 Aldershot - Via 73 west - VIA 6407

The weather started getting rough, the day was nearly lost. Marcus and I dropped by the hobby shop in Burlington before I headed to Binbrook.

Trackside Log for Friday, February 3, 2006

Well hurrah! It's my last three hour commute to Toronto! I'm SO happy. Maybe I can get a portion of my life back.

• 0711 dep St. Catharines - Via 90 west - VIA 915
• 0728 arr/07 dep Grimsby - Via 90 west - VIA 915
• 0759 arr/0803 dep Aldershot - Via 90 east - VIA 915
• 0813 arr/0815 dep Oakville - Via 90 east - VIA 915
• 0839 arr Toronto - Via 90 east - VIA 915

Oh happy day!!! It's my last train ride. Now don't get me wrong, trains are great, but three hours a day on a train grows tiresome quickly. A little Queensrÿche for the journey I think is in (rage for) order.

• 1744 dep Toronto - Via 95 west - VIA 900
• 1807 arr/1809 dep Oakville - Via 95 west - VIA 900
• 1821 arr/1823 dep Aldershot - Via 95 west - VIA 900
• 1854 arr/1855 dep Grimsby - Via 95 east - VIA 900
• 1912 arr/1915 dep St. Catharines - Via 95 east - VIA 900

And the crowd goes wild!!! "Yea." It's done. No more 0530 mornings. I'm so excited I wrote this log in present tense.

Trackside Log for Thursday, February 2, 2006

It's groundhog day! It was also the second last day in Toronto. Only one more morning to wake up at 0530. Every morning will be like sleeping in… at least for a few days.

• 0710 dep St. Catharines - Via 90 west - VIA 909
• 0727 arr/0728 dep Grimsby - Via 90 west - VIA 909
• 0758 Aldershot - CN switcher - CN 4110-CN 4114
• 0758 arr/0801 dep Aldershot - Via 90 east - VIA 909
• 0812 arr/0814 dep Oakville - Via 90 east - VIA 909
• 0837 arr Toronto - Via 90 east - VIA 909

One day of Toronto travel left. It will be nice to leave the three hours of travel behind.

• 1744 dep Toronto - Via 95 west - VIA 915
• 1806 arr/1808 dep Oakville - Via 95 west - VIA 915
• 1820 arr/1822 dep Aldershot - Via 95 west - VIA 915
• 1853 arr/1854 dep Grimsby - Via 95 east - VIA 915
• 1910 arr/1914 dep St. Catharines - Via 95 east - VIA 915

I was back home with only one more travel day.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Through a variety of circumstances I wound up not travelling to Toronto today. To relax I went to Merritton to see what trains might be around. Just after I arrived 338 appeared.

• 0842 Merritton - CN 338 west - CN 2510-CN 5387-CN 5791
• 0906 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 9120-BNSF 4183

Coincidently I photographed BNSF 4183 on the Norfolk Southern in Cresson, Pennsylvania the previous weekend.

• 1016 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 5610-CN 5374-CN 5771

Via train 97 met 331 in front of me but since it was on the north track it was buried.

• 1017 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 710
• 1040 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5642-CN 5794

I'd calmed down by then and there wasn't much more traffic pending so I returned home.