As job 3 was heading back to CP on the CN Stamford subdivision CP train 257 passed under its tail end on the CP Hamilton subdivision. I headeded to the wye in Brookfield to photograph it leaving CN.
Job 3 dropped it's cars in the Montrose sub and then lifted cars to take to Stevensville. It was getting darker so I decided to head home.
I started back to St. Catharines and heard CN train 330 east call out the signals for Yager while I was just driving by so I swung over to the tracks to photograph it, again with the new F75.
On my way through Port Robinson I heard CN train 564 mention it was about to head out the east end of the yard. When I got to the tracks the gates were down and it was on its way. There wasn't any light among the trees so I just watched it.
I continued on to St. Catharines and home. Not bad for a half hour after work.
In Port Robinson I espied the CSL ship Spruceglen and photographed it. Earlier I'd heard CP train 256 get a clearance from Kinnear to Welland so I dropped by the yard.
CP was having problems with their communication towers and the crew had to get a clearance by phone. I headed to Fort Erie where I heard that CN 339 had parked its train for a recrew. My timing was on fire since NS train 369 was just pulling through the yard as I arrived in town.
Sure enough, CN 339 was parked by the International Bridge so I took a couple shots.
If I wanted to get to Binbrook in the early afternoon I'd have to head out so off I went. All in all not a bad morning. I saw a little of everything.
A day earlier I'd been informed that NS train 327 had a TFM locomotive so I headed out to catch its return on NS 328.
Since I'd never seen a TFM engine in Canada before I drove out to Brookfield to see it again.
Apparently I missed an over/under photo opportunity when CP job 3 was approaching Brookfield. Doh! At any rate I drove home along the canal and photographed a couple ships.
When I opened my eyes this morning I was greeted by a near blizzard. The plan was to see what NS would present on the former PRR. It was snowing so hard for the first few trains I just watched them go by.
Now that was so much better. Norfolk Southern actually ran some trains. I didn't want to be too late back home so I headed out at about 1300.
The Buffalo and Pittsburgh was rewarding on the way home too. Catching them switching Du Bois was a bonus. There was a northbound out there somewhere too, but I never actually heard it. Oh well. The trip was rewarding so I have no complaints. I think I'll have to go back and photograph R.J. Corman between Thurmond and Mount Hope, West Virginia though. The scenery was excellent. I could easily spend a day on CSX in Thurmond too. These are things to add to my to-do list I suppose.
After a couple hours and only one train I couldn't take it anymore.
Unbelievable. The Capitol Limited was several hours late. Worse, it surprised me and I couldn't photograph it. Shortly after I ran across HO tower and photographed it.
I found a nice location west of town on the main to Pittsburgh and waited… and waited. Nothing came. After a while I'd had enough and left for Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Maybe Norfolk Southern can outperform CSX.
According to the local news the mine was due to reopen that week after being shut down due to an explosion. After shooting the CF7 I returned to Buckhannon to the Appalachian & Ohio. My timing was off because I missed a southbound while stuck in traffic.
Sadly the Western Maryland BL2 was locked indoors and it didn't appear to be any work this day, so off to CSX in Grafton. There was an assortment of CSX AC4400's, an SD80MAC, and two NS SD70M-2's.
It wasn't overly exciting so I continued my journey to Moorefield and the South Branch Valley Railroad.
Next I took off for the Winchester & Western in Gore, VA with a quick stop at the Potomac Eagle.
It was getting late so I would be staying over night in Harpers Ferry, WV. I checked into the Comfort Inn and then headed down to the station to write up the day's log and see what trains would pass in the night.
Apparently driving south was the answer. By the time I got to Charleston the weather was much improved.
Next I hunted down an R.J. Corman line. I started in Mount Hope, the end of their line, but no red engines. I followed the track north to their junction with CSX in Thurmond.
I noticed a green signal on the CSX tracks so I waited for the westbound in the rain.
After the coal train passed I headed for the Gauley River Railroad in Muddlety. Unfortunately when I got there I discovered that the tracks had been removed. Well, nothing I can do about that so I continued on to the next shortline, the Elk River Railroad.
My truck was getting very thirsty so I looked for fuel in Conneaut. Would you believe the only station I found had no pumps in service? I continued west praying to find something quickly. Fortunately I found fuel before I ran out but I was getting nervous.
Unfortunately the operational power for the AC&J was stored inside.
Ontario Southland was assembling their train so I ventured out ahead to search for a nice location to photograph it.
It turned out to be a rather decent day at Guelph Junction. I thought it might be interesting to stop by mile 30 of the CN Halton subdivision to see if anything was going on.
It was getting pretty dark and approaching time to head to Marcus'. And I am outta here.
I didn't feel like spending the day in Merritton so I migrated south. Train 339 was lifting Port Robinson and would arrive eventually.
I heard CP job 1 obtain permission from a foreman to proceed from Welland to Brookfield so I ventured to the tunnel under the canal.
I've wanted to photograph the swing bridge in Montrose for a long time so I took the opportunity.
I headed back to Brookfield to wait for a very slow NS 328. They were having difficulties with their SBU (supplemental braking unit) and were limited to 25 mph.
Earlier I had heard that CP 248 would be departing Kinnear at 1300. By the time NS 328 passed I figured I should get over to CP. That turned out to be a good plan. I got to the tracks just minutes before 248.
Very little else was going on so I deemed it home time. On the way I ran across CN 333.
I had a meeting in Welland today at 1130 but the morning was free. When I got to Merritton I heard that NS 328 was following CN 339 into Fort Erie. I made a quick change in plans and rerouted to the border.
Shane, who arrived after a while, and I decided to head for mile 30 for a train 392.
It was getting late so I began my return home. I stopped by CP in campbellville on the way to see if anything was around. Just as I got to town the detector at mile 42 went off.
After the eastbound I went back home.
I had heard earlier that CN 339 dropped two NS engines off in track 99 at Fort Erie for NS 369 to lift. I went to have a look.
OK. That was slow even by Grimsby and Stamford subdivision standards. Oh well.
