Trackside Log for Saturday, September 30, 2006

This was the first day of my Saskatchewan grain elevator trip with Sam. Although I was primarily hunting for elevators I did photograph the Carlton Trail.

• 0954 CST North Battleford, SK - Carlton Trail power - HBR 2508-HLCX 9522-HLCX 9647

That was the only train we saw.

Trackside Log for Friday, September 29, 2006

Today was my flight to Saskatoon for a week of photographing grain elevators. I was picking Sam up at the Aldershot GO station at 1455 and had some time to kill so I bought an orange juice and waited to see if Canadian National would run any freight.

• 1401 Aldershot - CN 333 west - CN 5519-CN 5302

Train 148 also passed by in the rain. Sam arrived on time and then it was off to Mount Hope for the flight to Saskatoon.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Today I had more documentation to read for work. To avoid interuption I took work to the tracks again. I arrived in Merritton just after 0800. The first train didn't appear for over an hour so I was able to get much of my reading done.

• 0930 Merritton - CN 338 west - CN 2613-CN 5518
• 0945 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 9750-NS 9469

That power looked familiar. It was the same power 328 used two days earlier.

• 0949 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 5758-CN 5368
• 1014 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 717
• 1031 Merritton - CN 421 east - CN 5678-WC 6924-CN 4132

My reading was complete by the time train 421 had passed so I drove to Welland for work.

Trackside Log for Sunday, September 24, 2006

Well, I awoke to a pleasant surprise this morning. The forecast had been for rain but the sky was blue. I headed to Merritton for 0830 to take advantage of the nice weather. Unfortunately it took quite a long time for the first train to arrive.

• 1016 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 110
• 1024 Merritton - CN 338 west - CN 2656-IC 6253-CN 9586
• 1041 Merritton - NS 328 west - NS 9750-NS 9469

I waited in Merritton until 1230 but with no further activity and increasing clouds I returned home.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, September 20, 2006

This morning I had some reading to do for work. Since I am usualy interrupted frequently at work I took the material to the tracks where I was able to read without interference. I drove to Merritton where I could read in peace and photograph any trains that approached.

• 0918 Merritton - CN 331 west - CN 2535-CN 2604
• 1017 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 124
• 1054 Merritton - CN 422 west - CN 5649-CN 2599
• 1112 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 8823-NS 6770

I'd nearly completed my reading and needed to meet people at work in the afternoon so I left for Welland after train 328.

Trackside Log for Monday, September 18, 2006

The word lately is that the Amtrak equipment on Via trains 97 and 98 is to be discontinued. Evidently Canadian National requires $3 million for maintenance of the bridge over the Niagara River Gorge. Canadian National wants Amtrak and Via to pay the costs since only trains 97 and 98 use the bridge. They declined. Apparently Amtrak wants to bus passengers between New York and Ontario. Consequently I want to photograph the Amtrak equipment as much as possible before it's gone. Today I decided to catch 97 before work.

• 1031 Merritton - Via 97 east - AMTK 124

After a quick photograph I resumed my drive to work.

Trackside Log for Saturday, September 16, 2006

It was Binbrook fair weekend. Before attending I wanted to visit the tracks. I offered to take care of Pam and Andy's son Sean for the morning so we headed off to Copetown to see what Canadian National would present. We met Marcus at the elevator.

• 0924 Copetown - Via 70 east - VIA 6429

Sean needed to use the washroom so we left to take care of him. During our absence trains CN 399 and NS 328 passed through town. After a while we were awarded with two trains.

• 1119 Copetown - CN 392 east - CN 5513-UP 9142-IC 6135
• 1145 Copetown - CN 385 west - CN 2603-CN 2538-CN 2696

Sean had a great time watching the trains but it was time to go to the fair.

Trackside Log for Sunday, September 10, 2006

I had been visiting friends and family the previous evening and spent the night at my sister's home. This morning was quite sunny so I made my way to Lynden on the Canadian National Dundas Subdivision.

• 0912 Lynden - Via 70 east - VIA 6411
• 1023 Lynden - CN 399 west - CN 5742-CN 2625-CN 6018
• 1055 Lynden - CN 148 east - CN 2409-WC 6913-CN 9541
• 1104 Lynden - CN 385 west - CN 5751-CN 5694-IC 6202
• 1149 Lynden - CN 392 east - CN 2544-NS 9350

After 392 I called it a day and returned to Binbrook.