Trackside Log for Friday, July 31, 2009

This morning I once again set out from the Bel-Air Motel at 0730. This time I actually slept until seven though. My first destination was the Huron Central to see if train 149 had arrived in the night. As it turned out, no. Since there wasn't much else to see in Sault Ste. Marie I drove to Searchmont to photograph the Agawa Canyon Tour Train again.

• 0910 Searchmont - ACR 633 north - CN 105/CN 106

After photographing the train passing the old station I got back on the Trans-Canada Highway to check out Montreal Falls. Unfortunately the entire area was fogged in so I kept on driving to Hawk Junction. I arrived in time for the passenger train but evidently it was very late. I waited around for a while but gave up and drove the very lonely Highway 101 to Chapleau. Shortly after my arrival the trains started pulling in. I missed one but saw the rest.

• 1543 Devon - CP 110 east - CP 9710/CP 8834 mid DPU/CP 8798 rear DPU
• 1634 Devon - CP 104 east - CP 8784-CP 8503

Amid the flurry of trains I checked into the Bridgeview Motel which conveniently looks on the Canadian Pacific yard. The rest I watched from my room.

• 1815 Chapleau - CP 115 west - CP 9671/CP 9612 mid DPU
• 1858 Chapleau - CP 223 west - CP 9775-CP 8529

Train 223 set off its trailing unit before leaving Chapleau.

• 1930 Chapleau - CP 223 west - CP 9775

After a while the 8529 lifted three units and became train 222.

• 2045 Chapleau - CP 222 west light power - CP 8529-CP 8514-CP 8575-CP 6601 (photo)

...and after lifting its train 222 came back east through town.

• 2327 Chapleau - CP 222 east - CP 6601-CP 8575-CP 8514-CP 8529

And then it was bed time.

Trackside Log for Thursday, July 30, 2009

Once again this morning I awoke unusually early. I don't know why. So I watched television for an hour before getting ready to go. I was out the door by 0730 with plenty of time to catch the Agawa Canyon Tour Train again. But first I drove past the Huron Central yard to check for any activity. Nothing was stirring so I headed north along the Algoma Central to pick a photograph location.

• 0855 Northland (mile 22) - ACR 633 north - CN 105/CN 106

Since the Algoma Central passenger train to Hearst was departing Sault Ste. Marie soon I waited for it as well. I did, however, want to change the scenery.

• 0958 mile 17.44 Soo Subsivision - ACR 631 north - CN 9549 (photo)

At least 9549 looked better than the very worn looking GP40-2W from six years ago. The train was moving slowly so I drove ahead for one more shot.

• 1006 Northland (mile 21) - ACR 631 north - CN 9549

The weather was fascinating. As I drove around it varied between rather sunny and overcast with thick fog. Next I swung by the Huron Central yard again to check for signs of life. Only the QGRY 2006 had moved and was now sitting in front of the station. With nothing of interest happening I took lunch down to the swing bridge over the Sault Ste. Marie canal.

I spent most of the afternoon relaxing by the canal, listening to the scanner, and watching the clouds move in. Somewhere in that time Huron Central announced that they were putting a train together for Sudbury and that it was to depart at 1600. Finally! I waited around until they had assembled the train and then made my way east to photograph it. Naturally it started to rain just then. Well, this was the whole reason I came to Sault Ste. Marie so I gave chase anyway.

• 1629 Garden River (mile 167.5) - HCRY 148 east - HCRY 3013-HCRY 802-HCRY 3802-QGRY 2006
• 1639 Echo Bay (Watson's Road) - HCRY 148 east - HCRY 3013-HCRY 802-HCRY 3802-QGRY 2006
• 1736 Bruce Station - HCRY 148 east - HCRY 3013-HCRY 802-HCRY 3802-QGRY 2006
• 1808 Thessalon - HCRY 148 east - HCRY 3013-HCRY 802-HCRY 3802-QGRY 2006

After a fifty mile chase in the rain I'd had enough. At least I managed to accomplish my goal of photographing the Huron Central. I turned around and had supper back in my room in Sault Ste. Marie.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, July 29, 2009

This morning I awoke very early and couldn't get back to sleep so I figured I may as well get up. So I left the motel just after 0600. The plan for the day was to drive to Sault Ste. Marie and take some photographs along the way. The day started out cloudy and foggy and at 0630 it wasn't very bright but I swung by the Canadian Pacific yard in Mactier anyway. A southbound was just moving to the south siding switch when I arrived.

• 0634 Mactier - CP 112 south - CP 9731 (photo)

I then drove to the opposite end of the yard to check for a distributed power unit. Found it!

• 0644 Mactier - CP 112 south DPU - CP 9662 (photo)

Also in the yard was a track inspection train and the Sperry Rail Services car from the previous night.

• 0646 Mactier - CP TEC train north - CP 8205 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 0647 Mactier - Sperry Rail Services equipment - SRS 119 (photo)

After a few photographs I continued north to Sudbury. I didn't find anything photo worthy at Canadian Pacific or Huron Central so I headed west to Sault Ste. Marie while keeping an eye on the Huron Central tracks. For 179 miles all I saw on the rails were three hi-rail trucks. Oh well. At least when I got to Sault Ste. Marie I found a yard job switching.

• 1312 Sault Ste. Marie - HCRY switcher - QGRY 2006 (photo)

I proceeded to reacquaint myself with town. My last visit to Sault Ste. Marie was in May 2003 when I was on a three week IBM contract to Algoma Steel. After a little tour I drove north along the Algoma Central to Searchmont to check out photograph possibilities. It was starting to rain but I found a place to take a picture of the southbound Agawa Canyon Tour Train. I waited for a while but it arrived eventually at mile 12.

• 1730 Heyden - ACR 634 south - CN 106 (ex-SKTX 289)/CN 105 (ex-SKTX 283) (photo)

Since I was heading back to Sault Ste. Marie anyway I made my way to the Algoma Central station to see the train again.

• 1805 Sault Ste. Marie - ACR 634 south - CN 106/CN 105 (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5)

I was rather tired from all the day's driving so I decided to check into my room at the Bel-Air Motel for the night and have supper.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, July 28, 2009

After work today I began my northward trek to visit the Huron Central Railway to see it one last time before it ceased operations August 15th.¹ Today's goal was to make Mactier. After checking into the Avon Motel on Highway 69 just south of town I took a quick drive into town to check out the Canadian Pacific rail yard. As soon as parked my car I could hear a southbound approaching.

• 2042 Mactier - CP southbound - CP 9664-CP 6075-CP 5759

Also parked in the yard was a Sperry Rail Services track inspection car.

• 2042 Mactier - Sperry Rail Services equipment - SRS 119

It was getting rather dark so I returned to my room for the night.

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¹ While I was on the trip the Huron Central Railway agreed to operate the line for up to another year pending approval of its plan with government, local industries and communities.