This morning I woke up to the sound of a GP40-2 and GP38-2 outside my room in The Station Inn in Cochrane. I quickly got ready and took my camera outside.
Before very long the trainset for the day's Northlander pulled out.
- 0725 Cochrane - ONR 698 equipment "Northlander" - ONT 1806-ONT 202 (photo)
The crew wyed the train so it was facing Toronto and backed it past the station in order to get on the station track.
- 0744 Cochrane - ONR 698 south "Northlander" - ONT 1806-ONT 202
Then, while the Northlander was pulling into the station track, the westbound pulled out of town.
- 0748 Cochrane - ONR westbound - ONT 2202-ONT 1804 (photo)
- 0749 Cochrane - ONR 698 south "Northlander" - ONT 1806-ONT 202 (photo 1, photo 2)
While the Northlander was boarding passengers the power for the Polar Bear Express pulled toward the station.
- 0754 Cochrane - ONR 621 equipment "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1809-ONT 1808 (photo)
After the Northlander departed the Polar Bear Express pulled its coach consist out of the yard.
- 0815 Cochrane - ONR 621 north "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1809-ONT 1808 (photo)
They lifted the canoe car and two box cars on the tail end and three flat cars loaded with vehicles on the head end. Then they spotted the train in front of the station. Everyone bound for Moosonee, myself included, boarded and we were off (nineteen minutes late) on the 186 mile trip through the Northern Ontario wilderness.
- 0919 depart Cochrane - ONR 621 north "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1809-ONT 1808
- 1451 arr Moosonee - ONR 621 north "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1809-ONT 1808
Unfortunately it was raining by the time we arrived but I took the opportunity to explore Moosonee. During my walk the locomotives switched out the flat cars and ran around the train to prepare for the return trip south. After a while I photographed the results.
- 1550 Moosonee - ONR 622 south "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 203 power car (photo)
- 1555 Moosonee - ONR 622 south "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1808-ONT 1809 (photo 1, photo 2)
Since there were still another two hours before departure I grabbed a snack and continued exploring Moosonee. Once I'd tired of strolling in the rain I returned to the train to await departure.
- 1803 dep Moosonee - ONR 622 south "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1808-ONT 1809
On the way south I made my way to the dining car for supper. I had some nice roast beef and blueberry pie for desert. I thoroughly enjoyed eating with the boreal forest drifting by beside me. After a long but satisfying day we arrived back at Cochrane.
- 2316 arr Cochrane - ONR 622 south "Polar Bear Express" - ONT 1808-ONT 1809
Riding the Polar Bear Express was fabulous. My thanks to all the staff for helping make the trip great. I'm glad I decided on the spur of the moment the previous week to do it.
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