Trackside Log for Monday, August 3, 2009

After another pleasant sleep at The Station Inn in Cochrane I awoke to the final day of my drive around Northern Ontario. Today I had to drive back home from Cochrane: about 800km. After packing everything back into my car and checking out of the hotel I photographed the day's southbound Northlander which was just pulling into the station. It was getting pretty cloudy, but I managed a few photographs.

• 0730 Cochrane - ONR 698 south "Northlander" - ONT 1800-ONT 204 (photo)

The power for the Polar Bear Express also pulled up to the station but it was the same as the day before which I photographed already. The Northlander was headed in my direction so I decided to find a spot somewhere south to photograph the train again. During my drive I found beautiful clear skies. It turned out that the clouds were really only Cochrane and north. I located a nice location in Ramore across from the former Ontario Northland station which is now the fire department.

• 0914 Ramore - ONR 698 south "Northlander" - ONT 1800-ONT 204

Along the way I heard on the scanner that the Northlander was meeting train 213 at mile 35. I scouted a location to photograph the northbound.

• 1000 Bourkes - ONR 213 north - ONT 2105-ONT 1734

As I continued south the clouds once again built and by the time I got to Englehart it was again overcast. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. I stopped in at the Ontario Northland yard there and immediately found an SD40-2 switching in the yard and a southbound parked just north of the station.

• 1050 Englehart - ONR switcher - ONT 1735 (photo)
• 1052 Englehart - ONR southbound - ONT 2104-ONT 1733-ONT 2103 (photo)

I also noticed another SD40-2 parked down at the south end of the yard.

• 1058 Englehart ONR power - ONT 1730 (photo)

The original plan was to stop at North Bay as well, but during the drive the rain began. Since I'd already done rather well photographing the Ontario Northland I decided to forgo North Bay in favour of making my way home.

And then the trip was over. The only annoying part was the weather. I could have done without the repeated rain. At least I was able to get some nice sunny weather in the middle. The ride on the Polar Bear Express was great and I accomplished all my photographic goals. I guess I can't complain too much.

Trackside Log for Sunday, August 2, 2009

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.

• 0705 Cochrane - ONR westbound - ONT 2202-ONT 1804 (photo 1, photo 2)

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.

Trackside Log for Saturday, August 1, 2009

This morning I awoke just as Canadian Pacific train 222 was pulling to the east end of Chapleau yard. The Bridgeview Motel is at the west end (of course). I took my time getting the day underway since track gangs had been working through the night. By about 0930 the last track occupancy permit was cancelled. The first train to arrive was 103 west. After the recrew I photographed it from the footbridge.

• 1015 Chapleau - CP 103 west - CP 8762-CP 8750

The White River Subdivision dispatcher informed the crew that their first meet, 104, was at Franz. That's about two hours. I didn't feel like waiting around so I drove to Cochrane. When I arrived Ontario Northland offered nothing noteworthy to photograph so I checked into The Station Inn and picked up my tickets for the next day's Polar Bear Express train to Moosonee. The skies grew dark, the wind gusted and I ate supper at The Station Restaurant before relaxing in my room.

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.