Trackside Log for Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I took today off as part of my extended holiday weekend. After a fifteen minute stop at work Missy and I headed west to see what sort of railway action we could find. First up was a Canadian Pacific westbound we managed to get ahead of at Nissouri.

• 1112 Crumlin - CP 441 west - CP 5939-CP 6601
  

I decided to check out the west side of London. I heard on the scanner that two Canadian National trains would be meeting west of me so I took up a position on Pulham Road near Lobo to see them.

• 1233 Lobo - CN 393 west - CN 2230-IC 1000
  
• 1256 Lobo - CN 330 east - CN 9449-CN 2417-CN 2337
  

Train 330's complete consist (aside from a few cars from which I was unable to read the complete number): [show/hide]

1. CN 9449 - GP40-2W
2. CN 2417 - C40-8M
3. CN 2337 - ES44DC
4. SHPX 462778 - Covered Hopper Car
5. CRGX 8717 - Tank Car
6. CRGX 8212 - Tank Car
7. GATX 200385 - Tank Car
8. PROX 76303 - Tank Car
9. BNSF 545656 - Flat Car
10. BNSF 51843_ - Equipped Gondola
11. DJJX 9796 - Unequipped Gondola
12. CHVX 890015 - Covered Hopper Car
13. TTPX 804309 - Flat Car
14. GATX 34206 - Tank Car
15. GATX 12602 - Tank Car
16. GATX 205489 - Tank Car
17. TBOX 660842 - Equipped Box Car
18. HOKX 111131 - Tank Car
19. HOKX 111376 - Tank Car
20. CNA 405001 - Equipped Box Car
21. GLNX 377 - Tank Car
22. GATX 1515 - Tank Car
23. PROX 24050 - Tank Car
24. PROX 24001 - Tank Car
25. PROX 43082 - Tank Car
26. GATX 58620 - Tank Car
27. NATX 400299 - Tank Car
28. TEIX 33632 - Tank Car
29. NATX 400719 - Tank Car
30. SHPX 221222 - Tank Car
31. PROX 33026 - Tank Car
32. UTLX 953401 - Tank Car
33. HOMX 102063 - Tank Car
34. PROX 31425 - Tank Car
35. UTLX 953214 - Tank Car
36. UTLX 5016 - Tank Car
37. UTLX 953437 - Tank Car
38. GPLX 526 - Covered Hopper Car
39. HOKX 111763 - Tank Car
40. CNA 407248 - Equipped Box Car
41. CNA 405385 - Equipped Box Car
42. HOKX 111255 - Tank Car
43. HOKX 111248 - Tank Car
44. HOKX 111667 - Tank Car
45. NAHX 502246 - Covered Hopper Car
46. GATX 41446 - Tank Car
47. UTLX 668529 - Tank Car
48. OCPX 80329 - Tank Car
49. UTLX 668912 - Tank Car
50. NAHX 508087 - Covered Hopper Car
51. AOK 354710 - Equipped Box Car
52. AOK 354469 - Equipped Box Car
53. WE 527365 - Equipped Gondola
54. WE 40008_ - Unequipped Gondola
55. WE 527363 - Equipped Gondola
56. GNRR 6076 - Equipped Gondola
57. TR 527171 - Equipped Gondola
58. WE 40009_ - Unequipped Gondola
59. NATX 400366 - Tank Car
60. UTLX 911007 - Tank Car

While waiting for the next sign of movement I heard the Canadian Pacific Windsor Subdivision dispatcher inform a foreman of three eastbounds and two westbounds that would be moving after a track block at Bothwell. I got into position for the first westbound.

• 1449 Lobo - CP 241 west - CP 9568-CEFX 1055
  

Train 241 only made it as far as Newbury Station before stopping for a tie gang at Bothwell. The dispatcher informed them of three eastbounds also waiting for the track block. I drove ahead to catch the activity and discovered train 241 parked at Pine Road where it was waiting for the tie gang to repair a sun kink.

• 1556 Newbury Station - CP 241 west - CP 9568-CEFX 1055
  

Before too long the foreman cleared train 241 through the siding at Bothwell. I caught the train on the move again a short distance away at Cameron Road.

• 1624 Newbury Station - CP 241 west - CP 9568-CEFX 1055
  

Not long after 241 cleared Bothwell siding the tie gang parked their equipment in the back track and the next westbound was cleared through on the main track.

• 1735 Bothwell Station - CP westbound - CP 9711-CP 9649
  

The three eastbounds all met this train at Kent Bridge. After a bit of a wait the parade began. I photographed all three running through Bothwell Station at ten miles per hour.

• 1901 Bothwell Station - CP eastbound - CP 8828-DME 6097
  
• 1923 Bothwell Station - CP 142 east - CEFX 1019
  
• 1937 Bothwell Station - CP 666 east - CP 5911-ICE 6414-ICE 6413-CP 6047
  

Thanks to the conductor of train 666 for tossing me the bottle of water. It was appreciated.

During the eastbound procession it began to rain lightly and it was quickly getting dark. Missy by now was mostly sleeping so I determined it to be time for home. After the long drive back to Niagara I was stopped by the railway crossing down the road from my house.

• 2244 Fenwick - CP northbound - CP 8713-CP 9780

This train was very short and I couldn't identify it from what little freight there was. However, I was now home after a pretty interesting day. Managing to actually photograph the ethanol train was my reward.

Trackside Log for Monday, August 1, 2011

I turned the scanner on while working on various projects at home this morning. I could hear train 255 working Canadian Pacific's Welland Yard. I waited for the dispatcher to issue the train a clearance before taking Missy to Chantler Road for a photograph next to the old barn.

• 1005 Fenwick - CP 255 north - CP 9702-CP 5908 (video)
  

Train 255's complete consist (aside from one car from which I was unable to read the complete number): [show/hide]

1. CP 9702 - AC4400CW
2. CP 5908 - SD40-2
3. CEFX 12393 - Covered Hopper Car
4. AMGX 4145 - Unequipped Gondola
5. HS 61521 - Equipped Box Car
6. HS 61489 - Equipped Box Car
7. CP 214103 - Equipped Box Car
8. HTTX 92264 - Flat Car
9. SHPX 432367 - Covered Hopper Car
10. FURX 863303 - Covered Hopper Car
11. DCLX 8192 - Covered Hopper Car
12. CP 220013 - Equipped Box Car
13. CP 220249 - Equipped Box Car
14. CP 215399 - Equipped Box Car
15. IANR 11473 - Equipped Box Car
16. HS 61281 - Equipped Box Car
17. CP 214190 - Equipped Box Car
18. GATX 4606 - Tank Car
19. CP 41493_ - Maintenance of Way, Scale, Passenger, Caboose and End-of-Train
20. UELX 60085 - Covered Hopper Car
21. WWUX 1063 - Covered Hopper Car
22. GACX 9209 - Covered Hopper Car
23. WWUX 1061 - Covered Hopper Car
24. WWUX 1018 - Covered Hopper Car
25. WWUX 1044 - Covered Hopper Car
26. GATX 5691 - Tank Car
27. GATX 7666 - Tank Car
28. KCS 130336 - Equipped Box Car
29. TCMX 12437 - Covered Hopper Car
30. AEX 7008 - Covered Hopper Car
31. TILX 639764 - Covered Hopper Car
32. EEC 51209 - Covered Hopper Car
33. UP 88122 - Covered Hopper Car
34. UP 88098 - Covered Hopper Car
35. GACX 10090 - Covered Hopper Car
36. MILW 120194 - Unequipped Hopper Car
37. GPLX 77766 - Covered Hopper Car
38. GPLX 77732 - Covered Hopper Car
39. MCEX 95338 - Covered Hopper Car
40. CP 604372 - Covered Hopper Car
41. SOO 119707 - Covered Hopper Car
42. UTLX 202463 - Tank Car
43. UTLX 210607 - Tank Car
44. SHPX 208904 - Tank Car
45. UTLX 206821 - Tank Car
46. TILX 194541 - Tank Car
47. UTLX 206773 - Tank Car
48. UTLX 207392 - Tank Car
49. TILX 194518 - Tank Car
50. UTLX 200474 - Tank Car
51. SOO 116976 - Covered Hopper Car
52. CP 604295 - Covered Hopper Car
53. SOO 115688 - Covered Hopper Car
54. SOO 115117 - Covered Hopper Car
55. SOO 118644 - Covered Hopper Car
56. NOKL 826988 - Covered Hopper Car
57. SOO 113739 - Covered Hopper Car
58. EEC 61204 - Covered Hopper Car
59. CP 601963 - Covered Hopper Car
60. SOO 117752 - Covered Hopper Car
61. MPLI 829151 - Covered Hopper Car
62. MPLI 827047 - Covered Hopper Car
63. TCWR 40224 - Covered Hopper Car
64. TCWR 173554 - Covered Hopper Car
65. TCWR 349524 - Covered Hopper Car
66. MPLI 832766 - Covered Hopper Car
67. TCWR 824505 - Covered Hopper Car
68. TCWR 41026 - Covered Hopper Car
69. TCWR 30001 - Covered Hopper Car
70. TCWR 40216 - Covered Hopper Car
71. MPLI 829143 - Covered Hopper Car
72. ADMX 51166 - Covered Hopper Car
73. ADMX 50060 - Covered Hopper Car
74. ADMX 50207 - Covered Hopper Car
75. ADMX 50100 - Covered Hopper Car
76. CEFX 304046 - Covered Hopper Car

In the afternoon, just as I was taking Missy for her walk I heard horns several concessions away. I went back inside to get my camera and caught the yard engines delivering two bulkhead flats of steel pipe to Cappco in Smithville.

• 1731 Fenwick - CP northbound - CP 8208-CP 8216
  

Shortly after our walk the two GP9s returned from setting off their train.

• 1810 Fenwick - CP southbound - CP 8216-CP 8208

Knowing that the return trip would be a light power move Missy and I stayed indoors and just listened to it rumble through town.

Trackside Log for Sunday, July 31, 2011

Missy and I got off to a lazy start to the summer morning after sleeping in. It's great having a dog that will let you sleep in. Once we'd gotten up I turned on the scanner. After a short time I heard the Canadian Pacific Hamilton Subdivision dispatcher issue a clearance to train 627. I decided to take Missy and the camera out to Farr Street for a look.

• 1114 Fenwick - CP 627 north - CP 8758-CP 9760 (video)
  

A northbound at near the noon hour is not great for photography around Fenwick but there was still enough overcast in the clearing skies to mute the sun enough for a half decent photograph.

Because I was feeling a bit nuts (again) I also recorded the entire consist of the train: [show/hide]

1. CP 8758 (ES44AC)
2. CP 9760 (AC4400CW)
3. CP 390346 - Covered Hopper Car (buffer)
4. CTCX 731272
5. NATX 364264
6. NATX 303621
7. UTLX 208145
8. NATX 364361
9. TILX 190571
10. TILX 192698
11. UTLX 208194
12. UTLX 209208
13. DBUX 301820
14. TILX 192744
15. NATX 302056
16. UTLX 203990
17. TILX 192635
18. UTLX 208153
19. DBUX 300750
20. TILX 192375
21. UTLX 211052
22. NATX 364254
23. CTCX 731477
24. CTCX 731283
25. NATX 303561
26. NATX 303668
27. CTCX 732000
28. NATX 303756
29. NATX 302214
30. CTCX 731308
31. CTCX 732775
32. CTCX 732070
33. TILX 190475
34. UTLX 208195
35. NATX 302311
36. CTCX 731316
37. DBUX 302367
38. NATX 303741
39. TJRX 30059
40. CTCX 731550
41. DBUX 303205
42. UTLX 211029
43. CTCX 732839
44. TJRX 30032
45. NATX 302329
46. TILX 198440
47. NATX 303679
48. NATX 302225
49. TILX 191344
50. UTLX 211065
51. TILX 198539
52. DBUX 301612
53. DBUX 301639
54. UTLX 210985
55. TILX 196118
56. NATX 303707
57. TILX 197046
58. TILX 192369
59. CTCX 732900
60. TILX 190474
61. NATX 303589
62. CTCX 732771
63. CTCX 732853
64. NATX 302363
65. NATX 302325
66. TILX 191292
67. CTCX 731669
68. TILX 197287
69. NATX 303601
70. CTCX 731289
71. CTCX 732075
72. CTCX 731836
73. NATX 303558
74. CTCX 732065
75. TILX 196168
76. CTCX 731297
77. DBUX 301833
78. TILX 197002
79. TILX 196242
80. NATX 302106
81. CTCX 732012
82. NTLX 1094

Trackside Log for Saturday, July 30, 2011

Marcus and I hadn't made it trackside together in quite some time. Today we decided to head back to New York again for what promised to be a very sunny albeit somewhat hot summer day. Marcus was unfortunately delayed by the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Way so our departure was a bit delayed. Nevertheless, after a reasonable wait at the border for a holiday weekend, we made it to the former New York Central tracks. We exited Interstate 90 at Dunkirk and after finding nothing to photograph proceeded toward Westfield. We attempted to catch an ethanol train in Portland but narrowly missed the pair of BSNF SD40-2s pulling it eastward. We did stick around for another pair though.

• 1151 Van Buren Bay, NY - CSX eastbound - CSXT 552-CSXT 467
  
• 1200 Van Buren Bay, NY - CSX K849 west - CSXT 390-CSXT 674
  

The radio grew quiet and we were getting hungry so we drove to Westfield, picked up a bite to eat, and headed trackside. After only a few bites the first eastbound drew near.

• 1249 Westfield, NY - CSX Q140 east - CSXT 4850-CSXT 7314-CSXT 7900
  
• 1301 Westfield, NY - CSX Q114 east - CSXT 7392-CSXT 4543
  
• 1312 Westfield, NY - Amtrak 48 east - CSXT 6094-AMTK 54-AMTK 58
  

We were not expecting the CSX GP40-2 to be a very late Amtrak train. I can imagine there were some disgruntled passengers today.

• 1321 Westfield, NY - CSX Q115 west - CSXT 5208-CSXT 229-CSXT 247-CSXT 10
  
• 1336 Westfield, NY - CSX Q157 west - CSXT 671-CSXT 5332 (video)
  

Once the angle of the sun became problematic Marcus and I decided to make a little side trip to visit the Western New York & Pennsylvania and the New York & Lake Erie. First up was Falconer where we discovered a C-424 coupled to a spreader. WNYP 4223 is ex-Morristown & Erie 4223 and originally Canadian Pacific 4223.

• 1435 Falconer, NY - Western New York and Pennsylvania power - WNYP 4223
  

After a few photograph we drove north to Gowanda to see what might be strewn around the former Erie tracks.

• 1534 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie power - NYLE 1013-NYLE 6764-NYLE 6758
  
• 1540 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie power - NYLE 77
  
• 1541 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie power - CR 5067
  
• 1545 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie equipment - NYLE 7
  
• 1548 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie equipment - Contrack coach
  

The above ex-Amtrak coach still wears its "Contrack" paint from the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

• 1554 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie power - NYLE 76
  
• 1555 Gowanda, NY - New York and Lake Erie power - NYLE 78
  

After baking in the sun while photographing the collection of rather sad looking equipment we headed back toward the former New York Central and Nickel Plate main lines. First we stopped by Dunkirk again to see if anything had changed. Nothing had although we discovered that one of the parked coal trains actually had a pair of Union Pacific GE locomotives on the east end. With impossible lighting we drove on for Silver Creek where we determined that a train was lifting out of track 3. Before we could photograph what turned out to be a ballast train a pair of eastbounds rolled through.

• 1708 Silver Creek, NY - CSX eastbound - CITX 2792-CSXT 8138
  
• 1723 Silver Creek, NY - CSX K694 east - HLCX 6206-HLCX 6340
  
• 1735 Silver Creek, NY - CSX ballast train west - HLCX 6302-CSXT 8848
  

The day was getting on so Marcus and I proceeded toward home again. We stopped off in Blasdell where we caught a pair of westbounds leaving the Buffalo area.

• 1926 Blasdell, NY - CSX V818 west - CSXT 315-CSXT 75
  
• 1938 Blasdell, NY - CSX westbound - CSXT 5304-CSXT 5436-CSXT 7884
  

The shadows were quickly deepening so we decided to end our quest and drove back to Canada and to Kelsey's in Fort Erie for supper.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, July 27, 2011

It was a pleasant clear summer morning and I decided to pass by the Southern Ontario Railway's yard in Garnet en route to work this morning. I hadn't dropped by in a while so I wanted to see if any of the motive power had changed recently. As I approached I could tell that no, nothing had changed. The two CEFX GP20Ds were still the only power on hand.

• 0926 Garnet - SOR 596 south - CEFX 2019-CEFX 2014
  

I took a few photographs anyway before completing the journey to work.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Today I decided to create another 360º panorama view of a former crossing between two railways. I took the camera and tripod to view what remains of Dunnville Diamond.

• 1820 Dunnville - Dunnville Diamond
  

This photograph starts facing north at the left of the photograph. This is the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Dunnville Subdivision (now operated by Canadian Pacific). Next is the abandoned Canadian National Dunnville Subdivision facing east which has been obliterated by the Bick's Pickle plant. Facing south is the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Dunnville Subdivision again followed by the Canadian National Dunnville Subdivision right of way facing west. That brings us back to facing north where we started.

As an aside, the Bick's Pickle plant and the associated pickle tank farm in Delhi are scheduled to close in November this year. More information can be found in the Hamilton Spectator's article about the closure.

Trackside Log for Sunday, July 17, 2011

I awoke to the sound of Canadian Pacific locomotive horns this morning. It was a bright sunny morning and hadn't heated up too much yet so I figured I should go out to photograph something now before it became oppressively hot. Missy and I drove to River Road to photograph the southbound.

• 0732 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 8849-CP 9700
  

After we had arrived back home I turned on the scanner to hear that train 255 was about to depart Welland Yard. Well, it still wasn't overly hot so I popped back out to Chantler Road to see it too.

• 0810 Fenwick - CP 255 north - CP 9759-CP 8553
  

Once the train had moved on I returned home once again. I left the scanner on for the rest of the day but aside from Job 3 and a CN transfer to Trillium, neither of which travel to Fenwick, all was quiet for nearly twelve hours. Then I was startled by the Hamilton Subdivision dispatcher talking to a southbound. I got my camera and headed out to Chantler Road again to intercept it.

• 1934 Fenwick - CP 626 south - CP 8753-CP 9643
  

Sadly even the ethanol train had boring power. Oh well, at least I was able to make a pretty photograph out of it. I've been meaning to photograph that angle for quite a few years but for various reasons never actually made it happen until today.

Trackside Log for Friday, July 8, 2011

Tonight, just as Missy and I were approaching our driveway, we heard the sound of a southbound Canadian Pacific train approaching town. Since it was a nice bright, sunny (albeit humid) evening I quickly fetched my camera and drove to River Road for a photograph.

• 1839 Fenwick - CP 254 south - CP 8827-CP 8885
  

Air conditioning was sounding quite attractive to me. I then headed home to avoid the humidity.

Trackside Log for Sunday, July 3, 2011

This was another day of the Canada Day weekend that Missy and I chose to spend relaxing. However, upon hearing train 255 obtain a clearance from Brookfield East to Kinnear, I took Missy over to Welland Yard for a look. Before it arrived I photographed the recently delivered GP9s for the yard jobs. The first, CP 8249, still has the metal plates over the grille behind the cab that once carried the yellow stripe of its original maroon and grey paint. At that time it was numbered CP 8830.

• 1334 Welland - CP power - CP 8249
  

Well, actually I only photographed one of the two GP9s. I was interrupted by the arrival of train 255.

• 1348 Welland - CP 255 north - CP 8881-CP 8882
  

The consecutively numbered ES44ACs on the train was interesting. After the train had rolled off northward I returned to take a quick photograph of the other GP9.

• 1357 Welland - CP power - CP 8231
  

After the half hour of entertainment I took Missy back home only to head back out again later in the afternoon. Train 246 south was approaching with a pair of CSX locomotives in the consist.

• 1717 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 8795-CP 9629-CSXT 108-CSXT 7606-CP 6061
  

The clouds were toying with me but I managed a reasonably decent photograph of the train. At least it wasn't raining or the middle of the night.

Trackside Log for Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Canada Day.

Missy and I spent the holiday relaxing at home. I left the scanner on in the background to see if Canadian Pacific would send anything my way. In mid-morning a southbound was approaching.

• 1049 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 8626-CP 9501

It was all very quiet on the Hamilton Subdivision until train 255 north arrived on the scene in the early evening.

• 1934 Fenwick - CP 255 north - CP 9754-CP 8787

So it was an all GE day. Rather boring.