Trackside Log for Saturday, December 29, 2007

Marcus and I woke up and got on the road. Very close to the Courtyard hotel where we stayed is Duncansville, Pennsylvania where the Everett Railroad stores some of its equipment. We stopped by there to see what we could photograph.

• 0904 Duncansville, PA - Everett Railroad power - EV 1712-EV 1828 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 0910 Duncansville, PA - Everett Railroad power - EV 4 (photo)

Now we headed over to the Norfolk Southern. First stop was the Gallitzin tunnels. Soon after we arrived a westbound popped through the tunnel.

• 0937 Gallitzin, PA - NS westbound - NS 7611-NS 9835 (photo)

Marcus had never been to Horseshoe Curve before so we made the short drive and climbed the many stairs. Traffic seemed uncharacteristically quiet this day. Later we learned that Norfolk Southern had a derailment the day before. Six ethanol cars derailed west of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. That would explain it.

• 1000 Horseshoe Curve, PA - static display - PRR 7048 (photo)
• 1020 Horseshoe Curve, PA - NS westbound - NS 7618-NS 9402
• 1035 Horseshoe Curve, PA - NS 23Z west - NS 9453-NS 9836

Marcus and I wanted to check out some more locations so we headed over to Lilly to hopefully see a train or two. Fortunately intermodal trains were still running.

• 1143 Lilly, PA - NS 21A west - NS 7560-NS 9750
• 1232 Lilly, PA - NS 22Q east - NS 9443-BNSF 910 w/ helper NS 3343-NS 3349
• 1236 Lilly,PA - NS eastbound - NS 2775-BNSF 4765

I also wanted to show Marcus the railfan bridge in Cassandra so we popped over there.

• 1324 Cassandra, PA - NS helper eastbound - NS 3359-NS 3339 (photo)
• 1342 Cassandra, PA - NS helper westbound - NS 3350-NS 3337

You know it's a bad day at the tracks when all you see are helper sets running back and forth. Well, since not much was going on and it was only a two day trip, Marcus and I called it quits and drove back home. I hope the next time I go to Cresson will be more fruitful.

Trackside Log for Friday, December 28, 2007

Marcus and I got together during some vacation time over the holidays to take a quick trip down to the former Pennsylvania Railroad around Cresson, Pennsylvania. We took a railway highlight route down to Altoona where we were to stay the night. First stop was the gravel quarry north of Salamanca where a Buffalo & Pittsburgh GP9 is stationed.

• 1135 north of Salamanca, NY - Buffalo and Pittsburgh power - BPRR 203 (photo 1, photo 2)

Quite recently the Western New York and Pennsylvania had taken over a portion of the former PRR Buffalo Line between Olean, New York and Driftwood, Pennsylvania. We stopped off at Olean to see what was there and if they might be running the line.

• 1240 Olean, NY - Western New York and Pennsylvania power - WNYP 431 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1242 Olean, NY - Western New York and Pennsylvania power - HLCX 7201-WNYP 430 (photo 1, photo 2)

Everything was parked and it didn't appear that they were heading out any time soon so we drove on down the Buffalo Line. In keating we encountered a pair of Norfolk Southern SD60Is still in Conrail paint on the R. J. Corman interchange in Keating, Pennsylvania.

• 1457 Keating, PA - R.J. Corman power - NS 6725-NS 6718 (photo 1, photo 2)

Continuing south we heard on the scanner that a northbound coal train was approaching. We quickly scoped out a decent location to photograph it.

• 1558 Hyner, PA - NS 631 north - NS 2582-NS 6648 (photo)

Once we got to Lock Haven we quickly discovered that the Nittany and Bald Eagle was not in town but a pair of Norfolk Southern engines were.

• 1630 Lock Haven, PA - NS power - NS 5101-NS 4620 (photo 1, photo 2)

It was getting pretty dark by now so Marcus and I drove straight to Altoona after a few photos.

Trackside Log for Saturday, December 8, 2007

Well I'd spent the morning photographing children sitting on Santa's lap at the agricultural hall in Binbrook. After that mayhem I needed some quiet time. Copetown and the Canadian National Dundas Subdivision fit the bill. I made the short drive and relaxed trackside to see what whould transpire. The first event was the arrival of train 148.

• 1230 Copetown - CN 148 east - CN 5704-CN 8005
• 1254 Copetown - Via 72 east - Via 901
• 1258 Copetown - Via 73 west - Via 6416
• 1309 Copetown - CN eastbound - CN 5791-CN 9416
• 1326 Copetown - CN westbound - CN 5769-CN 2638-CN 5263

The weather was starting to get rather cloudy so I decided to call it a day. I left to return to Binbrook since I'd be attending the Hamilton Bulldogs game that evening.

Trackside Log for Saturday, October 6, 2007

Today Sam and I were driving to Pinawa, Manitoba to visit some of Sam's family there. Along the way we stopped off in Beaucejour, Manitoba to photograph a former Manitoba Pool elevator and a former Canadian Pacific caboose that was parked in front of it.

• 1229 CDT Beausejour, MB - static display - CP 434449 caboose (photo)

We continued on to visit Sam's family where we had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately this was our last day on our "Elevators 2007" trip to the prairies. All in all it was great though. We got to see great scenery, take lots of photographs and relax.

Trackside Log for Friday, October 5, 2007

Today was devoted to the railways. Sam and I drove out to Portage la Prairie to watch trains. Both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific main lines pass through this once vital grain hub. No elevators remain in Portage la Prairie. We were subject to very cloudy weather with spits of rain so slides were out.

• 1139 CDT Portage la Prairie, MB - CN 114 east - CN 5751-CN 5288 (photo)
• 1205 CDT Portage la Prairie, MB - CP westbound - CP 9122 (photo)
• 1317 CDT Portage la Prairie, MB - CN 111 west - CN 8007-CN 2573-CN 5403 (photo)
• 1333 CDT Portage la Prairie, MB - CN westbound - CN 2640-CN 2427 (photo)
• 1359 CDT Portage la Prairie, MB - CP eastbound - CP 8607-CP 8651

After a while we headed back toward Winnipeg and made a pitstop in Dacotah, MB. Sadly the elevator that I photographed here several years ago was now gone.

• 1522 CDT Dacotah, MB - CN 450 east - CN 5544-CN 5265 (photo)

And that was about it. There were certainly fewer trains that I was hoping for and the weather sure didn't cooperate, but at least we saw something.

Trackside Log for Thursday, October 4, 2007

Sam and I headed out once again this morning into a beautiful sunny day. The hunt for grain elevators continued. As I always do on these trips I keep the scanner on just in case. Today as we were following an abandoned Canadian National branch I heard a Canadian Pacific grain tramp obtain a clearance onto the Arcola Subdivision. Whoa, this is a rare occassion. I made the decision to forego the grain elevators and find the grain tramp. On the way to Schwitzer, the beginning of the Arcola Subdivision, I discovered a former CSX GP15 at a grain elevator.

• 1105 CDT Nesbitt, MB - elevator switcher - LLPX 1502 (photo 1, photo 2)

Very soon after joining the Arcola Subdvision I found the grain tramp.

• 1157 CDT east of Deleau, MB - CP westbound grain tramp - CP 3108-CP 3060-CP 3130 (photo)

Considering the rarity of the train and the 30 mph speed limit we gave chase. Next stop was just six miles farther west.

• 1209 CDT west of Deleau, MB (mile 9 CP Arcola Subdivision) - CP westbound grain tramp - CP 3108-CP 3060-CP 3130 (photo)
• 1245 CDT Reston, MB - CP westbound grain tramp - CP 3108-CP 3060-CP 3130 (photo)
• 1302 CDT Sinclair, MB - CP westbound grain tramp - CP 3108-CP 3060-CP 3130 (photo)

And then we arrived at the destination for the grain cars, Redvers, Saskatchewan. This is also now the end of steel. The track has all been removed beyond Redvers.

• 1250 CST Redvers, SK - CP westbound grain tramp - CP 3108-CP 3060-CP 3130 (photo)

We watched the crew spotting the cars in two tracks at the elevators and then they headed back to Brandon, Manitoba with light power.

• 1325 CST Redvers, SK - CP eastbound light power - CP 3130-CP 3060-CP 3108

That was great. I've wanted to chase a grain tramp on a branch line for a long time. Today I got lucky. After fueling up both the car and our stomachs we continued hunting for grain elevators. No more trains were to be found this day but I did find a Canadian Pacific caboose parked near an old water tower and the grain elevator in Glenboro, Manitoba.

• 1618 CDT Glenboro, MB - CP 434590 caboose (photo)

It was starting to get rather dark. I photographed a couple grain elevators more and then we made our way to Winnipeg, Manitoba for the evening.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, October 2, 2007

This morning in Regina Sam and I looked out the window and witnessed bright blue skies and perfect weather. We gathered ourselves, had a bite to eat, and trekked onward. Our original plan was to visit Moose Jaw before turning southward. However, we discovered in the news that Canadian Pacific derailed a dangerous car in their yard and had evacuated the area. Scratch that idea. Because of the situation there were a number of northbound trains parked along the Weyburn Subdivision. However, none were worth photographing because the sun was directly behind them. Oh well. The first photograph worthy scene was found in Estevan.

• 1325 CST Estevan, SK - static display - Prairie Coal 182 (photo)

At this point our trip began to head back east again and ran into a Canadian Pacific westbound along Highway 18 in Bienfait.

• 1428 CST Bienfait, SK - CP westbound - CP 8548-CP 8643

And that was the last train we saw for the day. That evening once again found us staying in Regina.

Trackside Log for Monday, October 1, 2007

We awoke in Yorkton, Saskatchewan to an overcast morning but that wasn't going to stop us. Ever onward we continued to follow the rail lines in search of grain elevators. While exploring the stunning beauty of the Qu'Appelle Valley I heard a Canadian National train on the scanner. Amazingly we managed to time it just right to find train 423 north on the Qu'Appelle Subdivision.

• 1219 CST west of Balcarres, SK - CN 423 north - CN 2546-CN 2558-CN 2503 (photo 1, photo 2)

We continued the tour westward along the Canadian Pacific Bulyea Subdivision and then north along the Lanigan Subdivision when we met a southbound grain train.

• 1505 CST Duval, SK - CP southbound - CP 8856/CP 8750 (photo 1, photo 2)

As we weaved around Saskatchewan following the rail lines we found ourselves in Regina for the evening. After a great day Sam and I rested to see what the following day would bring.

Trackside Log for Sunday, September 30, 2007

This morning Sam and I awoke to bright blue skies and the prospect of photographing some more grain elevators. The first railway photo I took was of a Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo gondola parked in Neepawa, Manitoba. It seemed out of place so I took a shot.

• 1255 CDT Neepawa, MB - THB 2672 (photo)

Still on the hunt for elevators we found ourselves in Minnedosa, Manitoba. There are no elevators left but they do have a Canadian Pacific FP7 and caboose parked at the heritage park.

• 1355 CDT Minnedosa, MB - static display - CP 4038 (photo)

Following the Canadian Pacific Bredenbury Subdivision we discovered a westbound freight.

• 1443 CDT Basswood, MB - CP westbound - CP 9005-CP 5392-CP 5585 (photo)

Since we were heading the same direction we gave chase and photographed the train again at the Newdale elevator.

• 1505 CDT Newdale, MB - CP westbound - CP 9005-CP 5392-CP 5585

Continuing westward we heard another westbound on the scanner which we caught up to and photographed at the border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

• 1650 CDT west of Harrowby, MB - CP westbound - CP 9154-CP 9130 (photo)

Once again we were headed in the same direction so we drove ahead and photographed the train at the Langenburg, Saskatchewan grain elevator.

• 1613 CST Langenburg, SK - CP westbound - CP 9154-CP 9130

Our destination for the night was Yorkton, Saskatchewan. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Canadian National coming into town shortly after we arrived.

• 1718 CST Yorkton, SK - CN 421 north - CN 5633 (photo)

And with that our day was done. We found a place to stay, ate, and rested.

Trackside Log for Saturday, September 29, 2007

Sam and I were back in the Canadian prairies again. We started this year's trip off in Winnipeg on our hunt for country grain elevators. Once again I stopped to photograph any railway scenes along the way. The first such scene was a caboose in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba.

• 1050 CDT Winnipeg Beach, MB - static display - CP 437010 caboose (photo)

As we followed along the rail lines we stumbled upon the Prairie Dog Central train stopped in Warren, Manitoba.

• 1340 CDT Warren, MB - Prairie Dog Central southbound - PDC 4138 (photo 1, photo 2)

Aside from the dwindling number of grain elevators that's all I photographed on the day. It wasn't a big surprise though considering the lines we were following.