Trackside Log for Saturday, February 28, 2009

Today I was having a few guys over for a slide show. Marcus was heading to Niagara early to meet up with me for some photographs. I headed out toward Brookfield to meet up. By the time I got to Dain City I heard Canadian National train 564 obtain a track warrant on the Humberstone Spur. This was a once a month occurrence so I immediately changed my route to intercept 564 at the Highway 140 overpass and informed Marcus about what was transpiring.

• 1033 Yager West - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112

Since track speed very slow it's really easy to chase on the Humberstone Spur. I set off for the next level crossing.

• 1041 3rd Concession Road, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112

I met up with Marcus at the next crossing.

• 1049 2nd Concession Road, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112
• 1053 Main Street, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112
• 1058 Killaly Street, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112 (photo)
• 1103 Mitchell Street, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112
• 1105 INCO siding, Port Colborne - CN 564 south - CN 4131-CN 4112 (photo 1, photo 2)

Train 564 set off its lone acid car at INCO and the chase was over. Marcus and I decided to try for a photograph of Norfolk Southern 369 in Fort Erie so eastward we went. As luck would have it 369 arrived while we picked up some food so we waited for it to drop its train and return to make the lift out of track 99.

• 1303 Fort Erie - NS 369 east - NS 3469-NS 3039-NS 5640 (photo 1, photo 2)

Then things got interesting. NS 369 returned to the east end of the yard on the main track, paused, then backed into the siding. After a short wait it swithed over to track 99 where we thought it was positioning for the lift. But they never coupled. It turned out they were waiting for Canadian Pacific train 427 west.

• 1348 Fort Erie - CP 427 west - CP 8810 (photo)

Next 369 moved back to the siding again which got me to thinking Canadian National train 339 was imminent.

• 1412 Fort Erie - CN 339 east - CN 8820-CN 2651 (photo)

Train 339 set off freight for 369 to lift. Marcus and I decided the action was more or less over so we drove off for my house. Shortly after we got there Canadian Pacific train 246 informed train 427 that it was at Boyle. We went out to photograph 246.

• 1605 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 8852-CP 9629

Train 427 also arrived not long after but we didn't bother with it. Then Dave and Steve arrived and it was pizza and slide time.

Trackside Log for Monday, February 23, 2009

Just after I got home from work I heard a northbound get a clearance out of Welland yard. I popped into the house to get my camera and went trackside.

• 1718 Fenwick - CP northbound - CP 9530-CP 9769

It's nice that the days are getting a bit longer so it's actually light enough after work to take a picture or two.

Trackside Log for Monday, February 16, 2009

It was Family Day in Ontario (or Dalton Day as I refer to it) which I spent at home. I turned the scanner on throughout the day and when train 426 announced its imminent arrival I headed trackside.

• 1327 Fenwick - CP 426 south - CP 9772-CP 9564

Trackside Log for Saturday, January 24, 2009

I was spending a nice Saturday at home with the scanner on again. Proximity to the tracks is one of the reasons I bought my house. Canadian Pacific graced me with a pair of trains this day.

• 0928 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 8821-CP 8816
• 1459 Fenwick - CP 427 north - CP 9610-CP 9815

I was amused to see that 9815 was still adorned with Christmas decorations from its trek on the Holiday Train.

Trackside Log for Sunday, January 11, 2009

It was a beautiful sunny day with snow all over the ground. This is the kind of day that explains why I like winter. I hadn't been to Fort Erie to see the Norfolk Southern transfer, train 369, in quite a long while so I decided to head there for a while. En route I heard on the scanner that Canadian National train 339 was at about Port Robinson so I met up with it at House Road in Stevensville.

• 1108 Brookfield - CN 339 east - CN 8011-IC 2716

Then I continued on to Fort Erie where I photographed the train again while setting off cars for Norfolk Southern to lift later that day.

• 1200 Fort Erie - CN 339 east - CN 8011-IC 2716 (photo)

Lo and behold, Norfolk Southern crossed the International Bridge soon after.

• 1218 Fort Erie - NS 369 west - NS 8910-NS 9580

I'd accomplished what I wanted for the day so I headed back home but not before catching NS 369 pulling across Pettit Road to shove its train back into the yard.

• 1237 Duff (Fort Erie) - NS 369 west - NS 8910-NS 9580 (photo)

I like it when I accomplish what I set out to do.

Trackside Log for Sunday, January 4, 2009

I found out last night that Canadian National would be running an ethanol train through Niagara today. The ethanol was destined for Dunkirk, New York. Through IRC this morning I discovered the train had made it to Glenridge by 0855 or so. I drove out to House Road in Stevensville for a photograph. First I'd have to wait for it to work Port Robinson though.

• 1111 Stevensville - CN 704 east - CN 5758-IC 1033-IC 1007

Later in the day while listening to the scanner at home I heard that train 704 tied down in track 99 in Fort Erie.

Trackside Log for Saturday, January 3, 2009

I hadn't been to Merritton in an age and the day was beautiful and sunny with snow on the ground. Perfect. Merritton Road bridge over the Canadian National Grimsby Subdivision had been replaced recently so I wanted to get a picture of it. I've spent a lot of time there before and have many photographs of the old iron bridge. The new concrete structure doesn't have the same charm but at least it will accommodate busses and fire trucks better. I arrived on the scene just in time for the Maple Leaf.

• 1005 Merritton - VIA 97 east - AMTK 24
• 1111 Merritton - CN 339 east - CN 2727-IC 2703-IC 1038-CN 5601

Train 339 was interesting in that three of the four locomotives (2727, 2703 and 1038) are in fact Illinois Central power. Alas only 1038 is so painted.

• 1432 Merritton - VIA 92 west - VIA 915

Well, that was about all the traffic I was likely to see for the day since business is pathetic on Canadian National these days. I decided it was time to return home.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I took the days between Christmas and New Year's Day off. This day found me relaxing at home a bit. The weather was cloudy but I still felt like photographing something. When I heard Canadian Pacific train 427 get a clearance out of Welland Yard I figured, "Why not?" I quickly got over to Sumbler Road and awaited its arrival.

• 1043 Fenwick - CP 427 north - CP 8654-CP 6010 (photo)

After the typically short train passed I returned home satisfied with what turned out to be my last digital photograph of 2008.

Trackside Log for Monday, December 29, 2008

I love vacation days. OK, who doesn't? I spent this day at home relaxing with the scanner on again. Canadian Pacific ran a pair of trains over the Hamilton Subdivision in daylight this day.

• 1242 Fenwick - CP 254 south - CP 8575-CP 9547
• 1550 Fenwick - CP 246 south - CP 9780-CP 8572

I miss the SD40-2s now. They're very uncommon these days. Ten years ago the only locomotives found on wayfreights were SD40s. As boring as they were in those days I still love the sound they make.

Trackside Log for Saturday, December 20, 2008

I was at home this Saturday and had the scanner on while puttering about the house. In the afternoon I heard some communications from Canadian Pacific Job 2 indicating that they were running down to Port Maitland. I wasn't in time to photograph the train on the way there, but I could see it on the return trip. I found them in Dunville and then staked out a suitable location for the first photograph.

• 1509 Anderson Road, Moulton Station - CP job 2 east - CP 3097-CP 3032
• 1527 Putman Road, Marshville - CP job 2 east - CP 3097-CP 3032
• 1533 Farr Road, Marshville - CP job 2 east - CP 3097-CP 3032

After having photographed the train along the former Michigan Central tracks I returned home happy. I don't often get the chance to photograph Canadian Pacific on this section of track. I'm usually at work.