Trackside Log for Sunday, July 29, 2007

Today was the farewell gathering for Shane. He would be leaving for Edson, Alberta on Tuesday after twenty two years living in Georgetown. Quite a few railfans would be gathering at mile 30 of the Halton Subdivision to say goodbye. I'd spent the previous night in Binbrook again and wanted to spend a bit of time at Guelph Junction before heading to mile 30. It had been a long time since I'd spent some time in the junction.

• 1018 Guelph Junction - CP 243 west - CP 9840-CP 9504
• 1026 Guelph Junction - OSR power - OSR 647 (photo 1, photo 2)
• 1131 Guelph Junction - CP 198 east - CP 8531-CP 8538

Around noon I got hungry so I picked up and stopped off in Milton for food before heading to mile 30. Before long quite a sizable group had amassed to see Shane off. Between gab sessions we managed to see a few trains.

• 1348 Scotch Block - CN 271 west - CN 2607-CN 5500
• 1402 Scotch Block - CN 338 east - CN 5646-WC 6945-CN 2564 (photo)
• 1451 Scotch Block - CN 148 east - CN 2693-WC 6900
• 1612 Scotch Block - CN 393 west - CN 2410-CN 5434
• 1719 Scotch Block - CN 392 east - CN 5650-IC 6067 (photo)
• 1803 Scotch Block - CN 350 east - CN 7025-CN 4125 (photo 1, photo 2)

After pizza, cookies, and the dimensional train it was time for everybody to depart. We all said our goodbyes to Shane and headed home. It will be a little more quiet around Georgetown but he's starting a good new job in Edson. The best of luck to you, Shane. I'm happy for you. But of course we'll still be in touch via e-mail, IRC and phone.

Trackside Log for Saturday, July 28, 2007

This was a relatively nice looking day although the weather forecast promised for some fairly hot temperatures. I decided that since I hadn't been out photographing for a while I'd roam westward from Binbrook where I'd spent the previous night. I'd originally decided on Paris but when I got there changed my mind and continued to Princeton.

• 0950 Princeton - CN 302 east - CN 5657-CN 5339
• 1000 Princeton - CN westbound - CN 2511-CN 5651
• 1042 Princeton - CN 399 west - CN 5315-GTW 5952-IC 1012

After a few trains I heard a Canadian Pacific westbound obtain a clearance and moved to Woodstock to be able to intercept it. While there I photographed some equipment Canadian Pacific had in the yard.

• 1210 Woodstock - CP MoW equipment - CP 420990
• 1212 Woodstock - CP power - CP 8220
• 1212 Woodstock - CP power - CP 3042-CP 8219

I also heard that an eastbound was approaching and would meet the westbound at Coakley.

• 1251 Woodstock - CP 424 east - CP 8570-CP 5814-CP 5625-CP 5939-STLH 5651-CP 9542

For a better shot of the westbound I moved west.

• 1326 north of Beachville - CP 243 west - CP 8766-CP 8511

I also heard the Canadian Pacific frame train receive a clearance on the St. Thomas Subdivision and shuffled over to that track for a photograph. Jay, whom I'd called earlier, arrived shortly before the frame train and we took a few photos.

• 1355 Beachville - CP 741 west - CP 8211-CP 8206

Jay and I then moved over to the Canadian National Dundas Subdivision on the other side of the river in Beachville to chat and see what trains would happen along.

• 1439 Beachville - CN 332 east - CN 5546-CN 5400-CN 2598
• 1512 Beachville - CN 398 east - CN 2555-GTW 5936-GTW 5932
• 1604 Beachville - CN 271 west - CN 5718-CN 5452
• 1620 Beachville - Via 76 east - Via 905
• 1753 Beachville - Via 75 west - Via 6435
• 1758 Beachville - CN eastbound - CN 5504-CN 5531
• 1936 Beachville - CN 435 west - CN 5248-CN 5407

Well, Canadian National was a bit slow, and we wound up missing several trains on Canadian Pacific, but it was a decent day. Jay and I drove back to Woodstock for supper at Crabby Joe's after which I returned to Binbrook for the night.

Trackside Log for Friday, July 27, 2007

Today I had an appointment in Hamilton and left work early. I needed to stop by home before driving there and as I got out of my car I heard a Canadian Pacific northbound approaching. I grabbed my little Canon SD1000 and photographed the train down the street.

• 1429 Fenwick - CP northbound - CEFX 1042-CP AC4400

After my appointment I figured I'd weedle away a bit of time by heading to nearby Copetown. It was raining quite hard on the way and was just clearing up when I arrived. Unfortunately when the sun came out it was very muggy.

• 1656 Copetown - CN eastbound - CN 2532-CN 2557-CN 2519

I didn't stay around for long because it was so humid, but I did manage to that one train. I called off the stake out and drove to Binbrook to visit my family.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, July 17, 2007

After work today I decided to swing by Canadian Pacific's Welland Yard to see if anything was going on. Sure enough job 3 was switching the yard and appeared to be getting ready to depart on the transfer to Canadian National.

• 1645 Welland - CP job 3 - CP 3032-CP 3105

After a short wait job 3 indeed departed so I photographed it on the move.

• 1703 Welland - CP job 3 - CP 3032-CP 3105

These photos were taken with a Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital ELPH that I purchased the previous day. I bought it as a half decent compact (tiny) camera that I could easily carry around with me. While the results aren't on par with my Nikon D80, they're quite acceptable for a tiny point-and-shoot.

Trackside Log for Monday, July 16, 2007

I had the scanner on this evening while working at the computer. Lo and behold a southbound called out the mileboard at Boyle. I got my camera and drove to River Road for a nice late day shot.

• 2000 south of Fenwick - CP 254 south - CP 8740-CP 9609

A paused a bit to see if a northbound was waiting at Welland yard, but none appeared to be. The sun was setting quickly, so I returned home.

Trackside Log for Sunday, July 15, 2007

Sometimes you just get lucky. Sam was visiting this weekend and we decided to take a trip to Port Colborne to watch some ships in the canal and have some lunch. While watching the tug Reliance moving into lock 8 the railway crossing behind us went off. As luck would have it the once monthly Canadian National train to Inco was coming into town. I walked across the street to photograph it.

• 1341 Port Colborne (Main Street) - CN 564 south - CN 7076-CN 7081

Since the track speed limit is pretty slow we gave chase.

• 1348 Port Colborne (Welland & Alma Streets) - CN 564 south - CN 7076-CN 7081
• 1350 Port Colborne (Fraser & Fares Streets) - CN 564 south - CN 7076-CN 7081
• 1354 Port Colborne (Durham Street) - CN 564 south - CN 7076-CN 7081

The single acid car was then set off at Inco and the empty lifted. I photographed them again when they came back out.

• 1407 Port Colborne (Durham Street) - CN 564 north - CN 7081-CN 7076

The crew parked and headed into the grocery store for some food so Sam and I returned to the canal to see what was progressing there.

That evening Sam was to return to Toronto on Via train 98. We drove down to Grimsby where she would board the train. While waiting for her train Canadian National train 330 creeped to the station. Shortly thereafter the Amtrak horn could be heard in the distance.

• 1838 Grimsby - Via 98 west - AMTK 12

I saw Sam off and then returned home to Fenwick.