As I chase trains I wonder if I'll ever get that perfect shot.

A first time for everything.

2011-07-22T13:15:00.001-07:00

Last night I had gone out as per usual and caught 121 at Windsor Jct. At aprox 2100 121 called the signal at Windsor Jct and rolled past us nothing unusual about that.

Aproxamately two minutes later just as the DPU was going past me, the detector had gone off, and announced a hot wheel axel 308 south side. If you listen carefully you can hear it in the video that is now posted to Youtube. I assumed they would be stopped at Sandy cove for some reason or another. So I went there, and of course no 121. I waited around for a few minutes, but still nothing. I was getting tired and didn't hear anything on the scanner for a little while so I opted to head home. Once I had got into Dartmouth I was picking up a lot of chatter. 121 was good to go, RTC had given him the "go ahead" and a caution to drop the car off at a siding if the car had set off the detector again. I am not sure but I think a crew from Rockingham had been dispatched to 121 to help out, from what I could pick up and make out from the static it appeared all that car needed was the axels needed to be greased.

You can view the video here.

Other videos I had posted are from 11 July, 513 and shortly afterwards 121, great catch that evening, even some chatter between 121 and RTC. Well hope you enjoy/ed the videos. I'll keep you all posted on my other adventures as soon as they happen. Till then, Have fun and keep chasing those trains!

CN 121 and 513

2011-06-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was lucky enough to catch both 121 and 513. Approching Windsor Jct, I picked up on the scanner 121 was past the signal at Millview. Then 513 called RTC informing them they were in Windsor Jct awaiting 121. I was a bit confused. That is until 513 said they would back up and not block the crossing. (How nice of them!).

Approching the Dartmouth Sub crossing in Windsor Jct, I could see 513 sitting idle about twenty feet away from the crossing. The warrning signals were activated, though drivers cautiously drove passed the crossing.

I waited patiently further up the line for 121, and aprox 2035 121 could be heard calling the Windsor Jct signal and the horns for the crossings.

Less than five minutes later ditch lights could be see coming around the bend. I got out of the car and made my way towards the tracks. I didn't have enough memory on the card for video so I opted for stills. Some weren't too bad. Though sun light was something to be desired.

This next batch on the other hand is a little more appealing, After 121 had passed the detector, we began to head down the road towards the former station. From there (At the Jct) I was able to get great sun lit shots.

513 got the "all clear" signal and began its journey with gypsym cars.

2580 is seen here leading 513 passed the signals. Here the loaded (?) cars move past the wye.The sun shines on the cars nicely.And this is the end of a great catch!

Well this is it, I'll be posting more in the coming days, I'm on vacation now, so that means more time to go out and see some trains. Tomorrow 29 June 2o11 I'll be on the 15 heading home then heading back on the 14. I'll defiently be bringing my scanner and camera. I'll post the full adventure when I return. Till then, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Railroad Empire!

2011-06-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Back in January I found this new game on Facebook, called "Railroad Empire" Well as the name suggests you have to build a railroad and make billions. You build stations, complete research to build and buy new types of locomotives. One starts the game in the 1800's around the time of the industrial revolution.

You start off with a Then you build your first station then you expand your operations from there. You have the whole map of North America (Compliments of google) and from three you can see where your train/s is/are and your stations. After aquring enough money and points you can buy more locomotives and more improved ones. As well as new lines and better rolling stock to make more money. It's a fun game and a bit time consuming; so if your working the back shift and it's two in the morning with nothing else to do, than you can play the game and have fun.

There's a lot more to the game than what I had discribed so play the game and find out for your self. Logon to crackbook (Facebook) and type in Railroad Empire and you can go from there.

Onto other business; last night I caught 121 in Windsor Jct and 513. 513 was late leaving Dartmouth (I assume) and was stuck waiting for 121. Ten minutes after 121 had past the Jct 513 got the yellow signal to procede. They passed Windsor Jct around 2035.

I had decided to take pictures rather than video. It's been awhile since I took some pictures. However I currently don't have my camera at this moment, so I'll post them this evening. So enjoy have fun and remember; Keep chasing those trains!

As promissed.

2011-06-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

The title says it all! As mentioned in my previous post, here are my pictures from the past few months. Some are from back in Febuary when Kyla and I took the 15 home to New Brunswick and the 14 back to Halifax. I wasn't going to post these pictures but I decided to. There is a series of pictures below that are from Feb as well, when the train we were on (14) collided with a skidoo. No one was hurt just a lot of pride and snowmobile that was wrecked. I didn't have my scanner with me at the time so I didn't know what was going on till the on board crew informed us. Again no one was hurt. Thankfully! Well here are some of my pictures. enjoy!

This first one here is the 14 in Truro. Feb 2011.Here we are in Moncton.This was taken on the way to Northern New Brunswick on the 15. Again in Moncton.This would be near the tail end of CN 409(?)Here's the head end of 409(?)409(?) flying through Windsor Jct on a cold January morning.

More to come. I'll post more pictures later. Hope you enjoyed these ones.

And as always, keep chasing those trains!

Oh where has the time gone?

2011-06-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since I last posted here and I think I should get back to posting my adventures and what not agian. It has been awhile. Well I've been in Halifax now for almost two years. Two in August.

Well to get things rolling, every now and again, I go out to Windsor Jct to catch 121, I have tried on two occations to catch the export locomotives that come out this way to be shipped out at HOT but no such luck. On one night (After one of the exports have already arrived in HFX) I went down to the Halifax Ocean Terminals (HOT) and did see the exports. FIve if I recall. Didn't take any pictures it was dark out and no camera. That would explain everything.

However! I did take the camera with me on my last excursion out to Windsor Jct, I have a few pictures. I'll share with you. I have one new video up on Youtube but it's crappy and don't understand why it's not working properly. After 25 seconds it cuts out and doesn't play. Must be the codics in the video or transfering over to Youtube don't know.

In the last two years I have been active with a few dry spells here and there, just down the embankment from my work runs the Dartmouth Sub. I usually see 509 running to the refinery and to the Auto port with empties and loads. I don't know why it hasn't occured to me yet as to why I haven't taken my camera out with me to work to catch them going by. But oh well one of these day's or evenings I will. However I have noticed one evening (On those RARE days the sun was actually out.) 509 sat idle behind work. Didn't move for about an hour. One unit on the head end, I think it was a GP-30. Not sure. And a Sea King (Crash King) was flying over head keeping an eye on the train. Odd to me. Must have been something on the train that was of interest to them. Anyhow it sounded as though it was struggling, it was a twenty car train and tha tone unit sounded as though it was struggling, so it's possible it needed an extra unit to help pull. Didn't see the train leave though. End of my shift by that time.

A few weeks ago Steve Boyko was in the HRM, we met up and tried to catch the 509 but didn't work. I think we would have had better luch catching the 121 since it was leaving Rockingham late that night. Anyhow it was good to finally meet him after several years of talking back and forth through emails. Here's Steve's posts from his trip to Halifax earlyer this month. On a side note, I had admited to Steve that it was after watching some of his videos and reading his blog's is when I had started taking a big interest in railfanning back in 2006.

So I'll start posting more frequently now, even if I have to do it from work, haha. Hopefully I'll get my latest pictures up soon. So come by soon for any new updates. Anyhow have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

Although this year I have been pretty quiet in terms of posting my railfan adventures does not mean that I haven't been out! Infact I have been quite busy, traveling the province and some of the maritimes (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) either by car or by train.

Though not too many pictures were taken, and those that I did take are now lost (Long complicated story.) However in April, June, August, September I have traveled the Ocean between Halifax and Campbellton. Though now it is well known, the section of track between Rogersville and Bathurst is pretty much all slow order, I don`t recall going any faster than 35 Mph and between Campbellton and Bathurst it`s between 45 - 55 Mph. The Irvings got a big chunk of government money to upgrade their lines between St John and St Stephan, CN is putting a bit of cash into the Newcastle sub, between Campbellton and Moncton, lot`s of ribbon rail being laid and new ties as well.

With that being said, now on to something a littler more festive. Although not in the Maritimes here is the Canadian Pacific "Holiday train" and from my family to yours have a happy and safe Christmas! And remember to keep chasing those trains, Safely!

Hit or miss...

2010-07-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

As some of you may already know I am for railway safety for everyone, especially railfans. So Here is an interesting video. I must say though it is a little disturbing, however the message contained therein is very strong.

Spring is here and I'm out and about again!

2010-05-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

So here it is that time of year again and as you can see I have been out doing some railfanning! Yes it's been an interesting winter here in Halifax with the little to no snow and the trains coming in and out of the port city has been fun and interesting.

My self and a couple of other railfans in the area have been busy over the winter, chasing trains and what not. One other item of interest that I have been busy with or rather involved with is, I am a member of a rail sub commitie part of the Nova Scotia Ecoloigy action center here in Halifax. For now I'll keep it at that because this topic is deserving of it's own post. But for now I can say I am a member of this board and we are working hard to bring the best in rail transportation to the Maritimes!

In the mean time I have observed VIA 6443 sitting at the Halifax station I assume it was VIA 14. The rear of the unit has a rather interesting hub I am rather curious as to what it is and it's purpose. In the picture below you will see what I mean.

I know it is not the best picture but this is all I have for now. so till the next time have fun and keep chsing those trains! Oh and by the way a new CN121 video is on Youtube.

121 into the sunset

2010-04-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

With the days getting longer and more sunlight I find my self out a little more offten catching 121. Tonight was one of those nights in more ways than one. Just as i was heading through fairview I could see 121 waiting by mile 7 for RTC to give them the green light. As I had passed Rockingham yard though it quickly became a different story.

As I approched mile seven 121 was on the move. I tried my best to head them off at Bedford station but with the traffic lights and other traffic working against me it just wasn't going to happen. So my only other chance to catch 121 is on Monday evening. Hopefully I'll be able to catch them then. I'll try for Windsor Jct on Monday. Till then, have fun and keep chasing those trains.

VIA Derailment.

2010-02-25T13:28:00.001-08:00

So to make my first entry in almost six months I am sadded to say that this will be a bad one. VIA #15 the Ocean heading to Montreal deariled early this morning with somewhere around a hundred passengers on board. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. In all there were seven minor injurys. The conductor was hurt but not serious according to CBC he was the most injured out of the seven. Officals say (unoffically) it was the track switching mechnicism that caused the derailment. VIA has yet (As of the time of writting this) made offical what the cause is. In the derailement my baby 6400 is seen in this video by the CBC; on her side with both headlights busted and I'm pretty sure with a ruptured fuel tank. I hope my favorite locomotive survives the incident and is back on the rails and thundering down the lines in no time!

In the mean time here are a few pictures of 6400 on rails. I didn't catch the number of the other locomotive that was involved.

Well I know it isn't much but that's all I can find at this time. Till the next time, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Last nights 121 and extra

2009-09-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

So this is it! My first post in Halifax! Well so far so good. I have two failed chases and two successful chases under my belt. Last night and last weekend my self and Brian H. Had gone out and chased CN 121. Last night I met a few other local railfans, Calib and J Underwood. Last night though there was an extra 121 that left the rockingham yard. Don't quite know for sure what the number was for sure but for now I'll call it CN extra 121. I've heard and read a few different veriants but for now I'll stick with the latter.

So last nights chase was rather interesting, 121 wasn't as long as I had thought, and the extra was fairly long with all empties! I have two videos that I will upload to Youtube later on this evening if I am not too swamped in work. If not than this week diffently!

Well I'm on a bit of a time constraint, so until the next time, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

On to a new adventure.

2009-08-28T03:09:00.000-07:00

Today Friday Aug28th will be my last day on New Brunswick's North Shore. My self and Jessie are moving to Halifax to goto school, I had a lot of fun chasing and photographing trains here, but it's time to move on and explore new regions and further my education, I will be finishing up my arts degree and move on to more challanges that await me.

Of course I will be railfanning in Halifax and surrounding areas so no this won't be my last railfan blog!

Till my next post, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Surprise!

2009-08-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I was on my way to get my morning coffee when I had noticed something different at the Campbellton yard. So after getting my coffee and a few things done in town I had gone to the yard to have a looksy. What I had seen was a locomotive, I suspected was a yard switcher which hasn't been seen in the Campbellton yard in a number of years. Well since I was young anyhow.

Jess and I had waited at the enternce to the yard for whom I believe is Foreman Penault(?). He kindly gave us permission to enter the yard to photograph the locomotive in question. Provided that I wear a hard hat and vest. Which I did have on hand because of my second job at the mill.

My suspicions were right! it was a GMD1 yard switcher! I was quite surprised actually. So here are some of my better pictures that I had taken. And thanks again to the Foreman for allowing us to enter the yard.

Well that's it for now, I'll post again later today to write about my case with 6402! Till then have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Quebec City Pt II

2009-08-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

As I had said in my previous post, here are the pictures.

Quebec City

2009-08-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was in Quebec City to see Cirque du Soleil. While enrute to Quebec City I had seen a late (As per usual) VIA 14 near St Alexis Que going through the early morning mist of the Matapedia river, roughly about 0700. Somewheres near St Pascal(?) I had seen CN 121(?) and of course when in Quebec City I had taken a "leasurly" strole down to the docks and seen a former Conrail loco sitting in the yard with three box cars on a siding not too far away. I don't remember the loco number at this moment however when I get the pictures uploaded I'll post them here.

Also on July 30th I had caught CN 564 on it's way back from Bathurst with 33 cars in tow, I have a video of that and I'll post it to Youtube ASAP. Other than that it's been pretty good, I was quite surprised at the amount of trains I had caught along the way, however on the return trip I didn't see any. I heard a local on my scanner in Mont Joli other than that it was really quite coming home. Well I'll post the pictures when they are avaliable till then have fun and keep chasing those trains!

VIA 14 emergency call.

2009-07-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we had some pretty wet days, about two weeks worth of rain to be exact. The Ocean was at M.P. 165.2 ( One mile from the gated crossing at Dalhousie Jct) and the Ocean called in an emergincy. There were unsafe track conditions at or around that mile post. I have posted the video on Youtube. Also here are a few pictures I have of the CN test train that came to Campbellton a few weeks ago back in June. The test train was on the Newcastle sub, it went to Moncton and I believe it turned there and came back down the Newcastle and went to Montreal from here. Enjoy, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

HERZOG ballast train CN 906

2009-07-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

As the title says, a HERZOG ballast train was on the Mont Joli sub last night and I was there to catch it! I have posted a video on Youtube. It was a rather long train, according to NB Rails member it was running in DPU mode and is the first on the Mont Joli sub. Also according to Steve Boyko (Traingeek) CN 906 (Herzog ballast train) is an unmanned ballast train with a CN pilot on board and a couple of Herzog employee's to dump the ballast, the train has been programmed with preset areas to dump the ballast at preset locations by GPS.

CN 906 will be leaving this morning and will continue to dump ballast starting at M.P. 07.XX, the horn on that bad boy was pretty loud. Diffently a sound that demands your attention! Or one that says, "Get out of my way!" Well that's about all for now, I know it's been a long while since I last wrote, hope this tides you over till the next time. Here are a few pictures from last night's catch of CN 906.

Well that's it for me this week as far as trains go, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Canadian Railroad Trilogy

2009-06-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

For many Canadians we all know of the folk singer Gordon Lightfoot. Excelent singer and some pretty good songs. I personally only have a few of his songs that I really enjoy. One of them being "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for obvious reasons however I've always liked that song since I was young.

Last Canada Day this song played on CBC radio and the host had commented on how the song starts of slow as though a train is at the station then the song slowly starts to speed up then it get's faster and faster as though a train gains speed. Then slows down again as though the train is pulling into a station. Then it speeds up and slows down as would a train. It was a really interesting anoloigy the commentor had made.

For those interested here's a video I had found on Youtube. that shows exactly what I mean. Watch and enjoy!

Keep chasing those trains and have fun!

A little bit more.

2009-05-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Considering the flooding parts of New Brunswick has experienced this spring I thought it appropriate to share this piece I found in the local paper.

In last weeks Tribune, (May 6Th 2009) there was an article in the "Restigouche in History" section. "Seventy five years ago (1934)" The article is about the INR (Former St Quentin sub) once owned by CN till it was abandoned in 1989.

Here's what was written in the article.

"One of the heaviest floods to have occurred on the INR was that of yesterday when 65 feet of the railway track was flooded at Mileage 19, situated between Millerville and Upsalquitch. Last night a train was sent out from here to transfer the passengers and bring them to Campbellton, the train arriving here about 10:30. Trainmen on arrival said that this flood was the heaviest they ever witnessed on the INR. It extended some 65 feet and in places was 19 feet deep. Owing to the nature of the ground in this district passengers were enabled to walk on dry ground between the transfer train. Orders have gone out that passengers, mail, express, and light goods are to be transferred today, and it is likely will be continued so long as the conditions warrant. At the present writing The Tribune has been unable to ascertain weather the water is still rising or falling, but it is anticipated that in any event it will not be necessary to transfer passengers beyond a day or two. It is said this flood was caused through the hamming of some pulp wood and the rapid melting of the snow."

(If interested here's a link with a brief history on the line. Also CN's application to abandon the line)

Here are a few pictures I have taken two weeks ago in Upsalquich to show the flooding that can occur on the former St Quentin Sub. A little side note. The river shown in these pictures is the Upsalquich River. The former INR crossed it as you can see. There is a brook that runs adjacent for a good portion of the line, Grogg Brook. This brook as you can see from the article has caused many a wash out along the line from Upsalquich to points north of the line over the years, and still does today. The line today is cared for by locals and cabin owners along the whole subdivision as well as a publicly run organisation which maintains the trail that uses this line.

That's it for now, so have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Weekend railfanning

2009-04-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Jess and I caught CN 564 at Dalhousie Jct, we just happend to be in the right place at the right time. We decided to go take our Daughter out for a walk on a dirt road that paraelles the tracks. As we parked the car my scanner pipped up with the detector at M.P.. 159.9 calling out CN 564. I didn't pick up the whole report it was a little hard to hear with all the static. I did catch there were no defects.

So turned around and headed back to the crossing, and moments later 564 came around the bend, with a good mix of freight. It's not easy to spot in the video I had posted on Youtube, but in my pictures you can see the engineer waving to me as he passed by.

Here are the pictures from Saturday.

Here's the orgional picture. I had to crop it. The corpped picture is further up in this post.Also on Saturday afternoon Jess and I seen the "look out" has finally been opened for the summer, which happens to overlook the Yard. I took a few pictures and noticed there are still some NBEC RS-18's sitting in the yard. I assume these ones are dead and are of no use. Were more than likely used for parts.

When I zoomed in on the number boards, the only one I know for sure of is 1858, I stand to corrected but I think there is also 1850 and possibly 1855. The others I couldn't make out at all.

On Sunday we went to Bathurst, but I'll save that post for later. Have fun and keep chasing those trains!

From the banks of the mighty Restigouche.

2009-04-13T04:56:00.000-07:00

In the past couple of weeks there has been some really good reasons to fear a major flood on the Restigouche River, in some places west of Campbellton the river has crested it's banks, Matapedia has expirenced another spring flooding, CN has dispatched another ballast train to sit on the bridge crossing the Restigouche, to aid in the prevention of the bridge being carried down stream. CN locomotive 9592 has been sitting at the station in Matapedia since sometime last week, to pull the ballast cars off the bridge to allow other trains pass over, then to return the cars back on the bridge. This has been a yearly custom for as long as I can remember.

The flooding has been as bad as some has predicted and not nearly as bad as last year or even near the flood of 1994. The Canadian Coast Guard has been sending a hover craft ice breaker to the Restigouche since 1995 to break up the ice before another major flood could cause some damage to surounding properties.

The St John river from what I have been hearing and reading on the news is doing just about the same, some areas have flooded but no major flooding expirenced such as last spring. So I guess it would be a safe bet to say the NTR will not be closed this time due to flooding on the St John river. The river has crested it's banks but the water is receading and things look good so far.

I have a few pictures taken over the weekend in Matapedia, of the ice jam in Matapedia and some of the flooding. enjoy and remember, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

A very late VIA 14!

2009-04-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

I am not sure on the reasons but the Ocean 14 is very late on arriving in Campbellton. The Ocean typically arrives in Campbellton at abour 0730 six times a week and is typically out of Campbellton by 0800hrs. Here are some pictures I had taken a few moments before writting this post.

NBEC 6900 series

2009-04-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Today is April 6th, according to Steve Boyko's (Traingeek) blog there is one SD40 - 2 left on the former NBEC. 6910. Here is 6909 sister to 6910. Taken June 2008.

All that is left in Campbellton to my knowledge is 6909, I have noticed lately there is increased car loads in the Campbellton yard, though I know that don't mean a whole lot, just an observation. I would like to share with you though, my small collection of pictures I have accumulated of the past two years of NBEC/CFMG RS-18's and SD-40's.

NBEC RS-18 1813NBEC RS-18 1816NBEC SD-40 6905NBEC SD-40 6906

NBEC SD-40 6905 (Again!)NBEC RS-18 1868NBEC RS-18 1857NBEC SD-40 6908NBEC(QRC) RS-18 3000NBEC RS-18 1857 (Again!)

I have a lot more pictures of NBEC/CFMG locomotives but this should be enough for now, enjoy and keep chaseing those trains!

Spring is approching!

2009-03-10T05:51:00.000-07:00

So now that spring is approching that also means more daylight chases! So to celebrate the time shift on Saturday night, I had packed up my cameras and decided to chase the 403 from Charlo to Campbellton. Well I have this problem it's called "Timing" yes! Timing is an issue to me because every time I make a plan to catch any train I am almost always too early or too late! So in rare cases I'll be on my way and I'll meet up with a train. Sunday evening was no exception to that. Along the way to Charlo I met up with 403 in Richardsville. So turning around now I'm heading back into Campbellton, upon arrival back in Campbellton, I decided to take a few shots of the head end. Well Sunday was pretty warm so a lot of snow melted and the streets were pretty wet. So that ment the camera got spray from the vehicle infront of me. You'll see in a few shots exactly what I mean, AND how to adapt and over come such incident.

So I arrived at a pre selected crossing and began my shoot. I managed to get both video and stills! I got some decent shots, the video is pretty good too! Well here are my pictures.

Above I had mentioned road spray from another vehicle ahead of us, well this is what happend the lense got sprayed and the shot was messed up? Ahhh but not really! Because why let a great shot goto waste when you can take advantage of such a mess up and make it look like a really old picture with Sephia tone!

So that was about it for me this week as far as trains go! I will post more later this week, going to goto McGiveny tomorrow or possibly Thursday so hopefully with some great videos and pictures for you. Till then have fun and keep chasing those trains!

CFQC 3000

2009-02-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention via Steve Boyko's blog that CFQC 3000 has been sold to the Chemin de fer Lanaudiere (CFL). According to Steves blog 3000 was leased to Bell Gaz for their use. I have a few pictures here of CFQC 3000 when it was with QRC on the former NBEC line.

Well that's it for me for now, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

"Operation Life Saver"

2009-01-26T05:55:00.001-08:00

I've been railfanning for roughly a year and a half, and in that time, I have seen a lot of things, such as bears, people walking on the tracks in the yard (Campbellton) people being hit by trains while walking on RR bridges etc etc. No I have not seen that sort of thing but I have heard about it and read about it in the news. But one thing that I see more offten than I have seen anything else is RETARDED people crossing the tracks when a train is approching the crossing at aprox 60 mph! Lights and bells are going and yet these people disregard their own safety, the safety of the passing public and the law when they can't wait a few extra minutes for a train to go by.

This summer I have counted fifteen cars cross the tracks while the crossing lights and bells were activated. As a railroad photographer I see how fast a freight train can move and how fast those machines can creep up on you when your not paying attention.

A few weeks ago I was out railfanning chaseing the 402 and I seen a woman with a young child in the car, as she slowed down at a crossing, I was behind her, I could see the top of her childs head and I could see her looking both ways as the lights and bells were activated. She seen the train approching, I had my camera out and ready to film the train pass over the crossing (Thankfully not over her car) but as the train was less than fifty yards away she finally decided to go for it! Look I love adventure and I consider my self a "thrill junkie" but man!!! That's just retarded! Beyond stupid! A child is in her car and she completely disregarded that thought. She should have been stopped by the police and have the heavyest fine or punishable offence given to her for her stupid action.

My question is to those of you out there who "try to beat" the train is, What would you rather loose? a few minutes of your time or your life? The video I am hosting on this blog is the reason for this post, I have seen too much of this in the year and a half that I have been railfanning and wow I just can't get over how many people out there who do this sort of thing.

The typical family sized car weighs roughly about two thousand pounds? Maybe? It will take that car rougly about thirty to fifty feet to come to a complete stop at a speed of 80 to 90 Km/ph. A fully loaded freight train traveling at about the same speed will take about half a mile to maybe two miles to stop! Let's not forget the kanetic energy behind that locomotive and the physics involved! Wow we all seen the videos! We all know what happens to cars after loseing to a train. So why? Anyhow here's a video I found on Youtube and here are a few of my own pictures I took last fall of 403 entering the Campbellton yard. Here's a quote from the video, "The only thing a locomotive engineer can do is watch you die!" Rough isn't it? Well that's the only other option.

Well that's my rant! Have fun and keep chaseing those trains Safely!

VIA 17 The Chaleur

2009-01-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

On Friday night I caught the Chaleur going through Cross Point, as it approched the former CN station it slowed down, I am not sure why they had a slow order before the crossing, however I do know, this past summer NBEC crews were working on a bridge just shy of a hundred feet from the crossing. So my guess would be there is a slow order because of the work that was done on the bridge....I don't know for sure but that would be my only guess. I will upload the video on Youtube asap!

Yesterday (Sunday 25 Jan 09) Jess and I went to Matapedia to take a few pictures of the station and a few other scenery pictures. We had a good time, I got a few black and white pictures of the bridge crossing the Restigouche River and a few of the station. I got a little artistic as you will see in the pictures. I'll upload them later for all to enjoy!

Other than that, that's all the railfanning I did this past weekend. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

NBEC happenings this week.

2009-01-24T03:44:00.000-08:00

Earlyer this past week I made a new entry to my blog and for some reason or another it didn't save so I wasn't too impressed. I let it go for a few days, however I did catch a few trains, mostly 403.

Last weekend I did catch 591 returning from Irvco with a load of boxcars and on Monday I caught it heading back to Irvco with a load of empty gondola cars. If I heard them right over the scanner, it was an empty potash train. But I never heard of Potash being transported by rail in open cars. Oh well I could be wrong. I did get a couple of videos of 591 leaving Campbellton and going through Richardsville.

So was Thursday nights 403 in trouble? I went to Dalhousie Jct to catch it there, when I heard over the scanner the detector. Everything was fine no problems detected. 403 called into RTC let them know they were approching M.P. 164.XX (Dalhousie Jct) RTC informed them there was a crew at the gated crossing working on the lights. (Which I did see but nothing to report about that yet.)

403 went past me at aprox 1943hrs but I noticed something about a quator of the way past me, the train put on his brakes! Why? I figured they had to slow down for the work crew at the lights. I didn't think much of it after that. Minutes later 403 was cleared of the crossing and I was on my way back to Campbellton to chase it. I notied right away there was a very loud hissing noise coming from the last car.

Normally when I start my chase 403 is past the gated crossing, I usually catch up with it along the way because they have a slow order near Mclauds. 403 was stopped on the crossing. I have posted a video on Youtube and a conversation between 403 and the work crew at the corssing.

The first few seconds of the transmission I got a bit of interfearance from the Environment Canada channel. Oh yes...And credit for the video goes to Jessie, she did a great job and she set aside the cold weather for the sake of Railfanning! Here here Jess! Great job.

So to sum it all up 403 was loseing air which would have been bad for the brakes. Also earlyer this week I receved an email from CN informing they're customers that trains in Atlantic Canada will be shorter and there will be delays due to the extreem cold we had for about a week and a half. CN was concerned about hoses freezing and not enough time to stop if the trains had too.

Last night I just so happen to meet up with 403 on my way back from Dalhouse, didn't expect that! However I didn't have my camera or scanner. So no video, too bad because it had started to snow a bit and it would have been a perfect shot as well!!! OH well there's always another time. 403 arrived at the Jct at 2000hrs.

Last night's 403 had NBEC 6906 in the lead and CFMG 6902(?) Thursdays 403 had NBEC 6906 Seen here from late July 2007 and NBEC 6900.
Well that's it for me this week with trains, have fun and keep chaseing those trains.

Saturday in Moncton

2009-01-12T06:03:00.001-08:00

Well I spent Saturday and most of Sunday morning in Moncton, come to find out Matt (stjohnrailfan) and a few other railfans were in Moncton as well. I was to meet up with them at Gort around 1700 but looks like I was half an hour late to catch them, however I did catch the 15 arriving at the Moncton station and CN 308 slowly pulling it's way into Gort.

I wanted to stay a little while longer to catch the 15 go rolling past but it light was dimming fast and the tempeture was dropping really fast! So I decided to give up my wait on the 15 and head back to the hotel and spend the rest of the night in warmth!

Sunday morning my plan was to catch the 14 arriving through Gort but again the wait was too much and decided to call it off and head home. Not a whole lot going on, didn't really do much railfanning this weekend, though I did get some trains didn't really venture out too much other than what's been mentioned. Well here are some pictures I did take, I'll post the video of the 15 arriving at the station later today on Youtube. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

Short history of the INR

2009-01-04T07:29:00.001-08:00

Today I was searching the web for information on the former INR and came across a piece written by Doc Berthelot on Irene Doyle's web site about geneoloigy. Here is the link for those interested. http://www.restigouche.net/en/chroniques/history/tidbits2007-7.shtml

Two years ago I had met Mr. Berthelot at his cabin in Upsalquich a former CN caboose numbered, CN 78496. I have several pictures from that day when I went there take pictures of it. He informed me he was a supertenant for CN and now is retired. Here are some of my pictures of the INR and of Mr Berthelot's caboose.The former Upsalquich station. Destroyed by fire in the early 1920's and rebuilt and finally closed in the 1950's

The largest bridge on the INR which crosses the Upsalquich river was built in 1903.

A winter shot of the bridge.Just past the caboose.And lastly this was taken near Christopher Brook. Roughly about ten to fifteen miles away from Upsalquich.Well that's about it for me for trains today, I just might catch the fifteen tonight, I'm not sure still debateing it. Have fun and keep chasing those trains!

I'm back!

2008-12-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

After a two month hiatus, I'm back! On December 20th I caught NBEC 595 approching the Campbellton yard from the west, arriving from the Gaspe coast with seven loaded lumber cars. I was on my way to the mall while in Atholville, and my scanner picked up 595 calling in "One mile to Campbellton" So of course Jess and I parked by the old bakery which is trackside and waited no more than five minutes and there she was. The plan was for them to drop off the seven cars and head back to the Cascapedia Sub and head to Nouvelle as 594 east. However because of time constraints and the luck of timing (I was able to catch 595 west) I wasn't able to chase 594 back to Nouvelle. But that's ok! There is always other trains. So in the mean time I won't be able to catch any trains till sometime durring the first week of January. Jess is away on a much deserved vacation, I'm home with our Daughter and don't have a car at my disposal at this time.

Also as some of you may already know, I have a couple of new videos up on Youtube, I was lucky enough to catch the Ocean at Dalhousie Jct in the -18 sunny morning of December 20th! Yes very cold so that is why the camera was shaking pretty bad! I put in a request with Santa for a Tripod but I guess the QM was out of stock. So it looks like I'll have to invest in a good one my self. You see the issue with me and tripods is, I sometimes have to go with quanity rather quality. So I don't always get what I pay for...well in the sense of quality. I usally get crap for the small price I pay. Oh well next pay I guess. Also my camera decided to call it quits on me, I'm using my back up right now which isn't all that great when it comes to video but it is simply awesome with stills so I guess for now till I buy a new camera you'll be seeing a lot of stills from me. Yeh it's been a rough year for me you can tell hahaha. Anyhow so that's about it for me and the next post will be next year so have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

To all those who have been following my blog over the past year and to everyone of course Thank you for reading and coming back. I hope the past year has brought everyone joy and happyness as much as it has for me.

From my family to yours Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And always remember...Keep chaseing those trains and have fun!

Chris.

CN or NBEC 403?

2008-11-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

First off, WOW it's been awhile since I last posted anything here, well it's been a rough month for me personally so I didn't really have the time or energy to post anything.

But I did go out now and then to catch a few trains, and have been reading a few blogs now and then from other Railfans. A couple of weeks ago I was planning on going to McGivney with Matt AKA Stjohnrailfan and Dave AKA nbsrfan(?) but my plans fell through and well I'd like to go sometime before Christmas so we'll see what happens from here.

As I had mentioned above I did manage to catch a few trains, I do have some new videos, however I haven't tagged them, some are still mixed up with my other videos that I had taken while I was in Ottawa and Montreal a couple of weeks ago, while in Montreal I did try and get some railfanning down however a flat tire and a couple janggled nerves later we decided it was best not to goto Beaconsfield. Which is where I wanted to go where Jess and I had gone with our group back in April.

So as we all know now it's offical and is now very much public, CN has bought the NBEC and CFMG and it's lines from QRC. Well I wasn't expecting to see any changes right away till at lease mid march or april. However CN locomotives are now here in Campbellton. However what I think is strange is I hear them calling RTC and are still calling them selfs, "NBEC 402" etc. Though they are now being hauled by CN locomotives.

I have a few pictures and a video that I took of a very short 403 tonight. I'll post them as soon as I upload them to my computer. Till then have fun and keep chasing those trains!

This past week

2008-10-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well this past week Jess has been pretty patient with me and has been coming out with me to do some railfanning. On Tuesday we had a failed attempt at 403 and again on Wedsenday and Thursday. However on Thursday we did catch the 15 returning from Halifax, so the two hour wait at Dalhousie Jct wasn't all that wasted. Today however my scanner decided it was going to work! (It's been on the fritz for the past few weeks) so I was able to get a few conversations and what not. Last night Jess and I went out for Chinese, while we were eating I seen a fairly large truck pull into the parking lot. It was a track inspection truck. This is it here.

My guess is (And it is only a guess) as part of the sale of the line to CN there has to be a track inspection! I mean there are other reasons for this truck to be here. But that would be the most logical guess.

In my last post I said I had not ever seen NBEC 1819, 1821 and 1813 on the 403 or in Campbellton! Well tonight's 403 consisted of four locomotives and 69 cars. The lead on 403 was 6901 followed by 1819, 1813 and 1821!!! Ok so I guess this is NBEC's way of calling me a liar. ALSO on Wedsenday's 591 I seen none other than 1821 getting ready to leave the Campbellton yard with three tanker cars. Here it is. Crappy picture I know but it was a quick shot.

Here is tonight's 403, I really like how the sun makes everything bright against the lead locomotive. And it brings out the fall colours...well what's left of them anyhow.

And here's another quick shot of 403 while chasing it.Finally on the way home the Ocean was heading into Campbellton with "my" 6400 in the lead. I had noticed though a park car was on the tail end, when last night's 15 didn't have one. Oh well just thought I'd share that with you. I didn't get any pictures of tonight's 15. As per usual I'll post my 403 video on Youtube later. It's getting late and I'm pretty tired. Well have fun and keep chasing those trains!

the plan!

2008-10-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

So it's a beautiful Sunny Saturday afternoon, I wanted to get out there and enjoy the sunshine and do whatever came to mind. Well going to Bathurst was one of those thoughts and chaseing the 403 to Campbellton was another. Well I went to Bathurst! But no 403. However on the way out of town I suggested to Jess that we take the old road to as far as Dalhousie Jct and get on the highway from there.

We were just about to hit McClouds when we heard the distinctive horn of NBEC 3000 on the tracks below the road. So we pulled into the first drive way and headed back towards Campbellton. We caught up with the train in Richardsville just before the Yard Limits. I pulled over at my usual spot on Arron Street (See my earlyer post) and took a few quick pictures and took some videos.

In Bathurst however it was a bit dissapointing. There were a string of cars in the yard which looked like 403's usual consist. And there were three locomotives further down. NBEC 1819, 1821 and 1813. I figured they were going to be the power for 403 then I thought about it, I never seen those numbers in Campbellton or hauling 403. So I put two and two together and figured they are the local power for Bathurst. So I got a few good pictures and headed into town. Around 1800 we went back to the yard to see if anything had changed. Well there were still the same consist in the yard and the same three locos were still sitting there idleing. So I figured 403 had already gone by and or I was way ahead of it. So I decided to go home from there. Ok well a quick stop at Tim Hortons and then home.

Well here are my pictures from Bathurst and in Campbellton. Enjoy and keep chaseing those trains and have fun!

Another great chase on another great day!

2008-10-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Oct 17th was my oldest Daughter's birthday, and for her special day I took her out to chase 403 but this time she was holding the camera and she chose the spots where we would catch the train. It was her day so she called the shots....litterally!

She decided to get the best shots we would goto my favorite spot at the Arron street crossing and stand on the edge of the street which overlooks the tracks. As 403 went by my Daughter was waving to the engineer, and to give her a special "Happy Birthday" he gave her two short blasts of the horn. Her first "hello" she was really proud of that. She took some pretty good pictures which you will see some are mine but I'll point out which ones are her's.

403 had the usual consist woodchip cars, tankers and lumber from the Bathurst mill and a blue ore car. The head end was NBEC 3000 and CFMG 6902

This is her first picture.And this is her second.This one is mine, I didn't have the stabliser on.
And her third shot.Her fourth shot.My picture but this time I had the stabliser on.I fixed the picture up a little made it a bit brighter, same as the one above.Well that's it for me this week, I may go out again this week. We got some videos but she didn't get all of the train, She's a better photographer than a videographer. So enjoy, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Double the header

2008-10-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight I decided to go somewheres else, so I packed fresh batteries and headed to Matapedia station to catch the Ocean and Chaleur arriving. In Atholville got pulled over at an RCMP road block the usual licence and regestration and have a good night. That set me back a few minutes because when I drove by the station the Ocean had already left.

We were crossing the Restigouche River via the Matapedia bridge and to my left was the Ocean crossing the bridge as well. I thought "Great I'll make it" because I knew they had a slow order on the bridge." Well sure enough I got to the station before they did. I got the Ocean arriving but didn't get any good stills. Just a short twenty something second long video.

The Chaleur on the other hand arrived about ten minutes or so after the Ocean left that's when I found a great spot on the platform and got the "Perfect shots" Ok not that prefect but good enough to post on here. the lead on tonights Chaleur was 6420 followed by 6409. I didn't catch the numbers on the Ocean however it was Evenleign Park on the tail end. Well I'll post my videos on Youtube at a later date. Until then have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Two days worth!

2008-10-01T20:41:00.000-07:00

On Monday night I went to Campbellton to catch the Ocean arriving and half an hour later I was on the Quebec side waiting for the Chelaur to scream by. Sure enough she did and I filmed her going by. My first Chelaur since the washout on Aug 4th. Pretty neat that I got both the Ocean and the Chelaur in one night. I caught it first in Cross point (Near Oak bay) and then beat it to Broadlands. Where I got a better night shot of the stainless steel cars with the high beams of the car. Great shot if you ask me! Earlyer that day I caught 403 arriving in Richardsville. (See my earlyer post on that chase.) And tonight I was going to catch 403 in Dalhousie Jct HOWEVER, the forces that be decided tonight wasn't the night. So I gave up my chase or wait to be more accurate. And went home. Around 2000hrs 403 arrived in Campbellton. Although in my past from last week where my oldest Daughter and I went to catch the 403 in that same area we had met "Winnie the pooh" Or a black bear. Tonight was the same thing, I am not sure if it was "Winnie" though I wouldn't be surprised if it were. Unlike the last time though he wasn't fifty yards or so away from me he was more like half a mile or more down the track. I got some "Ok" pictures though. Some are not the best but they are seeable.

This one is clearly the best one I took from the distance we were at.

And this one is also clearly (Or lack of) the worse one. So goes to show how crappy my camera can be if it's not held stable at long distance zoom. Hope he doesn't get hit by a train! I may not like bears too much but I don't hate them. Just a little nervous around them that's all.

Well that's about it for me so far this week with trains, so have fun and keep chaseing those trains! Oh and by the way It's Websenday October 1st and STILL no announcement from CN in regards to the take over of NBEC and CFMG. Although it's been widely rumored it would have been announced today!

NBEC 403

2008-09-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

This evening I heard NBEC 403 call RTC to inform them they were in Charlo. So I figured I would try and catch them in Dalhousie Jct. Well no sooner was I in Richardsville did I hear the sqawk of the EOT. So picking the best spot I could in quick time I got my self set up and ready to go. 403 went by with twenty two cars. Not very long! From there I went to the Arron street crossing and that's where I met Justin Babcock chasing 403. I assume he started his chase in Dalhousie Jct. We took some pictures and chatted a bit. On my way on to carry on with my evening I noticed he stopped in Atholville next to the west end yard. So I got out and took some more pictures with him. Got some really good shots. So here they are.

Well thats it for me tonight, have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

My one hundredth and first post!

2008-09-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been over a year now since I've been railfanning (Actively) and blogging about it and this is my 101st post! Awesome. Anyhow so last weekend I went to Halifax I boarded 614 eastbound and well, I have some new freq's for VIA and I wasn't dissapointed they worked! I caught three detectors along the way, I didn't get any past Moncton because I don't have CN freqs. I have a video of meeting 615 somewheres in Nova Scotia.

So funny thing is, everytime I take the train anywhere I go, I always look out the window as though on a mission. Friday morning as we pulled into Mirimachi station my self and the other smokers made our mass exidus for the platform to get that nicotine craving out of our systems when to my left just at the very end of the platform stood a man with his camera and tripod filming the Ocean as it came into the station. I couldn't help but snicker to my self as I know that would have been me in Campbellton or in Dalhousie Jct.

Soon it was time for the crew to hoard us back into the cattle car and resume our journey to Halifax and other points in between. As we went by I couldn't help but snicker again at the thought of what I must look like and thinking to my self, "So this is what it's like from the other point of view." Oh well. If anyone out there know who this person is, (If you can identify him) please let me know. I have a picture for him of him.

Anyhow I took a few pictures and some video of course I'll post the videos on Youtube at a later time, I'll post my pictures here. Well that's about it for me as far as trains go. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains.

New Videos on Youtube!

2008-09-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

It appears I've been busy lately! Well no I haven't. I've been posting a few of my older videos, so here they are. Yes there are a couple of newer ones so enjoy and keep chaseing those trains!

Those are it for now, I'll be uploading more later. Enjoy!

So long and thanks for the memories!

2008-09-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

After a few phone calls and several emails a couple of some reliable sources have told me it is infact true CN will be taking over NBEC/CFMG lines. CN is negotiating to take over 881 miles of track. There are a lot of worried people right now and I'm one of them. I am not working for the railroad however my fear is simply CN will buy the lines back and then dismantle them after a year or two to eliminate competetition. (OR however it's spelled!) Well that's not good. Also the current personel working for NBEC and CFMG have their union trying to secure their jobs accroding to the francaphone newspaper "Le Press" So far nothing yet on that. Throughout the railfan websites in New Brunswick everyone is suggesting to go out and take pictures while we still can. It won't be long now before CN locomotives are here again and NBEC/CFMG locos are gone for good.

So last night I did just that! I went to the Campbellton yard to catch NBEC 403 arriving, while waiting for 403 to arrive I seen several people walking along the tracks as though it was no bodys business! WOW!!!!!! There is a freight train coming it's clear to see but yet some idiots just don't understand. One of them had an MP3 player on walking in the middle of the tracks while the train was about 500 feet away! That's crazy. I believe one guy had flipped off the condutor as he rang the bell to get him out of the way. The arrogance.

Here's my pictures of NBEC 403 arriving in the Campbellton yard. As you can see not only did they put their lives in extreem danger but they also ruined some great shots too!

This would have been a great shot!

This is a pretty good one!

Nice close up!

403 approching the Campbellton yard limits.

The end of a short era.

Here we go again!

2008-09-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to post this but I decided to anyhow simply because I have nothing better to do at this moment.

So last night I got an email from another railfan informing me that CN had indeed bought the Newcastle and Mont Joli subs. The deal will be made public on Friday that would be tomorrow or 19 Sept 08. Well I honestly have to say that if this is true well than let's hope for the best and hope for more jobs! If not....Well it'll just be another rumor as usual. I'm not taking this seriously however though, if it's true well than great if not oh well just another day for me.

Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

403 chase last night

2008-09-18T05:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to chase 403 from Dalhousie Jct, and it couldn't have been better timing. As soon as I turned onto Blair Malcom Rd the detector went off at M.P. 159.9. It was only a very short drive to the crossing but I made it there faster than some people would like me too. I had just enough time to get out of the car and get to a good spot and wait. The lead unit made the bend and I began to record. After 403 cleared the crossing I went to McClouds to take a few stills from there and then to the iron bridge in Campbellton to get some video of it crossing over. It was a great chase. I got two great videos and some "ok" pictures. My camera isn't the best when it comes to taking pictures in dimming light so some of them are not the best. So here they are.

Oh and before I forget the lead on last nights 403 was CFMG 6906 followed by NBEC 1813, and just to share a quick little story about Tuesday nights chase or attempted chase of 403. My oldest Daughter and I went to the Jct to wait for 403. After about ten minutes I thought I heard the familier rumbling of a locomotive in the not so distant distance we started walking towards the tracks to a spot where I normally film. (I have a nice little spot where I have a great vantage point.) But I changed my mind instead of going there I decided to goto another spot on the other side of the tracks. So I started walking down the embankment and into the ditch next to the tracks, I told my Daughter to wait till I got to the other side of the ditch to wait for her. I walked a little ways up the embankment looked to my right and there was nothing. I looked to my left and there he was, sitting down looking right at me about fifty yards away a black bear. I calmly instructed my Daughter to turn around and go back to the car. By then the bear was curious about me and stood up. At that point I was telling her to run to the car. She had no idea why I was telling her to run back to the car but she didn't argue with me.

As soon as she was cleared of my way I began to run with her, I looked back at the bear and he was doing the same thing, getting the hell out of Dodge! I think he was more scared of us than we were of it. If anyone out there knows me well enough there are only two things on this Green Earth that I fear. And one of them is bears. Of course we got to the car safely without incident and that was the last I seen of "Pooh bear". According to my Daughter that's his name.

This is one of those poor light pictures I took. Still not too bad though.

Another one.

This is one of the things that happens when I take the flash off. Sucks but oh well. 403 making the bend in McClouds.

And my youngest Railfan got tired of waiting for the train. She was ready though, with scanner and camera in hand.

I'll have the videos up on Youtube as soon as I can. Enjoy, have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

New Videos

2008-09-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen them, I have several new videos up on Youtube. Last night I was sitting on my deck and I heard a CFMG extra coming into Campbellton. It was approching the crossings in Atholville. The echos coming off of those mountains was just absolutly amazing! I really like that effect. So much did I like it that I wanted to share that sound with others! Here is the video. I put my camera on the railing of my deck, and pressed record. I pointed the camera in the direction of the crossing. The mill in the background is AV Cell (My former employer!) Of course one cannot see the crossing/s however on clear cold clear nights if you listen good enough you can hear the crossing bells at the mill road crossing. Yes I've heard them before late at night. Only on cold winter nights though. The crossing is roughly about 3 or 4 Km's away across the Restigouche River. Well enjoy and I highly suggest you turn up the volume on your speakers to get the real effect. Thanks and remember Keep chaseing those trains! and have fun!

All the buzz!

2008-09-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

Steve Boyko and the others have reported that CFMG 402 had derailed in the Matapedia Valley. There was a two car derailment and The Ocean 615 was behind the derailment. Concequently they had to back up back to Campbellton that night and all passengers were bussed to their destinations. I don't know what to think about this latest derailment. It seems to me there have been a lot of problems lately with the NBEC and CFMG lines in regards to maintence and time delays. This cannot be good PR VIA, NBEC or CFMG or the whole QRC altogether! I have no idea what had caused the derailment however I can only speculate it is because of poor maintence of the line. Again that is ONLY a speculation not an acusation or anything of the sort.

VIA 615 spent the day in Campbellton where crews can clean the coaches and sleeper cars and perform usual maintence etc. This morning it has left Campbellton as 614 on it's way to Halifax. I have no idea if the line is open now or not but I am pretty sure it's still closed to all inbound and out bound traffic till further notice.

On the lighter side of things in the past week I've been pretty busy inregards to railfanning! I have several videos of the 615, and the 402/3. I'll post them all as soon as I have the time as there is quite a bit. I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet so be patient. Last night Jess and I went for a walk on the former INR line at M.P. 00.00 to near Christopher Brook....A really nice walk. My dog took me for a walk as per usual and our new puppie well...She's not the walking type just yet. She's only seven weeks old, She still doesn't have a name yet, I was thinking of calling her "Ocean" anyone have any suggestions? I also suggested "Alco" but that shot down before I could finish my sentence.

For my last order of business, I just receved and email from Ron Jackson, informing my self and other railfans, there will be a railfan trip to the IRIC shops in Moncton on Oct 3rd. Here is an excerpt from the email.

"The Costs, Hotel $84.00 plus tax per night. Two per room or single. The rooms must be booked by Sept 20th. The rooms are booked under my name Ron Jackson and the number for the Hotel is 1-800-561-4667

Bus TBD depends on the numbers

Train $58.00 per person tax included return.

Lunch $28.00 per person tax included for both meals

The Train and meals must be paid directly to me so we can all get the rate and the lunch sitting. Cash or cheque ok on the day of departure. The train and meals must be booked before Sept 20 and there is a $17.50 penalty if you cancel after Sept 20th. "

So there you have it, the second railfanning trip of the 08 season! Well that's about it for me as for trains go this week, have fun and keep chasing those trains!

Moncton this past weekend

2008-08-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was in Moncton on a three day furlough just to relax and enjoy the finer things in life. Well I couldn't resist it, I just had too! Jess and I went to the Gort yard and tried to catch a few trains however if I had known before hand there isn't much shunting in that yard I would have went else where. The only shunting I seen there was a truck hauling containers around and getting them ready to be loaded onto a flat car for I'll assume either the 120 or 121.

HOWEVER....All was not lost! At around 1330 VIA 614 arrived around the bend, and I got a couple of shots and a great video. Not too bad. Afterwards we went to the station and I got a few shots of the lead unit there. The lead of 614 was 6426 I didn't catch the second unit's number.

I posted on the Yahoo groups asking a question when will the CN trains go screaming through Moncton, I got a few times (Thanks Matt!) and well I wasn't so lucky interms of videos and pictures. The pictures well it was too dark for my camera and the videos well....I waited fro CN 405(?) the signals at the west end of the station in Moncton was red over red, however after about ten minutes of waiting the signals changed to yellow over red than moments later to yellow over yellow. So I waited and in no time at all a freight came rumbling through. However I was looking in the wrong direction for the train. It came from the east I was looking in the west. By the time I got out of the car (I was in the car because the Moncton Airforce was attacking me. Mosquitos.) and got my camera out and ready the lead had already gone by but I did manage to press the record button (Or so I thought) and filmed what was going by on the distant track. After the train went by I looked over at the signals which had changed back to red over red and stopped recording. When I went to check my video and look a the quality of the video I seen it was still recording.....I had either didn't press the button hard enough or I was never recording at all till I had thought I had stopped the recording and actually started recording. Which is the latter. I didn't record the train at all! I was not impressed!

I figured the freight that had gone by was the 405(?) So we had gone back to the hotel and began to unwind from a long day. Our hotel room was on the side faceing the VIA station (We were staying at the Crowne Plaza) I heard the familier bell of a loco outside the window, I looked out and there went the 405(?) screaming past Moncton station. I wasn't too impressed again.

Other than that, that's been my weekend as far as trains go, so keep chaseing those trains and have fun!

Looking back now...

2008-08-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was looking around on line and I had found an article about a derailment on the Nipisiquit sub outside of Bathurst. I don't really remember much about the article except the driver got out without a scratch. On Friday I receved a reply to a comment I had left on another video on Youtube and in the related videos window there was a video with audio trascripts of the derailment that I had read about a few years earlyer.

I had read the unoffical transcripts and listened the whole twenty minute radio conversation between the CN dispatcher in Moncton and the crew member onboard the runaway train. After reading the transcripts I had this sudden feeling of sympathy for the crew, I never before realised how close railroad workers can be in terms of a brotherhood, I don't know why I never thought of it that way but I guess I just never really thought of it till I heard that conversation. This is the link to the audio file, you must have Real Audio to listen to it, and it is recomended to download the file to listen to it. I didn't download it but it worked just fine for me. http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/runaway/runaway.html
And here's the link for the transcripts.
http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/runaway/trans.html
And lastly here's the link to download the audio file.
http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Feature/runaway/runaway.html

It's actually a little chilling to hear the conversation, to hear the fear in the engineer's voice is really chilling. But it gave me a whole new respect for train crews who are faced with difficult decisions daily and faced with danger everyday while working in the field they love. The incident took place on March 9th 1987 I was only seven years old then come to think of it! Thankfully the engineer made it out of the crash alive with not even a scratch! On the site it says the events took place on March 9th 1997 however CN was long gone by then and obviously a typo, however it was 1987 and not 1997.

Near the begening of the conversation once the dispatcher is aware of the situation his first priority is to check the location of VIA 14 which after a minute or two was past the Wye and out of danger. You can almost feel the tension in the whole twenty minutes.
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On saturday night I went to chase the Ocean 615 from Dalhousie Jct to Campbellton, and I was at the Jct for no less than ten minutes when I heard the detector sounding off, and I was at my spot in seconds to get ready for the Ocean. Strangely the Ocean didn't annouce they were at Dalhousie Jct. I shot two different videos, one at the Jct and the other at McClouds. The McClouds video is a lot better in terms of light, I think I'll post both videos anyhow but the latter is my choice. That's it for me for trains this past week/end have fun and keep chaseing those trains.

Been a little quiet....

2008-08-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

Lately I haven't been out mostly due to the weather, it's really been pretty crappy lately as for the weather. I just don't have the motivation to chase any trains lately. However I still have pictures I haven't shared yet from the CN detour a week and a half ago. So here are some of them.

Here I am filming 121 going past Dalhousie Jct.

CN 121 arriving in Campbellton. There's a sight I haven't seen since my childhood! A CN train arriving in the Campbellton yard.

Again 121 approching the crossing at Dalhousie Jct.

121 in McClouds.

Chaleur washout

2008-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! The weather is crazy eh? I guess Mother Nature is back on the crack pipe! Anyhow the Cascapedia sub is closed now at M.P. 40(?) there was a washout and VIA 616 had to back up all the way to Matapedia and wait for the Ocean to pass by which was later again! The Ocean left Campbellton around 1130ish and about an hour later the Chaleur had backed it's way into Campbellton. So now that's CN and NBEC on the Cascapedia sub that are washed out. Well I couldn't get a good clear shot of the Chaleur coming into Campbellton from my deck so no picture of that this time. Would have been a neat shot though.

CN Detour UPDATE

2008-08-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

According to CN's "State of the Railway" site CN trains will be detoured on local short lines between Moncton NB and Joffery Que. Here is the link to the site. http://www.cn.ca/customer_centre/ebusiness/state_of_railroad/en_state_of_the_railroad.shtml

CN does not at this time have a set date for the line to be reopened, some suggest two days.
Tonight I caught CN 121 arriving in Dalhousie Jct and arriving in Campbellton. Justin Babcock was at the Jct with me to take a few pictures. Roughly an hour later CN 305 had arrived. It appeared both 121 and 305 were too long for the Campbellton yard and had to push their way onto the Mont Jolie sub to make it all the way into the yard. I know 121 was about 9,000ft long so yeh I'm pretty sure that streched the limit for the Campbellton yard. The picture above is CN 121 going through McClouds this evening 03 Aug 08.

I'll post my videos tomorrow sometime as it is now 0255hrs and I'm pretty tired. Have fun and keep chasing those trains!

CN Detour!

2008-08-03T13:37:00.001-07:00

Michel Boudreau reports on NBrails and Atlantic rails groups there has been a washout on the Pelletier sub and Justin Babcock has confirmed CN will be detouring on the Newcastle Sub! CN 121 had left Mirmachi at or around 1600hrs and is expected in Campbellton between 1900 - 2000hrs. I'm pretty pumped up about this, I can't wait to catch some CN action! If I understood the email properly CN 305 had left Pacific Jct at the same time and is expected in Campbellton between 2100hrs and 2200hrs. That's if I understood him properly. GET YOUR CAMERA'S READY!!!! Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

Some good reading!

2008-08-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was searching the net for what ever I wasn't looking for anything in particular when I came across this site that I thought was really interesting.

This site has all the VIA locomotives from 1986 and on wards with lots of details and lots of great info on any particular locomotive you'd like to know about. Of course I looked up 6400 and well turns out my loco was built in 1986, and was the first VIA locomotive to have done any kind of advertiseing for VIA Rail. 6400 was formerly the "Pepsi train" that was durring the summer of 1990. From 1990 to 2007 it was the the standered Yellow and grey. Than in 2005 to 2006 she was rebuilt at CAD and given a unique overhaul. She is a one of a kind locomotive in VIA's fleet of F40PH-2's. 6400 is the only locomotive that is a class all on her own, she is the GPA 30 d. The only one of her kind, while the others are GPA 30 A,B and C.

I've read somewheres that 6400 is no longer a FP40H because of it's own class or something of the sort. Either way she's a beauity and that's that. I have an "almost" obsession with this particular locomotive I don't quite understand why though.

The picture above is by Marc Chouinard, he kindly gave me permission to use his photograph as the header of this entry. Thank You Marc! His site www.myrailfan.com and his blog I presume is titled "My little Paradise" I highly suggest those of you who are interested in where VIA's locomotives have been and their current status to check it out. It's a very interesting site. I got to learn a bit more about "my" 6400 and VIA's other F40PH's.

Here is a direct link to where one can view the status of each unit. http://www.myrailfan.com/tables/list_F40.aspx

Enjoy and well I hope this rain will FINALLY stop so that I may go out there and chase some trains soon! That's about it for me and trains this time around have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

Rain rain rain everywhere!

2008-08-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

"I'm railfanning in the rain, Oh I'm railfanning in the rain!" YEh how corny of an opening is that eh? Well if anything it's the truth. Last night I went to chase the 615 in the rain it wasn't all that great I did get a somewhat "decent" video but for some reason or another I said out loud to my self, "Is that my 6400?" I reffering to the loco but it wasn't 6400 it was 6421 with the spiderman loco. I am debateing on weather to post it or not because well I don't like noise other than that of the train in my videos and my talking to my self isn't something I want posted. I chased it to Campbellton and in Campbellton got it arriving at the station which is a better picture than the one I filmed at McClouds. Better light and less of my talking. But just a little background here why I reffer to the 6400 as "My 6400" is because back in April when I was in Montreal for the railfan trip to CAD I sat in the drivers seat of this particular loco and well lived out a childhood dream among the other locomotives that were there at the time. So for no real particular reason I just call it "My 6400" Anyhow I did try to make an attempt at catching the 617 at Cross Point station however I guess there was no 617 lastnight. The police had even decided to stop by and see if everything was ok. Trying to explain to them that I was a "railroad photographer" wasn't easy considering they had big smiles on their faces and enjoyed a good laugh at my exspense. But oh well, they were kind enough to pull over on their return from where they were going in the first place to see if the train had gone by yet and to inform them when it did. Well I was tempted to call them anyhow once I got home and notify them the train had gone by just to get a good laugh at their exspense but naaaa the Listuguj Police Department is way too "busy" to be bothered with my hyjnics you know with the catching of underage drinkers and pulling over anyone with a New Brunswick license plate. That's a tough job! hahahaha!

So back to things that matter to me! On Thursday evening we were on our way to Dalhousie for fuel when suddenly my scanner picked up 403, "Dalhousie Jct one mile" Well that was my cue to get to the crossing which was "only" about 300 meters down the road. But we made it on time to get out of the car and hit record. I caught CFMG 403 crossing Blair Malcom Road at Dalhousie Jct. Wasn't a long train at all only a few loaded cars.

Well that was about it for me as for trains this week. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

New Video on Youtube

2008-07-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

As the title says I had just completed a new video and posted it to Youtube! It's just a collection of some of the better pictures I have taken in the past year to "celebrate" my first year as an active railfan hahahaha Yeh I know geeky but oh well. I had a lot of fun in the past year chaseing trains and learning a lot about the hobby and learning a few safety tips as well.

Steve Boyko posted his blog on his attempt at catching VIA 615 on the NTR and well he didn't get that shot. Well it happens to the best of us, on Monday I chased the 402 as far as Richardsville (Campbellton City limits) and heard on the scaner that the 402 would turn in Bathurst and become the 403. Well I got pumped up for it and made plans to catch it in Dalhousie Jct that evening.

I waited and waited and waited till FINALLY my scanner pipped up and it was RTC calling 403 to find out where they were. Turns out 403 was between Charlo and Eel River Crossing. Well that was about ten minutes or so from me. So I grabbed the scanner off the roof of the car and grabbed my camera and ran down the hill and got into postion and waited. Than all of a sudden the sun dissapeard behind large black clouds. I figured I had a few minutes before the rain started and continued my wait. Than I seen lightning streek across the sky and immeaditly after that a very loud clap of thunder split the air and made me throw my self to the ground, (Reflexes I guess.) Well that's when I had decided to pack it up and head back to the car because that lighting was pretty damn close. As I was walking back up to the car another strike and loud clap of thunder freaked the crap out of me and I began to run to the car. No sooner was I in the car when the huge down pour of rain started and well I was getting dissapointed.

The 403 was less than ten minutes away and I couldn't get my shot. So we decided to try and catch it at the crossing just a few hundred meters down the road but the downpour was so heavy that I couldn't see no more than five feet in front of the car and if I had opened the window than my camera would have been useless. So due to the weather I had no choice but to call off the chase and head home empty handed and quite dissapointed. So my whole point is, Steve chin up buddy at lease you got the tail end of the Ocean and a video of the CN freight, I didn't even get a single picture. Like you said in your comment on your blog, "I had my scanner not my Crystal ball." Well I should invest in one of those too or maybe check the weather before heading out hahaha.
To add insult to injury I knew the 403 was right there, it was withen hearing distance and I knew where it was but DAMN! Friggen weather. Oh well so yesterday I again went back to Dalhousie Jct to try my luck again. Well this time the weather stayed pretty decent no rain and no sudden thunder storms and no 403. Apprently the 403 arrived in Campbellton around 2030hrs so yeh....I'm thinking about chaseing it again this evening but I don't know. By the way I left Dalhousie Jct around 1900hrs. Roughly about an hour and a half ahead of the 403.

So here are a few pictures I have just something to share I guess. Also here is the video I posted on Youtube.

I took this picture one evening on my way to chase 615 and couldn't help but laugh when I seen the exit number. This is on Hwy 11 on my way to Dalhousie Jct. Exit 403 HAHAHAHA Yeh I think I'm taking this hobby a little too far eh?

The picture below was taken in December of NBEC 4203 and the one below it was taken the first week of July 08. Almost the same spot as in December. With less snow!
Well that's about it for me as for trains, I'm hopeing the Ocean will be back tonight on the Newcastle Sub. So keep chaseing those trains and have fun.

VIA 615

2008-07-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Earlyer this week the Ocean had some issues with a wheel bearing on the baggage car. Apprently it set off the defect dectors and the decision was made in Campbellton to put the train on the shop track and bus the passengers to their distenations. Safety comes first eh! Anyhow on Tuesday morning I went to the Campbellton yard and took these pictures. Steve Boyko posted in his blog about the defective wheel

http://www.traingeek.ca/blog/2008/07/defective-wheel-bearing-on-ocean.html#links

So here are the pictures not many but I didn't want to trespass either so I had to stay where I was to get the shots I could get.

NBEC 402

2008-07-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

This morning I was heading out to get my morning coffee when suddenly I remembered the words of a wise rail fan and VIA Rail employee Ron Jackson(Ret). "A true rail fan never leaves his house without his camera and scaner." So I ran back in the house and picked up my camera and scaner. Just as we were pulling onto the bridge crossing the Mighty Restigouche what do I see sitting in the Campbellton yard waiting for RTC to give the "ok" to leave...None other than NBEC 402. So after some minor convincing Jess and I went to the Ceader street crossing, (After we got our coffee.) and waited for the 402 to leave. After five minutes or so I could hear the bell of NBEC 3000 ringing signaling as it was making it's way to the crossing. I got video of 402 at that crossing. My intentions were to chase it to Dalhousie Jct and take pictures along the way. However the forces that be decided today wasn't going to be the day. In Richardsville my cell phone started ringing. Apprently there was a misscommunication somewheres and I had to be home for 1030hrs and not 1400hrs as I had previously thought. So the chase had to be cut short and turn around to head home. However I did catch some really neat shots as we were side by side with the freight.

For the past few days I've noticed a Government of Canada grain car in the Campbellton yard. Now I'm not sure where it's going or when it's leaving but it's not everyday you see a grain car in Campbellton. Last time I seen a Grain Car was in Montreal back in April. I took this from the Quebec side of the river so the picture is kinda crappy because I had to zoom in quite a distance to get even a practical picture. So here it is.

One more thing before I end this blog for the day, Jess had said a funny thing to me as we were chaseing the 402. She noted at every crossing people were either turning around as the train approched or when the lights came on. People were trying to avoid the train and avoid the wait at the lights. We were purposly waiting at the crossings for the train and chaseing it. Seem kinda ironic to me and kinda funny too.

Well that was it for me this morning however maybe later on today I'll catch another the day is still young. If not well there is always the 15 tonight. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains.

Amid the mosquitos...

2008-07-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

Indeed what an evening it was with the mosquitos and black flies. I'm still itchy is all I can say about lastnights adventure and so is my Daughter. Last night around 2000hrs I phone the train station and asked what time the 15 would be in, and of course you can count the Ocean being late. 615 was late agian last night by an hour roughly. I went to Dalhousie Jct and waited for the Ocean there. I wasn't there long when the Detector went off, that was when I rushed down to where I had my camera set up. When I got there I had mare seconds to press record. Well I wouldn't exactly say mare seconds just more or less a short period of time. I did catch it though that was the main point. The itchy welts were worth it though.

As it turns out NBECmich had caught the Ocean just outside of Bathurst last night as well, he also reports the mosquitos were just as bad for him as they were for me. Here is his video and about an hour or so later here is mine.

So that was pretty much it for me as far as trains go for this week, so keep chasing those trains and have fun!

Quiet day!

2008-07-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Today has been a quiet day in regards to trains, the scanner has been quiet most of the day except for the occational squlech of the the EOT device and VIA 616 calling RTC. Other than that it's been pretty quiet. However this morning after a failed attempt at chaseing the 402 from Campbellton I decided to go and have a "Heart attack" breakfast at McDonalds and well I was perched atop the lookout overlooking the Campbellton yard and shops, well everything down there seemed quiet! I did take a few pictures, mostly of nothing and of my foot...It's a nice shot! However yesterday I went to Morrissey Rock and took a few pictures there, I was certin I heard a train coming in that direction however I guess I must have heard wrong. That happens...Rarely but it happens. Anyhow that's about it for me for today in regards to trains. Have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

The railfan that tried

2008-07-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went on vacation, Jess and my two Daughters went to Fredericton and we stayed at the Crowne Plaza. It was a great weekend. My oldest Daughter spent 90% of the time in the pool or at Killarney Lake, she is a lot like me, she has water in her vains rather than blood. As my Grand father used to say, "There isn't blood in our vains there is only salt water!" and I burned too! Something that hasn't happend to me since I was sixteen. Anyhow I wanted to get a little bit of railfanning in there this weekend however Jess and my oldest Daughter Hailey had other plans for us and those plans didn't include chasing any trains. However I called Steve Boyko and he gave me a bit of information on when and where to go to catch some trains. However as I had mentioned there wasn't going to be any chances of us going to Tracy to catch NB Southern and well the only chance I remotely had was on the return trip home on Sunday when we would go through McGivney and Hwy 8 goes over the NTR.

It was exactly that on Sunday afternoon when we arrived in McGivney, however my railroad knowledge isn't all that great as far as signals go. When we arrived at the station the lights were red on red, I guessed that meant a train was due, I figured the lights were red because of that. Well I was wrong. I had decided to call Steve to check on that. He told me red on red meant there was NO train coming and I must say I was a bit dissapointed. He also asked me to check the other set of lights and if those were red on red as well than there was no trian coming from either direction. He said if they were red on green or yellow or other combos of the same colours than there would be something coming. Me and Hailey went for a short walk to the other set of lights and to my dismay those lights were also red on red. However I wasn't leaving McGivney without a few pictures which I did take.

Well that's pretty much it for me as far as railfanning go for this past weekend, Thanks to Steve Boyko for the intel on those signals and train times. Hopefully next time I'll catch one. Have fun and keep chasing those trains.

A bit more traffic on the Cascapedia.

2008-07-03T03:11:00.000-07:00

Lately I've noticed there has been an increase in carload traffic on the Cascapedia sub. Yesterday I watched a freight go through the community with aprox twenty cars, that's a lot considering just last year the owners wanted to abandon the line at some point! I've seen carload traffic as big as one car and no cars at all, just a locomotive going down the line. However last month I picked up a copy of the "The Gaspe Spec" (June 11th 2008) in it there was an article that caught my interest right away. "Smurfit-Stone and New Richmond settlement opens door to new rail traffic."

The artile reads "The town of New Richmond will finally allowe Smurfit-Stone to use it's New Richmond facility to store and ship overseas a liquid produced by it's Matane plant called 'Wood molasses' " The article further reads that this deal is good news for the Gaspe rail line. The article was written by Gilles Gagne. Yesterday (And a few times prior) I seen aprox ten tanker cars and about ten loaded lumber cars. That is the longest train I've seen on the Cascapedia since I was a child! The loaded lumber cars were obviously from the lumber mill in Neouville (Excuse the spelling) that is the only lumber mill I know of in the area that is still in operation which is owned and operated by Tembec. In all that's great news! I'm glad to see more traffic on the line. As for my self, I haven't done much as far as railfaning goes, I've been working like a dog at work and here at home, I don't have much time to play Golf or to go play paintball, I bought a new marker a tibirus 8. Can't wait to use it however I won't be home this weekend to do so. Anyhow have fun and keep chasing those trains.

NBEC 402

2008-06-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

This morning I had decided I was way over due for a freight train. I've been chaseing the Ocean for a couple of weeks now, so yeh it's time for the 402. I'm still at work when the 403 arrives into Campbellton. I started my chase in Campbellton and seen NBEC 1868 idleing with 6909 attached to the 402 waiting for RTC to give them the "go ahead" Approx 1100 402 began it's journey to Moncton with a stop at the "General Chemical" plant at Dalhousie Jct to drop off a tanker.

By 1200 402 was on it's way to Bathurst ordered to wait at a siding for another freight in Bathurst. 402 wasn't all too long but still I got my chase in today and am quite pleased. I stopped in McClouds to take a few stills as it went by.

I shot video in Campbellton and Dalhousie Jct. They're on Youtube check them out.

Well that's it for me today for trains so keep chaseing those trains and have fun!

VIA 15 the Ocean

2008-06-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight I caught the Ocean going through Charlo, I've noticed lately the Ocean has been late arriving in Campbellton both 14 and 15. I've heard through some net chatter the Ren cars have been having some truck or axel issues. I don't know for sure but that's what I've been getting. I listend to the "hotbox" detector outside of Charlo and there was no defects. Also the 15 was about fifteen minutes late to Charlo. Steve Boyko has mentioned on his site CN will not be taking over NBEC or the Newcastle sub. It appears they've lost interest. No one really knows why CN wanted this line back in the first place. Odd to me. Anyhow I have some pictures to show off. Some from other chases and some I didn't post from a few weeks ago when I caught the 14 and the 16 arriving in Matapedia.

The NB side of the railroad bridge at Matapedia.

Looking down the bridge.Looking down the line in Dalhousie Jct.Mile 0.00 on the Cascapedia Sub.
VIA 15 the Ocean in McClouds.The Ocean 14 arriving in Campbellton.My personal favorite shot.

Chaseing the Ocean

2008-06-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

This morning I arrived in Matapedia and was wondering why the scaner was so quiet, I knew I had the right freq's but why there was nothing. So at 0550 I called the station in Campbellton to ask if the train was on time this morning. Well turns out it wasn't. I was told it would be fifteen minutes late. So I figured it would arrive in Matapedia at or around 0700. Well I was wrong, the Ocean didn't arrive till 0745 hrs. So I waited and I waited, I decided to go out and take some pictures. And that was when I heard off in the distance the Ocean and the Chelaur approching Matapedia. I took a few great shots, The lead this morning was 6400 followed by 6408. I didn't catch the Chelaur's lead.

Speaking of great shots, I had a perfect oppurtunity to take one. After the Chelaur had left on it's run down the Gaspe, I was waiting on the New Brunswick side of the train bridge I was going to catch the Ocean crossing the Restigouche, however my batteries were dead! I couldn't believe it, I had just spent $11.69 on batteries for digital cameras about an hour before hand and they were dead already. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. My mistake was though, I had forgot lastnight to recharge my rechargeables before going to bed.

So I didn't get the "Perfect shot" and I was left fumbbleing for a pair that would get me the next best thing. And here it is.

A point of interest for me was when I seen the lead unit was 6400, whereas back in April I was sitting in the cab of 6400 here I am.
So my whole point of waiting at the end of the bridge for the 14 was to get it on video but fate wasn't going to have it this morning. Also one more thing, in the past few months I've receved four hello's from the loco drivers not too bad, I got one this morning from the Ocean. I'm impressed and I got one last night from the 15. Hey two in a row I like that, I guess after seeing me at just about every other crossing they kinda got to know that I was chaseing their train and decided to add their own thing to my video, Thanks guys! Well I'll be posting my videos on Youtube as usual so have fun and chase those trains!

Last night (As I posted earlyer this morning) I had chased the 15 to Campbellton, here are my pictures, though some are not all that great I took some from the video.

VIA 15 the Ocean

2008-06-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Last night after work I had decided I was going to try and catch the 15 before it arrived in Campbellton, after phoneing the station I quickly learned it left Charlo station at 2100 hrs on time and was due in Campbellton at 2130 on time. I had caught it in Dalhousie Jct, from there the chase was on! I chased the 15 from Dalhousie Jct to Tide Head, by the time it left Campbellton you've guessed right the light wasn't all that good. However I did get some great stills once it arrived in Campbellton and I did get some great video of the 15 as it crossed over Christopher Brook. ("My brook" as I used to call it as a kid.) This morning I'll be chaseing the 14 from Matapedia to Dalhousie Jct as I have been wanting to do for a long time now so this will be a great time for me to get some of those "Great shots" I've been whining about for quite some time now. After this mornings chase I'll post last nights pictures and this morinings as well. Till then have fun and keep chaseing those trains!

It's been awhile!

2008-06-02T04:25:00.000-07:00

It's been quite some time since I wrote last, well life has been pretty hecktic for me in the past month and a half, I just completed an eight week traning course and I am now a certified Environmental Monitor. I would goto my course at 0900hrs every morning and at 1700 I'd leave to goto work, so I'm at work for eight hours and when I get home I'm too tired to bother with anything. Now that I am done my course I can finally relax and get back to my other passion...Railfanning.

As some of you noticed I defied sleep deprevation and went to catch the Ocean and the Chelaur leaving Matapedia. That was a good run, a few days later I was on my way home after work when again I caught the Ocean leaving the Campbellton yard heading to Montreal. I chased it to Tide Head and called it a night. I have three new videos on Youtube for those who don't know just yet.

When I was in Montreal in April we visited the CAD facility, one of the loco's they were working on was a "green powered" locomotive 7102. It is the "hybred" of the railway. It runs on a greener fuel mixture of I believe alcohol and diesel fuel. I stand to be corrected on that. It's been a month and a half since I was there. So while on Youtube a few nights ago I was looking around and I stumbbled onto a video by ConrailSD70MAC he has a video of the aforementioned locomotive. As you see here I have some pictures of the loco and I have a shot of my self in the driver seat. I thought that was pretty awesome not as much as when I found this video and heard it for the first time.....What sound, very distinctive and a beauty.

First here are my pictures of the GP9 710ECO 7102 that I took at CAD.
Here's the cab shot.And a shot from the driver's side.

Here is another video of the same loco, this one is by EMDX7102 both videos were shot in Ottawa on OCR. Since EMDX7102 has disabled embedding here is the link to his video. Very neat to see it. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=eOiAnzwEIhA&feature=related

Well I'll keep you posted as usual in regards to railfanning, now that I have the time I'll diffently get on it and now that we have longer daylight it will make it a lot easyer. Have fun and keep filming those trains.

CN Detouring on NBEC trackage

2008-05-02T04:26:00.000-07:00

Imagin my surprise yesterday morning when I went for my morning coffee at Tim Hortons and seeing a Dash 8(?) idleing in the Campbellton yard! It appears according to RailsNB and Atlantic Rails there has been a mudslide in Edmonston and the Napadogan sub is closed for about 24 to 48 hrs. I should pay more attention to the emails I get eh? Well I started the Environmental Monitor course and I go streight to work after class. So unfourtunatly I do not have any time to go railfanning. I'll try and take my camera with me later when I get my coffee to catch the CN freight when it's getting ready to leave Campbellton.

New Video on Youtube

2008-04-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have a new video posted on Youtube it's all pictures I put together on my recent trip to Montreal with a Railfan group. We visited the CAD facility I have picture of that as well in the video. I'll blog about the trip in the not so distant future. So hold on till maybe tonight or tomorrow morning I'll post my blog on that trip ASAP!

Montreal trip

2008-04-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night I'll be on my way to Montreal with a group for a weekend of railfanning, it promises to be a really good weekend. Ron Jackson was able to get me a double bedroom on the return trip which is a good thing. So on Sunday morning or early afternoon we will be touring the CAD facility which I'm looking forward too, not to mention the change of scenery such as catching some CN action, NBEC is a great railroad to chase however change is good now and then. I still need to get a few things done here before I head off tomorrow but then again I do have a full twenty four hours to go. I have a few pictures I took from my deck, I assume it's CFMG 18?? returning from the Cascapedia sub. From what I could see the consist was mostly lumber and woodchips. A few gondola cars. It was hooked up to CFMG 403 last night it wasn't there this morning when I checked. (I could see the NBEC yard from my back yard.) So my next post will be about the trip to Montreal and I'll post all my videos and pictures. Have fun and keep filming those trains.

VIA Rail The Canadian

2008-04-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been looking for videos on Youtube on the Canadian, and I must say from the Amature to the proffesional videographer all the videos are absolutly spatacular. Two in particular have give me all the inspiration I need (Not that I needed much in the first place) to make plans for a summer vacation from Halifax to Vancouver.

I highly recomend these two videos by sinkplunger, those are really awesome videos.

Since embedding is disabled here are the links.
Video 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkQFNC6WhEI
Video 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4dUNG1kz34

There are three parts of this series however these are the only two I've seen. The videos take you from Toronto to Vancouver.

VIA 15

2008-04-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I was passing through Atholville when what is before my eyes, VIA 15 was rounding the turn from the Campbellton yard and heading to Montreal. So turning at the nearest drive way, I took out my camera and headed towards the Boom road where I'd catch it, because we were driving as fast as the train by the time we got passed the mill at about 80Km/phr. Once at the Boom road, we caught the 15 with less than a minute to spare. It was a great shot, the light of the lead loco shone perfectly off the snow falling. I managed to get a few pictures, kinda bad quality but I had taken them off the video so I didn't expect great shots. Well with qualitity anyhow. I like those moments where I catch a train unexpectedly.

NBEC 403

2008-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I caught a train, and since 403 hadn't arrived yet into Campbellton I figured why not catch it. At 1900 I arrived at Blair Malcom road (My usual spot in Dalhousie Jct) I waited till about 1945 when I had decided to call it quits, I had other things to do in Campbellton before 2000 so I had to go back. However by 0820 403 still hadn't arrived so not really wanting to go home just yet I had decided to go back towards Dalhousie Jct and try my luck again. Sure enough, when I arrived in Richardsville 403 called RTC to inform them they had some problems with the lead unit 6907. 403 said they were slowing down and loseing power, they were doing about 15 mph when they were in McClouds. I figure this was a great chance to catch it. Just between McClouds and Dalhousie Jct sat 403. 403 called RTC and asked when the 15 was due, fortunatly the 15 was going to be an hour late arriving into Campbellton, it left Miramichi at 2000 which to my knowledge should have been in at 1900. However that was good news for the 403 of sorts.

At McClouds I took some really good pictures and I took two videos, one was just the train sitting idlely on a crossing and the other was listning in on the conversation between 403 and RTC. The crew aboard 403 requested permission to leave the train to go and get 1819 to tow in the 403. at 2100 403's crew got permission to leave and get another locomotive to tow the now dead 6907. At 2050(?) mechanics from the ERC shops drove by to rescue 6907 however were not able to get anything done. I'm not too sure what exactly was the cause of the lead unit to lose power however I think it might have been something to do with the fans. I'm not sure and I stand to be corrected on that.

I went back to the ERC shops in Campbellton to see if I can try and trail 1819 back to the wounded 6907 but it was getting late and I was getting tired. By then it was 2130 so I was ready to call it a night and head home. Once I got home on the other hand, I turned on the scanner and after some time had passed 403 called RTC to let them know they were on the move and at the crossing in Richardsville at 2245.

I'll post my videos on Youtube as usual and here are some of the shots I took of the 403 in McClouds. So enjoy and that was it for me today April 2nd 2008 have fun chaseing those trains!

Moncton trip

2008-03-28T05:56:00.001-07:00

My trip to Moncton was great, VIA still knows how to treat customers well, on the return trip I had decided to have my supper in the dining car. Shortly after we left Moncton station we stopped on a siding to let a passing freight go by, it was a shunter coming from the Gordon yard. I have a short one minute video of that freight going by, I tried to get artistic by getting the wheels however that didn't work out too well as you may notice. I have another short video from the dome car but nothing special about that video, however in Bathurst I got a great shot of the side of the car, I got off the train for a few moments and I seen a perfect photo op and took a great shot of the stainless steel siding of the budd car where the lights were reflecting off of it just right as you'll see below. Other than those two videos and one picture I didn't take any other pictures as I mentioned in an earlyer post I was in Moncton for other reasons, I wish I had the oppurtunity to do a bit of rail fanning however I wasn't there for that reason.

The 15 was on time, though I wasn't; Moncton traffic is crazy! If I was ten more minutes late I would have had to come home on Thursday however my Aunts New York City style of driving saved the day. So that was it for me as far as trains go for this week. I hope everyone had a better week with trains go also one quick note if you haven't already checked it out Steve Boyko has some pretty neat videos on Youtube and on his site of his chase with the NBSR pipe train. Great videos Steve!

Changes

2008-03-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

I had to make a few changes to my comment settings, so if for some reason you don't see your comment email me with your comment or question. Otherwise I had to make a few changes because lately I've been getting spam and it's annoying thing to check my comments and to find it's nothing but worthless trash. So I do apologise to those who wish to leave legitimate comments and find it hard to leave one now.

New videos on Youtube

2008-03-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

I have two new videos on Youtube. I took my Daughter on the train this morning which was three hours late, the Ocean 14 has been late a lot since Christmas due to the winter weather. The Ocean deaprted Campbellton at about 1115 and we arrived at our destination at Charlo fourty minutes later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF95lTvgU1Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on0qIuyE5lM

Late VIA 14 the Ocean

2008-03-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

I heard Ocean 14 on the scanner at 0850 calling RTC informing them they were one mile from Campbellton. So I took out my camera and went on my deck and took these pictures. It's a newly painted Locomotive (I don't know the number) and the CBC locomotive. The consist is the BUDD (Stainless Steel) train.

Another late VIA 14

2008-03-21T03:19:00.000-07:00

This morning I was going to take my youngest Daughter on the train it would be her first train ride, I was pretty excited about it, I think I was more than her hahaha. However the weather did not permit such an occation from ariseing. The 14 will be late AGAIN this morning it will be arriving in Campbellton @0800. So rather this morning I'll be taking her tomorrow morning also the roads are a little on the rough side. Well for those of you wondering I had an interview on Wedsenday well it went really good I think I'm in the course. I applyed for a traning course that's about eight weeks in length as an Environmental Monitor. For those of you who don't know what that is well I didn't know what it was till about two weeks ago when I signed up for the course. Basically I would be monitoring human activity on the environment and taking down data and writting a lot of reports. I should know next week if I'm in the course or not, I have no worries about it I'm pretty sure I got in.

For those of you who know, I work at the mill in Atholville and well that job isn't all that great yes it pays well and it's an ok job but I want something better I want something to work with not work for. By taking this course I'll be able to advance to a better job and on to a career, and by the fall I do intend on returning to UNB to finish up my Political Science degree.

I'll be heading to Moncton on Monday there has been a death in the family so I won't be going for pleasure or doing any railfanning. So that's been about it for me this week.

Possible abandonment

2008-03-20T10:17:00.001-07:00

I was researching the former Laurenient line (Excuse the spelling) in Quebec and I came across something that caught my attention right away. It appears that since the Gaspe Pannusula is expreiencing a huge fall out in the forestry sector with the closures of several saw mills and pulp and paper mills on the Gaspe CFMG is in the process of abandoning the line from New Carlisle to Chandler. That would be on the Cascapedia sub. If that were to happen than that would seriously screw up the Chaleur meaning it would no longer have the line to continue to Gaspe, that for some reason bothers me, this whole region from New Brunswicks North Shore to the Gaspe coast is in some serious trouble since our chief export is forestry and that sector doesn't look like it'll recover at any time in the near future. Here is the link and the few lines I seen on this topic.

"Matapedia & Gulf Railway Rivière du Loup (interchange with CN) to Tide Head, New Brunswick (meets New Brunswick East Coast Railway), with branches from Mont Joli to Matane (ferry to Baie Comeau) and from Matapedia via New Carlisle to Chandler (meets Gaspé Railway). In 2007, Matapedia & Gulf announced that it will begin abandonment proceedings for the section between New Carlisle and Chandler. Under Canadian law, it will be several years before the abandonment can be completed but, if it takes place, it will leave the Gaspé Railway isolated from the remainder of the Canadian network"

From http://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/canada/quebec-eng.html

///UPDATE\\\
If you haven't already read the comments to this post, Steve Boyko had commented the section of track from New Carlisle to Chandler Quebec on the Cascapedia Sub was bought and funding came from the Governments of Quebec and Canada. This move had saved the line from an iminate doom. Again I am looking towards the future for the economy of the North Shore and the Gaspe coast with hopes of a brighter future. Here is the link to the site Steve had posted in his comment. http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/SalleNouvelles/communiques.asp?LANG=EN&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=4978&TYPE_COMM=CANADA
In it you'll read the whole deal and the positive outlook it has for the Gaspese.

CN Makeing a return?

2008-03-20T06:44:00.001-07:00

In the past few weeks all has been quiet in regards to the CN take over of NBEC and CFMG however in the past few months there has been a lot of talk about CN buying back the Mont Joli and Newcastle subs and a few other subs as well. My biggest question is Why? Why does CN want all the lines in NB and Quebec that it sold back in 1994-96? Persoanlly I have mixed feeling about them coming back to the North Shore. All the scuttlebutt I've been hearing isn't good of course but I'd like to focus on the positive aspect of CN returning. On the lighterside they could very well bring with them more jobs to the already dead or dieing North Shore for example. Part of the rumor is they (CN) wants to abandon it's Napadogan sub for the Newcastle sub because the bridges are smaller and less costly to maintain. That would mean CN would be bringing more freight through here from Halifax more container traffic and speaking of which Belledune is looking at opening up a container facility so there is more jobs as well and more rail traffic.

More rail traffic would mean more jobs, you'll need people to shunt freight around and put more trains together and you'll need more people to maintain the rails etc etc. More rail traffic also means less clutter on our highways from trucks and better maintained highway infrastructure as well. (Per se) the provincial governement would "want" to put more money into it's railway infrastructure as well and who knows what could happen from there on, I am looking to the future with high hopes as far as a CN take over goes, I know not everything about it will be all peaches and cream however who knows eh? I think with the majority of it all I think it'll be a positive thing for the North Shore economy. I'll add more to this at a later date.

(The above picture was taken by Phil Ross and used with permission from Phil Ross. The picture is of CN 8826 in Dorchester NB as CN freight 120. Thanks Phil!)

CFMG 403

2008-03-19T09:32:00.001-07:00

Looking out my back door this morning I noticed a very late CFMG 403 leaving the Campbellton yard. I'd have to say it was around 1130, usually the 403 leaves Campbellton around 0000hrs and I have to say for small camera my digital can really zoom in quite a distance. I can see work and most of Campbellton from my back yard. As you can see these pictures look far away, I'd say about four maybe five Km's away. Not too bad shots if I'd say so my self. So this afternoon I have a job interview hope all goes well at the interview, I haven't had one of those in a long time, anyhow wish me luck and I'll let you all know later how it went. One more thing, the date is wrong on the pictures. I quickly set the date on my camera without thinking about the date, you see everytime I take my batteries out to charge them the date resets.

I need your help!

2008-03-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

These two pictures are of a structure near where I work, what exactly is it? I don't know I'm hoping someone out there could tell me. It sits just off the AV Cell properity a little ways off the road to the mill. I at first thought it was coal chute but it doesn't look like one. It sits near the tracks so I'm guessing it's railroad related. Send me your thoughts.

///UPDATE\\\
Jim Babcock had informed me this structure is actually owned by AV Cell and it was once a valve house for the water pipe line that ran from Tide Head to the mill in Atholville. The pipe then was made of wood and ran above ground whereas today it's metal and runs underground however the mill still get's it's fresh water from Tide Head where they have a pump house at Christopher Brook.

Thanks.

Could this be the end?

2008-03-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had learned the company that owns the Pioneer chemical plant in Dalhousie NB has decided to close it's doors and lay off over 50 people. It's not as though Dalhousie has suffered enough from the closure of the Abitibi Bowater paper mill. With the closure of this plant the Dalhousie Spur may be looking at it's final days.

The biggest colprit in this closure is of course NB Power with their extreemly high power rate for all three area's business, residential and industry. Earlyer this week Irving had "threatend" the province that they would move their St John business's to Quebec where the power rates are much lower and more cost effective. Now I'm not big Irving fan but if they were to leave the province that's it folks....This province is done for. As for the New Brunswick North Shore....Well it's only a matter of time before all major business's are gone and the last stake will be driven into the heart of this part of the province.

NBEC News and other random info.

2008-03-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

NBEC 402 is leaving Campbellton now at 0937 and going only to Bathurst. Will turn around there and become 403. Sorry I haven't been posting much, I've been stricken with the mother of all colds and haven't had the energy to really do anything. Today I'm feeling slightly better but if I could maybe get a full nights sleep I'd be a lot better. It the time shift that really screws me up, I am now waking up at 0500 and that's too early for me, I was sure when I was discharged from the Army I wouldn't have to wake up at that hour again but I guess that's not the case now.

I was out and about this morning when I was up at around 0500 looking for some fun and interesting videos and I came across this one here. This is a gentlemen who has his gear together, he came here to Canada to buy him self a speeder (Where I'm not sure) and bought him self an air horn like the ones on the real loco's and set out on an abandoned line in New Hampshire to test out his new horn. It's a beauty and the video is really good.

\\\UPDATE///
I've been in contact with the video owner and he has informed me his speeder was brought to New Hampshire by CP back in the 90's. He purchessed it from CP a few years ago and he also informed me speeders go anywhere from $1,500 - $2,800 US. They are awesome machines and I hope to get my hands on one someday. Thanks for the info Ian.

And here is the first video I watched.

The next one I wanted to show is a really good one and you'll have to turn the speakers up to really appreciate the sound. But the video owner had disabled embbeding so here's the link to the video. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yZB6eAaULlQ

A very late Ocean 14

2008-03-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

The Ocean 14 pulled into Campbellton station yesterday around 1730, it was held up at Charny station due to the snow storm that had pounded Eastern and Atlantic Canada. From a few people I spoke too, they said they were treated very well by VIA staff, and for many they were given a one way free ticket back to Halifax.

Dixie Lee in Campbellton had to fill over a hundred and fifty orders that were for passengers onboard the train.

I was going to get the 14 arriving into Campbellton however I was in a bit of time crunch so I couldn't stay long. By the time I had left the station the 14 hadn't arrived.

Montreal Railfan trip

2008-03-05T15:21:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I'll be heading to Montreal in April with a group to tour the C.A.D. factory and other railfan activities for that weekend. Two nights ago I had called VIA Rail to make my reservations for that trip because rooms in the sleeper cars were starting to get scarce. To my dismay the gentleman I spoke too could not get me a double bedroom on the return trip however he was going to give me two private rooms for the same price as a double. The return trip would be on the stainless steel BUDD trains. However it was only after I had made my reservations through the VIA web site did I learn I was supposed to contact Ron Jackson and make my reservations with him instead. So I also learned that he had reserved several rooms for the group heading to Montreal. I explained to him that I would like to have a dbl room since I won't be travaling alone. Reserving my ticket has been more of a hassle than I had anticipated not that I'm angery about it of any degree however I (like anyone else) wanted this to be hassle free.

However after speaking with Ron I've come to understand the train to and from Montreal will be a packed one. I'm over all pretty excited about this trip though still six weeks away I'm as hyped up about it as though it is tomorrow. So I hope this issue with the dbl bed room is settled by Friday when I go to pick up my tickets. Well other than that small issue all is well, I haven't been able to do much railfanning in the past couple of weeks, however this weekend I do plan on catching a train or two. I'll hopefully will have one on by monday.

VIA Rail Railfanning trip to Montreal

2008-03-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Since I read Steve Boyko's blog about the Rail fan trip to Montreal in April I've been pretty excited about it. Last night I contacted Andrew Reid the co-cooridinator of this trip and confirmed with him I'll be attending this year's trip. Surpriseingly it was very inexspensive and since I have friends in Montreal I won't have to spend any $$$ on a hotel, I just need to confirm things with them and I'm all set the only thing I'd have to spend on is of course food. We'll be visiting the Canadian Allied Diesel facility where they are rebuilding the F 40's for VIA Rail. We'll also be going to a few other places related to railroading I suggested we goto the former CP Rail Angus Shops but I don't think that'll be in the trip. I'd like to go still though I feel it would enhance the trip a lot. Though I'm sure there are a few concerns that need to be addressed such as where to go and privacy things of that nature since most of the former shops are now privately owned or torn down.

VIA 15 Chatter

2008-02-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

This evening around 2100hrs VIA 15 called RTC to report they were attacked by two moose. "I just wanted to tell you we were attacked by two moose less than a minute ago at mile 136.(?) I don't think they made it." RTC Called back and confirmed the hit and I'll assume DNRE will be there in the morning to pick up the remains. They were talking about it again later on with VIA 17 when they met up in Matapedia. A buddy of mine said those moose had to have been really lost to be that close to civilisation, mileage 136.(?) is just outside of Jaquet River and I have a pretty good idea where that is.

INR PT 4 Update

2008-02-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

As promised before I said I'd scan the photo copies of the map I had found at the Library and here they are. They are very detailed and contain a wealth of information.

NBEC 591

2008-02-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

NBEC 591 is delayed in Campbellton, apprently there is something wrong with a locomotive in Charlo and was ordered by RTC to switch to the sideing there to wait for further instructions. 591 will be 45 minutes late to Dalhousie.

///UPDATE\\\

NBEC 402 had problems with a locomotive this morning and they were told by RTC to leave the engine on the siding at Charlo so that 591 would pick it up around dinner time tomorrow 26 Feb 08. I'll be sure to catch this train, the 591 will be ordered not to exceed track speeds of 10 mph. I'm not sure yet on what type of problems, I only assume problems with the locomotive.

My equiptment.

2008-02-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

No one has asked me yet but I'm going to share with you what I use to take video and stills of trains. I use only two pieces of electronics's. My Kodak Easyshare C875 with a 5X optical zoom at 8.0 mega pixels. My scanner is a Uniden BC72XLT and has NASCAR written on it. In my opinion it's not the best scanner around however it serves it's purpose for me very well though there are times I pick up an annoying sound every now and then other than that it's pretty good as in it serves me well. However when summer comes I'll be looking into getting a new camera and scanner that will out do what I have now at any length. Why do I have small stuff now? Well baby's have to learn how to crawl before they walk right?

INR Pt 4

2008-02-23T19:28:00.001-08:00

So I followed some advice and went back to the Campbellton Library and the librarian there today was extreemly helpfull with me she showed me maps I haven't seen before and even an old map of Campbellton. They were city plans from 1906 - 1950(?) I have photo copies of one page in particular that really caught my attention but I couldn't research more because I was under a tight schedule so I had to make as many quick copies as I could. I checked the Campbellton Graphic but in my haste I didn't find anything perhaps next time I'll have more time and I'll be able to screuitnise even more than today. As soon as I make scans of the copies I have I'll post em. They are very detailed and are from 1941 so it shows everything I've been looking for per se.

Youtube videos

2008-02-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

Though the message behind these two videos is very serious and not funny at all, I still like to to look at the lighter side of things. This is a video by mtrails

This next one is by rocky1266. Again the message is a very serious and unfunny topic however these two videos are unique.

NBEC 403 - 21 Feb 08

2008-02-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Steve Boyko who was able to give me a heads up on 403's departure from Miramichi I was able to catch it at Dalhousie Jct at 1900, exactly the time I figured it out to be.
I was waiting at Dalhousie Jct for no more than ten minutes when I heard the crackling on my scaner 403 had passed the defect detector, all I picked up was "Detector at mile post 153.(?) .......Total axel 83......Detector out!" My scaner isn't the strongest so I can only pick up so much however it has no problem picking up static or other nonsense.

From there I caught it again at McLeods and again in Campbellton, I tried to get it at the Andrew street crossing in Campbellton however we were delighted to Campbellton's annual "Sno fest" and the parade of lights instead. My Daughters were not only treated to the 403 but to a parade as well, which they very much enjoyed. At a crossing in McLeods the trainmen decided to give me a good dose of the horn as you will hear in the second video which by the way there are three and all three are posted on Youtube. I do apologise for the second and third video's I didn't have my tripod out, I was in a bit of a hurry to all three locations and as usual my Daughters are heard in the background. In the second video I came to realise how good the mic is on my camera it sure can pick up everything really good and even the slightest words uttered. HAHA! Word to the wise...Bring spare batteries when your out chaseing trains.

Again I didn't catch all the engine numbers however the lead power on tonight's 403 was NBEC 6902 two SD40's and two Alco's I think I got those right correct me if I'm wrong. I'm still learning engine types.

Again Thank you Steve for the heads up and hope you all enjoyed the videos I'm not a big fan of shooting video at night but it's better than nothing.

Oh and one more thing I also got 591 arriving in the Campbellton yard (As usual) That's posted as well.
Chris.

What might have been!

2008-02-22T06:21:00.000-08:00

Last evening I was on my way to town on my usual evening coffee run, I was still on the bridge when I noticed NBEC 403 still hadn't arrived in Campbellton that was when I realised I didn't have my camera or my scaner with me, however just then I looked to the other side of the bridge and seen the crossing lights at the Andrew Street crossing flashing Darn! I missed it however all wasn't lost, I still caught it as it entered the Campbellton yard but I have no pictures or video as already mentioned I didn't bring it with me. The girls on the other hand got the train fix for the day though so all was a total loss.

Another thing worth bringing up is there has been a lot of rummors and talk of CN buying back the NBEC line from Mont Joile down to Moncton...Well I have mixed feelings about that another rummor I've heard was because they are interested in the NBEC is among other things there is a possibility of mines opening up on the North Shore and in Northern New Brunswick which would mean a tonn of money for CN and they want in obviously. As part of that rumor CN is paying way too much money for the Napadogan Sub the bridges there are too big and long and cost CN too much money whereas on the NBEC there are fewer bridges and are small, the largest ones would be in Miramichi and Matapedia and those three don't compaire to the Salmon River Thristle so you can just imagin how much it would cost to up keep that one and the others on the sub compaired to the ones on the Newcastle sub. Another rummor I heard was they are going to abandon the Napadogan sub all together and use the Newcastle sub as their main line in New Brunswick Now that I'm not too sure on I wouldn't keep my fingers crossed on that one, however it would make sense if it costs them too much to keep it going. The route is slightly longer but costs less to upkeep aside from inital maintence start up costs the Newcastle sub is the best choice and on top of that if they shut down the Napadogan sub we're looking at more freight passing through here and that would obviously mean more jobs to the sense that they need people to move the freight around in Campbellton and maybe the Campbellton yard will become the busy place it once was back in the 50's, 60's 70's and to the late 80's. MAYBE!

However those are just rumors all I know for fact is in the next few weeks CN will be having talks with NBEC about what I'm not sure from what I understand it's about trackage rights at Pacific Jct (?) and stocks and bonds. But that's all I know the rest is just rummors. Well that's been the last week or so with me in regards to the rails.

UP "Big boy"

2008-02-18T05:42:00.000-08:00

These monsters on rails were first built in 1941 at the onset of the United States entering WWII. There were only twenty five built they were desingnated the 4000 class starting of course at 4000 to 4025. They were built in two phases. Phase one was from 4000 - 4019 and phase two 4020 - 4025.

These magnificant machines were built primarly to haul long freight trains through the western United States on UP lines, ranging from California through Utah to Machigan (So I've heard.) These locomotives had an unbelievable amount of HP and weighed 540,000 lb or 245 tonns and with the tender this monster weighed 1,208,750 lb or 604.3t. Now try stopping one of these beauties on a dime with a two mile freight behind her going down a streight strech at top speed.

As mentioned ubove the big boy was built to handle long freight trains through the Utah mountains and up long grades one in particular known as "Shermans hill" of course it was WWII so freight trains mainly consisted of Military goods so it would be a safe bet these trains were long ones and the Union Pacific's Big Boy was the right tool for the right job at the right time. Never again will we see such a beautiful machine ever again. I have found a few videos of the Big boy on Youtube this one is by pentrexvideos he's got some really good videos and he also sells some from his personal website http://www.pentrex.com/.

And this next one is by ChronoStorm. It's a good video and there is even the THX sound test at the begening...haha oh well it's a great video and to some extent picked the right song to go with this particular type of Steam engine.

I want one of these for my car!

2008-02-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

Last night I was bored and found a video on youtube, it was these guys who installed train horns on their trucks and drive around scareing the crap out of people. Well after I was done laughing hystrically I went to their site http://www.hornblasters.com/ and found a load of info, apprently you can buy a train horn and kit for about $500.00 So of course I started dreaming...Picture your self driving around blasting that horn you'd scare the crap out of people for sure and if a rail fan were around you'd sure confuse him. I had a good laugh at the thought.

Also for those golfers out there they have something for us too! I can't embed the video you'll have to follow this link http://www.hornblasters.com/video.php?pic=37 and watch it from there.

You might be a railfan if...

2008-02-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

So I was looking up some info on a railfan site and came across a humor page and of course I couldn't resist, I checked out and it's a parody of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck if..." So rather redneck it's railfan. I only fit one of those trademarks see how many you fit and get a good chuckle while your at it too. I sure did.

My source for this is from http://www.nrhs.com/railfan/you_know_you_are_a_railfan_if.htm

Enjoy.

1. On your railfan outings, the four food groups become: McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Mr. Donut.
2. Your car has a bumper sticker that says "This vehicle stops at all railroad crossings."
3. Your car's license plate is customized with a locomotive designation, railroad initials, or both.
4. You've been known to stand on the roof of your car to get that shot over the fence.
5. Your scanner is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (This would be me as well)
6. Your cat's name is "Chessie".
7. Your dog's name is "Conrail".
8. You can tell the difference between a U23B and a B23-7.
9. If the dispatcher loses track of a locomotive consist, he usually calls you at home for help.
10. You hang out at the same hobby shop so much that people mistake you for working there.
11. You've ever bargained for a cab ride with a warm pizza and a six-pack of Coke.
12. You believe that your status as a railfan is proportional to the number of cameras around your neck.
13. You have a web site set up on railfanning. (That would be me.)
14. When you talk about "Big Macs" you are not referring to a McDonald's burger.
15. You and your railfan buddies get into EMD vs. GE arguments the way rednecks get into Ford vs. Chevy brawls.Original source apparrently via Trainweb.org.

Railfanning safety.

2008-02-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

After viewing one of my videos and reading a comment on that video I had decided to make this post. In one of my videos on youtube I was standing pretty close to the train as it rolled by well I want to stress this point. It was a stupid mistake on my behalf and I DO NOT recomend that at all. My own action not only sets a bad example to other railfans and the general public whom had viewed that video but I had also set a very bad example to my children whom have seen that video. It with that video in mind that I have decided to write about safety around railroads and trains in hopes that others will heed this as a valuable tip and warning.

So case in point I want to share some videos and a web site on railfanning safety. This site I have found talks about the verious dangers of railways and possible dangers that lurk nearby. This site is more about railfanning in India HOWEVER the points stressed within are for all railways world wide. http://www.irfca.org/docs/railfan-safety.html As I am very much sure everyone knows what kind of damage a train can do when it's hauling a long fully loaded train and we all know it can take a couple of miles to come to a complete stop. So my advice is keep safe while pursueing a train, it's a fun hobby also a dangerious one but can be a safe one as well.

A quick point about the video I had made last August where I was standing too close to the tracks. Though the train was going slow anything could have happened, this video here is proof of that, it's not violant or full of gore it's just a train derailment and it shows how quick and sudden they can happen with little or no warning at all.

And in this video I'm sure we've all seen by now it shows that common sense is the best safety device to use while photographing trains or taking videos. When doing so stay far enough away from the tracks as this video proves.

This last video shows that when your at a crossing with two sets of tracks to look both ways and wait for the warning lights to stop before crossing. Again nothing horriffic here to see.

I hope with these videos and with the site I provided we can make this a safe and enjoyable hobby. Also one more point to make when filming or taking pictures of trains always make sure you do so on public properity many people don't like it when you walk through their yards, I don't know from a personal expirence but I wouldn't like it if someone was in my yard without my knowledge or permission as I am sure you feel the same. Thanks for reading and keep it fun and safe.

SNOW!!!

2008-02-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

So after this storm had passed I learned we're getting another one. Not as bad though this time we're getting between 15 - 20 cm of snow so that's not too bad by the way this winter has been going. So keeping in the spirit of the season I am posting this video by hogger01 it's a good video with some history behind it and the song is pretty catchy too.

And here's another by Hogger01

Railfanning 11 Feb 08

2008-02-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

On Monday I went out to catch a train or two just get some new pictures and videos, I heard NBEC 1845 in the Campbellton yard doing some shunting, putting a train together for the 403. I only got two pictures and a six minute video. The video isn't the best, in the background you can hear my Daughters talking and mocking the people on the scaner, the video it self I'll admit isn't all that great it's kinda shaky and that dumpster was in the way so I tried to avoid getting it into the shot but as you can see I got it anyhow.

Later I decided to try my luck again with the 403, so we went for a drive to Dalhousie and when we stopped at my usual spot in Dalhousie Jct rather the 403 I caught a MOW plow and a truck on the tracks. They were talking about me on the radio, "There's a guy at the crossing taking pictures of us." Said the plow. The truck "Smile!" Got a good laugh. Or at lease that's how I translated it. My French isn't all that great but good enough to get by. Another thing I noticed was the lights weren't activated at the crossing at all, which I thought was rather odd, either they're not working or were deactivated by the work crew I'm not sure. If anyone has an explaination feel free to clear that up for me. I also took a video of that as well just thought I'd bring that up too it is a better video than that at the Campbellton yard. Well that was an interesting start to the week. I'll post those two videos on youtube as soon as I can.

Speaking of youtube there's a video on youtube that made me laugh not at him but with him and I can't say how offten this has happened to me as well, he was startled by the horn which the engineer had obviously done on purpose it's pretty funny though and I am sure that was the intent.

As I said in the comments this happens to the best of us, I can't tell you how many times I was caught off guard by those horns especailly when your expecting it to happen but they always seem to catch you off guard anyhow. NBECMich is the owner of this video and I may also add they're pretty good too, I like his videos. Anyhow enjoy and keep posting those videos!