CFMG 403

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!

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?

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.

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

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

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

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.