A first time for everything.

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

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!

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.

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?

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!

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...

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

Quebec City

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.

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

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

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.

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

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!