Saturday, January 24, 2009

Trackside Log for Saturday, January 24, 2009

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

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

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

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Trackside Log for Sunday, January 11, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 1237 Duff (Fort Erie) - NS 369 west - NS 8910-NS 9580 (photo)
I like it when I accomplish what I set out to do.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Trackside Log for Sunday, January 4, 2009

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

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

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

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Trackside Log for Saturday, January 3, 2009

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

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

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

  • 1432 Merritton - VIA 92 west - VIA 915
Well, that was about all the traffic I was likely to see for the day since business is pathetic on Canadian National these days. I decided it was time to return home.