Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Trackside Log for Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I turned my scanner on for my drive home from work this evening. Just as I was approaching my destination, I heard the Canadian Pacific Hamilton Subdivision dispatcher issue a clearance to empty ethanol train 641 north from Brookfield East to the north siding switch Welland. I had plenty of time to go home, change, and take Missy to that north siding switch.

Upon our arrival at Hewitt Road I heard the dispatcher talking to the train still at Brookfield. They'd been waiting for a Canadian Pacific and a Canadian National local job. I now had plenty of time to take Missy for a walk before the train's arrival.

  • 1800 Welland - CP 641 north - CP 9777-CP 8885

Anyone who is familiar with my photography will quickly realise that I am not an avid user of long focal length lenses. However, there are a few circumstances where I quite like the look they achieve. Unit trains of similar cars look quite interesting using this type of lens.

I also watched the train pass through Boyle before returning home.

  • 1815 Boyle - CP 641 north - CP 9777-CP 8885

It's quite convenient when I can incorporate Missy's walk with some photography.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Trackside Log for Monday, July 23, 2012

This morning whilst returning from an appointment I happened upon the Southern Ontario Railway beginning their work day. Three of their GP20Ds were switching what remains of the Cayuga Subdivision in Jarvis and pulled across Highway 3.

  • 1120 Jarvis - SOR 596 south - CEFX 2014-CEFX 2015-CEFX 2019

Later, on my way home from work, I passed by Canadian Pacific's Welland Yard and discovered the currently assigned duo of GP9s heading north with a pair of pipe loads destined for Cappco in Smithville. I had enough time to go home, get my other camera, let Missy outside, and still photograph it in Fenwick.

  • 1654 Fenwick - CP northbound local - CP 8211-CP 8200

I've been meaning to photograph the delivery of these pipe cars to Cappco so I immediately drove to Smithville. Upon my arrival, the crew was about to cut off the loaded cars before pulling out some empties. My first photograph was the pair of GP9s pulling the empties into the siding.

  • 1717 Smithville - CP local - CP 8211-CP 8200

CP 8200 is one of a handful of Canadian Pacific GP9s that have received modifications to increase sand capacity. I haven't photographed the back end of these units very often; I did so today.

  • 1719 Smithville - CP local - CP 8211-CP 8200

Next the local coupled the empties onto the loads before backing them into the Cappco siding.

  • 1722 Smithville - CP local - CP 8211-CP 8200

All that remained was for the local to run around their empties before returning to Welland Yard. Since the interesting movements were complete I headed home to take Missy for her walk.

Shortly before I began writing this entry I read a press release from Genesee & Wyoming Inc. from this morning regarding their planned purchase of RailAmerica. One of RailAmerica's railways is the Southern Ontario Railway, the subject of my morning photography. Should the plan come to fruition, Genesee & Wyoming would become the operator of 111 railways around the globe.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Trackside Log for Tuesday, July 17, 2012

When I arrived home this evening I took Missy outside behind my house and happened across the local job headed to Smithville. I had my camera with me so I took a photograph.

  • 1724 Fenwick - CP northbound local - CP 8211-CP 8200

The two pipe loads are going to Cappco in Smithville.

It was a rather hot evening so Missy and I returned home to take refuge from the weather.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Trackside Log for Sunday, July 15, 2012

Hokey smokes! It's actually raining outside. OK, well, it's sort of raining. But considering how dry it's been this summer, we'll take all we can get. Unfortunately the air is laden with moisture and I felt like I was wading through it whilst walking back to the Canadian Pacific Hamilton Subdivision to photograph a northbound that I could hear blowing its horn for the crossings south of town.

  • 0953 Fenwick - CP 615 north - CP 8568-CEFX 1030

Train 615 is an empty crude oil train returning from Westville, New Jersey. Its counterpart, train 614, delivers loads of Bakken oil from North Dakota to the refinery in Westville.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Trackside Log for Friday, July 13, 2012

This evening I was driving into St. Catharines to pick up my friend Sam from the train station. She was arriving on the GO train at about 2000. I arrived a bit early with the intention of photographing her train at the station. I was a little surprised to see the “Maple Leaf” approaching shortly after my arrival. Its scheduled time is 1808.

  • 1929 St. Catharines - VIA 98 west - AMTK 711

I then waited the expected half hour for Sam's train to arrive.

  • 2003 St. Catharines - GO 781 east - GOT 654

After several photographs I picked up Sam from the station and we headed to Perkins for supper.