Northern New Brunswick Railfanning

First... being in the right place at the right time.

I was heading north from Fredericton to Bathurst this afternoon. As I approached McGivney I heard a chirp on the scanner - someone calling the RTC. I didn't hear anything else but I decided to take five minutes and go to the depot to see what the signals said. As I approached the crossing, I looked right, then left.. TRAIN! I had just enough time to put the car in park, turn the video camera on and get out before the eastbound freight passed the depot.

14:00 CN ??? - CN 4730/6025 with empty centerbeam flats and loaded log cars - about 15 cars in total.

Good timing!

It was the usual crowd in Miramichi later that afternoon, with NBEC 402 (CFMG 6910) and NBEC 403 (6903/6902/6900) both milling about. 403's power was wyed to have 6903 lead on the way back to Campbellton.

Here are trains 402 and 403, both by the crew shack in Miramichi.


Train 402 got its TOP at 16:03 and left at 16:13 with 10 cars.

NBEC train 403 got its TOP right after 403, and left Miramichi at 16:24. I held the video camera in my right hand and shot blind with the digital camera in my left hand. I'm quite pleased with my aim!

Notice the sundog above the train.

I left Miramichi and headed to Bathurst. I heard train 597 shunting in Bathurst. Train 403 called ahead and asked when it could enter the yard. They were told to hold at mile 88 (yard limit) for a few minutes. Here they are approaching highway 11 at 17:31.

This was another left-hand shot as I taped the train. I had to level the horizon on this one.

They rolled right past train 597 and stopped by the station for a few minutes.

Train 403 rolled out at 18:04.

I went to check into my hotel, and came back at 19:30ish to wait for VIA 15. I checked with the station staff and they told me it wouldn't be in until 21:00-21:15 (1 hour late). When I returned at 20:45 the story was the same. I heard them get a TOP for the Bathurst-Campellton stretch at about 20:05. Shortly thereafter NBEC 403 reported it lined the Irvco switch for the main line. VIA 15 arrived at about 21:20 with 6414 (Loto Quebec) and 6453 leading a Renaissance train. I shot them arriving and leaving, then called it a night.