One Last Rocky

This is the fifth in a series. To start at the beginning, read A Tranquille Afternoon.

On May 13th, I went out to shoot the Rocky Mountaineer one more time. I had a particular shot I wanted to get, "somewhere on the north side" between the bridge I had already featured and the CN yard.

First I wanted to shoot the arrival. I thought I might get them before they entered CN track, but I was too late and I found them stopped at the switch to the CN-CP interchange, so I rushed back to the downtown area to get them. I decided to shoot them in the open area just east of the Red Bridge, because I had noted some unusual power on the train...

They had a little helper in third position. CN 5472 was tucked in behind RMRX 8014 and NREX 2903.

Given that this train had come off of CP track, the CN unit must have been added when the train departed Kamloops on its way to Banff. Since the train power on Rocky Mountaineer trains is delivered by a generator car (seen here behind 5472), they don't need locomotives with HEP (Head End Power) generators like VIA does.

I shot this artsy glint photo as they passed by.

There were lots of happy people in the dome!

It was tricky to edit this photo to be able to see into the dome. All of the windows are tinted so it's pretty hard to see in, but through the magic of Lightroom I can "enhance" it... much like CSI! ;)

Anyway, it was time to go set up the shot I wanted. I drove across the Red Bridge and went trackside. I found a church that I thought would look great in the shot. It is the St. Joseph's Church, a "Tk'emlups te Seewepemc Historic Site" according to the sign. Did you know that Kamloops is the English translation of the Shuswap word Tk'emlups, meaning "where the rivers meet?"

The church is located on the reserve and was built in the late 19th century, and is the oldest church in Kamloops.

I walked around and took a few photos while waiting for the train, including this HDR one.

I was there a good 45 minutes before the train finally showed up. The sun was playing hide-and-seek so I didn't really get great light, but you use what you have.

I'd say that was a pretty good location.

I said this was the last post, but I was mistaken. The next post will be the last in the series, featuring CP action in downtown Kamloops.

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