Hello, Ocean

It's been a while, but I have seen the Ocean again. Not the Atlantic Ocean, the VIA Rail Ocean. I am out on the east coast of Canada for the week and I'm taking the opportunity to shoot some trains I normally don't see in Winnipeg, namely VIA trains with Renaissance cars.

I shot this VIA 15 at Berry Mills, NB just outside Moncton, shortly after I landed there on May 6.

The trailing unit was VIA 6411, the former Operation Lifesaver unit. The engineer gave me a toot as they rushed by at track speed.

I also shot VIA 15 at Memramcook, NB on the other side of Moncton on May 8. I wanted to shoot it at David Morris' favourite location, the "Bull Barn", just east of Memramcook.


I thought I had lots of time to get the shot, but I dithered about where to park the car. I ended up jamming it into a disused driveway and jogging up the hill to get the shot. As I finished jogging up, the train was right there ready to be photographed. Fortunately I had the right lens on the camera and got the shots I wanted.

VIA in Campbellton

On Saturday May 30, after the abbreviated Chaleur chase (part 1, part 2, part 3) we returned to Campbellton. In the evening, a fierce rainstorm swept through just before VIA 15 arrived. We headed out to see the Ocean at the station, with lightning flashing in the distant east sky. I put my Canon on the tripod and tried some night shots in the rain just after 9 PM. It was hard to get a shot without a raindrop on the lens!

VIA 15 "Ocean" in Campbellton, NB

They were being refuelled by an Irving tank truck. The Irving guy was kind enough to kill the headlights on his truck while we were taking the shots.

The consist was VIA 6412, 6421, 7011, 7228, 7230, 7227, 7309, 7400, 7313, 7508, 7522, 7521, 7525, 7503.

Our plan for Sunday (May 31) was to shoot VIA 14, then head down to Edmundston and shoot a couple of CN freights before heading home on the Trans-Canada Highway. We were by the pulp mill in Atholville bright and early at 06:38... 25 minutes before the train was due to arrive. We waited around, watching the sun duck behind clouds now and then, and hoping it would be out when the Ocean finally arrived.

At 07:10 we heard it blowing for a nearby crossing and got ready for the shot. It rolled by in brilliant sunlight a few minutes later.


The consist was the same as Friday night's VIA 15: VIA 6415, 6414, 7003, 7223, 7217, 7315, 7401, 7314, 7500, 7520, 7507, 7502, 7513, 7524.

Once it passed, we hit the road for Edmundston to see our CN freights... and for me, some more new territory.

READ ON!

VIA and CN Outside Halifax

As I mentioned before, I am in Halifax this weekend. I did a quick pass through Dartmouth yard on my way to the train show this Saturday morning, and saw CN 2288 and another unit in the fog. I just missed CN 407 leaving at 09:45.

After visiting old friends and meeting new friends at the train show (hi Alan!), I decided to hit the road and see VIA 15 off. I chose to go to Brookfield and wait for the Ocean there, then proceed to Belmont on the other side of Truro and get it again before heading back to Halifax.

As I approached Brookfield, I heard the RTC calling CN 407 on the scanner. 407? What was it still doing around? From the discussion it appears they were waiting for a pickup, presumably the CB&CNS. The RTC asked 407 to follow 15 out of Truro. Good news for me!

VIA 6421 blasted through Brookfield at 13:50 with 6409 trailing. The kids and I were out of the van to give them a rollby inspection.


We hotfooted it for Belmont, and set up at the east end of the siding on the Old Tatamagouche Road. The camera angle isn't fantastic there but I wanted somewhere safe for the kids to wait. If I were alone I would have chosen Onslow instead.

We heard VIA start honking for crossings, and in short order the Ocean rolled past at 14:18.


The signal turned red-over-red, then yellow-over-red. CN 407 broadcast that it was leaving on a clear-to-stop signal, and the signal turned green shortly after that. 407 was very slow leaving Truro and wasn't exactly rocketing when it rolled past at 14:34.

407 had 2588, 5621, 8817 and shiny 4728 pulling 104 cars. Maybe that's why they were so slow starting out!

Matt at Marsh Junction

Matt the saintjohnrailfan shot several trains at Marsh Junction in Moncton.

Here's VIA 615 and CN 534 at Marsh Junction, within a few minutes of each other. 534 had CN 4725 and three cars.


Next, returning CN 534, VIA 614, and CN 407 all pass through Marsh Painsec Junction.


Finally, CN 408 in the sunset at Marsh Junction to end the day.


Matt posted more about this trip here. Great videos!

Two Oceans, One Day

I had a quick trip up north today. I saw CFMG 6902 at rest in Miramichi with a bunch of 86' boxcars around the yard.

VIA 14

I heard VIA 614 was late, so I elected to wait a few minutes outside Bathurst for it to leave. I was rewarded by this sight of the Telus unit, even with its peeling paint.

VIA 6429 "Telus" leading VIA 14 out of Bathurst, New Brunswick

ASSINIBOINE PARK was on the tail end of the train, with a Renaissance consist.

"Assiniboine Park" on the tail end of the VIA Rail "Ocean"

Here's the video!

Ore Train

Later, I arrived in Bathurst just as the NBEC ore train returned from Belledune. NBEC 1819 and 1851 powered a short train.

NBEC 1819 in Bathurst, New Brunswick

VIA 15

I beat it to Miramichi to catch VIA 15. Fortunately they were late, so I had time to go to the river bridge to get this shot. Railpictures liked it - my first accepted photo of 2008.

Prince Albert Park was on the tail end of this Ocean.

Here's the video for VIA 6400!


PS - Sadly, VIA 6400 lasted less than two years after this photo was taken. It derailed in Quebec in February 2010 and was written off.

See Also

• 404 on 4/04 (VIA 6429)
• Rainy Day Meet (VIA 6400)
• Three Oceans, One Weekend (VIA 6400)

RDCs on VIA 15

David Chiasson got a nice catch yesterday - two VIA RDCs on the end of VIA 15 near Bathurst.

Kevin's Videos

Here are links to a few of Kevin's videos from May 3.

VIA 14 at Amherst.
CN 407 at Amherst with 2581, 2617, 5698 & 5706.
VIA 15 at Amherst - very nice.
CN 305 leaving Moncton with CN 8813, IC 1009 and CN 2506.
VIA 15 leaving Moncton.

VIA Videos by Kevin

Here's a few links to VIA videos by Kevin Gaudet. All were made on March 30 featuring VIA 15 with 6400 and 6436 and a Renaissance consist.

Arriving at Sackville
Blowing through Memramcook
Leaving Moncton, at what used to be called West End, it looks like.

I Got My Fix

I'm writing this from Bathurst, NB tonight and boy, is it cold! I shouldn't complain too much, as the prairie provinces seem to be having a far colder winter this year, but -12 (or -20 with wind chill) is cool enough.

I passed through Miramichi at about 09:40 this morning. I was surprised to see that half of the NBEC yard is not plowed... I guess it shows how little local business there is now. NBEC 6905 was idling away in the yard but there were no RS18s to be found. Tim Dryden has seen SD40s on the Loggieville Sub so perhaps the RS18s are rare in Miramichi now.


I passed Bathurst and there was no talking at all on the scanner. I was beginning to wonder where NBEC 402 was, when I heard it near Belledune. I went to the west end of the Belledune siding, and there was NBEC 6904, CFMG 6903, and NBEC 1821 rolling light out of the Chaleur Lumber spur. They coupled up to the four lumber loads and pushed them back onto the rest of the train. They must have just put some empties in when I arrived. Train 402 left Belledune at 11:15 with 42 cars. (4 lumber loads, 6 boxcars, 3 empty log cars, 5 woodchip cars, 3 CN covered gondolas, 1 tank car, 3 86' boxcars, and the 17-car Ultramar ram).


When I came to Bathurst after supper, I found the ore train NBEC 586 at the VIA station. RS18s 1813 and 1868 were idling at the head of a short train. Plow 616-20 was just finishing plowing part of the Bathurst yard. NBEC 586 left at 16:37 with 13 cars (8 NBEC ore cars, 3 CN covered gondolas, and 2 AOK covered hoppers). Probably the same CN gondolas that came in on 402! No photos, as it was dark.

For my final trick, I went to the Bathurst station to see VIA 15 arrive. As I watched the light approach from the distance, I realized the tape in my camera had less than one minute of tape left. I quickly but calmly swapped a new tape (#24) for the old one and put the camera back on the tripod in time for the train to arrive at 20:04 with 6415 and 6418 leading 11 Renaissance cars. They headed out within 8 minutes.


After whining about not having seen any trains for exactly one month, it feels good to be back. :)

The Road to Gaspe

David Morris and I have been planning our Excellent Gaspe Adventure for quite some time. The plan was to chase the Ocean up to Campbellton, stay overnight at Tide Head, then pick up the Chaleur at Matapedia Saturday morning and chase it all the way to Gaspe and back. Sunday was set aside for CN freights.

We set off for Rogersville mid-afternoon Friday. We called VIA Rail and the lady told us that VIA 15 was 30 minutes late leaving Truro, so we knew we had lots of time. We arrived at Rogersville around 18:15 and I called Luc Doiron to see if he was around. We went to the station and Luc showed up, so we had a good chat... until VIA 15 roared by!! We didn't even have our cameras out of the van! Oooops. We ran for the van and took off after them. At least we noticed the VIA train was headed by repainted VIA 6400.

We arrived in Miramichi before them. I took a few shots of NBEC 1818 and 1840 by the crew shack, and then I shot the Ocean arriving at the NBEC yard at 19:00. We took some photos of them at the station, then shot them leaving the station before heading for Bathurst.

Notice the new reflective tape along the frame.





Listening to the scanner told us that the Ocean was by Nepigisuit Junction before we got to Bathurst, so we elected to bypass Bathurst and head for Jacquet River. We heard them report the Beresford mileboard just as we passed the Beresford exit, so we knew it would be close. I exited at Jacquet River, dropped David at the station platform and headed for the causeway. Fortunately, they did the flag stop there so I had time to set up my tripod.

I keep re-learning the same lesson over and over again. The lesson is: take video or take photos. Doing both is a recipe for disaster. The two shots I took were both blurry, and the video, while OK, could have been better. Here it is:


After that, I picked David up and we tore off to Campbellton. They were by Dalhousie Junction before we even reached Dalhousie, and in fact they were into Campbellton before we were. We took a few time exposures before heading off to bed for the big Gaspe trip Saturday.



I took a few for fun while the train rolled by:


Here's the consist of the Ocean for those who note these things:
6400, 6432, 7004, 7223, 7232, 7200, 7108, 7227, 7316, 7520, 7303, 7402, 7314, 7515, 7508, 7525, 7503, 7516, 7601, Chateau Salaberry (8226), Assiniboine Park (8702).

After this, the Gaspe adventure began. Part 1, part 2, and part 3.

Trains in Moncton

I was in Moncton today on my way to the Open House at the New Brunswick Railway Museum, and I happened to see a few trains on the way.

CN 6021 was zipping around in Gordon Yard at about 11:40 this morning.


CN 4727 and 4729 were resting. I saw what looked like 4709 and 4719 behind them with a 4xxx GP9.


VIA 14 came in a little late with 6427 and 6405 leading a Renaissance
train, with Evangeline Park bringing up the markers. It arrived at what
used to be West End at 12:04 after stopping at a red light at Marsh
Junction for some reason. I saw the new signals by the station and of
course the West End sign and signals are down.


When I was leaving the Moncton area around 3 PM, I heard the Springhill
RTC having a big discussion with CN 307 about where they would meet VIA
15. They decided to have the 9000 foot 307 stop in Amherst, pull ahead
a bit and let 15 into the station track, then back up to let 15 out.
Apparently they were a bit too long for the 8900? foot siding there.

CN and VIA in Nova Scotia

The kids and I set out for a little railfanning this morning around 9:00. We went by HIT and Rockingham Yard, and I was surprised to see both empty. I talked with David Othen, and after checking the signals at Millview (dark), we concluded that both 148 and 120 had not arrived.

After a short break to feed the kids, I spoke with David and we headed to the Halifax Ocean Terminals (HOT) to wait for 148. We watched GP38 units 4728 and 4722 push some container flats into HOT at 11:00.


At 11:25 CN 148 came into view, led by CN 5729 (SD75I). It had to stop to change the switch and I got this shot. I took video of 148 rolling by the switcher.


We went to a park for a while, then came back to see VIA 15 leave on time at 12:38, with the same consist I saw yesterday on 14.


Finally, we went to HIT and saw CN 120 pushing its consist at 13:04.

VIAs in Nova Scotia

I shot VIA 14 at Amherst today at 13:07. VIA 6415 led Loto-Quebec 6414 and a Renaissance consist with no Park car.


A lot of railfans don't like the Loto-Quebec look. I don't know - I could take it or leave it. At least it's something different.


Later, I heard on the CBC that a VIA train hit a car at Brookfield, NS. I passed by there at 15:22 on the TCH. From the highway I could see VIA 15 was stopped past the crossing, and the CN local (headed by an SD40?) was trapped on the cement spur. I understand VIA 6411, the Operation Lifesaver unit, was the leader. Isn't that ironic...don't you think?

Fortunately both women in the car survived.

VIA 15 out of Halifax

I decided to chase VIA 15 out of Halifax today, after I spent some time at the train show. On my way out of town I noticed 701 was at Wrights Cove around 12:45.

13:02 Bedford Quarry: I just made it here and didn't have time to set up the tripod. The light was pretty good.



The consist, as far as I can tell from the tiny screen on my video camera, was 6415 / 64xx / baggage / coach / Skyline / diner / 4 sleepers / Park / 4 coaches / diner. The last 5 cars are probably the last of the Veteran Train deadheading back to Montreal. You can see the tail end here:



I wanted to race to Milford next. As luck would have it, a truck pulled out very near Bedford Quarry with a huge concrete bridge piece on it, with accompanying escort vehicles. Once they managed to swing that onto the onramp, I was able to get by and get on highway 102. It delayed me a few minutes but I made it to Milford on time, and 15 showed up at 13:32.



Bill Linley recommended that I go to Crowes Mills Road aka the west end of Belmont siding next. I had been to the east end of the siding on the old Tatamagouche Road but never the west end. But beware, there is construction on that road. By the time I made it through there, I only had a couple of minutes before 15 showed up at 14:17.



It's really hard to videotape with a 2-year-old clinging to you, by the way.

There was no sign of VIA 14 at all. I had to stop for a bathroom break and to fuel up the vehicle, so I figured I was too far behind. I called VIA and they said it was expected to arrive in Halifax at 1800 (!) so they were quite late.

On return to the Halifax area I noted CN 4732 and 4722 shunting the Dartmouth yard. The light was very wrong on my side.

VIA 15 at Night

At 10:40, UPM 711 was working inside the UPM-Kymmene complex in Miramichi. Traffic looks a lot more like normal there, now that the strike is over.

CFMG 6907 was in the NBEC yard in Miramichi. No sign of the RS-18s but there was a ram of tank cars at the Ultramar facility. A flatcar, CN 668014, was on the team track in Miramichi by the VIA station. It was quite surprising because I haven't seen anything on that track in a few years, and before that the only thing that was there was an MOW crane. The flatcar was empty, by the way.

Since I'm staying in Bathurst tonight, I thought I'd try some night video of VIA 15 as it passed through. I set up at the one-lane bridge over the tracks just south of Highway 11. The friendly station crew had told me they were running about 30 minutes late.

I heard the hum of the train, then the scanner said "Approaching subdivision at Bathurst", whatever that means. About 10 seconds later, VIA 15, with 6412 leading a Budd consist, rolled into sight. This was 20:40.


The engineer was having fun with the horn. 6412 led out quite a series of short toots as they approached the next crossing.

I zipped onto the highway and beat it to Beresford to catch them at the overpass there. I arrived about five minutes ahead of them. I decided to stand on the slope below the road surface to keep the car noise down and quit being blinded by headlights. It was a good location. The Ocean showed up at 21:00.
By the way, there were no engines in Bathurst.