Four Railways, Fifteen Minutes

I went up to Wilkes at noon today to see the Hudson Bay. I decided to shoot from next to the Kenaston overpass. While waiting for VIA to roll along, I noted a CN local switching the former intermodal yard on the west side of Kenaston. They were pulling about a dozen cars out of there onto the south track.

Soon enough the Hudson Bay came into view and rolled along in the lovely sunlight at 12:15.


The train had two engines (6458 and 6456), baggage 8600, coaches 8110 and 8120, diner York and sleeper Chateau Levis.

Here's the Hudson Bay passing the CN local, which was running slug forward.


The CN local rolled by right after that, with slug 266 leading and mother 7269 trailing at 12:17. Note the crewman on the slug. The mother-calf units are equipped for remote operation.


During this maneuver, I had been hearing horns from the south, meaning CP was on the La Riviere subdivision. I drove down Wilkes to the CP crossing and there was CP 1128 coming north to cross the diamond at 12:24.

As you can see, the problem with shooting CP here is that you are shooting toward the sun. CP 3028 was trailing with 48 freight cars.

Finally, BNSF decided it was time to head over to Fort Rouge, so I shot BNSF 2001 from a distance at 12:30 before leaving the area.


Four railways in 15 minutes. This is why Winnipeg, and especially the St. James Junction area, is a great railway hotspot.

A Typical Monday

I ventured out at noon to shoot the Canadian today. It was making good time. I shot it at Waverley Street from a distance. I wasn't expecting it for another couple of minutes!

The consist was 6408, 6419, 8605, 8137, 8516, Palliser, Chateau Marquette, Monck Manor, Blair Manor, Mackenzie Manor, Prince Albert Park

About 10 minutes after VIA 1 passed, BNSF 2001 rolled out of Fort Rouge with their transfer train and headed back to their yard off Taylor Street with about 25 cars, mostly ADM tank cars.

BNSF 2001

I saw new arrival BNSF 2001 on Thursday October 15. I shot VIA's Canadian at Waverley Street, then 2001 rolled by with a short transfer.

VIA first. They gave one horn blast as they went by, very unusual in this area.


BNSF headed out of Fort Rouge immediately afterward, with bell ringing.


Note the two white boxes on top of the cab. Would those be air conditioning units?

BNSF 2001 Is Live

Peter L spotted BNSF 2001 (GP38-2) and BNSF 2886 (GP39M) doing some switching today around noon. I have to assume that 2886 will be heading south soon... but you never know. How nice of BNSF to supply a pumpkin-coloured unit, just in time for Halloween!