Friday Freight

I shot the BNSF transfer freight on Friday as it crossed Waverley Street on its way to CN's Fort Rouge yard. You may recall I saw the westbound version on September 9. I wanted to catch this version because I wanted to see the caboose leading the way.

I heard BNSF calling the CN RTC to get permission to enter the Rivers subdivision. While this was happening, a CP high-railer truck came north on the La Riviere subdivision and dismounted at Wilkes Avenue.


Once BNSF received permission to enter the mainline, I went to Waverley and waited by the side of the road for the transfer to come. Before too long the lights of the caboose became visible, the gates came down, and BN 12580 led four cars and BNSF 2743 past my lenses.





I didn't hang around for the return trip but I understand they had 2 cars to bring back.

BNSF Transfer

I was at Sobeys on Grant Avenue yesterday at lunch and I noticed BNSF 2743 at the Fort Rouge Yard. I shot a quick video behind Sobeys as 2743, one freight car, and the caboose rolled west to their yard.

The area there is wide open but the sun is on the wrong side of the tracks. Too bad.

I think I am starting to understand their schedule. They head over to Fort Rouge around 11:30 to noon to interchange with CN. They usually wait for VIA to go by (either the Canadian or the Hudson Bay roll by just after noon) then return to their yard afterward.

On my way back I shot this photo of BNSF 2743 putting their one freight car away, just to get the engineer's side of the locomotive.

Two Videos From Yesterday

Here are the two trains I saw yesterday, in video.

First, "Smokin' Aces" aka the Canadian.


Then, the long BNSF transfer train with BNSF 2743 and caboose on point.

Today's Canadian and BNSF Local

Two trains for the price of one!

The Canadian was right on time today. This time they apparently came from downtown on the south track, then switched to the north track near St. James Junction (CN-CP-BNSF interchange). When I saw them they were just threading their way over to the north track. Once on the north track, the engineer opened it right up and 6410 and 6451 were smoking like Alcos!

The complete consist was:
engines VIA 6410, 6451;
baggage 8609;
coaches 8117, 8100, 8109, 8506; diner 8408 EMPRESS;
Skyline 8511;
sleepers 8338 ROGERS MANOR, 8328 GRANT MANOR, 8342 WOLFE MANOR, 8325 ELGIN MANOR, 8205 CHATEAU CLOSSE, 8217 CHATEAU MAISONNEUVE;
Skyline 8505;
diner 8409 FAIRHOLME;
sleepers 8326 FRANKLIN MANOR, 8329 HEARNE MANOR, 8339 SHERWOOD MANOR;
8718 YOHO PARK.

Immediately afterward, the headlight of BNSF 2743 was visible to the east as they pulled a long string of grain cars from Fort Rouge into the BNSF yard.

I took video and managed to get a decent side shot of 2743 this time. The track in the foreground is CN's north track. They are coming off the north track onto the BNSF transfer track at the junction.