Stephane Royer from Quebec informed me that CFQC 3000, formerly leased to Bell-Gaz in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, has been purchased by them. Their railway is the Chemin de fer Lanaudiere, reporting marks CFL (Go Riders!). The CFL had one locomotive, CFL 114, an MLW S-13.
Today I went to the Bathurst area, and fortunately saw a few trains along the way.
CFQC 3000 and NBEC 1819 in Miramichi
In Miramichi CFQC 3000 and NBEC 1819 provided the yard power, while NBEC 6900 sat at the back of the yard.
I had just exited highway 8 onto route 360 when I heard VIA 14 tell the RTC that they just arrived at Bathurst. I stopped here where the railway crosses 360 and waited a few minutes until VIA 14 showed up. It passed at 09:14 with VIA 6400 and 6417 leading a Renaissance train, with Revelstoke Park bringing up the rear.
VIA 14 at the route 360 crossing, September 2007
By the way, what's up with the weird lettering on Revelstoke Park? Did VIA run out of lower-case stencils?
ReveLstoKe Park at route 360
Later, I heard NBEC 403 arriving at Bathurst at 17:00. They did some shunting, then left quite quickly at 17:35 or so. I handily beat them to Beresford and taped them there at 17:43. They had NBEC 6901, CFMG 6907, CFQC 3000 and NBEC 1819 as power. I guess 402 must have brought a new pair of RS-18s down to Miramichi.
NBEC 6901 leading train 403 through Beresford, NB, September 2007
The train had the usual mix of boxcars, tank cars, wood chip loads, loaded lumber cars, covered hoppers, CN covered gondolas, and the inevitable 17-car ram of Ultramar tank cars for a total of 63 cars (33 loads, 30 empties).
CN tank train in Beresford, NB
Back at Bathurst, NBEC 586 was ready to go to Brunswick Mines by 18:40 with MLW RS-18s 1868 and 1821 on the point. Since I was going that way anyway, why not do a little chase?
They crossed route 430 the first time at 19:00. You can see the shadows were getting really long. I really like this shot - I just wish it was brighter tonight.
NBEC 1868 on the Nepisiguit Subdivision
I got them next at 19:05 at Sewell Road, although I think the video turned out much better than the stills did.
NBEC 1868 and 1821
A quick run down the road got me to the next highway crossing just before the train did, so I just took stills at 19:10.
NBEC 1868
My last catch was a few km up the road, at a private crossing just before the track and the road part ways. At 19:18 the sun was pretty much below the horizon.
NBEC 1868
Train 586 had 15 blue NBEC ore cars, 26 covered CN gondolas, and 5 AOK covered hoppers.
I had a quick look at Miramichi on my way through this morning. UPM 711 was working the yard around 0950. There were a lot of cars in the plant.
At the NBEC yard, CFQC 3000 and NBEC 1840 were running around dodging snowplow 61612. They were getting out of the way for VIA 14 to come in. This was the first time I've ever seen 3000, so I was pleased it was such a nice day for photos.
At 1006 VIA 14 rolled in with three-eyed 6420 and 6415 leading a Renaissance train. They saw a fair bit of snow on the way from Montreal!
Around 1130 I heard NBEC 587 working at the Belledune smelter but I didn't have a chance to have a look.
