An NB Southern Chase

I was staying in Saint John NB Thursday evening. I awoke Friday morning (Dec 12) at 8 am and checked my email / Google+ / Facebook and found a post in the RailsNB Facebook group from Brian Barchard reporting an NBSR eastbound freight train through Harvey at 07:25. I did some mental calculations and figured they couldn't cover the 40+ miles to Welsford until 08:30 at the earliest. I grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel and headed out. My intention was to follow the NB Southern line all the way until I stumbled across the train. On my way out of Saint John I saw these two units at Island Yard..

I passed the Ponderosa Yard at Dever Road in Saint John but nothing was going on. Onwards!

I passed through foggy Grand Bay-Westfield without any sign of trains. As I approached Welsford I heard the EOT squawk* on my scanner just as I came to Aikins Lane/Sand Hopper Road and saw white tank cars going east. Time to turn around!

I decided to get them at Brittain Road first. I got there about 2 minutes ahead of the train. Looking at the bright(er) overcast sky and the dark ground, I set the exposure compensation on my camera to -2/3 of a stop. I do that in these situations to prevent the sky from blowing out when the camera meters the ground. I also had the shutter speed at 1/250s because of the low light. Normally I'd prefer 1/400 or faster but it wasn't possible given the available light. It turned out OK.

The consist was NBSR 6315, HLCX 6304, NBSR 6318, GMTX 2226 and GMTX 2233.

Next I was determined to get the overhead shot at Westfield Beach. I parked at the mailboxes and ran like heck up the bridge to get into position. Seconds later the headlights were visible as the train came around the bend.

Detail roof shot, anyone?

I knew I would be playing catch up so I drove through Westfield-Grand Bay. I wanted the curve shot at Milligan Road and arrived just in time. Part of railfanning is choosing your opportunities!

You can see there was some fog...

I grabbed a quick side-of-road shot as the train passed through Grand Bay.

Since I had an overhead shot I felt no need to get the overhead shot by the Co-Op, and the train was there first anyway. I had no real idea of what I wanted next except that I wanted the bridge shot just before Gault Road. I stopped to take this photo at Ketepec Road. The engineer really loved that horn and 6315 has a very loud horn!

Here's the bridge shot I wanted.

As you can see it was raining by this time, but whatever... The nice thing about a heavily overcast day like this is that you can shoot from any direction and the light is pretty much the same! I had to do some serious editing to lighten the pond and engines enough to be seen, yet not blow out the bright sky.

I went to the overpass to shoot them coming into the yard. "Huff and Puff" were working the west end.

These are NB Southern's two SW1200 locomotives.

The eastbound freight stopped for a while. I am not sure why but there was some chatter about a freight car.

Eventually they got started again.. very slowly. I imagine the rails were quite slippery with the rain and it was hard to get started up the grade into the yard. The engines sounded great and the sanders were doing their thing.

It's been a very long time since I chased an NB Southern train! Thanks to Brian for the heads up and the rest of the RailsNB group for all the information they provide.

HLCX 917 in Saint John

The third Helm leasing unit I saw in Saint John was HLCX 917. I first saw 917 on Friday August 26 on my way through to Fredericton. It was shunting the Moosehead Breweries area with NBSR 3703.

I watched him for a while from the Green Head Road overpass, then I headed down to the end of Gifford Road to try to shoot him at ground level. Soon another car pulled in, and a nice gentleman named Bill C. introduced himself. He saw me on the overpass and thought it was me, and wanted to say hi. He saw my library presentation in 2009. We had a good chat for a while, then HLCX 917 and NBSR 3703 rolled by into the yard with their train. I shot them through the chain link fence, as you will see in the video.

Soon I headed up to Fredericton and then to Summerside for the air show, as I mentioned earlier. On my return on Sunday, I passed through Saint John and spied HLCX 917 shunting containers on the west end of the Dever Road yard with NBSR 3703 again.

They pushed their consist into the yard and I went to Green Head Road to see the other end. Soon they came through and it was apparent they were going to carry on out of the yard and down to the Port. I gave chase and handily beat them to the infamous Simms Corner. I waited there and shot video of them coming through. This was the first time I've shot a train coming through there.

I took off past the Martello Tower toward where the Digby Ferry docks. I ended up deciding on Germain Street (here) since it has a decent curve there. The train had to pass through the old Bayshore Yard so I knew I had plenty of time. Eventually it showed up with the conductor riding the head end.

That concludes the three Helm leasing units that I saw. I assume HLCX 911 was in Maine or McAdam.

HLCX 906 in Saint John

On my last day in New Brunswick, I had some time before I had to catch my plane home. I drove by the NB Southern Dever Road yard and found NBSR 3703 and CN 4141 shunting the west end of the yard. I took a quick video...

On the east end of the yard, it looks like the mainline train was just putting its train away. NBSR 2318, slug NBSR 008, Maine Northern 9801, HLCX 906 and HLCX 917 were the power for this train. I watched them for a while and took a few shots.

One obvious difference I see between HLCX 906 and HLCX 913 is that 906 has the headlights in the short hood, whereas 913's lights are above the windows. It's clear that the headlights on 906 used to be above the windows. 906 also has the struck-out UNION PACIFIC on the side instead of the grayed-out version on 913.
I'll leave you with the video I took from the Green Head Road overpass. The engineer was really making some noise!

NB Southern in Saint John

I was in Saint John for a business trip this week. On Tuesday (Sept 15) I decided to drive by the NB Southern Railway yard at Dever Road after work. I drove down the Galt Road toward the Westfield Road. As I approached the railway crossing I saw the lights were flashing. I stopped short of the crossing and jumped out, just in time to see NBSR 9801 and 9802 and caboose CN 79624 roll by, pulling ten NBSR ballast cars and six boxcars. I had enough time to get my camera and shoot them going away, just at the west end of the wye.

I raced down the Westfield Road hoping to beat them to the overpass at the west end of the yard. When I arrived, I saw NBSR 3703 and 9803 shoving back into the yard to make room for the road freight to arrive.

Soon enough NBSR 9801 East rolled in, after lining a switch. I think they stopped here to line another switch to pass into the yard.

I zipped over to the other end of the yard, thinking that the ballast train might come over and then back in. It didn't, but I found NBSR 2612 and NBSR 2319 doing some shunting there. Bonus!

It was nice to see the old green and yellow again.

NB Southern in Saint John, March 19

I was heading down to the airport in Saint John this past Friday to head home. I had a few minutes extra, so I took the long way across Reversing Falls rather than use the toll bridge.

Just after I crossed the Reversing Falls I saw an NB Southern Railway engine running light toward Island Yard. I was able to get ahead of NBSR 2610 and shoot it at Fort Latour.

After that, I proceeded up to Somerset Street and waited to turn left onto the Highway 1 onramp. To the left I saw another train! What luck. When I made my left turn, I pulled onto the side of the ramp and jumped out to take this video of NBSR 3703 and 9803 pulling a short transfer freight.

NBSR 3703 and 9803 in Saint John, NB

The video:

NBSR 3703 looks nice in her fresh green paint. I had never considered this angle before, mostly because you have to drive west on highway 1 after the shot, but I like it!

Right after that, I saw CN 406 arriving in Island Yard with CN 8864 and CN 5770, but by then I was doing 100 km/hr and stopping was not an option!

I hit the road for the airport, and after enjoying their free wireless access, I was on my way to Montreal... for more railfanning.

See also

• March 16 "Old Green Friends"
• March 17

Old Green Friends

I'm in Saint John, NB this week for training. I was able to do a bit of railfanning after work yesterday (March 16). I took a look at Island Yard and saw old friend CN 7038 shunting.

I headed down toward Dever Road and caught up with the tail end of the transfer freight at Reversing Falls. I wasn't able to get to the head end until they pulled all the way through the yard and started shunting the west end of Dever Road yard.

NBSR 2610, NBSR 3703 and NBSR 9803 were working hard. I watched them do their work for a while, taking a few shots and video but mostly just listening to the engines do their work. After all, it's been over 8 months since I've seen NB Southern. Time flies!

NBSR 3703

NBSR 3703 is now in Woodland, Maine working the reactivated Domtar mill. I believe it arrived there on November 30. 3703 lay dormant in Saint John for two and a half years before being reactivated. It received a lot of work to its cab and had a complete paint job.

Gary Lee saw it in McAdam in transit and sent me a few photos. Thanks, Gary!






David Morris saw it at Harbour Station in Saint John on November 5 and took a few shots. Thanks to David for passing them along.

The consist was 3703, 3702, 9801.

First Train to Calais

On Friday October 9 the first train went (back) to Calais, Maine to service the Domtar plant in Woodland. NBSR 2612 was left there to do the switching.

I suggested that NBSR 3703 would be going down to switch the plant. That rumour is true; however 3703 is not ready yet. She had her cab taken apart two and a half years ago, and then lay dormant in Island Yard in Saint John. It should be painted this weekend and be restored to service in a week or two after that.

This was the first train in Calais since the last train left on May 1, 2009. It's good to see rail service return to the town.

NBSR 3703 to Woodland?

I have heard a strong rumour that NBSR 3703 will be sent to Woodland, Maine to switch the newly restarted Domtar plant there.

You may recall that the last train from Calais departed on May 1, 2009 after the closure of the mill there.

Saint John Tuesday

I had a quick trip to Saint John Tuesday morning and here is what I saw on the way.

As I approached Chesley Drive in Saint John, I saw three NBSR units running light toward Island Yard. On the scanner they said they were going to pick up 40 cars to bring back to Dever Road. At 09:40 NBSR 2317, 9803 and 2610 entered Island Yard. I wasn't able to get ahead of them, so no pictures.

As I passed Island Yard I saw CN 5757, 2454 and I think 5678 by the shop building, ready to go out as CN 405 later.

A portion of a local train was on the track by Staples paralleling Russell Street, with ten cars and caboose NBSR 79635 ready to lead the way. No engine in sight!


On my way out around noon, I saw SW1200RS NBSR 3703 and GP9 3701 shunting the west end of the Dever Road yard.


I took a little video with my Canon S3 and here it is.

Saint John on Friday

Another departure from the Gaspe posts... I was in Saint John on Friday and saw a few trains.

At 09:45 NBSR 2317 and 2610 were rolling along past Harbour Station to the west end of Island Yard. They stopped there, I guess to wait for clearance to enter. The light was nice that time in the morning.




In Island Yard, CN 2582 and 5550 were at rest, and GP9 CN 7010 was shunting.

Later, CN 305 was getting ready to head out at 13:30. Here's the tail end.


Over at Dever Road, NBSR 3703 was working her heart out pushing cars around at the west end.



I made a quick call to McAdam and discovered that the eastbound had left McAdam around noon, so it would be in Saint John soon. I hit the road, and just after the golf course in Westfield I heard a FRED chirp on the scanner. I pulled over and waited for the train to clear Westfield Beach. I shot him there, then backtracked to my favourite curve entering Grand Bay and got him at 14:15.

He had NBSR 9802, 2612 and 2318 with 34 cars (14 empty gypsum cars and about 12 wood chip cars).


After all that excitement, I was ready to head on. However, I noticed some activity at the ferry crossing by Westfield Beach. There was an NBSR pickup there working on the signals and a few people pointing at rails at the crossing. Just past that, an NBSR crane was getting ready to roll at Westfield Beach with some rails.






He got on the rails and headed toward Saint John.


That was enough for one day!

Saint John's Tuesday Trains

When I arrived in Saint John on Tuesday, I heard NBSR 2317 talking with the RTC. 2317 was heading up the transfer freight trying to get over to Island Yard. There was some MOW work going on near the Reversing Falls bridge that they had to wait for, then they got permission to proceed. Here 2317 and 9803 are going over the bridge at 10:00 with four boxcars and a bunch of doublestack container flats.


I caught them again at Bentley Street:




From the chatter on the radio it sounded like they would have to wait for another maintainer to finish putting some ballast on the tracks before they could proceed to Island Yard.

Speaking of Island Yard, CN 2573, 5559 and 5621 were parked in the yard while CN 7079 and NBSR 3701 did some shunting.

I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of the elusive Courtenay Bay potash switcher. This was literally a stop the car, jump out and take the picture shot, before the switcher disappeared behind a string of cars. That switcher is hard to photograph!

Radio chatter indicated that NB Southern would be sending a ballast train out at 3 PM.

Later in the day, I saw the CN 305 power over at the Courtenay Bay potash terminal. The smokestacks in the background are for the Courtenay Bay power plant, with the short one being the stack for the Bayside gas turbine.


I thought I would try an overhead shot from the Courtenay Bay causeway, so I parked nearby and walked over. I do not recommend this location, as it is not safe. There is no walkway and cars are zipping by at a good clip. Since I was there, I took the shot, but I will not return there again.


This looks dangerous but it really isn't. There was some chatter about when 305 could return to Island Yard. Apparently 7079 had some more switching to do, so 305 elected to go to Cain's Corner so as to clear the potash terminal and let them do some switching. 305 took 45 cars over and stopped just short of the crossing. One crewman walked over to the signal box and made the gates go back up, which is when I got this shot as I drove through the crossing.

Over on the west side, NBSR 3703 was doing some shunting at the west end of the yard. To my surprise, they had CN caboose 79624 with them. I had seen this caboose deep in the yard before, but I never had a chance to take a photo until now. I assume the caboose was there to provide additional braking power for 3703.


It's in pretty good shape, considering.


As I left Saint John, I heard someone say they were cutting one engine out of a consist to use as the ballast train's power. They were taking 10 cars out (+1 = a caboose?) and wouldn't be on the road until at least 15:30, which was too late for me. The eastbound freight was just getting into McAdam at 16:00.

Here's a little clip of 3703 I took with my Canon.

Saint John sightings 2006/05/25

I was down in Saint John yesterday and saw a few trains.

At 09:45 NBSR 3703 was shunting the Dever Road yard while some MOW equipment was working behind Moosehead Breweries and some people were doing work on the Reversing Falls bridge. In the CN yard, CN 2645 and 2662 were sitting in the usual location while CN 5775 was by itself on the other side of the engine house. CN 7000 was shunting the yard.

I went to lunch with a local railfan (who was very good company), and on our way out we noted that NBSR 3703 and CN 7010 were at the east end of the Island Yard with a transfer freight of a few boxcars, about 15 empty CN gypsum cars, and some doublestack containers.

On my way out of town I noted that 2645 and 2662 had started shunting around 1345. I heard on the scanner that 3703 had stopped at a red flag before the Reversing Falls bridge, so I set out to find them. They were stopped around the corner from the Douglas Avenue crossing. Apparently they had seen the red flag at the west end of the bridge, then backed up to clear the crossing circuit.


The red flag was soon removed and he was on his way.

I had a quick look at the Dever Road yard and saw one yellow NBSR unit by the engine house:


I saw a spot of green in the distance and it turned out to be NBSR 9803 working the west end of the yard.


That was it for one day!

Green switcher day

I went down to Saint John on the 23rd and had a bit of luck.

As I crossed the Harbour Bridge I noticed a string of container cars near Harbour Station. I took the next exit, and found twenty-some flats, most loaded, with no engine in sight.


I figured something must be coming along to get them soon, so I backtracked to near Reversing Falls. Just as I saw the Reversing Falls bridge, I heard some chatter on the scanner. The NBSR yard planner was telling someone to line the west end switch for the "Tropical boys" to come through.

Since many of the containers were Tropical containers, I figured they were on their way to get the cars. I heard a train horn, so I beat it back to the Bentley Street crossing (Google Maps) to wait.

Switchers at Mill Street

In about six minutes or so, three NB Southern engines came along - SW1200 3703 and 3702 bracketing GP9 3701. They trundled past the Mill Street sign and went down to couple up to the platforms.

Getting ready to take the hill

At 09:43 they started the pull up the hill to the Dever Road yard. I guess they must have had some trouble pulling them up the hill, as they slowed to a slow walking pace. I didn't stick around to see them get all the way up. I wonder if the morning transfer freight had to double the hill, and that's why the containers were left there. There were 23 platforms.

NB Southern high hood GP9

At noon I saw CN 7010 shunting the Island Yard, with CN 5746 and 5707 sitting idle in the yard.

At 16:30 it looked like another refinery local was being put together or taken apart. CN 7015 and 7000 together with NBSR 79635 were shunting tank cars in Island Yard. CN 5746 and 5707 were still sitting around in the yard.

On my way out of Saint John, I heard NBSR 2319 call the RTC and ask where the eastbound freight was. The RTC said it left McAdam at 16:35. If I had another 45 minutes or so I might have caught it at Welsford but time was not on my side, so I didn't see it at all.

Petitbone MOW equipment NBSR 151014 was sitting at Westfield Beach, off the rails, when I went by.