CN 405

Matt aka saintjohnrailfan shot CN 405 rolling through the snow January 14 at Bloomfield Station Road. The train was a big one, with four units (CN 5709, 4721, 5647 & CN/IC 2723) with 154 cars. Apparently a trainee I know was on the train... seemed to be going OK in spite of him. ;)


He shot 405 the day before (January 13) in Rothesay with two of the same units (5647 and 2723) and a shorter train with a mere 108 cars.

Saint John Saturday

My kids and I went to Saint John to visit Valley Hobbies, and of course to see some trains.

We discovered NBSR 9803 and 2612 leaving the Dever Road yard just before noon, so we went across Reversing Falls and shot them coming through the bridge. My son Nick took these two photos:



I particularly like the going-away shot.

We followed them down past Harbour Station and they stopped just short of Island Yard, as both tracks into the yard were blocked by cars. I talked with the very friendly crew and they told me that CN 405 was coming down to get their cars.


We decided to go have lunch. After that, I went to Island Yard to find 405 but they weren't there. Scanner chatter showed they were just leaving Courtenay Bay, so after a little driving we got some poor shots of them going by Staples into Island Yard. We decided the best course of action was to go to Valley Hobbies in Rothesay and then come back, hopefully grabbing them before they left for Moncton.

We did that, and on the way back into Saint John there was no sign of 405. As I got onto Rothesay Avenue I heard them say they were leaving, and then a few minutes later they said they were stopping for 10 minutes... a "pause for the cause". That meant Tim Hortons to me, and sure enough that was where they stopped.

We set up a little ways farther down on Ashburn Lake Road, and they rolled through at 15:30. CN 2620, CN 6012, and IC 2723 led a very long train out of Saint John. Wendell Lemon reported they arrived in Moncton at 18:45, after a stop at McCullys to drop the empty potash cars off.


There was a little problem at the crossing. Some moron in a Dodge Ram truck had stopped on the rails, and as the train was blaring at him, he woke up and tried to back up off the tracks. Unfortunately some other moron had parked on the other tracks behind him, so they both had to move quickly before 405 was forced to try an emergency stop. Did I say "moron" enough? DON'T STOP ON THE TRACKS. Read the sign! Use your brain!

Moron finally backing up off the tracks

Snowy Days

Kevin Gaudet posted a few videos of trains in the snow.

I think the best is VIA 15 at Memramcook yesterday evening.

Earlier yesterday in Moncton, CN 405 arrives, and later its power rolls out of Gort toward the fuel stand.

Hammond River Bridge

Matt aka Saintjohnrailfan shot a nice video of CN 405 over the Hammond River bridge. I believe that's here in Nauwigewauk (say that 5 times fast).

A Rare Find

I was in Saint John today and met a fellow railfan, and also made a rare find.

First, I found NBSR 9803 and CN 7060 resting by the Tim Hortons off Thorne Avenue around 09:15.


Shortly after I took the photo, they started up and headed out toward the refinery.


CN 405 was resting in the Island Yard with 5799, 2650 and 2613. I think the consist was the same as Tuesday's but I must have had 5799's number wrong then.

At lunch at 13:00, I noticed that the power for 405 was over at the potash terminal. I went over to see if there was a shot there, and I saw someone parked there with a tripod all set up. Obviously a railfan! It turned out to be Kevin Gaudet. I was glad to meet him, and we spoke for a few minutes before I had to head back to work. I did stop on the other side of the causeway to get a few shots of 405 from afar.




Later, I noticed 405 was pulling a string of potash cars to Island Yard just after 15:00. I saw the Courtenay Bay potash switcher was visible, so I decided to head across the causeway to see if I could finally get a picture of this rare locomotive. As it happened, it was on the move to the dumper by the time I got there, so I snapped one shot out the car window and then pulled up to take a short video. I am quite pleased with how the photo turned out. The video, not so much, but I like the horn.




That was it for today. I am very happy to finally get a decent photo of the Courtenay Bay Potash switcher.

All Green All The Time

I was in Saint John yesterday (Tuesday) and saw quite a bit of green. Engines, that is.

As I approached Saint John, I heard the yard master talking with the crew of the transfer train. They were given clearance to head to Island Yard. I went through Simm's Corner and saw them behind Moosehead. I stopped for a moment at Reversing Falls, and caught NBSR 2610 and 3702 taking their train across the Falls just after 9 AM.


They were not going very fast, so I decided to get them again at Fort La Tour. Alas, there is construction there, so I went near Harbour Station instead. 2610 and 3702 were really working hard when they went by me.


I continued on, and discovered them stopped just outside Island Yard. I set up for a shot and off they went into the yard.




The power for CN 405 was CN 2613, 5709, and 2650 and they were sitting in the yard when I went by. NBSR 9803 and CN 7060 were working the yard.

Later, CN 405 was still in the yard but active at 3 PM. I saw NBSR 9803 and CN 7060 on the refinery spur by Tim Hortons. CN 7060 was parked there, and NBSR 9803 continued on down the spur. CN 7038 was shunting and smoking in the Island Yard.

I heard that the NB Southern eastbound freight had left McAdam around 14:20, so I decided to go see the Grand Bay caboose and then catch the freight along the way. I stopped at the caboose, got out of the car, and heard a train horn blow for Inglewood Drive. I quickly set up the tripod and took some shots as the train rounded the corner at 15:30.

I guess I misheard when the train left McAdam! The train had NBSR 9801, 2318, and 2317 and 39 cars, including a empty container 5-pack.

EDIT: Added car count

Train Action in Saint John Today

I took the kids down to the train show in Quispamsis today. I decided to take the Kingston Peninsula route, by taking the ferry by Westfield Beach and the ferry by Quispamsis. This was the first time I had taken those ferries. Recommended.

The train show was great. I was glad to meet up with old friends like Wendell, Art, Steve, Ron, Carroll, Danny, Chuck, Tim, and probably others I cannot remember! I spent a grand total of $7 there but the experience was worth it.

Afterward, we went back through Rothesay in pursuit of CN 405. I heard them shunting on the scanner so I knew they were still in the yard. I found the head end up where the yard narrows near the shops. I also noticed CN 7038 and 7010 waiting outside the yard at 15:00.


I drove a bit to get a higher vantage point to get this shot of the head end of CN 405. It had CN 5338, 4728, 5269 and 5771 for power.


CN 7038 and 7010 crossed Rothesay Avenue and entered the yard. CN 7060 was doing some shunting, and as it retreated I got this shot of the three trains together.


Here is a short video I took of 7038 pulling up.


According to the scanner chatter, the plan was for 7038 and 7010 to go get some tank cars and take them to the refinery. After that, CN 405 was free to leave the yard and get on its way. I did not have time to wait so I took off for the road home.

A call to McAdam told me that the NB Southern eastbound train left McAdam at 14:10. I knew it could not get the 60 miles from there to Welsford in less than 1:30, so I made it to Welsford at 15:40, confident I didn't miss the train. We parked there and waited, and at 15:57 I heard the EOT squawk on my scanner. At 16:00 precisely, NBSR 2317 East rolled through the crossing. NBSR 2317, 9801, 2318 and 2319 were pulling 45 cars.

You can see it was raining. I had my hand over the lens to shield it from the rain, but the train blew mist onto the lens. Sorry for the handheld shot - I forgot my tripod at home.

Not a bad day, all around. I was glad to get out and see some trains!

Very Long CN 405

Matt the saintjohnrailfan posted a video of a very long CN 405 with 164 cars!


It had 2569, 5430, and 2592 pulling the behemoth train. Matt shot it in Rothesay.

Saint John Trains 2008/09/23

On a rare trip into Saint John Tuesday afternoon, I lucked out and saw several trains.

I noticed the end of CN 405 near Harbour Station, moving, so I figured 405 was pulling up to Tim's to get coffee and orders. As I passed Island Yard, I saw GP9 CN 7038 on the track leading to the refinery, probably waiting for 405 to get out of the way.

Sure enough, CN 2432, CN 5510 and BCOL 4603 were parked short of the road by Tim Hortons at 15:19.

The light was awful as usual for that location. I took a few shots then ducked into Tim's for a moment. When I came out, I heard the thrum of engines and knew they were on their way, so I stood by the drive-thru line and shot a short video.


On my way back down Rothesay Avenue, I saw the NBSR local waiting to cross Rothesay Avenue from the refinery area. CN 7060 and NBSR 3701 provided the power. The light was not bad here.

Once CN 7038 cleared the track, the local rolled on through.

Of course, I realize now that someone was messing with the camera settings and all my photos were taken at 640 x 480 pixels instead of 2816 x 2112 like my camera SHOULD. Darn it. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I have a few dozen OTHER photos of 7060 and 3701.

CN 405 in Rothesay

Matt the saintjohnrailfan shot CN 405 this morning passing the old Rothesay railway station. It was a short train, only 31 cars with two units (5736 and 2642).


He shot at just about the same location I did back in February 2007. Of course, it was CN 305 then, not 405.

Super Long CN 405

Matt aka saintjohnrailfan shot a 183-car CN 405 in Rothesay today. It had CN 5717, 5361 and 2642 for power.


Matt was using a Canon S3 IS borrowed from Dave Dineen's. It does a nice job. I know I love mine!

CN 405 at Penobsquis

Matt aka saintjohnrailfan posted a really nice video of CN 405 at Penobsquis, dropping off potash cars, and then rolling through Petitcodiac.


Kevin Gaudet shot it at Petitcodiac too.

Kevin and CN 405

Kevin Gaudet passed along some photos of CN 405 (and an NB Southern local) in Saint John from June 19 and 20. Here are a few of my favourites.


Unusual to see a GP38 in Saint John


CN 405's power near Courtenay Bay


The NB Southern local running light to Island Yard


A nicely composed shot... maybe in Rothesay?

Kevin has a number of new videos on YouTube. Since he has disabled embedding, I'm not putting them here but you can follow this link to see all his videos.

CN 405 Everywhere

Matt (saintjohnrailfan) posted several videos of CN 405.

Here's CN 405 on May 31 with CN 2692, 2696 and BC Rail 756 in Rothesay.


I like this shot of the same train near Hampton. The track runs along the highway and you get a nice side shot.


Here's 405 on June 4 near Courtenay Bay in Saint John and by the E&NA station in Rothesay with 2502, 6135 and 2650 for power. In the Rothesay segment you can see two blocks of gypsum cars on the train - one to Belledune (from Irving Wallboard) and one to Nova Scotia (from McAdam).


Here's a late CN 405 on June 5 coming back light from Courtenay Bay.


The same 405 on June 5 at Tennis Court Road in Rothesay.

News from Saint John

I'll get to the NB Southern excursion later, but here are a few tidbits from Saint John.


I saw CN 405 pull up to the Tim Hortons yesterday afternoon at 12:30. The conductor popped out of the nose door, and yelled hello to me. Turns out I know him well! :) It was Luc Doiron, new employee of CN back home in the Maritimes.


I did see NB Southern's new slug in Island Yard, NBSR 2008. I'm told it is YBU-4 (yard booster unit), ex-CN 519, retired on January 3 2008. It was not in a good position for photography but I got enough to confirm the number. I'm told it will be paired up with an ex-Devco unit, one of the 231x units, and it will be used in Saint John but the intent is to try it on the mainline freight to see if it can assist on the hills.


CN 7010 was doing some shunting in Island Yard after 405 left.

Another CN 405 Chase

Matt the saintjohnrailfan shot CN 405 going to the Courtenay Bay potash terminal to get empty cars, and then the same train returning. There's a little cameo of Kevin Gaudet in there too.


Matt also caught the train blasting through Hampton on its way to Moncton with CN 2650 and 5698.

Matt's New Camera

Matt got a new camera and took it out for its inaugural run. Looks good!

Here's CN 405 returning to Island Yard with CN 2661, 5368 and 5732 with potash empties.


Later, he caught 405 going by the Rothesay station.

CN 405

Matt the Saint John railfan chased CN 405 on Friday from Saint John all the way to Salisbury. The power was the same that I saw in Saint John on Friday.

First, 405 going to Courtenay Bay, then going through Hampton.


Here it is outside Sussex.


He tried to get it at Salisbury, but unfortunately his camera's batteries died.

Good chase, and thanks for sharing!

Saint John and Beyond Friday

I made a (now rare) visit to Saint John on Friday. My first sighting was an NBSR GP38 and SW1200 in behind Moosehead near Reversing Falls at 11:35. I whipped my trusty Canon S3 out to take a long-distance shot when... it didn't work. Again. I cursed and swore and just about threw the camera into the swollen Saint John river. Grrrr.

I continued driving, and it occurred to me that maybe the batteries were low. I stopped at Staples and swapped my camera's batteries for the scanner's. Lo and behold, it worked! Phew.

While I was there, I saw CN 2617, 5414 and 2675 at rest in Island Yard, and CN 7010 working the yard.


At 13:25 I heard CN 405 say they were going to get 29 potash cars from Courtenay Bay.

At 14:55, I heard CN 405 get its orders to proceed to McCully's, with 2675 leading.

I heard that the eastbound NBSR freight had left McAdam just before 3 PM, so I figured they would be in Fredericton Junction at around 4 PM. That just barely fit into my time restrictions, so I decided to go for it. I reached Tracy at 3:52 and parked by the bridge by the river. I took a few shots of the river, hoping the train would show up before I had to go at 4 PM. I was walking back to my car when I heard it blow its horn for the highway 645 crossing. Quickly I went back to the bridge and shot it a few times at long distance before taking video. These shots would have been better if my camera was not set to ISO 400. Anyway, I am quite happy with the video.


The train had NBSR 2318, 9801, 2612, and 2610 for power, with a respectable 56 cars.

Marathon Man

Matt the saintjohnrailfan has a "CN Movie Marathon" on Youtube, featuring four clips of CN 405 doing its business around Saint John yesterday (May 5) and then on its way to Moncton.