Yesterday in Saint John

I was in Saint John yesterday afternoon (November 1), and I happened to see a few trains en route.

I heard CN 305 on the scanner performing their brake test, and getting their TOP from the RTC before heading out. They were authorized only to mile 44 (Sussex) so I assumed they had some work there or at Penobsquis.

Before they left, the Sperry Rail Services truck SRS 870 got off the tracks a little west of the Tim Hortons on Rothesay Avenue.


They rumbled by Gerry Drive at 14:38. CN 5606 (SD70I), 2638 (Dash-9), 2533 (Dash-9) and 7068 (GP9) provided the power.






The train was pretty long: 56 potash cars, 42 tank cars, 1 boxcar, 8 loaded CN ballast hoppers, 1 tank car, 2 covered hoppers, 10 gypsum cars, 12 container wells, 1 5-pack, 1 well car. The Courtenay Bay potash terminal was totally empty after this!

On my way out of Saint John later in the evening, I noticed no activity in NB Southern's Dever Road yard. There was one unit with its light on in the middle of the yard, but no traffic on the scanner. I thought that was odd, because the eastbound should have arrived and they should be making up the westbound to go out later. As I approached Welsford, the reason became clear. NBSR 9801 East was stopped at Welsford with a hot wheel.

I pulled into the parking lot of the former gas station, and walked over to the engine in the siding. I tried a few shots with no flash but they didn't turn out, so I turned the flash on and took a few. That drew the attention of the engineer, who came out to talk for a few minutes. He told me the hotbox detector at Welsford was changed out about a week ago and it seems to be more sensitive than the old one. The conductor cut out the brakes on the offending car and they were on their way at 20:00 exactly. NBSR 9801, 2319, 9802 and 2317 provided the power for about 50 cars, a mix of boxcars, empty gypsum cars, autoracks and tank cars.

A Rainy Day

I went to Saint John yesterday, in the driving rain, and still managed to see some trains. A dedicated railfan doesn't let weather get him down!

In Welsford on the way down I heard a little chatter on the scanner. Some kid said, "Hello?" and an adult responded, "Hello?" It went back and forth for a minute until the adult told another adult that they were probably picking up a baby monitor or something. It seemed odd to me that they were coming in really clear, yet the eastbound freight was hours away from passing through Welsford. More later.

At 11:25 there was some action at the NB Southern Dever Road yard. NBSR 3702 and 3703 were shunting the east end of the yard, while CN 7068 was shunting the west end. 7068 was shunting four NB Southern log cars, one of which was loaded with track pieces.


Looks like model railroad track.

At 11:50 there was no action at the Island Yard. CN 5695, 2569 and 5518 were by the shop.

Later, at 13:00 I heard 305 calling the NB Southern yard master to tell them they were returning to the yard. I saw them across the Courtenay Bay causeway, bringing empty potash cars away from the terminal. I caught them going through the wye on their way to Island Yard, with 34 empty potash cars.

I did mention it was raining, didn't I?

I got lunch and sat watching the Island Yard. I noticed CN 7010 and NBSR 3701 on different tracks at the shop. I couldn't get a decent shot of 3701 due to all the clutter in the way. Soon 7010 got a call to go rescue the local at the drydock spur. I imagine with the rain it wasn't able to bring the loads back to the yard. It headed out just as 305 was getting its TOP at 1345 to go to mile 22.

The local had CN 7015 on it.

I thought about going to see 7010 and 7015, until I heard someone ask where the passenger train was. Passenger train? In this weather?

Sure enough, I saw it ascending the Mill Street grade as I raced to the Reversing Falls bridge. I set up on the west end of the bridge and got it backing across.

Consist: 5471, 5448, 5537, 422990, 2318


I saw it again entering the Dever Road yard and took some roster shots.


The passenger train was empty, so it must have ran in the morning. That was what I heard in Welsford - the passenger train. I had no idea.