I was in Saint John, New Brunswick in mid May 2018. I met up with Caleb Wentzell in the evening for a little... OK, a big chase.
Our target was CN 406, the daily Moncton-Saint John train. It usually heads down to Moncton in the afternoon and returns in the evening. Railfans were excited about this train because it had two leased units, CREX 1505 and CEFX 1011.
On the way down, CREX 1505 was in the lead. Since I was working, I missed that, but I knew it would be returning in the evening. Caleb was in town and wanted to meet up, so we arranged a rendezvous along Rothesay Avenue in Saint John, by the Ocean Steel rebar plant.
This is a good location because it's at the "throat" of Island Yard. All of the yard tracks converge just south (railway west) of the crossing there. When I arrived, I could see CN 2977 on the "bypass" track in the distance. I took this long shot using my 70-200mm lens and cropped in a fair bit.
CN 2977 pushing back in Saint John
As I watched, they pushed back and around the bend, out of sight. I imagine they were pushing the potash cars back onto the back half of their train to make up the whole train.
I knew this would take some time to complete, as they would have to do a full air test before coming back to my location. I ducked out to grab some supper, then returned to the location to wait for the train and wait for Caleb.
Caleb showed up, and we said our hellos. He had a few model train cars for me - part of a trade we made more than a year ago but never actually completed in person. Patience pays off...
Eventually CN 2977 pulled up, followed by the lease units.
CN 2977 with leased locomotives
As they pulled past, I took the opportunity to photograph the leasers.
Leased locomotives in Saint John - CEFX 1011 and CREX 1505
We didn't wait for the whole train to pass. We had discussed shooting it by the Rothesay train station, as Caleb had never shot a train there, and I always like that location. We were traveling in separate cars, because Caleb was going to carry on to Nova Scotia after the chase, and I had to return to Saint John to work the next day.
Rothesay
CN 2977 passing the historic Rothesay train station
Well, that shot worked well.
We arrived several minutes before the train did. Since there was no sun out, we had our choice of angles. I decided to shoot from this angle to include the historic station. Caleb was a little closer with a wider angle.
I shot the other leaser, CREX 1505, as they passed by us.
CREX 1505 on train CN 406
This time, we were trapped by the train, so it was time for a selfie by the train.
Caleb Wentzell and yours truly. He's quite a bit taller than I am!
We discussed our next move, and we decided to get them at Hampton. It's fairly easy to get into from the highway.
Hampton
When we arrived in Hampton, I suggested going to the one lane iron bridge just before town to get an overhead view. We arrived just in time to catch the train snaking around the curve and blasting underneath us.
Overhead view of CN 406 at Hampton
While breathing in those tasty diesel fumes, I grabbed overhead views of the two leased locomotives as well.
Overhead views of CEFX 1011 and CREX 1505
Next up... Norton! I had never been there, but Caleb had, so he led the way.
Norton
CN 406 at Norton
I liked that old building, now used as a recycling depot. I think this location would work well for westbounds as well, because you could include that yellow building seen in the photo below, plus there are a few interesting buildings on the other side of the tracks.
CN 406 rolling through the crossing
The next shot was a grab shot near Apohaqui, by the highway. It was getting pretty dark so the photography was getting challenging.
Apohaqui
Roadside view near Apohaqui
Caleb was showing good shooter form as he photographed CN 406 going away.
Bang bang
Caleb suggested another overhead view just west of Sussex. This was a good choice, as going into Sussex would be challenging to do in time, and we'd have no chance of another shot after that.
Sussex
Overhead CN 406
This would have been nicer with more light, but what can you do? I think the location was good and the photos turned out OK.
CEFX 1011 from above
Our final location was Penobsquis, by the shuttered potash facility.
Penobsquis
Here I elected to shoot video, as I hadn't done any video, and I knew this was the last spot. It's pretty dark and backlit, but here it is.
Once the train went by, we took a few photos of the potash facility... and its lonely locomotive.
PotashCorp plant in Penobsquis
Their locomotive is an EMD SW900, originally CN 7253.
Penobsquis switcher locomotive
The angle wasn't great but it was all that was available.
I said my goodbyes to Caleb and I headed back to Saint John. It was great to see him again, and I look forward to railfanning with him again!
Running Extra
NB Southern's yard in Saint John
I didn't do much railfanning the next evening, but I did take this photo of NB Southern's yard and shops from the nearby overpass. You can see their passenger equipment on the left edge, a few tracks in. A GP38 and a blue MP15 are at the shops, with a GP38/slug set on the side, and a few locomotives in storage at the back.
In Fredericton, I bought the latest book by Owen Laukkanen, noted Canadian mystery writer (and railfan!), Gale Force. It's a thriller based around a salvage tug and its crew. If you like thrillers by Clive Cussler, you'll love this book.
I had a very early flight and I intended to sleep on either the Saint John-Montreal leg or the Montreal-Winnipeg leg, but this book is such a page turner that I read it straight through with nary a yawn. Highly recommended. BUY THE BOOK
I was back on Prince Edward Island earlier this month for work. I decided to combine that with a quick visit to see my mom in New Brunswick. My plan was to land in Moncton (YQM), drive to Oromocto to stay overnight with her, then drive on Sunday to Charlottetown for my work.
I messaged my friends Taylor Main and Chris Mears to let them know I was coming back to the Island, and they invited me to a model railway operations session on Sunday evening in Summerside. Great!
Saturday
Vroom, vroom!
After landing in Moncton, I obtained my rental car and hit the road. One of my other missions on the trip was to do a little model train car exchange with another friend, Caleb Wentzell (see his 10 Questions interview here). He had left some cars with a mutual friend in Salisbury so I drove down there to make the switch.
I pulled off the Trans-Canada Highway by the Irving Big Stop and drove into Salisbury. I wasn't quite sure where to go so I stopped by the tracks of the CN Sussex subdivision to plug the address into my phone. After doing that, I decided to check the RailsNB Facebook group to see if there was any news about CN movements on the line. Apparently there was a potash train into Saint John and five locos were running light out of Saint John that morning, but they were at least an hour away from me and I couldn't wait that long.
Suddenly the crossing bells started ringing.
CN 406!
I thought quickly. My camera was still in its bag, in the trunk - no time to get that. I grabbed my phone and jumped out of the car, frantically opening the Camera app and setting it to video. I started it just in time to catch the train blasting through the crossing.
A nice wave from the conductor and toot from the engineer!
After that excitement, I headed out of town to make the switch. Unfortunately our mutual friend was not home, so I left my cars in the mailbox and headed to Oromocto to see my mom.
Since I can remember, we almost always had cats and/or dogs in our house. My mom currently has two dogs and a cat, and she often fosters animals from the local SPCA until they are ready for adoption. When I visited, she was fostering a momma cat and six kittens. SO cute.
I fixed a few things around the house for my mom, and we went for supper.
Sunday
In the morning, we visited the market in Oromocto and had a delicious waffle breakfast. Then it was time for me to hit the road for Prince Edward Island. It was nice to see my mom in person again.
I drove past Moncton with only a quick glance toward the CN rail lines - no traffic - and continued on toward the Confederation Bridge to the island.
Checking the time, I saw I had some free time before I was to meet Chris and Taylor for supper before going to Summerside. I decided to stop in Cape Tormentine, former terminus of the ferry to PEI prior to the construction of the Confederation Bridge. I had never been there as a railfan and I wanted to see the station, roundhouse and water tower there.
I did this and you may already have seen my post about it. If not, here's my post on Cape Tormentine.
Cape Tormentine train station
I crossed the Confederation Bridge. They must have a problem with people stopping to take photos from the bridge, as there are large signs warning of zero tolerance and big fines for mobile device use on the bridge.
Chris and I arrived at my hotel at the same time, and Taylor was there shortly afterward. We piled into Chris' car and headed for supper at The Old Triangle and then went to Summerside to operate on Scott Jay's Bayside and Tidewater layout. I wrote about that on Confessions of a Model Train Geek. Good times!
CN 1762, Kensington
Before we went to Scott's, we stopped in Kensington to pay our respects to the train station and to CN 1762, the only locomotive on PEI. She's looking well, although the red seems to be fading to orange... which I guess is what happened to many CN locomotives.
I didn't realize that another former Kensington train station still exists in the town. It is currently a private residence and is not very far away from the stone train station everyone sees.
Tuesday
Another day I stopped by the former Charlottetown train station, which was close to my hotel. The station is now being used for the island's Worker's Compensation Board and is in good condition.
The former Charlottetown train station
The station opened in 1907 and served the city for many years. After the cessation of passenger service, it held the main offices for CN on the island until the end of the railway in December 1989.
Wednesday
Tank car on PEI
I visited another remnant of the railway on Wednesday. There are two former CN tank cars that are located next to the Confederation Trail and Island Construction, a local construction firm. The two cars used to store waste oil from the ferries, and they were apparently acquired by a construction company to be cut up and reused. This never happened and they remain there on the rails beside the trail.
They appear to be quite old, judging by the riveted construction and where the handbrake is. The paint is still pretty good on one of them!
Tank cars on PEI
Thursday
I flew out Thursday evening, for a quick turnaround to head to Calgary on Friday with my wife... but that's the subject for another set of blog posts.
Until then, I'll leave you with a photo of the Cape Jourimain lighthouse I visited on my way out of PEI.
Railroad magazine used to have a regular feature highlighting an "Interesting Railfan". I thought I would run a similar series with some railfans who have agreed to participate. I'm asking each railfan 10 questions, some standard and some customized for the particular person. I hope you enjoy it. (See all in the series) Caleb Wentzell is an Eastern Canadian railfan. I've never met him but I enjoy his photography, both railway-related and not.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hmm, well, my name is Caleb, I hail from just outside of a small town in Nova Scotia called Lunenburg. I have a passion for playing basketball, tinkering with model trains (HO Scale), photography, and just hanging around my friends. In the fall I will be entering my 4th year at New Brunswick Bible Institute, (Victoria Corner, NB), but instead of studying at the school as I have done in my three previous years, I will be at a church in Perham, Maine under a Pastor. Ironically it's only 15-20 minutes from Presque Isle, where Irving operates trains.
2. Why do you like trains?
I was introduced to Thomas the Tank Engine at a very young age, and with this new found love, I wanted so desperately to see a train. I personally don't remember this but my mother often tells me a story of when we were in Hampton, NB and I was just a toddler standing with my parents and grandparents at dusk one evening. I could see a train coming and I began to get very excited, however when the train blew, I got so upset and started crying because it scared me so bad. My grandfather got annoyed because he knew I was excited to see the train but wouldn't sympathize with me.
3. Where’s your favourite place to railfan?
This is a toss-up, but it really is a three way-tie.
1) Windsor Junction, NS
2) Hampton, NB
3) Sussex, NB
CN 120 past Windsor Junction, NS - by Caleb Wentzell
4. If you could railfan anywhere, anytime, where and when would it be?
I would railfan any trains I could on the Halifax and Southwestern Subdivision. This is no longer possible, but at one time tracks ran right along the south shore of Nova Scotia. Unfortunately I was born two years too late, as the tracks were torn up in '93 thus causing me to never see trains run in the area I grew up in. As for an era? Late 80's or very early 90's.
5. What’s your favourite railway?
I'd have to say three again:
1) Canadian National
2) VIA
3) Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia
VIA 15, the Ocean, departing Halifax NS - by Caleb Wentzell
6. You photograph more than just trains. What interests you?
People of all sorts, along with landscapes are two other favourite shooting options of mine.
7. What are you doing to improve your photography?
Trial and error has been my motto since day one. Of course picking up tips from other photographers has helped along the way.
MBTA Cabbage Shoving over the Merrimack River at Haverhill, MA - by Caleb Wentzell
8. What advice do you have for railfan photographers?
Allow yourself ample time to set up if possible. I'm speaking from experience, and I'm sure those that know me and are reading this post will chuckle when I say "It's better to set up and wait two or even three hours for a train, as opposed to missing the shot, because you didn't allow yourself enough time to, other than giving your own roll by as you drove up to the tracks and there it was."
Another word of caution...and it should go without saying, but make sure you have fresh batteries, enough space on your memory card, and if at all possible if shooting a moving train, fire as many frames as you can while it is moving towards you.
CBNS 302 Climbing the Grade at River Denys, NS - by Caleb Wentzell
9. What projects do you have on the go, or in planning?
Well I'm hoping to get engaged to my girlfriend soon, and as I mentioned above, finish my secondary education so I can get my Bachelor in Theology.
10. How about those Leafs?
I think I speak for all leafs fans when I say a hearty welcome to Mike Babcock! :)
As a Winnipeg Jets fan, I say good luck and maybe we'll see the Leafs in the playoffs next year! ;) You can see more of Caleb's work at his Flickr page. He posts train and personal photos on Instagram as crwentzphoto. Thanks, Caleb! All 10 Questions posts
A set of EMD SD80ACe locomotives for export arrived in Halifax on CN 120. These locomotives are destined for Vale's mining operations in Brazil. Vale is a very large mining company and its Brazilian iron ore operations are simply huge.
CN 120 had four CN engines on the head end, followed by two Vale engines on their own wheels, a couple of freight cars, then several Vale engines on flatcars with regular freight cars in between as spacers.
David Othen shot CN 120 coming into Rockingham Yard.
Caleb Wentzell shot the engines in Rockingham yard. The light was great for these shots.
Here's Caleb's closeup of Vale 102.
The locomotives will be loaded on a ship and sent to Brazil to join the rest of the iron ore fleet.
CN 507 is bringing some loads from the Kinsac siding on the CN Bedford subdivision, presumably into Dartmouth to go out on CN 308 the next day. I could be wrong.
Interesting power, a GP9 and a GP40 (CN 4121 and 9584).
Caleb posted a nice video of VIA 15 and 14 at the China Town restaurant in Halifax. I like that spot... both for railfanning and for eating.
The title of this post refers to the old song by Doug & the Slugs, of course. The Slugs had quite a few good hits, including "Too Bad", "Tomcat Prowl", and "Making it Work" among others. Poor Doug Bennett passed away in 2004, alas.
It's rare to find pacing videos of trains. By pacing videos I mean shots where the train and the observer are moving side by side. You need two things: a road parallel to the tracks with few obstructions in between, and a driver. I haven't shot any pacing videos because I usually railfan alone.
Caleb aka CNCRW94 posted a video of local CN 507 rolling through Windsor Junction. He chased it and provided some pacing footage as shiny CN 4805 and grimy CN 4725 pulled a few hoppers and tankers along.
Dave aka nbsrfan has long been a practitioner of the pacing shot. Here is his video of a recent NB Southern Railway passenger train, with a nice pacing sequence through Westfield at 4:02 and 4:27 and 5:09.
