Canadian Holiday Train Events 2015

There are a few Canadian holiday/Christmas train events coming up that I wanted to bring to your attention. If you have any others, please comment and I'll add them!

Canada

CP Holiday Train

The CP Holiday Train is set to make its way across Canada and the USA again! The Holiday Trains gather food and raise funds for local food banks across North America. Come on out and see the shows and support the needy. The Canadian train departs Montreal on November 27 and will arrive in Port Coquitlam on December 19 (Canadian train information). The US train starts on November 27 in Montreal and visits New York state before traveling from Chicago to Iowa and then re-entering Canada to continue west (US train information).

New Brunswick

McAdam Train Station

The McAdam train station in New Brunswick has been decorated for Christmas! Each room is decorated and volunteers are available to provide tours daily from 2 PM to 8 PM. The cost of the tour is $12/person and includes cider and treats, and the money goes toward the maintenance and improvement of the station. If you haven't been there for a while, go check it out - it's a beautiful station. Station Facebook page. CBC article.

Ontario

The York-Durham Heritage Railway is running a Santa Train every weekend starting November 21. The railway is located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Each trip runs about an hour and costs $20/person. Santa will visit and there will be a magician on board! (More information)

The South Simcoe Railway is running the Santa Claus Express every weekend starting on November 28 through December 20. Advance tickets are all sold out but "limited walk-in tickets are still available for these dates".

Manitoba

The Winnipeg Railway Museum and Rail Travel Tours are offering a day trip by train to Gladstone, Manitoba. The trip starts at the museum in the morning of December 13 with a tour of the museum, lunch, and then travellers will board VIA 693 to ride two hours to Gladstone. In Gladstone ("Happy Rock") travellers can meet Santa Claus and enjoy crafts and games before riding a motor coach back to Winnipeg. The day costs $95/adult and $85/child and is a fundraiser for the museum. As a great bonus, the package includes a year's family membership to the museum, a $35 value! More information or call Rail Travel Tours at 204-897-9551.

Alberta

The Aspen Crossing railway southwest of Calgary is operating a Polar Express train on select dates between November 28 and December 24. Hot chocolate and treats are served on board as the classic children's book "The Polar Express" is read. Santa will greet the train at the North Pole. Tickets are $114.50 for two. Some dates are sold out but some are still available at the time of writing. (More information)

More Photos of Lac-Mégantic Engines

Jody Robinson and Gary Lee both photographed the same train that Steve O'Brien saw in Fredericton Junction, with the two (ex?) MMA leased engines CITX 3053 and CEFX 3166 and the MMA caboose VB-1 (not VB-4 as previously reported). These were posted to the excellent RailsNB Facebook group.

Jody photographed the train in McAdam.

Nice photos, Jody!

Gary Lee was positioned at the St. Croix River, right on the border between Canada and the USA. He had some great light! Note the Canadian and US flags on HLCX 6319.

Great shots, Gary!

Gary also posted a video of boaters on the river with the train rolling past.

PS the MMA is saying they need to rebuild the line through/around Lac-Mégantic to make themselves more salable. Makes sense, but of course there are questions about how polluted the site is and whether it will be on its original routing or around the town. The Lac-Mégantic mayor, Colette Roy-Laroche, is quoted as saying restoring rail service is one of the town's main priorities.

PPS the Canadian Senate's Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee issued a series of recommendations for transportation of crude oil and natural gas. It's important to note they started this process months before the Lac-Mégantic disaster, although Lac-Mégantic is certainly mentioned in the report. Here's the full report.

Return to McAdam

I was in New Brunswick last week, in the St. George area. On Tuesday the 26th I decided I would take a run up to McAdam to try to photograph the station around sunset. It had been 4 years and 5 days since I had last been in McAdam - and that time I never even got out of the car!

I set the GPS for First Street in McAdam and took off.

Of course, my GPS had its own idea of how to get there. I had never gone to McAdam from St. George but I had a hazy notion of taking route 127 to route 3, but that's not what my GPS thought.

I spent a lot of time on route 755 through backwoods New Brunswick. All I can say is that I was glad it was still daylight! I'm pretty sure at one point I did a few kilometres on a gravel road. I crossed the St. Stephen subdivision in Honeydale, then encountered the McAdam subdivision at the intersection of route 4 and route 630. By this time the sun was pretty much below the horizon.

This is facing west, toward the USA.

A few more kilometres of driving brought me into McAdam. I spotted headlights in the yard and it turned out to be GMTX 209 and HLCX 906 (with caboose NBSR 434919) working the night shift.


I've seen HLCX 906 before but GMTX 209 was new to me. The paint looks nice and shiny.

You might notice a railfan peering out at me...

They went down to the west end, out of my view from the station, so I took some stills of the station, then went for supper at Terry's. When I returned, it was totally dark. I shot a few more stills and this one was my favourite.


The engines returned and did a bit of switching near the shop building. Gary got down from the engine and chatted with me for a bit. I did get a still of GMTX 209 at night and I like the headlight effect here.


I hit the road for St. George after that, taking route 4 to route 3 then to route 1. No backwoods trips in the dark!

BNSF Unit Oil Train!

The Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick has been receiving oil trains from North Dakota and the surrounding area. These have generally been coming over NB Southern's tracks as 80-car unit trains, although some oil cars have trickled in on CN via CN 406. Railfans were excited to hear that a unit oil train was coming with three BNSF engines on it. The train arrived at Hermon, Maine on December 29 with the BNSF engines, and ended up parked on MM&A rails for a few days, apparently waiting for a crew.

The train finally made it to McAdam this past Saturday (January 5) at 10:30. Jody Robinson reported that it dropped its train in track 28 and made up another train with the oil cars already in McAdam, then hit the road around 16:15. It was reported through Harvey at 17:00.

Jody Robinson and Gary Bowser did great work documenting the train in McAdam.

The train had BNSF 4649 (Dash 9-44CW), BNSF 9723 (SD70AC), BNSF 7589 (Dash 9-44CW) and HLCX 6332 (SD40-2) for power. Here are a couple of Jody's photos.

I think I can safely say that these are the first BNSF engines to ever visit McAdam... given that BNSF did not exist prior to NB Southern's existence.

Here are a few of Gary's photos, as well as a video he took.

Matt (aka Saintjohnrailfan) caught the train rolling through Grand Bay on its way into Saint John.

The power did not stay long in Saint John. It went west on Sunday the 6th with empty oil cars and some miscellaneous freight. This time both Matt and Dave Dineen (aka nbsrfan) caught the train. Here's Matt's video first.

Now Dave's:

Great work, Jody, Gary, Matt and Dave! Special thanks to Jody for keeping the Facebook RailsNB group updated on the train's progress.

NBSR Oil Train With CP Power

Several New Brunswick railfans caught the NBSR unit oil train coming into New Brunswick on NB Southern Railway tracks on July 2. The great thing about this train was that it used run-through Canadian Pacific Railway power... with a great leader.

Jody Robinson was first up with these great shots of the train at McAdam.


The train had Iowa, Chicago and Eastern engine ICE 6450 on the head end. ICE 6450 is an SD40-2 built in September 1979 as Oneida and Western OWTX 9956. It became a BC Rail BCOL 749 and then ICE 6450, "City of Welcome". I don't know if the engine refers to Welcome, Minnesota or Welcome, North Carolina!

What a rare sight in New Brunswick!

Behind ICE 6450 was CP 5926 and CP 5928, two more SD40-2 engines. I've never seen CP 5926 but I did see CP 5928 once, trailing on a train through Pense, Saskatchewan back in 2008.

It sure is nice to see Canadian Pacific Railway engines in McAdam again.

The fourth engine was an MMA engine, MMA 3603, a GE C30-7 built as ATSF 8016 in 1977.


Now on to the videos. Gary Lee shot a handheld video of the train leaving McAdam.


Next up was Brian Barchard shooting the train through Harvey. His video combines three NBSR trains, two from June 30 and the July 2 oil train starting at 5:17.


Matt aka saintjohnrailfan shot it at Welsford at the first highway crossing. Nice wave from the engineer! I noticed that there were several doors open on the MM&A engine; maybe it was having mechanical issues.


Dave Dineen aka nbsrfan was also at Welsford and shot it there, at my favourite spot in Grand Bay, and entering the yard in Saint John. Here they all are in one video.


Great shots all around for a great train. Thanks to Jody, Gary, Brian, Matt and Dave for the photos and video. Well done.

This Day, 23 Years Ago

CP 1201 and the Atlantic


I saw this slide on eBay and had to have it. This great slide by W.A. Gleason features CP 1201 on its eastern tour in McAdam, with the eastbound VIA Atlantic on the right. The date was June 4, 1989.

CP 1201 did a tour of the eastern provinces in 1989... the last time it was in the Maritimes.

Recent NB Southern Videos

Here are a few recent NB Southern videos featuring the "new" leased power.

Dave Dineen aka NBSRfan shot HLCX 6318 and HLCX 8144 leading a fairly short train out of Saint John. The big cars on the head end are trash cars for the steel recycling facility now located in the Port of Saint John.


Gary Lee was in the cab of GMTX 204 in McAdam. I'd really like to get back to McAdam at some point as it is really hopping now!


Jason aka NB Green Machine shot a transfer freight within Saint John. The MP15DC GMTX 203 was ahead of "huff and puff", NBSR 3702 and 3703, and Geep NBSR 2610 was there for extra muscle. Apparently they almost stalled trying to get up Mill Street from Island Yard. Great video!


Doubleiron shot an eastbound NB Southern freight through Harvey. It had a quite colourful consist.


Gary also shot this sizable westbound freight in McAdam, headed by NBSR 2319, HLCX 6200 and MEC 354 in Pan Am colours.

NB Southern Charity Run This Weekend

The New Brunswick Southern Railway is operating a charity run this Saturday, May 12 from Fredericton Junction to McAdam and back. Tickets are sold out. The train will be departing the Junction at 13:00 (1 PM) and proceeding to McAdam, where passengers will tour the train station there, and return to the Junction for dinner.

The run is to benefit the Oromocto Hospital Foundation.

Thanks to Bob Boudreau and Peter Gough for the information.

NB Southern Update

There are some good photos and video available of the new NB Southern leased power now, plus a few run-through engines!

Jody Robinson sent me these two snaps from McAdam, NB from Sunday February 12. First up are two run-through engines, MEC 380 and 381. Both of these engines are GP40s but MEC 380 is unusual as it is a high-hood GP40. You can't see that from this photo, alas.


Also on the freight were the two leased SD40-2 engines, HLCX 6200 and HLCX 6318. You can see that they now have the bay windows fitted. I think they give a bit more visibility and are warmer than the standard windows. 6318 has her nose chevron stripes now.


Jody says that traffic on the St. Stephen subdivision has picked up quite a bit, with a daily train every weekday with good size trains to St. Stephen and the Woodland mill in Maine. Good news. Thanks Jody for the news and the photos.

Matt aka Saintjohnrailfan got out to Enniskillen today to catch the westbound freight. As it happens, it had HLCX 6318 on the point with the aforementioned MEC 380 second and NBSR 2319 trailing. You can catch a glimpse of the high hood on 380. Great snow action!


Dave Dineen aka NBSRfan was out on February 9 to shoot both the eastbound and westbound freights. Each train had one of the leased Helm SD40s on it. It's a typical quality video from Dave.


It kinda makes me want to be back in New Brunswick to shoot the mean green trains!

Photo of HLCX 6318

Jody Robinson shot HLCX 6318 on the eastbound freight train on Sunday evening, January 15. It sure looks cold and dark there!


It looks like one of the ex-UP Helm units is behind 6318 and an NBSR GP38 is ahead of it.

I understand HLCX 6318 was to lead but the train crew couldn't get it to talk to the SBU (Sense and Brake Unit, the "FRED"/"EOT" device on the last car of the train). Maybe next time.

Thanks for sharing, Jody!


In other news, I'm told HLCX 6200 is being repainted into John Deere NB Southern Railway green and yellow. I guess it was too ugly!

The UNICEF Train

David Morris sent along some photos of the New Brunswick Southern Railway UNICEF train that ran on September 30. The NBSR runs a train every fall between McAdam and St. Stephen in New Brunswick, Canada to benefit UNICEF.

The train had Maine Northern 9801 on the head end, followed by NBSR 5448, NBSR 5471, NBSR 5537 and "office" van NBSR 422990.

He first caught the UNICEF train passing through Harvey, NB en route to McAdam in the early morning light.


Things were much brighter on arrival in McAdam! Note the nice UNICEF banner.


This is the interior of car 5448, one of the three ex-VIA Rail coaches on the train.


After all the passengers boarded, they left for the slow trip to St. Stephen. David shot them at Moores Mills en route to St. Stephen.


Trouble was waiting at Watt Junction! These fierce train robbers were lying in wait for the train.


The train was accosted by the train robbers, some mounted on horseback.


Finally, they arrived in St. Stephen. David took this shot on the Milltown spur outside St. Stephen.


The engine ran around the train and pulled it back to McAdam. I believe David shot this from the highway 1 overpass just outside St. Stephen.


Once back in McAdam, the train was marshaled behind the freight power of NBSR 2318, 008, 2319 and HLCX 906.


Thanks for the photos, David!

Here are posts from previous years' UNICEF trains: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Cameron King Exhibit in McAdam

The McAdam railway station will host a display of fifteen of the late Cameron King's watercolours on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16. Mr. King was well known for his highly-detailed, technically accurate depictions of railway scenes as well as his detailed "elevation" paintings of railway equipment.

I met the late Mr. King once. I happened to be in the Centennial Building in Fredericton and he had a display in the lobby. I'm embarrassed to say that it did not go very well. I remember him asking me if I was interested in any of his paintings, and I made a thoughtless comment on how expensive they were. I recall he was a bit offended by that, rightfully so, as he was charging a fair price for his work.

According to Dave McInroy, Mr. King "produced 219 paintings between 1973 and 1997. This total includes the 55 Elevation paintings which were acquired by the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and 64 Perspective paintings. The balance of his paintings were of New Brunswick landscapes and a few automotive subjects."

If you're around, go check it out!

Maine Northern 9801 in McAdam... and CN 4102

Brian Barchard sent along a few shots of Maine Northern Railway #9801 in McAdam. He spotted it there on the afternoon of August 20 (Saturday). They came into McAdam with a bunch of empty log cars. After dropping them in the west yard, they wyed the engine, and presumably left.



I guess it came back to McAdam a few days later, because Gary Lee shot it there on August 23. It looks like it was coming off the wye.


Brian also mentioned he saw CN 4102 heading west through Harvey toward McAdam on the evening of August 21. As it turns out, Gary was out and saw it shunting the yard in McAdam that night.


CN 4102 has been working in Saint John. Kevin Gaudet caught it and CN 4132 as part of CN 406 on June 11 heading to Saint John.


Matt aka Saintjohnrailfan shot the same train in Hampton, closer to Saint John.


Good railfan coverage all over!

HLCX Units in McAdam

My friend Jody Robinson sent me these photos of three of NB Southern's four leased units working the yard in McAdam, New Brunswick. HLCX 906, 911 and 917 were on the eastbound freight with NBSR 2610 on Tuesday and stopped in McAdam to do some switching.

Here they are by the "shop" / building by the wye.


Obviously none of them have been repainted yet.

Thanks for the photos, Jody!

More NB Southern Leased Units Arrive

The second pair of NB Southern leased units arrived in Saint John yesterday. HLCX 917 and HLCX 913 were nose to nose behind CN 5723 and CN 2280 on train 406 out of Moncton on Wednesday. CN #406 did some work in Sussex, and arrived in Saint John at 16:18.

HLCX 911 has been out on the main line a few times, and I believe it went to St. Stephen at least once, on July 21.

HLCX 906 has been working in Saint John but no one has spotted it on the main line yet, to my knowledge.

Hat tip to Wendell Lemon, DC, and Danny McCracken for the information.

Gary Lee has posted some videos of HLCX 911 in McAdam. Thanks for those, Gary!

More on New NB Southern Power

The second pair of Helm leased units, HLCX 913 and 917, were seen at Bayview Junction in Ontario.. yesterday?



Meanwhile, HLCX 911 was spotted in McAdam and Harvey. Danny McCracken shot HLCX 911 as part of the eastbound freight that featured NBSR 9802, 911, 008, 2318, and recently arrived 2612 from the St. Stephen subdivision. They left at 16:20.





Brian Barchard caught the same train rolling through Harvey Station. I see the depot has been repainted since I last saw it!

Foreign Power in McAdam

I'm told the February issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine reported that "On November 23, 2010, New Brunswick Southern and Pan Am Railways implemented a new runthrough freight service between Saint John, New Brunswick, and Waterville, Maine, using pooled motive power. NBSR crews handle train SJWA and WASJ between Saint John and Mattawamkeag, Maine, with PAR crews west of there. The preliminary schedule calls for a 5:00 a.m. westbound departure from 'Keag' on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with eastbounds running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays."

So far there has been no sign of foreign power in New Brunswick, with the exception of MM&A 2000. That changed today with the arrival of MEC 319 and MEC 516 in McAdam.

Rail enthusiast Gary Lee was there to take shots of these visitors.


MEC 319 is an EMD GP40, built in November 1968 for the Penn Central as #3213. MEC 516 is an EMD GP40-2LW, built in April 1976 for CN as #9657.

They left McAdam for Saint John shortly before 5 PM local time. Could this become a regular occurrence?

Here's a walk-around video taken by Gary.

Thanks for the pictures and video, Gary! Thanks also to Danny McCracken for the text from Railfan & Railroad.

EDIT: Gary informed me that they headed out for Saint John.