Chasing The NB Southern Pipe Train

My wife was working Monday afternoon, so I figured since it was such a beautiful day, I should pack all the kids in the van and go see some trains. I was getting withdrawal again.

A quick phone call and I found that the eastbound was going to be a pipe train. Bonus!

I decided to go to the Fredericton Junction area and wait for it there. After a bit of driving around, I went to mile 52 where route 645 from Harvey turns back into a paved road. After some waiting, Dave Dineen arrived, having seen my post about the pipe train. He said he had heard some chatter on the scanner so the train was en route. After some chatting and waiting, I made another call and found that the train was having some trouble, with one unit down. Apparently it was 45 minutes late coming into McAdam.

At 15:05, we saw headlights in the distance and set up to take some shots. I had the video camera on the tripod and took stills with my Canon S3. Dave took shots on his own S3 and I hope to see how he did with his stills. The train featured NBSR 2318, 2317, 2610 and 2612 with 7 doublestacks and 1 single stack, followed by 1 open boxcar , 47 loaded flatcars of pipe, and a trailing open boxcar.



I stayed to tape the whole train, then we hit the road to Fredericton Junction. We caught up to it but it beat us to the next road crossing. My son Nick shot this through the windshield.


Once the tail end cleared, we continued on and caught up with it again on the long straightaway in Tracy. Nick shot this video (using the Canon S3) through the window as we overtook the train.


I elected to continue through Fredericton Junction and shoot it on the overpass just east of the river bridge. It rolled through at 15:25 and gave me a little toot as it passed.


We easily got to Blissville ahead of it, and found Dave pulled over at the same spot I was going to. Nick and I jumped out, and I shot video while he shot stills. This still was Nick's:



After that, the kids were getting restless and I had to get back to Fredericton to pick my wife up, so we turned and headed back. What a great day for chasing trains!

Another Pipe Train Coming

Another pipe train just left Mattawamkeag at 11:00 AM, so it should be in McAdam by 13:00 and Saint John around 15:30ish.

Next Pipe Train

Another pipe train is due through New Brunswick on Wednesday. I think this is the fifth one.

Photo by Bob Driscoll

Another Pipe Train

Looks like another pipe train on the move.

"RJMA 347 has permisson into 169 at 19:32hrs on 2/11/2008 but NO
permission in to Greene Just leaving 169 moving Eastward"
Tom Nanos, GRS_Railfans

I can't parse that very well but it sounds like a Wednesday arrival in New Brunswick.

Pipe Train Today

The third pipe train should be coming through New Brunswick today. It was reported leaving Portland, Maine "yesterday at 1030 with 4 units heading to NMJ".

Here's a link to photos of the pipe train from yesterday.

Next Pipe Train?

This just in from the GRS_Railfans mailing list:

A friend of mine that works near CPF- 335 and takes lunch there almost every day called me this evening and said that he saw the pipe train today around noon time going downhill towards Fitchburg (E).
(Chris Tirone)

That's Fitchburg, Massachusetts, I assume. That could easily mean the pipe train is coming to New Brunswick TODAY.

Pipe Train in Saint John

Dave Dineen has a few photos of the pipe train on his blog.

Pipe Train Photo

Brian Barchard was kind enough to pass along a photo of the NB Southern eastbound freight at the mile 52.5 crossing.

Pipe Train Update

The train should be safely in Saint John by now. Wendell Lemon passed this along:
"I received a phone call from one of our new Group members who lives
near Grand Bay. He says the pipe train was really pulling hard over the
ruling grade at Grand Bay at 220pm. Locomotion by green NBSou 2318,
2317 and 9802. Thanks 4-4-0."

Pipe Train in New Brunswick

Gary Lee just posted a video of the pipe train leaving McAdam, so it's on its way to Saint John! I'd guess it left at no later than noon, putting it into Saint John by 2 PM.

Pipe Train Update

The pipe train is going through McAdam TOMORROW Tuesday January 22. I hear it will be in McAdam around noon. There might be a few cars from Brownville Junction on the train but the vast majority of the train will be pipes. It will be into Saint John sometime mid-afternoon or later.

From Ron Pelletier: "PanAm Railways is handling it from Rotterdam Jct., NY (CSX interchange) to Mattawamkeag, ME (NBSR interchange). Out of Portland, Maine 0745 on the 21st.

Photo

Pipe Train Update

Isaac Greenlaw reports that "Per Guilford Rail System yahoo group, Unit Pipe train past North Adams Mass with 4 units at 1400 hours eastern time Sunday 1/20/08"

I'm not sure if that will bring it into Saint John by Tuesday as last reported, but we'll see. It doesn't seem likely they can finish the journey by then.

Pipe Train Update

A report published in the Saint John Journal says the pipe train will probably arrive in Saint John on Tuesday. I'm told the train will come via CN lines, so heads up on the Napadogan and Sussex subdivisions!

Pipe Train

Several news agencies (such as CHSJ radio) are reporting that a train carrying 80-foot sections of pipe for the new natural gas Brunswick Pipeline will be arriving in Saint John Saturday from Panama City, Florida. I understand it will be unloaded in the former CN yard by Rothesay Avenue near Tim Hortons.

More updates when/if I get them! :)