Vertical Video

I was in Saint John on Thursday. On my way I saw CN 5746 and 2591 sitting in Island Yard at 10 AM. Later, while enjoying the lunch lasagna at Vito's, I saw CN 7010 and rare (to Saint John) CN 4138 shunting along Rothesay Avenue.

We finished our lunch and headed back to the plant. As we were about to turn, I saw NBSR 2610 and CN 7038 shunting the Irving Wallboard plant. The pair was half sticking out of the building itself! I had been wondering where the centerbeam flat empties were, and now I know - they are being loaded inside the building.

I raced to get my camera then hurried up the stairs to the roof of the building. 10 floors is a long way! When I got to the top, I saw the engines were backing onto a string of loaded cars. I noted they had a tank car right behind the engine, presumably from the nearby Irving Paper facility.


I shot some stills and then took video as they crossed Bayside Drive on their way out.




I'm glad I was able to be in the right place to get the shots. It's too bad the sun was against me but you work with what you have! :)

NB Southern Switching Irving Wallboard

Kevin Gaudet has a few videos on YouTube of NBSR switching the Irving Wallboard plant on Bayside Drive. It was actually leased CN GP9s 7010 and 7060 doing the work.

Pulling loads
Shunting and leaving

And something a bit different, the Sunday evening westbound leaving NBSR's Dever Road yard with 2612, 2318, 2319, 9801 and 2317 for power.
Leaving in the dark

Irving Wallboard Empties

westsidemonster shot a quick video of NB Southern Railway delivering empty centerbeam flats to the Irving Wallboard plant on Bayside Drive. Nice catch!

Finished Gyproc at Irving Wallboard Plant

On Thursday, Ron Grant snapped a couple of photos of loaded centerbeam flats at Irving's wallboard plant in Saint John. He said they were gone later that day. Thanks, Ron!

Wallboad Plant Ships!

Steven O'Brien reported that four centerbeam flatcars (probably the ones that Ron Grant saw on the 16th) have been loaded, and were pushed into Island Yard "shortly after five p.m. today [Feb 21] after their little journey from the new wall board plant." Thanks for the report, Steven!

Saint John Gypsum Plant Receives Empties

Ron Grant reports that there are three empty centerbeam flatcars at the Irving Wallboard plant in Saint John. The line into the plant was completed in late September 2007 but has not seen any traffic until now.

Ron confirmed that finished loads will be the only rail traffic for the plant. The incoming gypsum is stockpiled near Irving Paper and trucked to the plant. As I reported before, some of the gypsum is brought by rail from Belledune.

Thanks for the report and photos, Ron!

Update on Saint John wallboard spur

Ron Grant reported on Sunday (Sept 23) that the road crossing is done.




It's not connected at the wallboard plant end, and the end nearest Irving Paper needs more ballast and bolts but it is physically connected.

Irving Wallboard Plant Spur Crosses Bayside Drive

Alert Ron Grant noticed that NB Southern put the rail line across Bayside Drive in Saint John on Saturday, September 22.

As he told me: "They routed all traffic through the south side of the Dry Dock property. I came home tonight and it's all paved. The crew is still there cleaning the street before opening Bayside Drive to traffic. When they are done they will still need to join the road track to the track in the Dry Dock property where the traffic was rerouted. A lady spokesperson stated arms and lights will be in place within 2-3 weeks."







The smokestacks in the background are NB Power's Courtenay Bay generating station.

The crossing is right about in the middle of this map.

Thanks, Ron!

New wallboard spur in Saint John

I had the opportunity Friday to take some photos of the new wallboard spur from a different vantage point. This spur is going into the former Saint John Drydock facility.

This shows the end of the spur, going into the building:

They will have a little siding there, perhaps for running around the train?

It looks like there will be two covered tracks for loading:


This shows the other end, where they will connect up to the existing Irving Paper spur. They were pouring concrete in the morning.



I took a few more photos, so if you'd like to see others or see these in a larger size, email me at blog@theboykos.com or comment here.

Saint John Wallboard Spur Photos

Ask and ye shall receive! Ron Grant sent me a handful of photos of the new wallboard spur under construction in Saint John, at the site of the old drydock.

It looks like the switch is just off Bayside Drive. I hope to get down to Saint John sometime to have a look for myself!