Pop-up Post: Four Days in September 2025, Day Three

About 1.8 miles east of my location for Day Two, on Day Three I headed out to McIntyre Road, north of Bath. The day before, while driving home, I'd noticed that the township had nicely cleared trees away from the north side of the crossing at Mi. 191.51 here, and eastward, making for very clean nightlines, albeit in the shade of the north side of the north track. I arrived to catch (Sunday-only-not-joined-with-No-60) No 50 (not a Venture but I guess I just missed it) then waited 90 minutes for the next train.

1010 EB CN No 368: 3911-3411 (ex-CN C44-9W 2544 remanufactured as AC44C6M reported northward through St Louis, MO northward on August 18 and Neenah, WI only three days prior to this photo. Well-travelled!)

I walked down east along the road to recreate a 1976 photo.

1053 WB VIA No 643: Set 10.

1029 EB VIA No 62/52: Sets 24XL and 23.

Then: CN train 44 at 1208 behind 6759-VIA 6628-6779-9657-Carleton Club including 2501, 5652 at 1312 July 31, 1976. Photos this muggy, overcast day taken by David J. Gagnon.

Now: VIA No 62/52 with Sets 24XL and 23 at 1059.

1135 EB CN No 372: 2876-3057.

1149 WB VIA No 43: 903-3452-3471-3311R(en)-3338F(uture)-3305R. 

Then: CN No 43 Ottawa-Toronto at 1156 July 31, 1976 behind 6520-6868-6770, consist included 9647, Union Club, 5219. 

Now: VIA No 43 Ottawa-Toronto at 1149 September 28, 2025. I had to stand back a bit, out of the likely tick-laden grass to recreate this angle:

With the trees and brush cleared, it's possible to see all the way east to the west wye switch for the CN Bath Spur. Slightly better light over the crossing:

1159 WB VIA No 63: Set 5.

It was time to leave McIntyre Road. I was heading to Kingston to hang out with my grandson while his parents were busy for a bit. At Ernestown on the County Road 4 overpass, I caught CN No 271's headlight glimmering to the east for three-way meet. I hustled down the dead-ended former pre-overpass crossing south of the south track. No 45 soon made an appearance, crossing from the north to south track in front of stopped 271. No 40 then barrelled east on north track, and 271 continued its way west all within 10 minutes. Natty dispatching!

1242 WB VIA No 45: Set 19.

Ernestown's limestone Grand Trunk Railway station, slowly demolishing itself:

1249 EB VIA No 40: Set 27.

CN No 271 is starting to pull west:

1249 WB CN No 271: 3366-2316 and all empty auto racks.

Now relocated to Kingston station with our grandson!

1333 WB VIA No 65: 6414-3323R-3371-3366F40(years)-3334-3333-3456-3464-918.

1359 WB VIA No 53: 914-3461-3306R-3361F-3308-3325.

Due to expanse of largely-unused expanded parking at the east end of the station parking lot, our grandson had ample room to speed around on his pedal car and motorized scooter.

1410 EB VIA No 64: 912-3462-3467-3304R-3329F40-3367-3312R-3318-3335-904.

1444 WB VIA No 47: 920-3343F-3337-3301R-3459-915.

1607 WB VIA No 67: 913-34XX-3466-3314R-3353F40-3316F40-3370-3350F40.

Day Three Total: 3 CN, 11 VIA.

On Day Four...coming soon!

First past the post...

The Real Rails 2025 organizers put on a really good show in Burlington. Watch for a full two-day report in an upcoming Trackside Treasure post, but till then, thanks to the whole organizing committee for the many, many hours of work and sleepless nights, fretting over tour groups like mother hens, filling the halls with raffles, displays and vendors, and much, much more. The Springs were everywhere doing everything, it seemed!