Thursday, July 31, 2014

Summertime at Belleville, July 2014

On July 3, it was time to make a periodic visit to the Shannonville/Belleville area. The triple-tracking of the Salmon River bridges on Milltown Road revealed a new pictographic sign (above), south of the bridge, showing an image of the bridge with clearances. From the north side, the distant signal gantry to the east is just visible above the retaining wall blocks for the third track (below). The flowers bloom regardless, though no trains were passing by. Check out the bridge triple-tracking north side construction view in 2011 and the south side view with a Continuous Welded Rail train in 2008.
This former mill location is slated to become a hydroelectric project in the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Departing Belleville's CN yard, an eastbound intermodal approaches Mitchell Road, south of parallel Airport Parkway (pole line) at 1120. Here's a street view when there were still only two tracks. CN 2242-2617 lead a long intermodal through the undulating topography. 
Nobody likes random intermodal shots less than I do. But what else is one to do when faced with the prospect of such a long double-stack? Provide Trackside Treasure readers with the full spectrum of lengthened 53-foot CN container paint schemes, of course. I bet the other side is in English - my rough translation: "Forwarding services that are transitory to the world potential" or "We aim to provide the services to any expedition travelling out of this world to other planets". One or the other.
We Deliver! Yes we do! Unlike Union Pacific which proclaimed We Will Deliver, just before their 1997 epic fail meltdown!
I bet the other side is in French, and says "Nous livrons" or "La livraison de votre bebe avec fierte". Something like that.
More lilies of the field and limestone, as the train travels east at about 30 mph:
Not good at deciphering graffiti, I think it says "JShron JShron". A nice, complete coverage!
No 149 arrives for crew change at Belleville's new VIA station at 1240. Recently purchased and painted (early 2013) ex-Oakway 5425 leads IC 1026 and CN 5633.
A local taxi has brought a new crew from the north side of the tracks. The on-duty engineer goes back to check fuel level in the second unit. See Centuries in the Snow at this same location back in the winter of 1988.
Spiffy. My previous efforts to photograph an Oakway leading were stymied. New camera - no problem.
Hand-brake for dummies. Or, leftie-loosie, rightie-tightie writ large.
A few minutes later, crew comfortably ensconced, No 149 leaves town...slowly.
Ron Visockis shared this photo - he had just caught the same train entering Belleville Yard, along Airport Parkway.
East of County Road 4 near Ernestown , Bombardier Innovia 300 in at the end of the test track:
Did you know my new Nikon has several unique settings that can be applied to a digital photo? Indulge me for a minute when I noodle, revelling in the novelty thereof:



Running extra...

Ben A. shared a cool photo of former CN insulated car CN 73677 at Burbank, AB - site of a covered hopper unloading facility. A sister to CN's 737xx-series that were featured in this 2011 post, the car may be rusted to the rails, having been here for a while:
Summertime greetings to all Trackside Treasure readers. Hoping your summer is a relaxing and pleasant one, and that you're staying tuned for this blog's 6th anniversary post and contest, coming soon! I'll leave you with a couple of scenic seasonal images:


6 comments:

  1. Nice shots, Eric. Nice to see IC in the mix. I managed to snag IC 1038 earlier this year at Mandaumin, just outside Sarnia. It's always nice to see a break from the usual consists. I also like your French translation!

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  2. Thanks for your comments, Michael. My linguistics are languishing as well as lacking. Something definitely lost in translation, but sometimes that is just the case.

    I had no idea Ron was photographing the same train to the east until he shared the photo with me!

    Eric

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  3. Eric,
    Thanks for taking us Trackside with you.
    That photographic sign is neat, I don't think I've ever seen one like it.
    I also have been known to photograph seacan variety, the difference between CN & CP is interesting. Such as the CN "Great Wall Of China Shipping" priority intermodal trains or the CP "Canadian Tire Express" snaking its way through central Alberta.
    The tag on the well car reads "KNOW", at least my interpretation of it.

    Thanks for the read.
    Ben

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  4. Good to hear from you, Ben. I've included your photo of CN 73677. I'm glad to know one of these cars is still in (albeit limited) service.

    The bridge sign certainly caught my eye - I succeeded in getting a photo of it along with the actual bridge.

    We get some Canadian Tire cans here, but I might call CN's train the Dollar Store Express because that's what I think of seeing various China-labelled containers.

    Eric

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  5. I'd agree that the tag says "Know", Know obviously had enough time and paint he thought he'd do it twice!

    Great blog by the way, I discovered it whilst researching Canadian and American N scale models.

    Greetings from the UK.

    Dave

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  6. Great to have you aboard from 'across the pond', Dave!

    The tagger was perhaps thinking of New York, New York - the town so nice they named it twice. The Jason Shron reference was an inside joke for the Rapido Trains boss!

    Thanks for your comment,
    Eric
    Modelling Vancouver BC in HO scale

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