Saturday, February 6, 2021

Pop-up Post: 1 Hour, 6 Freights, February 2021

More photos! Less Verbiage! Time for another pop-up post, the genesis of which was CN military tribute unit 3015 (top photo) that was heading east to Kingston on CN No 376 on February 4.
0946 W CN No 271 5668-2568 all auto racks




1008 E CN No 106 3227-DPU 3044 488 axles, 51 mph
Multi-door container

1013 W CN No 369 5652-5720 378 axles, 49 mph. FAXX 285 PD car

Aging bulkhead flat car for pulpwood WC (BC Rail!) 237723

20 new CN covered hoppers on tail-end 

1028 W CN No 149 5632-2591-2500 NA map scheme 526 axles, 28 mph

(This was a long intermodal train. The tail-end still hadn't passed Mi 178 while the head-end was at Mi 180. Based on 178 platforms, with many being five-paks for 53-foot containers around 305 feet in length, many single-well cars for 53-foot containers at 76 feet, and several five-paks for 40-foot containers at 265 feet, plus the power, my back-of-napkin calculation puts the train at 10,570 feet = 2 miles. It passed Mi 170 doing 47 mph but was clawing its up way up the hill to my location.)
1036 E CN No 376 3015-3220 508 axles, 34 mph

Early-morning sun caught the camo - yellow ribbon on engineer's side

Hostler's choice! CN 100th anniversary unit + military unit!

Next morning on CN No 105 (image courtesy of Railstream, LLC) -  poppy on conductor's side

MTBX 010-012 'scrap-tubs'


New UNPX 320-series sodium chlorate cars - previous aluminum cars obsolete

Clean Montana Rail Link boxcar 21086

FAXX 280 PD car

FAXX 298 PD car

Cylindrical dimensional load on TTPX 804276

1043 W CN No 305 2243-2512 NA map scheme

CN 197114 with three BLE hoppers in tie service.



10 comments:

chris mears said...

Always, when reading your blog I immediately head over to my roster notes to see if ever am engine you’re photographing is one I have too. 2591 seems familiar...

Also, that dimensional load on TTPX 804276 was a fun reminder if your recent Facebook post featuring dimensional loads over on the Hanley Spur.

Eric said...

Hi Chris,

I must admit that when the CN GP40-2L(W)'s and M420(W)'s were new, I plotted their travels, graphed them and awaited their return. But with the CN Bigs (whatever today's kids call them GEVO's, M-2's or other technonicknames, they leave me a little cold unless there's a variation in paint scheme. The military one that I saw on the Belleville Railstream cam was definitely worth leaving home for.

Those giant 'napkin rings' are indeed RBT's - Really Big Things - that one might expect to see on the Hanley Spur, for sure! I've given up trying to learn the why-and-where of everything and just enjoy seeing those RBT's in prototype or scale form!

Thanks for your comment, Chris.
Eric

Robert Archer said...

Good train action!
I envy your "spot".

Thanks for posting these.

Eric said...

Hi Robert,

That Shoppers Drug Mart lot used to be a swamp. I remember driving past it and thinking, "That will be a good trainwatching spot someday!" Then it happened. There's a nice view to the east down the Kingston Sub, especially this time of the year when the grown-in vegetation isn't visible.

And thanks for your comment!
Eric

Rick said...

Does anyone have a list of which 8 Via Chateau sleepers were refurbished for Prestige Class service on The Canadian?

Eric said...

Rick:
Chateau Dollard, Chateau Salaberry, Chateau Denonville, Chateau Lauzon, Chateau Jolliet,
Chateau Cadillac and Chateau Maisonneuve, Chateau Varennes.
Hope this helps,
Eric

Rick said...

Thanks Eric. Any idea what the status is of the remaining 21 Chateaus. Are they in poor material condition or are they still in revenue service? Will they be sent out for refurbishment?

Eric said...

Still in use as crew sleepers between Manors and Park, Rick. I think they are in a range of conditions, and with VIA's current fluid financial and operational situation, I've heard nothing about Chateau refurbishment happening.

Eric

Eric said...

Still in use as crew sleepers between Manors and Park, Rick. I think they are in a range of conditions, and with VIA's current fluid financial and operational situation, I've heard nothing about Chateau refurbishment happening.

Eric

Rick Fullerton said...

Okay thanks Eric.