Pop-up Post: Four Days in September 2024, Day Three

Going farther afield than Day Two on Saturday September 28, a fiery red sunrise for Day Three. High cloud obscuring the sun as I drove west to Townline Road east of Napanee, at Mi 193.28 CN Kingston Sub, the cloud eventually giving way to blue skies late morning. I was in place by 0900 hours for the first of 13 VIA trains this Saturday. With no direct sun, I tried my luck in the shadowy silence north of the north track for VIA No 60/50.

0900 EB VIA No 60/50: 6414-5 LRC-900(?)-4 HEP

It was back to the south side for reliable morning daily CN No 372, putting on what the young people call a 'Smoke show'?

0917 EB CN No 372: IC 2709-5632 (both from yesterday's 305)-DPU 8023:

Over the crossing, into the challenging light:

An odd ending, never seen on 372 - a single auto rack.

The morning VIA parade continued, with four before the next CN freight.

0949 WB VIA No 61: non-wrapped (one of four: 901, 901, 915 and) 917-6 LRC:

Time for a rail study and some NoTrophy.

Original CWR laid in 1980 (above), and two other sources farther afield (below):

OK, back to the trains on those rails! 

1057 WB VIA No 643: Venture Set 19 2318-2219:

The other morning J-train, VIA No 62/52, running 25 minutes late. While VIA has just sent five of its F40 fleet to CAD in Lachine, QC for rebuilding, the P42's run on into oblivion. No rebuild program for them, already 23 years old.

1104 EB VIA No 62/52: 911-6 LRC-912-5 HEP:

1156 WB VIA No 63: 6431-4 LRC-6455!

There was a surprise in store. VIA 6455 was tagging along, forward facing, and was online and pushing!

Thirteen minutes for the next freight, a late-running CN No 368 with a few ingot loads and many more ingot empties on the head-end:

1209 EB CN No 368: 3064-DPU 3202:

A pretty good Felix the Cat on that ingot car bulkhead. Headlights had been approaching from both directions. Why, CN, why run two freights in front of me at the same time when there were only four to be had all day long? I contemplated heading to the north side to see both trains' power, but I was not willing to go to the 'dark side'.

So, instead, I was likely to miss the westbound trains' power. Nearly skunked by CN No 271. Empty centre beams to the rescue. BAAMP horn!

1210 WB CN No 271: 8955-8940 with all empty auto racks:

No 368's DPU sandwiched between TBOX's and more empty centre beams:

1236 EB VIA No 40: Venture Set 17 2216-2316:

Another almost-meet. No 40 was just gone east when No 45 came west.

1238 WB VIA No 45: 6457, HEP Business Class car-3 LRC coaches:

1310 WB CN No 305: 3822-DPU 8833:

No 305's DPU, forward-facing for once!

Always the end of 305 - empty auto racks as fill tonnage:

VIA consists lengthened by having more Ventures in service, thereby freeing up cars to add to pure-LRC consists. 

1349 WB VIA No 64: 914-7 LRC:

Tricky with backlighting but had to fight the monotony of south-side photography!

1410 WB VIA No 53: 6424-4 LRC:

1423 WB VIA No 65: 6441-7 LRC:

1443 EB VIA No 42: Venture Set 9 2209-2308 (no photo).

1505 EB VIA No 47 (below) Venture Set 16 2315-2215.

Last train of the day. It was almost time to head home via the back roads, all crossings were train-less.

1532 EB VIA No 644: 908-6 LRC

The day's tally: 13 VIA; 4 CN. Ventures on VIA Nos 643, 40, 42, 47. 

This final fourth post shows what was coming around the bend for Day Four!

Running extra...

I'm continuing to update my previous post on crossing speed restrictions placed by CN on VIA Ventures. 

Took a wrong turn at Proviso? Building Canada instead of the usual Building America? Coming from Tara, IA with three UP units: 5485-4011-2765 and a mix of CTCX, NATX, TILX, IARX and VMSX ethanol tank cars for Levis, QC. Video captures through Collins Bay,  Mi 180 CN Kingston Sub at 1630 on October 10. Thanks to Klepto Rat for the heads-up. Youtube video link. The UP power was turned around at Quebec City and sent to Montreal on CN No 401 the next day, Friday.