What Do People Do All Day?

One of my favourite books to pore over in my younger years was Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? Detailed, humorous illustrations opened the world of work to impressionable young minds. At the time, 'blogger' was not an occupation. It is now. For me, it's a second job. As you read each week's Trackside Treasure posts, you may well wonder: What does Eric do all day? Today, I thought I'd tell you what I've done for many, many days - actually for 30 years now!

You see, I've just returned from a classy evening at Kingston's Four Points Sheraton, hosted by my employer, Kingston General Hospital. This annual long-service recognition dinner honours hospital employees who've been with the hospital for 25 or more years. Also this week, the hospital foundation's fundraising campaign included a stock photo of me in their wall posters - brought to my attention by several colleagues. The photo (top) on the wall of the Burr wing cancer centre, depicts me adding slides to an immunostainer.

I'm a medical laboratory technologist, working in the hospital's pathology laboratory. There we receive and process surgical and autopsy tissue and organ specimens, producing stained glass slides as a final product. These are used by pathologists to render a diagnosis. The immunostainer stains slides with an antigen-antibody reaction, to help pathologists and clinicians diagnose various types of cancer. As the poster caption notes, we practice innovative health care. So innovative that we have upgraded with improved instrumentation twice since this photo was taken! 

Back in June, 1985 this just-graduated, neophyte medical laboratory technologist (and future blogger) began his career. Since then, KGH has been more than my workplace. It's been my home-away-from home, my haven, my harbour, my hotel, my hovel, and my hostel. Equal parts crucible, sunroom, pressure cooker, Petri dish, think-tank. It's where I met my wife. It's where I've worked with some fine colleagues. It's where I gained professional expertise, life experience and seniority! It's allowed me to serve on the Council of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario. And presently, on the Anatomic Pathology Scientific Committee of the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare, formerly Ontario's Quality Management Program - Laboratory Services. 

This week has been a reflective one for me - such milestones usually lead to reflection, don't they? Tonight my wife and I celebrated, shaking hands with the hospital CEO and chair of the hospital Board. Earlier today, as I filled out my employee engagement survey, and had to answer the question: How often do I look forward to coming to work each day? My selection was easy - ALWAYS. And I owe it all to my sister-in-law Susan, my blogger brother Dave's spouse, who led me by example into this interesting field. 

Now you know what I do all day...when I'm not blogging about trains!

Born to Fly! The Union Pearson Express

On October 29, VIA No 651 took me to Toronto under leaden, overcast autumn skies. Our consist was 906-4005-4109-4105-4111. The sun only broke out from behind the clouds as we entered Union Station, meeting numerous GO extras heading out for another load of commuters (GO 658 - top photo) or to layover until the afternoon rush (GO 646 and 636 at North Bathurst Yard - below). In the afternoon, to mix pleasure with business, I had time before the departure of (a late-running) VIA No 76 which became VIA No 48 at Toronto. So it was off to the airport!

The Union-Pearson Express (or Up Express, as it's referred to onboard) is a slick operation that debuted in the summer, using Japanese-built Nippon Sharyo nippon DMU's in two- or three-unit consists. I purchased my $27.50 meeter-and-greeter return fare, which is valid for any return trip in the following three hours. The next train arrived in mere minutes - departures every 15 minutes and a 25-minute trip each way.

Departing Union, we stopped at Bloor at 1438, Weston at 1444, arriving Pearson at 1453. I was aboard unit 3006. Snapshots of Toronto life. There are several underpasses and overpasses as we travel on CP and CN trackage.

NOVEMBER 2025 UPDATE: This was originally Kodak Building Nine, a recreation building built in 1939 as part of the company's large industrial campus in the Weston area northwest of downtown. The entire 5,000,000-pound structure was moved 180 feet and back in 2016-17 to make way for, then become, the new Eglinton Light Rail Transit line's Mount Dennis intermodal terminal. Opening in late-2025 (Metrolinx photo):

We passed a three-Geep CN tramp job with 4136-4141-4115 near Woodbine racetrack, hostling lumber cars.

All too soon, after stops at Brock and Weston (Check) we diverged onto the trackage to the airport at Wice. The track we had been on continues under the signal gantry in the distance, and our train curves sharply onto its own alignment.

Soon we were on a BC Skytrain-like raised right-of-way (apparently the longest such trackage in Canada), soaring above the spaghetti bowl of access roads and parking lots at Toronto's Pearson Airport:

Westjet, Sunwing, Air Canada, Jazz and other jets arrived and departed Terminal 1, our destination. A free people mover could convey me to Terminal 3, but I didn't want to miss my train and have to fly back to Kingston! I strolled the terminal like an Avioner for a bit. Even before disembarking, the smell of avgas was very noticeable in the air.

What's this? Air Canada's anniversary Trans-Canada Airlines scheme taxiing in!

Return trip boarding unit 1012, with 3003. We departed Pearson at 1530, stopping at Weston at 1541, Bloor at 1547 (hello, GO 639!) and arriving Union at 1555. The cars are nice and new inside, with bidirectional seating, luggage racks, handicapped access, washrooms and of course, screens to keep passengers informed. Crew circulates to scan your QR code receipt. Uniforms are a cross between airline attendants and something out of Shining Time Station!

A meet! Inbound UP Express passes the PNR Railworks facility near the airport. PNR, A&B and OWS were three rail contractors I observed, working on the right-of-way.

This vehicle, parked behind a warehouse on Bethridge Road, looks like a German railway wagon! Gothic stencilling is almost obscured by a tarp. East of Woodbine racetrack and Highway 27, perhaps an observant UP Express rider can get a better picture and/or info on this interesting-looking artifact!

Returning to Union, the Rogers Centre, GO train and gridlock loomed.

An hour of trainwatching at Union Station exceeded 25 movements by GO, UP and VIA. Two VIA consists were parked like sitting ducks under the trainshed, with 6431 at left and 911-6401 at right:

A cornucopia of GO consists collaborated, including this rare double-header (below) and a dual-F59 consist that I posted to YouTube.

Having observed the all-Metrolinx-scheme consist inbound from the Lakeshore West line just after departure, it didn't return during my time at the end of the Skywalk. I had to content myself with single pieces of this new scheme rolling stock, such as GO 662:

One of the VIA Rail trains actually moved! The train's two Business Class cars bore poppy logos, a tangible sign of VIA's large donation to the Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign, as were complimentary poppies at all VIA kiosks.

A rare light engine move. VIA P42 914 arrives from the west. Apparently, rear-end views of these units are hard to come by. Here's one!

My VIA No 48 home arrived into Toronto as VIA No 76 Eng 916, unusually with an HEP2 consist. Luke Bellefleur kindly shared his photo of this consist, taken at Ingersoll earlier in the afternoon. Thanks, Luke! Our return consist was 916-4003-4119-4116-4100 and deadhead 4101.

Running extra:

Remembrance Day and a new government all in one week. Canadian democracy at its finest. Artist Dave Sopha has conspicuously created and deserves credit for his efforts. 

Having just watched The Wizard of Oz for the 324th time, this song resonated: Sara Evans' 'Born to Fly'. Intro by Vince Gill, classic country Missouri-born twang, vocal harmony provided by backup singer and keyboardist, (no need for backup dancers) and great lyrics, whether you're bound for the sky or well-grounded.

The CMA awards were broadcast this past week. Things were as they should be: Carrie Underwood - numerous wardrobe changes. Luke Bryan - whitest teeth in country music. Little Big Town - great whether they sing or just show up. Not a lot of up-and-comers, so Reba and Brooks & Dunn were resurrected to save the show. You've always got time for twang.

And you've always got time for Tim Hortons. Especially when the apple pie fritter is on offer - sugary goodness. While in Toronto, Bret kindly treated us to Tim's during the fire drill. Ian suggested more 1980's - accepted! LRC Business Class car again substituted with HEP2 so seat 16S no longer exists, though the Cajun haddock home did not disappoint! I chose it just for the halibut.

Kingston-Toronto in Business Class, November 2015

Scenes from a train...aboard VIA Business Class on November 1, 2015. There was precious little sunshine this afternoon aboard VIA No 65, but I found it to photograph when I could. East of Napanee, farm country featured some fleeting clouds to the north (top photo) while the previously-touted Most Scenic Trainwatching Spot in Canada soon passed by. Tough to capture the whole scene in one little photo  - the Gibbard Furniture factory is becoming condos, the park has been gentrified and the cabooseless walkway in foreground doesn't do its scenicness justice, not does the LRC car's dirty window! Trust me, it's scenic and you can hear the sound of the bridge below you as the train glides over the Napanee River leaflessly:

The Grand Trunk station at Napanee flashes by. This train is non-stop until Guildwood. Consist was 6404-3463Ren-3357-3356-3320 and another Renaissance coach. We'd meet eastbound CN freights 310, 318 and 148 at Belleville, Newtonville and Ajax respectively.

Four of us boarded in Business Class at Kingston. No cart needed - meals were brought to us individually by the two helpful, young male and female attendants. In the absence of a warm fish dish (cold tuna just didn't cut it) the pork medallions, potatoes, vegetable and salad with white roll and maple bar, plus white wine was a close second!

 At Belleville, Hitachi excavators were in the yard behind stored TT well cars:

 Is this Northern Ontario? Perhaps near Sioux Lookout? Nope, west of Trenton:

Those little china coffee cups are just too small for coffee this good. Business Class coffee is good. Upon request, a paper cup full appeared, and the cup lettering says it all as Southern Ontario flashes by:

Bowmanville's St Mary's Cement plant is shipping by rail again. I have not seen this since a strike at the plant several years ago. About 20 cars were on the lead, with more under the silos:

CN's Oshawa yard is as quiet as Belleville's was. Not so in 1984, when many more auto parts arrived by hi-cube boxcars than by tractor-trailer:

 Inside Business Class car 3463, the 2+1 seating makes for a spacious view from 16S:

Before making the last curve towards Union Station, the CN Tower thrust skyward between condos a-building. My Nikon zoomed in between the seat ahead and the side of the car, at speed!

The Toronto Union Station train shed is being daylighted, covered by glass, and is definitely more photo-friendly. No flash required as VIA No 65 at left disgorges its passengers, some transfer cross-platform to VIA No 75 at right:

This is Toronto. The CN Tower! The TTC Subway! And people talking nervously and obsessively on phones as they scurry along the sidewalk not making eye contact! University Avenue looking south at Dundas:

 Nothing says T.O. to me like T.T.C. C.L.R.V. also at University and Dundas:

Running extra...

Train books - If you're in Toronto and you like books on trains, head to:

• BMV Books at 10 Edward St, next to the ex-location of The World's Biggest Bookstore. There you'll find Fifth Books/Railfare's Van Horne's Road in hardcover, dustjacket for $19.99.
• Eliot's Bookshop at 584 Yonge St has a huge selection of second-hand books on Union Pacific, the Rutland, C&O Morning Sun, SP, CP on the Kettle Valley, the SD60 by Diesel Era, and an earlier hardcover Railfare version of Van Horne's Road - about four shelves' worth to choose from. Climb to the third floor!

Toronto joke: Q - How many Torontonians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A - One. Then 12,000 to talk about what a world-class event it was. Useful Toronto subway phrases: Stand Right, Walk Left. Mind the Gap. I wish there were as many percussionists at Yonge-Dundas Square as there are proselytizers. Beat! Believe!

PHLX Covered Hoppers

About a year ago, some very new, very clean, very un-graffiti'd covered hoppers made an appearance on CN's Kingston Sub. Carrying PHLX reporting marks, these cars built by National Steel Car beginning in September, 2014 are operated by grain company Parrish & Heimbecker. The company has made progress into eastern Canada's grain shipping market. P&H took over operation of the grain elevator just west of Trenton, Ontario, adding it to a list of over 15 elevators operated in Ontario, from Winchester in the east to Glencoe in the southwest. CN No 519 switches PHLX 105 at Trenton Jct, in March, 2015 having just come upgrade from the Parrish & Heimbecker elevator lead - Alex Pallo Jr. photo.

I caught PHLX 101 at the Trenton elevator in February, 2017 (above). Phil Niles photo, via Jim Mumford of PHLX 109 at Cobourg in September 2015:

Chris Devries photographed PHLX 109 at Brockville in May, 2015:

A string of PHLX cars on CN No 371 at Belleville, ON in December 2014, photo by Mary Peakman:

I photographed PHLX 108 on CN No 369 through Kingston on December 12, 2015 - right behind the power! Pole position.

On April 2, 2015, PHLX 106 was on the head-end of CN No 369:

I observed but didn't photograph PHLX 105-104 near the head-end of CN No 369 on January 16, 2016. Not to worry - Michael Berry got a nice top-shot of them on CN No 401 two days earlier:

Ron Visockis photographed PHLX 100 with new-looking wheelsets in Belleville back in December, 2014.

And here's PHLX 100 passing in front of my camera, on CN No 369 at Kingston on May 5, 2019. The taggers have been at work:

And more tagging by 2020, similar in January 3, 2023 at Belleville (image courtesy Railstream, LLC)

The other side of PHLX 100 (trust me!) at Belleville on November 17, 2022 (Image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

On September 27, 2020 PHLX 102-101 were on CN No 376 at Kingston:

The taggers green-slimed PHLX 101, all around the stencilling and logo:

And have started working on PHLX 102:

PHLX 102 westbound through Belleville on November 1, 2022 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

Compare and contrast. The other sides of PHLX 101 and 102, separated by just one FURX car, on CN No 517 departing Belleville on February 27, 2021 (Image courtesy Railstream, LLC). These appear to be the opposite sides:

On April 23, PHLX 101 and 102 were together on CN No 517 leaving Belleville with PHLX 100 also on the train. (Image courtesy RailStream, LLC):

PHLX 101 was eastbound through Kingston at noon on March 15, 2022 on CN No 372:

PHLX 101 buried deep in a Montreal-Toronto freight on March 15, 2026 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC). The car was handled by CN No 518 east from Trenton to Belleville yard on March 21.

The 'green side' of PHLX 101 returning to Belleville from Trenton behind CN 4902-GTW 4625 on October 27, 2022 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

Together again, again. PHLX 102-101 were westbound through Belleville to Toronto on January 13, then westbound again here on CN No 518 on January 18, heading for Trenton (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

Graffiti renewal. PHLX 102 deep in an early-morning westbound freight on March 23, 2026 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

The other side of PHLX 102 solo on CN No 306's head end into Belleville on March 14, 2023 (image courtesy Railstream, LLC):

On July 21, 2015 CN No 369 was entering Belleville yard behind CN 8842-5258-5644-GT 4909, also photographed by Ron Visockis, with three PHLX covered hoppers on the head-end:

• On January 2, 2015, I observed eastbound CN No 368 with PHLX 101-106-105-107-100 at Kingston. 
• On February 1, I observed PHLX 102; then on August 26 it was PHLX 103.
• An October, 2014 Youtube video of CN No 589 at Vankleek Hill includes PHLX 109 on the tail-end.
• Also in October, 2014 PHLX 106 was in Montreal.
• What P&H decal artwork might look like:
  

AUGUST 2016 UPDATE: Romet CZ Vilenski posted photos taken at Saskatoon of CN Nos 403 and 757 with more PHLX cars including a large cut of PHLX 200-series covered hoppers. New series?

Where they go: a photo of the P&H Trenton elevator track on Telephone Road from aboard VIA, looking north. Winnipeg railfan Taylor Woolston also caught P&H SD20 locomotive 15, also adorned with the P&H logo. Thanks to Alex, Chris, Malcolm and Mary, Phil and Ron for their photos.

The Trenton P&H elevator from aboard VIA No 65, with VIA's Trenton Junction station platform just to the west:

Running extra...

Speaking of covered hoppers - George Dutka recently published a post on AEQX (ex-Boston & Maine) and other interesting covered hoppers used to ship IKO roofing granules from CP's Kawartha Lakes Railway yard in Havelock, ON. Neat! I'd blogged CN's IKO transload operation at Belleville a year ago. George also included photos of Havelock's earlier GE Railcar Services and Hay West operations.

Some of my recent Youtube videos:

• VIA Prestige Class dome-lounge Prince Albert Park.
• GO 558-559 westbound out of Toronto Union Station.
• For the non-train crowd (why are you on here?) Mont-Tremblant Panorama.
• Oldie but goodie: Two-tone Turbo tune time!