VIA Skyline 8501 Travels CN's Kingston Sub

CN's Kingston Sub hosts a dome car in revenue service! Over the course of three days, Skyline 8501 travelled the length of the Kingston Sub, first deadheading then in charter service. On its way to a major Rapido Trains Inc. product announcement at Exporail in St-Constant (or the Canadian Railway Museum in Delson, if you're of my vintage) the Skyline and an accompanying LRC coach conveyed a rabid Rapido customer conglomeration, also known as the Voyage of the Shronians (TM) east out of Toronto on October 11. The day before...

Thanks to a heads-up from Montreal-area railfan Michael Berry, who noted a Skyline on Montreal-Ottawa VIA No 633 at 0915 Saturday morning, my fingers flew to the VIA website to see when that consist would depart Ottawa for Toronto. VIA No 47, that's when! Arriving Ottawa around 1100, departing west around 1230, arriving Kingston 1450. To the bat cave then trackside, Robin!

Having caught the speeding train with deadhead dome at Queens East (top photo) on video, the south side platform at VIA station gave good light for video as the bedomed train arrived and departed. (Most photos in this post are video captures) Here are my Youtube videos from this weekend for your enjoyment:

• October 10 - VIA No 47 approaches Kingston station at Queens East, Mi 174 Kingston Sub
• October 10 - VIA No 47 departs Kingston station, Mi 176 Kingston Sub
• October 11 - VIA No 62/52 approaches Kingston station at Mi 179 Kingston Sub
• October 12 - VIA No 69 arrives Kingston station under cover of darkness at 1955 hrs

Sliding to a stop, then slipping out of the station, the Skyline trod the steps earlier taken by it and other Skylines when the Canadian operated on CN's Kingston Sub from 1981 to 1985. More recently, domes conveyed performance artist Skrillex' 2015 tour.

Heading west to Toronto into the glinting afternoon sun, approaching Mi 177 Kingston Sub, the consist of No 47: 6406-3475Ren-3361-3364-3356-3353-8501

As the Shronian hordes stampeded their way aboard VIA No 52 at Toronto Union station Sunday morning, I was worshiping a non-rail deity. This precluded my being trackside to get a video of the charter eastbound on Sunday, October 11. No worries - my wife and daughter pluckily proceeded to McDonald's for coffee and egg McMuffins to fortify themselves for the withering wait trackside. Operating 13 minutes late, the J-trained consist of VIA 62/52 soon hove into sight (well, not soon enough for them, given the falsely-early trackside arrival time I had fed them) and my daughter manned the Hi-Def 1080P digital device.

VIA 907 leads a Ren Business class car and three Renaissance coaches (above) while VIA 6406 led 52's consist - four surprisingly un-Renaissanced coaches following the Biz class car and preceding 8501, very likely the same consist I observed yesterday as VIA No 47!

To the windows, Shronians - the rail mecca of Kingston beckons on the horizon! Prepare thee to enjoy arguably the Corridor's best trainwatching spot, three miles to thy east, as ye pass the venerable trackside location of Mi 179 Kingston Sub!

A fellow in a white beard occupied the south side, first table and a fellow in a ball cap was in the rear section. Dome tinted glazing precluded me identifying anyone. You know who you are. Some of you know me. Envy is such a strong word, but I certainly wish you a bonne journee, a pleasant trip and an enjoyable two days in Dorval, Montreal and St-Constant. I'll post an update of what exactly the highly-secret product announcement here. If it's something I like, that is! Actually, I am very pleased to see the quick uptake of these charter seats, the volume and quality of museum-quality models produced, and the continued success of Rapido Trains Inc.

Though I don't think I'm a true Shronian (TM), I certainly do appreciate Jason Shron's chutzpah in single-handedly turning the North American model railway marketplace on its 'B' end and shaking it - with integrity, class and an undue but understandable emphasis on underbody detail!

Speaking of the letter B...'B sure' to check out my October sale!  Just scroll down a bit for some coveted paper items, railway books, and a few of my surplus HO scale structures still available!

October 12 UPDATE:
Running 20 minutes late, tonight's VIA No 69 arrived at Kingston with this consist: 906-902-3478Ren-3352-3363-3300Ren-3307-3477Ren-8501 - the last two cars conveying chowing-down and captivated charter passengers returning from the announcement at Exporail. Oh yeah, it's called Rapido's Icons of Canadian Steam! A series of steam models to be produced in the coming years. Not wanting to gloat (a combination of laugh and goat) I had predicted a Rapido D-10 nearly a year ago. It's a natural - had to be! Second iconic steam locomotive scheduled to be produced. Back to the Skyline...

Having my car angled towards the train, idling with high-beam headlights shining, plus flash photography, seemed to catch the Shronians (TM) by surprise. The group that Jason was just finishing a round of Rapido Trivia (or TriVIA?) soon turned to a waving mass of humanity. 

 Hi Jason! Hi Stephen Gardiner - Go Jays Go - Hi guy wearing Icons T-shirt!

Hi Matt Soknacki! Cheers - hoist a beer to this charter and the whole Exporail experience! Not sure if there was anyone in the dome - probably but I couldn't see 'em!

And dome denizen (at the time) Andrew Jeanes kindly shared his photo of this humble blogger photographing on a darkened platform. Thanks, Andrew! For more coverage of the westbound charter, check out this just-published post on my VIA Rail books site.

October Sale!

The leaves are falling and so are these items - surplus to my collection. Will they find a good home on your bookshelf or HO scale layout? Take a look! 

EMAIL UPDATE: If your email has bounced, please check correct email address below:

The first email received indicating interest in each item at mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca makes the item yours! Please refer to each item by ITEM# (superimposed on each item's photo) and name for clarity. Each item will be shipped well-protected via Canada Post upon receipt of payment. Shipping cost will be actual postage; payment of total by cheque of money order please. 

ITEMS SOLD SO FAR:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39 (that's both grain elevators - if I'd known they'd be this popular, I'd have built more!) and 40.

ITEM 1 CP Rail Form 584 October 1980, 200+ pages. $4
ITEM 2 CP Rail Form CS44 June 1986. $4
ITEM 3 CP Rail Form CS44 May 1981. $4
ITEM 4 GOI no date. $4
ITEM 5 Uniform Code of Operating Rules October 1962, 125+ pages. $4
ITEM 6 Canadian Rail Operating Rules January 1990, 170+ pages. $4

ITEM 7 CN MacMillan Yard Motive Power Safe Procedures November 1983, spiral 12 pages. $6

ITEM 8 CN MacMillan Yard Operating Manual April 1989, spiral 115 pages. $8

ITEM 9 CN/DW&P General Instructions October 1962, 90+ pages. $4

ITEM 10 Amtrak Mechanical Department Safety Rules June 1984, plastic cover 112 pages. $8

ITEM 11 Assoc of American Railroads Interchange Rules April 1979, 400 pages. $8

ITEM 12 CP Protection of Track Units April 1979, 14 pages. $4

ITEM 13 (see inside view below) CN Turbo Train Emergency Procedures, bilingual 12 pages. $10

ITEM 14 (see inside view below) CN Info Guide for Passenger Crews: conventinoal, Turbo including announcement texts, Railliner [sic], Tempo, TEE trains, no date probably pre-1982, $12

ITEM 15 Dining Car 1920 Portions, Prices and Table Service Reprint, pocket size, 159 pages. $4

ITEM 16 Rail Canada Vol 4 VIA 1983 original with colour centre section. $20
ITEM 17 CN Lines V15N1, 2009. $4
ITEM 18 Rail Canada Vol 5 RDC's and shortline power, 1983, colour section, 144 pages. $15
ITEM 19 Rail Canada Vol 4 VIA 2005 reprint coil-bound with colour cover and inside cover. $20

ITEM 20 Murals From a Great Train (dome car murals) VIA 1986, Ian Thom, colour bilingual, 190 pages. $25

ITEM 21 CPR Steam Locomotives Diagrams and Data, original 1945 Railfare reprint 1985, plans, data for CPR steam classes, 72 pages. $20

ITEM 22 School on Wheels, Schuessler 1985, B&W illustrations, 65 pages. $5

ITEM 23 CN Montreal Taschereau Yard May 1981, 75 pages English, 75 pages French, foldout yard diagram, coil-bound. (see foldoutview below) $10

ITEM 24 CN Montreal Yard Operating Manual July 1972, fair condition, loose foldout diagram, 40 pages. ( interior view below) $10

ITEM 25 Early VIA Condensed Schedules April 1977-October 1977 CP [red] and CN [blue] services 15 pages. $8

HO Scale kit-built, scratchbuilt, kitbashed western structures from my Manitoba-based layout:

ITEM 26: Scratchbuilt Bank of Montreal. $5
ITEM 27: Scratchbuilt Barber Shop. $5
ITEM 28: Small town church. $7
ITEM 29: Stone church $7

ITEM 30: Post office/convenience store. $5
ITEM 31: Storefronts, $5
ITEM 32: Scratchbuilt King George Hotel $5

ITEM 33: Wooden water tower. $7
ITEM 34: Coaling Tower. $7
ITEM 35: Scratchbuilt Shell filling station. $5
ITEM 36: Scratchbuilt Fairgrounds PA booth. $5
ITEM 37: Scratchbuilt Sherritt fertilizer elevator. $5

ITEM 38: Scratchbuilt Central Grain (United Grain Growers design) modern grain elevator. $25

ITEM 39: Scratchbuilt Manitoba Pool Elevators grain elevator. $25

Kits are nominally priced due to their used condition and postage costs, but will be well-packed to ensure survival during shipping! I don't want a reverse-kitbash to occur!

Covered Hopper Cornucopia

CEFX 380187

I've personally designated this year as The Year of Photographing the Mundane. As I stood trackside on September 19, just west of Belleville, Ontario watching CN No 369 wander westward, I noted and photographed some mundane cars. Actually, perhaps they're more interesting than they are mundane. Or perhaps it's just that I was able to find something interesting about each one. Midwest Railcar Corporation (MWCX) has cobbled together a fleet including ex-General Chemical, AGP Grain Co-operative and ex-Peavey cars:

MWCX 460956

Also in the fleet, an ex-CEFX, exx-LDCX, exxx-MILW:

Ex-Milwaukee Road MWCX 460616

Building America with higher, graffiti-defeating reporting marks:

UP 93662

The Crandic has been stencilling their fleet with names of employees:

T

In memory of Crandic employee Gerald E Goodwin CIC 2086

In recognition of Crandic employee Todd Robinson CIC 2119

The conspicuity decals and graffiti brighten up this CN car:

CN 388520

Once the restencilling begins, who knows where it stops and what these cars originally were. Likely Transportation Corporation of America:

GROX 813170

Official-looking DRA graffiti on this little salt car:

CRDX 20451

And bringing up the tail-end, Sid Richardson carbon black:

SRCX 1557

I'm reminded of this Covered Hopper Train of Thought post from 2010. Certainly covered hoppers are among the most frequently-observed car types these days, along with those blackish tank cars.

Running extra...

Brian Sulley shared some dusk photos of venerable Ernestown station. Brian explored the station area and notes that it is still an impressive structure, especially in the evening light. Brian also managed to photograph a CN westbound behind engine 2894, taken at 1809. Thanks, Brian!

Speaking of industrial/rail archaeology, Dennis DeBruler kindly shared a photo of a former Manitoba-leased Pillsbury covered hopper car which I've added to this post. Dennis is also a blogger and I highly recommend his data-dense Industrial History blog for anyone itching for a look at Midwest railroading and the industries served. Thanks, Dennis!

I've found there are three types of people in this world of ours: there are those who can count, and those who can't count. If you are counting, this post is the the 371st posted, and with 29 in draft form, that makes a total of 400 Trackside Treasure posts since 2008.

September in Shannonville

Last Saturday found us slipping out of the searing summer season of shimmering skies, into the seasonal, somnolent song of September. Specifically, Shannonville, just east of Belleville. At Shannonville Road crossing of CN's Kingston Sub (also of CP's Belleville Sub just to the north, though I've largely given up on depending on CP for many if any trains) an 0955 stop at the crossing soon brought a (non-whistling, at this crossing) CN No 106, led by 8811-8810:

The hypnotic parade of K&R, Transx and CN domestic containers soon gave way to import/export containers for the remainder of the train:

CMA/CGM, COSCO, ZIM, Evergreen, NYK Logistics, UASC  and many more did not inspire me to write an ode nor haiku this time.

Arriving in Belleville yard, the tail end of CN train No 369 was just clearing the station. In 2012 I'd seen 369 at Shannonville. The incoming crew gave a good inspection to the outgoing crew, and the slow-moving train allowed me to scoop the train along Moira Street West. Here's a subsequent post focusing on the numerous covered hoppers on this train, which also comprised HPJX aluminum ingot flat cars, TBOX and other box cars. For now, graffiti's CN 388520 will hog the spotlight:

The head-end exasperatingly eluded me - but that can be the nature of a chase! Just before the road curved away to the south, 2405 and 2678 lead:

Along Airport Parkway just east of Belleville yard, VIA J-train No 52/62 passed through the man-made rock cut: 900-3472-3367-3363-3304Ren-3322-916-4008-4102-4114-4105-4100

Triple-tracking plus a yard lead:

A headlight on the horizon! At 1140, CN 2301 and DPU 8002 are westbound.

CTCX and TGOX oil cars on the head-end behind website-scheme cylindrical covered hopper CNLX 7318:

It's a 5x4! PROX 44444:

Grain cars including ALNX 396040 painted for the community of Daysland:

DPU 8002 sandwiched among some 60-foot hi-cube lumber boxcars:

Beyond busy Airport Parkway, a bucolic barnyard scene:

Thanks to Malcolm Peakman for providing additional data for this post.

Running extra...

I've added Matthieu Lachance's excellent Canadian model railway blog Hedley Junction to Trackside Treasure's sidebar. Matthieu is doing some fine prototype modelling of the 1980s CN Murray Bay Subdivision. Paper cars, locomotives and MoW cars and some operating sessions, too! He's a good, regular blogger, too! Bienvenue, Matthieu!

October sale coming soon to Trackside Treasure. This year, the sale will be held in...October. Toronto, Montreal, CN, CP and VIA will all be for sale. In document form, that is!

The City of Kingston has completed the first two phases of the widening of major arterial road John Counter Boulevard, named for the city's first mayor. Posted to the city's website, a westbound one-unit wonder passes beneath a suddenly tree-lined JCB while a Kingston Transit bus arches overhead: