O/S Brantford Jan 8/06

[Aleks]

Well the Sun Gods and the Train Gods finally got together at least for 1/2 a day.

09:30 to 09:34
VIA #70
VIA 6414
1 Baggage car
7 coaches

10:05
CN 148 (no digital shot as I accidentally pushed the timer button while I was grabbing the camera after taking a slide film shot)
CN 2523 - BNSF 4815 - CN 2569
87 cars

10:13
NS 328
NS 9333 - NS 6105 - NS 9664
15 High Cubes


10:25
CN 587 West to Paris from Brantford
CN 9551


The train of the day!
10:40 to 11:30
CN 278
BNSF 6767 - BNSF 7840
Light engines into the Brantford yard to lift 34 cars.
This is normally an empty autorack train.



Theres more shots of this set in my Mile Post 23 gallery.

11:19
CN 399 by Hardy crossovers at the west end of Brantford
CN 2561 - CN 2546 - BNSF 333
133 cars



11:25 to 12:37
CN 385 stopped to lift cars at Brantford
CN 5612 - CN 2536
67 + 41 = 108 cars departing.


12:27
CN 391
CN 5627 - CN 25?? - CN 5343 (will have to wait for slide film shots to get the numbers)
167 cars !!!!!!


12:43 to 12:46
VIA #72
VIA 915
6 LRC coaches

13:03
CN 331
CN 2548 - CN 2669
57 cars


13:06
CN 587 East from Paris
22 cars


13:13 to 13:17
VIA #73
VIA 900
10 coaches
VIA 6431


13:28
CN 587 backing west with the balance of cars he picked up from Paris after setting off 3 T-Box's at Camco.
19 cars
CN 9551

Although there was a green light for an Eastbound I had to head home to get some things done.

[Scooterb]

Heads up Aleks CN 394 has BNSF 4969 as leader around Lansing Michigan at this time 10:00 pm, also something mentiond about 3 special cars?

[Aleks]

Thanks, 394 is usually a good catch for BNSF power because the train originates out of Cicero yard in Chicago.
Unfortunatly it'll either go through tonight or in the morning while I'm at work.
That 4 letter word sometimes gets in the way of good railfanning, but it does pay the bills.
Thanks for the heads-up though and keep them coming.
I've got a couple of guys from here to check this site so they'll see it and maybe they'll get a chance to catch it.

[leo28150]

Hey Aleks, is it normal for VIA to have the equipment mixed like that on their trains i.e., #73? As I'm not familiar with those low slung cars (Talgo's??), it seems like it would cause problems with the conventional cars that are behind on this train. Boy, do I miss the International--the hours were much better (for me anyways).

[Aleks]

They mix cars often enough. Typically the run the stainless steel Budd coaches together and the LRC coaches together but if short the mix or in the case of this train it's actually a ferry move that occurs on Sunday on this train.
VIA runs a Monday to Friday train for commuters and this equipement goes to Toronto for the weekend then they have to return it west for the morning eastbound on Monday.
What you see is the regular #73 and the equipement for #82 which will arrive back in Brantford on Monday around 7:30am.

[sd70accsxt700]

What ever happend to the Canadian crews, having to have a CN leader, because it was equiped, with the hot plate and such. I am starting to see a lot more photos of non CN leaders, on trains over there.

[Aleks]

I was talking with a relief conductor for that 385 I shot and he said something about them changing that rule. They always used to tack on a CN leader at Sarnia but now they run through. Not sure when it changed but he said the CN crews are not impressed.
They're used to hot plates, microwaves, fridges etc. He complained that most US units are lucky to have an ice box, and he commented about them being "crap"units.
I bet they'll appreciate a US leader that has air conditioning in the summer.

[sd70accsxt700]

I know I would sure like them (hot plates and all). I have only had the opprotunity to run 2 CN units, (Plus 2 of the GTW 59xx in the KCS paint), and both seamed to be better than our stuff. Altough the SD75I, the spedo dident work, but the SD40-2LW, was awEsome. Boy but did it suck with that wide cab, and no air, when it was 95 degrees out.