Considering a New Video Camera

I’m thinking about getting a new video camera. Why? I’ve been recording a lot of video over the past few years and posting it on my YouTube channel. For aerial video I’ve been using my DJI Mavic Air drone, and recently I acquired an inexpensive Akaso EK7000 for close-to-the-ground / novelty shots. However, my main … Read more

A Blue Barn Visits Winnipeg

CMQ 9021 Winnipeg 20200619 SLB-8

Back in 1988, Canadian Pacific Railway received the first of 25 SD40-2F locomotives. These Canadian-built locomotives were the only new locomotives delivered in the “Action Red” scheme, and were unique to CP. They were essentially SD40-2 locomotives with a cowl body instead of the usual “hood” that SD40s had. They were quickly dubbed “red barns” … Read more

Remembering CP 1530

Canadian Pacific Railway used to have a fleet of EMD GP7 and GP9 road switcher locomotives. These engines were built in the 1950s and operated all over CP’s system for many years. Despite being remanufactured, they reached the end of their useful life and most were scrapped. Some provided parts for today’s GP20C-ECO locomotives.

An Anthology of Trains

I like to write long “story” posts, taking the reader through a railfan trip or a “productive” time trackside. Sometimes, though, all I have is short stories – I saw a train, then on another day, I saw a different train. They aren’t enough for a post on their own, so I am combining them … Read more

What is “Enough”?

Sometimes I know that it’s never enoughSurvival is fine but satisfaction is rough– “Ain’t It Heavy”, Melissa Etheridge As I sit, looking at the pile of employee timetables that I recently acquired, I wondered when I will stop collecting timetables. When will I have “enough” timetables? Railfans are notorious collectors. We collect so many things, … Read more

Whispers of the Rock

FURX 815447 in Winnipeg 2019/01/05

Readers of this blog will know that I like rail cars that still feature traces of “fallen flag” railways. These railways that have gone bankrupt or merged into other railways still live on, in the memories of those who worked on them and the memories of railfans, as well as ghostly logos on old freight … Read more

My First Military Unit

A hot tip led to my first photograph of a Canadian Pacific “military” locomotive! Local photographer Jack Hykaway alerted a few of us that CP 7022 was in the Canadian Pacific yard in Winnipeg, along with a few other SD70ACU locomotives. I convinced my wife that it was a good evening for a drive, so … Read more

VIA Coming and Going

This past weekend, I decided to make a point of recording the Winnipeg-Churchill train, both coming into Winnipeg and leaving from Winnipeg the next day. VIA 692 is the incoming (to Winnipeg) train and VIA 693 is the outgoing (to Churchill) train. Odd numbered trains go west, even go east. VIA 692 A few of … Read more

I’ll See Your Pair of GMD1s

CEMR GMD1 1010 in Winnipeg 20200321 SLB-4-3

Back in March I decided that I hadn’t seen the Central Manitoba Railway (CEMR) in a while, so I drove up to their yard off Day Street in northeast Winnipeg, aka North Transcona. They have a shop here that does a lot of repair work for the Cando fleet, so sometimes there are some interesting … Read more

VIA Rail in LEGO?

Lego Canadian Train

Would you want a VIA Rail Canadian in LEGO®? How about a VIA Corridor train? If Nick Lafreniere is successful with his bid, this could happen. Nick has designed two potential LEGO kits featuring some of VIA’s trains operating today. Nick needs your help to get these to kit form. Click one or both buttons … Read more