Dale Wilson RIP

I was saddened to hear that Dale Wilson died on May 5. Dale was a well-known railway historian and photographer who wrote several books, many focused on the Algoma Central. I have one of his books, Algoma Eastern Railway, and I’ve read a couple of others via our local library. He was a great writer. … Read more

FOMO

Canadian Pacific business train west of Winnipeg, Manitoba

You may have heard the acronym FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. Many railfans have this affliction, and I have suffered from it myself. You hear about some special train or locomotive coming through your area and you feel like you have to go see it because other people are.

The Rail Relocation Zombie

View of a busy railway yard in Winnipeg

A recent CP derailment has put life back into the rail relocation zombie, the shambling agglomeration of ideas to move the rail yards and lines out of downtown Winnipeg that just won’t die.

RIP Pat Kennedy

Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy, founder of OSIsoft, died in early April at the age of 79. He will be missed. Who was Dr. Kennedy, or Pat as most people knew him? And why am I writing about him here? Pat was a brilliant engineer, a savvy entrepreneur and a genuinely caring person. He was one … Read more

A Computer Geek: BBSes

Broken US Robotics modem

Today we take computer networking for granted. In fact, most people don’t even think of it at all. The fact that the device in your hand can load a web page halfway across the planet in a few seconds is taken for granted. It wasn’t always this easy. In fact, it was downright difficult.

Eastend Scenic Rail Tours

Colour photograph of a green and black locomotive with a yellow nose, numbered 6311 with the words "Canadian National" on the side.

The quiet town of Eastend, Saskatchewan has become the home of perhaps the largest collection of ex CN, ex VIA Rail equipment in the world. Gary Southgate, a farmer from North Battleford, SK, has been collecting railway equipment for a decade. He has purchased ex VIA Rail blue and yellow passenger equipment, and locomotives, and … Read more

Trams in Milan, 1973

Tram in Milan

I happened to see a quartet of Milanese tram slides for sale on an online auction site a few months ago. I submitted the minimum bid and, lo and behold, I won. I guess there isn’t much competition for this type of slide! All of the slides are dated 1973 but have no other markings. … Read more

Public Transit in Cologne

Trams crossing the Rhine River in Cologne

Public transit in the German city of Köln (Cologne in English) is the responsibility of Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG, which is responsible for operating the light rail and bus system and the subway (U-Bahn). Collectively the public transit network is known as the Cologne Stadtbahn. When we were in Cologne in early December 2021, we used … Read more