I am always happy to receive questions about trains, grain elevators, photography and so forth. You can contact me here.
There are some questions that keep coming up, and this page will list the most common ones with answers. If you still have questions, get in touch!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I find a freight train schedule? (or: How do I know when a train is coming?)
- Why do trains have multiple engines? (or: Why do some trains have an engine in the middle?)
- Can trains run backwards?
- How long can a train block a crossing?
- What is a unit train?
- Why are locomotives left idling?
- What products are transported by train?
- Why do railroads share locomotives?
- Why do trains derail?
- Do trains have speed limits?
- What are hump yards?
- What is a reporting mark?
- What train did my ancestor take when they arrived in Canada?
I’m very much interested in accessing a complete map of the Manitoba Reston spur ( Peanut) line that ran to Wolseley, Sask.
The line ran past our farm north of Peebles.
Hi Brenda, the Reston subdivision ran between Reston, MB and Wolseley SK. It crossed the CNR at Maryfield and at Peebles. You can see the towns it went through here: https://www.traingeek.ca/wp/trains/class-1-railways/cp-in-manitoba/reston/
Hello
My question is about the crossing near Lutes street in Moncton NB. On average how many trains so matter freight or passenger pass through this area from 11pm to 9 am. HAHAHAHA I am trying to figure out if they are causing my sleep problems or not If I can pinpoint some of the times- approximately – it sure would help. I enjoy the trains don’t get me wrong and all the services they provide. My doctor is trying to help me solve sleep issues . Thanks for your time
Hi Brenda, it’s hard to say. You said Lutes Road? There’s no tracks near there unless I am looking at the wrong part of Moncton. There are two eastbound trains and two westbound trains daily east-west through Moncton. Currently there is no passenger train running.
Does an individual locomotive have the ability to power up additional traction motors of an adjacent locomotive?
Hi Gary, no, I believe the crew member has to walk to the adjacent locomotive to do that kind of adjustment.
Hope you are well!
I came by your site looking for freight train routes through Toronto.
I am planning to buy a property close to a rail line and just wanted to see if there will be long freight trains which run in the middle of the night.
Many many many years ago we had a home close to tracks and I remember waking up in the middle of the night due to the long freight trains.
Now I have a baby and we all don’t want to be waking to the freight trains.
Thank you
Hi Alex, it depends a lot on where in Toronto you are looking. A few clues you can look for are: is it just one track or two or three? Are there signals on the line? Multi track lines with signals will be higher traffic.
Hi can you get a live train map for canada even better Nova scatia
No, there’s no way to know where freight trains are if you don’t work for the railway. The best you will get is this Intercity Rail Map showing Amtrak and VIA Rail: https://asm.transitdocs.com/