Marking Time at Meadows

I haven’t been doing much work on my model train layout. Let’s be honest, I wasn’t doing anything on it. However, I do like to stop by my favourite train store, Ware House Hobbies, now and then.

They open at 10 AM on Saturdays, and I was awake at 7:30 AM, so… let’s go railfanning!

I headed straight for the CPKC main line just west of Winnipeg. I hadn’t seen any CP trains for a while, and they usually run a few in the morning, so why not give it a shot?

My plan was to head to Meadows and hang out there until around 9:30, then make my way into the city to the hobby shop.

As I approached the east end of the Meadows siding, I saw the signals were on, red. That told me that there was a train west of me… but I wasn’t sure if it was coming toward me or going away.

Fortunately, it was coming toward me.

CP 8816 led a long train made up entirely of autoracks. That’s a lotta vehicles.

There was a surprise mid-train.

Mid-train locomotives aren’t unusual around here, but a pair of locomotives mid-train is unusual. CPKC was fully represented with this set.

The train rolled on, and I returned to my van to wait some more. I had a feeling that another train was coming. I don’t know why – but after several minutes, the east-facing signals stayed red and that was confirmation enough for me.

Eventually headlights came into view in the distance, and KCS 4730 led a general freight train past the three-aspect signal.

After the customary wave to the crew, I pivoted to shoot the train heading toward the rising sun and toward Winnipeg.

I didn’t wait for the rest of the train. It was time to head to Ware House Hobbies.