Derailment Update

On August 1, I visited the site of the CN derailment from two days previous. I knew the line was open, having been reopened approximately 24 hours after the derailment. Crews were working to process the remaining rail cars. I’m not sure if the plan is to scrap them on site or take them away. … Read more

Train Derails East of Winnipeg

A westbound CN train derailed on the CN Sprague subdivision near Deacon’s Corner outside Winnipeg on the evening of July 30, 2020. Train train B781 had cleared the Lorette siding and was on the final stretch of track toward Symington Yard in Winnipeg when the centre of the train derailed. 26 cars of fertilizer derailed. … Read more

Criticism and Praise

Why does one critical comment have more impact than a dozen complimentary ones? I’m going to share three stories of recent negative comments. Some details have been omitted because I want to share examples, not publicly shame people. Ouch I share my photos on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. I use Later.com to schedule posts … Read more

New Book – Lions and Lambs

I’ve written a new book – “Lions and Lambs”. This book takes you through my railfan excursions during the month of March 2020. I hope you like it! The book features 11 days of railfanning, from March 1 through March 31, 2020 and includes 99 photographs. “Lions and Lambs” includes some days previously covered in … Read more

The Frankenloco

Ex CSX 445 near Meadows, MB

You might ask what the heck that locomotive is. Clearly this locomotive has its origins in CSX… but what’s with the partial Canadian Pacific portion? And the bright red, freshly painted section? I’d like to be able to answer those questions, but I’ve only uncovered some more questions and more mysteries. Hopefully more details will … Read more

The 2001 Census Cars

When you’re trackside, watching a train roll by, sometimes a car will catch your eye. Sometimes it’s a fallen flag like the Rock Island. Here in Canada – or the US – sometimes you will see a “census car”. The 2001 Census of Agriculture A census is an official count of population or other measures. … Read more

Another Blue Barn in Winnipeg

A visit to the CP Winnipeg yard one evening yielded another “blue barn” sighting. I had heard that a Central Maine & Quebec locomotive had arrived in Winnipeg but I understood it wasn’t very visible. I decided it was worth a trip to the yard. At the east end, a generic GE locomotive was sitting … Read more

Wayback: Overnight in Hillsborough

Salem and Hillsborough 1754

Set your wayback machine to July 14-15, 2006. My wife and two youngest children were away in Winnipeg visiting her relatives, and my oldest son was with his mother, so I was alone for the weekend. Time to volunteer at the New Brunswick Railway Museum! I drove to Hillsborough after work on Friday, July 14. … Read more

More CP Heritage Locomotives

CP 6644 in Winnipeg, July 3 2020

There have been a few more CP “heritage” locomotives visiting Winnipeg over the past few months. Here are the ones that I’ve seen… CP 7013 I was fortunate to catch maroon and gold CP 7013 by the shops in Winnipeg on May 8th. This unit has the “Canadian Pacific” in “script” lettering. Half of the … Read more

Railfanning and Sexism

(clipart from http://clipart-library.com/free/female-symbol-transparent.html over my image) I’m on a few social networks. On Facebook I’m there for friends and family and trains, and on Instagram I’m mostly there just for trains. Over the past few months, I’ve heard of a lot of “men” being pigs toward female railfans. We need to be better than that. … Read more