Railfanning Southwestern Ontario

On February 22, 2019, the day of the Copetown RPM Meet, the noon break offered us two choices - stay in the hall and eat purchased pizza slices, or head trackside with a brown bag lunch.  Our reward for going with the gourmet PB&J sandwich option was catching Via #72, engine 6416, just as it started down the Dundas hill towards Bayview Junction.  This was the first time we had seen one of the F40PH-2 units in the Via 40 scheme.

Over the last few months Peter and I have got out and done a lot more rail fanning than in past winters. It just seems like we lucked out on our various outing to RPM, WOD meets and train shows. We also have been out on other sunny days traveling around our city with a camera in tow which can yield some good results. Here is what we came across. Peter's photos are noted...George Dutka

After the Ingersoll WOD meet on March 9, 2019 we got lucky chasing the OSR around town and Cami plant. Two switchers are pushing a cut of multi levels up a steep grade to the yard outside the loading facility.

Ten minutes before this photo was taken, this train was shoving back along the connecting track visible in the foreground.  Now operating on the Guelph Subdivision mainline, CN freight GMTX 2255 west is powering up for the run to Stratford.  To the left (north west) behind the camera is the West Kitchener enclosure holding two Go Transit trainsets awaiting their call to duty early Monday morning.  At East Kitchener, three more Go trains are stationed in a larger facility.  Trackage, ballasting, and signalling has been radically improved through Kitchener since Go Transit started operating this far west.  March 17, 2019...Peter Mumby photo

The Via presence at the Kitchener station is indicated by this sign.  In case the old francais is a little rusty, the English translation would be "The future is on board."  March 17, 2019...Peter Mumby photo

Usually when I am trackside with my camera, it is my inner railfan that decides what to photograph and how to set up a shot.  On occasion, however, the modeller in me takes over and picks a subject that would make for a simple, but interesting, layout project.  Such is the case with this Kitchener station name sign.  It is located on the north side of the Guelph Subdivision mainline opposite the Via/Go station.  Late last year CN resumed control of this subdivision after more than twenty years of GEXR operation, so it is interesting to note the small orange GEXR logo to the left of the Kitchener name.  March 17, 2019....Peter Mumby photo

Via 6431 is blowing for the crossing at mile 7 of the Stathroy Subdivision en route to its next station stop at London, Ontario.  Adding colour to the consist is engine 904, still sporting Via 40 labelling.  Lots of power for a four-car consist!  March 20, 2019...Peter Mumby photo

CN London yard at the Top End (east end of yard). An engine idles most likely used as the local switcher earlier in the day. March 27 2019. CN 4803 is one of two GP38-2 in this group built back in 1973.

CP London local switcher running back to the east end of the yard on March 27, 2019. CP 2227 is one of 60 re-manufactured engines from GP7 and GP9's. They were delivered from July 2014 to Jan. 2015.