December 7th, 2003
Chris suggested we railfan. So we did, though both CP and CN proved quiet.
Milton, Ontario
(map) This is where the CN Halton and the CP Galt subs cross eachother, though there is no junction.
Scotch Block, Ontario
(map) Scotch Block is an excellent photography location at mp 30.0 CN Halton sub, between Milton and Georgetown.
December 13th, 2003
Steve and I spent a few minutes track-side on the Galt sub and then went up to visit the Toyota plant at Cambridge.
Puslinch, Ontario
(map) This community straddles highway 401 from West of Guelph Junction to Killean on the CP Galt sub.
Cambridge, Ontario
(map) Cambridge is the home of Babcock and Wilcox, Toyota, the CP Waterloo sub, the CP Galt sub, the CN ex-Fergus sub and a lot of trains.
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2 GP9s creep across Sportsworld drive at the Toyota plant while switching.
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
(map) Kitchener-Waterloo is on the the GEXR Guelph sub between Guelph and Stratford. The GEXR Elmira spur heads North to service Elmira and the CP Waterloo sub out of Cambridge joins the GEXR Huron Park spur for interchange traffic here.
December 20th, 2003
Steve had to head up to Sarnia and I got to tag along. We took 11 hours to get back because there were train tracks on the way...
Sarnia, Ontario
(map) Sarnia has an absolutely massive CN freight yard. It also has the St. Clair tunnel across to Port Huron, CSX traffic, and a gaggle of running rights.
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2 engines running light rush through Sarnia station after coming out of the tunnel, bouncing along as if they are on a gravel road.
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A large train pulls out Sarnia station after waiting for its light.
Ingersoll, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas, the CP St. Thomas, and the OSR Port Burwell subs are very active through Ingersoll, with the CP Galt sub just to the North in Zorra.
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Another long train heads through Ingersoll station. Late at night and freezing cold, the camera is shaking from me shivering.
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BNSF 8720 trails a CN unit on a short Eastbound through the station. As the BNSF engine goes by I can be heard shouting 'yay!' that there was a foreign unit.
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Another train comes through the station Westbound.
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By the time this Westbound came I was too cold to get out of the car and shot this by holding my camera out the window. After this train we went home.
December 23rd, 2003
A day of railfanning, hell or high water. That was the plan - and high water we got! It poured all day but we started at about 07:30 and went through until about 19:30 - 12 straight hours of railfanning in, mostly, Ingersoll.
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NS 327 heads through Ingersoll station shortly after its sister train number 328.
Woodstock, Ontario
(map) The CP Galt and CN Dundas subs meet here, as do highways 401 and 403. It is a busy place.
Ingersoll, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas, the CP St. Thomas, and the OSR Port Burwell subs are very active through Ingersoll, with the CP Galt sub just to the North in Zorra.
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An eastbound train blows its horn for a crossing just to the West of the station.
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2 engines pull an eastbound through the station.
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2 wide-body units rush through Westbound bouncing along the brief section of jointed rail.
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Dash-9 CN 2624 leads SD45 HLCX 6519 through Ingersoll station heading West on train 385.
Zorra, Ontario
(map) Just outside of Ingersoll is Zorra Station. It contains a large Lafarge plant and the CP Galt sub.
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A CP intermoal heads West without waiting for much at MP97 on the Galt sub.
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A very short local train rushes across West siding switch Zorra.
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A local train lifts a string of cars at the Zorra siding.
Ingersoll, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas, the CP St. Thomas, and the OSR Port Burwell subs are very active through Ingersoll, with the CP Galt sub just to the North in Zorra.
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2 engines, lots of covered hoppers, lots of autoracks, some blue autoparts cars, lots more autoracks, all heading West.
Zorra, Ontario
(map) Just outside of Ingersoll is Zorra Station. It contains a large Lafarge plant and the CP Galt sub.
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CP #121 the Expressway heads West with SD40-2F #9015 as the second unit.
Ingersoll, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas, the CP St. Thomas, and the OSR Port Burwell subs are very active through Ingersoll, with the CP Galt sub just to the North in Zorra.
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A mixed freight runs through with a handful of brand new double-stack intermodal cars lacking that distinct sound... of flat spots.
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A Via train heads East through Ingersoll. Water on the lens creates a substantial amount of glare until the lights are not facing directly at the camera.
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A CN train rushes through Eastbound, seen from the CP St. Thomas sub down the street.
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A Via wastes no time heading West.
