June 4th, 2006
Returning from visiting family, we stopped to see what was in the yard at Ste-Thérèse, checked out Dorion and caught an AMT commuter train with the new Bombardier bi-levels, went on to Coteau where we found CN #326 with a CN-rental-CN-CSX-CN-CSX lashup, caught CP #239 meeting CP #138 at Belleville, stayed at Cobourg for dinner and a few trains, and caught CP #152 at Newtonville in failing light after just missing the expressway with 2 GP40s! Total: 14 trains shot, a couple more seen, and a few leapfrogged. Not bad for a quick drive home.
Ste-Thérèse, Quebec
(map) This was the site of a GM car factory that manufactured the Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird until the end of 2003. It has since been torn down, though there is still a large CP yard there that interchanges between them and the QGRY. It also houses several Montreal transit commuter trains.
Dorion, Quebec
(map) The CP Veaudreuil sub turns into the CP Winchester sub and junctions with the M&O sub, and the whole collection diverges from the CN Kingston sub after several miles of parallel running at Dorion, just off the Island of Montreal on highway 20 to the west.
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A CP manifest freight heads out of Montreal and onto the Winchester sub with a GEVO-SD90/43MAC combination.
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An AMT commuter train backs into Dorion station before heading up the M&O sub toward Hudson.
Côteau, Quebec
(map) Coteau is the junction of the CN Valleyfield sub which connects the CN Kingston sub to the CSX Montreal sub, the CN Kingston sub, and the CN Alexandria sub to Ottawa. It is just a few minutes East of the Ontario/Quebec border, just off exit 12 of highway 20.
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CN #326 comes off the CN Valleyfield sub with CN-rental-CN-CSX-CN-CSX for power.
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A CN intermodal arrives from Toronto.
Belleville, Ontario
(map) CN and CP are roughly parallel through Belleville. The CN Kingston sub and the CP Belleville sub head through the city, crossing just East of the city where the Belleville sub swings North to Smiths Falls.
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CP #239 heads into Belleville to meet CP 138.
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CP #138 comes out of Belleville fresh from meeting CP #239.
Cobourg, Ontario
(map) Cobourg is about the mid-point of the CN Kingston sub and CP Belleville sub's roughly parallel running between Belleville, and Newtonville. At the station, the North side of the parking lot has the Kingston sub and a small yard and wye, and on the South side of the parking lot is the CP Belleville sub, with a yard visible a little ways East.
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CN #369 with a CSX unit heads for Toronto.
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VIA #47 pulls into Cobourg station.
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Another Via train enters Cobourg station.
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Another in a mad rush of Vias enters Cobourg station.
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CN #148 heads for Montreal.
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An express Via train passes through at speed.
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An IC unit trails on a CN eastbound in last light.
Newtonville, Ontario
(map) This community is about an hour East of Toronto. Through the area the CP Belleville sub from Toronto to Montreal, and the CN Kingston sub on the same routes run parallel.
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CP #152 crosses under Newtonville Road in failing light.
