Railpictures.ca - Profile and photos of awmooney

Profile Page for awmooney

This page shows statistics, photos, and an all-time map for awmooney. Photographers: Filling your map and earning awards can only be done one way. Submit today!

About awmooney

Retired early due to health problems after 42 years in grocery business; started watching trains in the early 70s and took up photography in 1974 in Niagara, and of course Bayview Jct.. Graduated to a half decent camera a year later; the D&H is my favourite road (by far) but have done a fair amount of photography in Canada. As far as cameras go, suffered thru endless problems with the old Miranda series after ditching the Kodak 110 when I found I really was interested in this hobby and it wasn't just a passing fancy. Used Pentax series for a number of years before going to Mamiya 645 Mediums as well as a variety of old 4x5 Speed Graphics. Currently still shoot film with the 645s and an RB. Digital? Someday, maybe. Home is Grimsby, Ontario. Railpictures.ca is the first Site I have contributed to.

awmooney's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

awmooney has won Editors Choice 1 time

awmooney has 11 images in the Time Machine

Contact awmooney

To contact awmooney for licensing, permission, or to send a private comment click this link: (contact)
* note: all inquiries are moderated

awmooney's 2188 photos on Railpictures.ca:

I was very intrigued by the unveiling of the "new" VIA 6539 at Salford, Ontario. (Thank you, Mr. Host) and got to wondering if I had ever seen this unit back in the day. Did manage to come up with this image from summer 1978, showing VIA 6539 leading 6623 coming eastbound off the Dundas hill toward Bayview. Shots in the afternoon are generally ruined by the harsh sun angles, but today, due to a lot of haze, this shot isn't all that bad.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	07/00/1978
Location:	Bayview Junction
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 6 Favourites

Due to the horrendous traffic I experience most days out on the highways it now takes something special to get me to wander up to "The Jct" from Grimsby. But this train...well, out on the road I went. The afternoon autorack train had quite the power consist.......CP 9371, KCS 4114, CP 8822, 7021 (military livery), 9779, 7015 (heritage) and CSX 540. Impressive. Well worth the drive.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	04/30/2024
Location:	Guelph Junction
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 12 Favourites

I'm thinking the westbound CP Budds are running rather late. According to what I recall, this train normally would depart Fort Erie around 1700 hrs for Toronto; but in this case, it is almost sundown. The image is of CP #9071 leading as it crosses Pettit Rd under the very last rays of the day. Only a couple more years left and this would be another train to fade into the history books.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	04/17/1979
Location:	Fort Erie
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 16 Favourites

Unfortunately, I suppose, it was a bit of a downer to be up in these northern parts of Manitoba on a day that was drizzly and dull. But on the "bright" side, this shot otherwise would have been almost directly into the sun.
Twice weekly Keewatin Railway's mixed train runs from The Pas to Pukatawagan, an isolated town that relies on the railroad for its very existence. The Mixed brings supplies, building materials, vehicles as well as an opportunity for some of the town folk to ride it back south to The Pas for shopping trips.
In this view, PRLX 2269 and 2265 power the Mixed across Manitoba highway #10 (route to Flin Flon) as it heads northward after a stop at Cranberry Portage to pick up three gons and a few passengers.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	09/12/2024
Location:	Cranberry Portage
Province:	Manitoba

5 Comments | 22 Favourites

This is a repeat, but a different angle of a shot I posted 12 years ago (#7089) and is worth a second look. This one of 4 even made, a GMDH-1, (diesel-hydraulic) of which were built between 1955 and 1959, resting at Fort Erie for a bit on its trip from South Amboy, New Jersey to Hudson Bay Oil and Gas near Fox Creek, Alberta. It may still be in operation up there. (Thanks, Robin Lowrie, for noting it was at the Kaybob facility of HBOG)
The waybill states that, delivered to Canada via Conrail, that is was "shipped on its own wheels with the driveshaft disconnected". The bill was issued at Black Rock NY and the unit had been in the CN yard a few days before I got to see it.
The units were experimental, and made in London. Two of these double hooded units had a pair of 6 cylinder engines, model 110, and produced 600 HP. It weighted 51 tons The other two, model 71 engines, produced 800 HP and weighted 74 tons. This information I found in the "2nd Diesel Spotters Guide" by Pinkepank, 1973.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Industrial
Date:	12/20/1980
Location:	Fort Erie
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 18 Favourites

I know to the locals of the St. Catharines area this image does not look anything like a "city setting". But it is. A number of years ago there was a rather rickety bridge on Queenston St over the CN Grantham Spur. A number of times I noted this equipment decaying on a siding as I went by. Finally, before it was gone, I figured I had better get a shot of it. (at the time I was mostly looking for old RR stations). The wide open area in the background is actually part of Mountain Locks Park.
Not long after I shot this, the bridge was removed, replaced by a level crossing and the "scrap" collection was cleared out.
It is a shame we are not able to make out the exact number on the former First Class Coach. (we know there is not a "4") Anyway, CN equipment dept #630?3 and old CN flanger 56323 are seen in the twilight of the day in the twilight of their lives. The "D" by the number is for "Destroy" (Form 453: clear for destroying) and it is assumed the flanger met the same fate.
Thanks for Paul O'Shell for supplying some background on these two pieces! It is asked that anyone with further information to please leave a comment !!

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/00/1974
Location:	St. Catharines
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 17 Favourites

What was a rare catch for me back then was the "CPBU" in daylight. I was a bit of a shock to see this. Like most other fans, I just accepted the fact this generally ran under cover of darkness.
Here it is, Toronto to Buffalo run thru, moving along at a good clip as it crosses Grimsby Rd (12) as I photographed it from alongside of Young St. The train is close to the Smithville name sign, another quarter mile along.
Power is CR 2887, 3634 (x-RDG) and 8071.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Conrail
Date:	01/00/1979
Location:	Smithville
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 25 Favourites

Thunder Rail, a diminutive short line located in East Central Saskatchewan at the village of Arborfield, has an active roster of two MLW units. TRR 2004 is out and so presented an opportunity to photograph TRR 908, (nee Wabash Lake) in the shop building. The Thunder Rail group has recently acquired #906 (for parts) from nearby Northern Lights Railway, ensuring the 908 can remain operable for the foreseeable future.
The TRR operates 19.4 miles of the old CN Arborfield sub from Arborfield to CN Crane, with rights another 4 miles which allows it to service a grain facility on the CN Tisdale sub.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Thunder Rail
Date:	09/13/2024
Location:	Arborfield
Province:	Saskatchewan

2 Comments | 15 Favourites

CN's budd cars; or 'railiners' were a very common sight thru Bayview back in the day when CN served many secondary passenger routes. However, it wasn't very common to see five of them making up a train to Niagara Falls and back. Bit of a surprise on this relatively warm December afternoon nearly 50 years ago.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	12/00/1974
Location:	Bayview Junction
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 16 Favourites

Nice afternoon at Parry Sound. In this image, VIA 6525, 6653 and 6519 as #9 is stopped at the CP station for exchange of passengers. I found it odd I did not see this 6525 very often; as a matter of fact I saw it more often as Algoma Central 1754 and even a few times on the Keokuk Junction Railway (same number) in Illinois.
Having said all this, I might add I sure miss those eventful days around Parry Sound. Can't believe it is so long ago already.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	07/07/1986
Location:	Parry Sound
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 17 Favourites

This train worked at a location mile 137.9 referred to as Tochty for over an hour; so the plan was to find a spot worthy of catching it running eastward. Tochty was too tight, from the highway it was a shot against the sun and the other side of the work area was the Moyie River. And no road in.
So, we headed about 5 miles eastward, little over halfway to Moyie (mile 128) to Bateman Rd, a little gravel access to a couple of homes as well as a rail crossing. And waited. It was a glorious day, clear skies, nice temperatures, and the reward was CP 8781, KCS 4070 and 4155 rolling thru in a rather nice setting. Not easy to shoot in these parts, so much of it is heavily wooded. And this is not a very well used line. Pity the Hapag-Lloyd paint could use a good wash, but there is no money in that. :o)

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	09/18/2024
Location:	Moyie
Province:	British Columbia

4 Comments | 16 Favourites

Nice clear evening at Goderich. The former CP station had been moved a few years ago and now serves as the Beach Station restaurant, where I would heartily recommend the fish & chips. :o)
A beautiful "Hunter's Moon" casts an eye over this historic structure as seen just after sunset.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Preservation
Date:	10/16/2024
Location:	Goderich
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 11 Favourites

For a period a while back, give or take 10 years, I enjoyed sitting by the CP at Concession 7 up on the hill from Grimsby. It was a heady few years when all those ethanol loads were coming thru featuring a variety of SD40-2 paints. It is a real shame these trains are far and between now, and are no longer running the Ham sub.
Here is a typical ethanol load train from the time...CP 5833, ICE 6441, 6101 and 6442 with roughly 80 loads.
The first and third units seen on this train were retired in 2017 and the other two were dealt off to the fledgling RCP&E in 2014.
This is still my favourite 'go-to' location if I ever hear of anything notable to photograph, despite the fact it is getting rather overgrown.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	03/22/2013
Location:	Grassie
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 14 Favourites

This station was built back in 1907, on the north side of Old Weston Rd. It wasn't until 1989 that the building outlived it's usefulness. Despite efforts by Historical Groups to save it; it remained abandoned until 1999 when it was finally torn down.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	12/02/1981
Location:	West Toronto
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 20 Favourites

This little community near the Saskatchewan border calls itself "the jewel of the parkland" and indeed it is a nice town. Roblin offers lower costs of living, less daily hassle, and plenty of outdoor activities and events. It also has an attractive old train station.
This structure was built in 1906. It no longer serves as an active station, but the VIA Winnipeg-Churchill train passes thru here and stops (flag stop) on demand.
The former Canadian Northern building was recognized as historic in 1991 and for a time served as a restaurant. I'm unsure if it is still operating as such.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	09/11/2024
Location:	Roblin
Province:	Manitoba

3 Comments | 14 Favourites

The second railroad in Canada owned by a First Nations group is the Keewatin Railroad Company of Northern Manitoba (first was Tshiuetin in N. Quebec). They received over $6M for start up from the governments (as well, the First Nations kicked in $500,000). The line is operated from The Pas MB to Pukatawagan, a small village in the interior, which is not accessible by road. Formerly this was operated by the Hudson Bay Railway, but severe flooding resulted in the HBRY wanting out of the operation, and since the remote communities along the line needed this vital link, the Keewatin was formed to take it over in 2006.
The passenger service is operated by a pair of former GATX geeps and VIA equipment. The twice weekly train operates as a mixed, with goods for the communities along the line tacked on the end. It stops at Cranberry Portage as well as many flagstops along the way.
With a need for their own equipment, the federal government came up with another $3.2 million to purchase two former AMTK units and a couple of Long Island double coaches.
I showed up expecting to see this set in operation. Nope. Its mothballed, for the time being. I was told the KRC was waited for a couple more coaches.
Why? In this photo, check the positioning of the coach doors in comparison to the ground level. Now draw your own conclusions.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	09/11/2024
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

7 Comments | 24 Favourites

Yes, I realize this is a rather rough image, but it is of interest to the Niagara folk. Once upon a time there was a lot of activity along the Grimsby sub; with all the fruit harvests and related business. Believe it or not, I am standing between the tracks and Railroad Ave (or street?) at Winona Road crossing looking west and there is a freight coming. But look at the other activity!!

Of course everything today is gone save for the main line. Even the old house on the left. Its a shame. So there you have it. Back then, even Winona had a rail yard.
The station, which would have been to my left about 200 ft down the line, burned down in this time frame. No idea what caused the blaze.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	11/00/1974
Location:	Winona
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 15 Favourites

Snow? Oh big deal. Hardy, or maybe crazy, fans are out in force with cameras after a good snow in order to catch some action on the CN. The reward was CN 2259 and 8961 eastbound with #148, a stack train. Too chilly to hang around though. The location is that popular drive in spot next to the old mill in Copetown.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	02/09/2014
Location:	Copetown
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 20 Favourites

A scant two months after start-up, Goderich-Exeter train with units 180 and 179 is in the process of picking up traffic from CN at the yard in Stratford. Within the hour the Stratford turn will embark on its run back to the base in Goderich.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Goderich-Exeter
Date:	06/09/1992
Location:	Stratford
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 17 Favourites

Early days of VIA....this appears to be just an ordinary CN passenger train, but slowly some equipment was receiving the new blue and gold colours.
CN 4101 is seen in a tight view just about to enter the Oakville Sub at Bayview Jct in what appears to be early afternoon setting.
The 4101 eventually was dealt off to the Pioneer Rail Corporation in 2003.

Name:	A.W.Mooney
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	07/00/1978
Location:	Bayview Junction
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 19 Favourites

12 3 4 5…►last

awmooney's Map:

Note: Due to Google's greediness you may have to click the OK button when it asks you if you own this website. We'll replace this in time, but it's going to be a while. Sorry :)

*Note: Only photos with GPS added upon submission are mapped here. Some users do not map images and may show a blank map.