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About Stephen C. Host

I've been into photography since 2001 - but like many others grew up interested in all things railway from an early age. I reside in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and currently use two cameras: Nikon D800, and a Nikon D90 (Backup or videos only). Prior Nikon cameras include D60, D70 and D100, and a F65 for when I dabbled in Film (Kodachrome/Fuji Velvia and Provia). Lenses used tend to be either 70-200 F/2.8, 50mm/1.8, or 16-35 F4 (Until 2016) and a 18-35 F/4-5.6 (2016+). I acquired a 80-400 Nikkor which I've been playing with and after some trial and error and a free repair by Nikon it is producing nice sharp results. Professionally - I am an Engineer (P. Eng. - Computer) for a large automotive concern. I also freelance as a photographer with the Canadian Press and their affiliates (AP/etc.) since 2009.

Stephen C. Host's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 1535
Total gold: 18868
Number of comments recieved : 5229
Number of comments posted : 8291
Total views: 2720872

Stephen C. Host has the #4 all time image on railpictures.ca!
Stephen C. Host has the #27 all time image on railpictures.ca!
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Stephen C. Host has won Editors Choice 1 time

Stephen C. Host has 6 images in the Time Machine

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Stephen C. Host's 1535 photos on Railpictures.ca:

With a limestone church (now a hall) in the namesake town of Limehouse, and with quarries all around the area, one can tell what was the rich resource that built the town of Limehouse now just a stones throw from sprawling Georgetown. Fall colours were in rich bloom as VIA 87 passes through, mimicing the yellows of foliage with their Via 150/40th anniversary paint scheme.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	10/15/2017
Location:	Limehouse
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

At Nova's Corunna site, two switchers sit idle as the day has ended. The first far in the background is NCLX 2003, a MPI MP1500D and fairly new (last 10 years?). The one up front, it probably has a number but I can't see it in this picture is an older SW of some kind. Each Nova plant has two to three switchers, for a total of about six top eight in the area, but only one plant is shootable (today) from public property. This is along HWY 40 toward Chatham. Note that NOVA plans a $2 Billion expansion adjacent to this site, and at the Moore site (construction is underway) with planned rail yard and track expansions. See <a href=http://www.novachem.com/ExWeb%20Documents/sarnia-lambton/MEGrowthFactSheet_Dec2017.pdf target=_blank>here</a> for more if interested.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Industrial
Date:	04/15/2017
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

Another of 'my' Oldies again. July, the time of year of high weeds. In 2018 the weeds are really bad - higher than our country's infatuation with.. weed. Avoid. So this is an oldie? Well, it's only been 14 years, but let's see what's different: The CSX engines are off the roster, Guelph Station does NOT look like this anymore as Metrolinx has added their 'improvements', and where I'm standing there's a fence or a Steam locomotive in the way. Also Both GEXR units in this photo are off the roster - LLPX 2210 was blown up and sent away for repair never to come back, and RLK 2210 re-numbered 2211 to avoid confusion - is out of service. Could it return?<br><br>For the un-initiated (read: kids born after 2000) when the EMD London plant was really busy with new products, they tended to test new units on the Guelph sub with help of local railways, and GEXR was a very willing participant.This was the first run of the CSX locomotives and interest was VERY high from local 'fans. Pairs of CSX units, sometimes with GEXR assist power, sometimes without would test some days, and on others, just regular GEXR power. They even tested one or two BNSF units and a pair of UP units (the UP's only ran at night.. ONCE!) Who remembers GEXR's Police/Security they briefly had to help stop vandalism on these locomotives in Stratford and the police cruiser? Didn't last long.. and the guy had quite the reputation for being a 'bull'. Train is eastbound 432 - which ran around Lunchtime - if you were lucky a light power 432 could roll by around 10-11 AM in better light, but westbound was much better<a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=26340 target=_blank> and I was there to capture the westbound run that day.</a>

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	CSX Transportation
Date:	7/3/2004
Location:	Guelph
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 21 Favourites

Mile 30, a famous spot for us 'fans and on November 12 2006 I went out on a lark and photographed only two trains. This was one of them and while at the time, I would have said 'wrong leader' - my slightly older self now says 'right leader'. The train is 422 and of course this sounded really good. Also enjoy the extra class lights lit up. These were golden days.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/12/2006
Location:	Speyside
Province:	Ontario

7 Comments | 15 Favourites

Georgetown was one of my favourite towns as a child, and I have family history here. Not surprising my favourite childhood towns involved some form of railways: Georgetown, Brampton, and Streetsville :) Built in 1855-1856 by the Grand Trunk, this handsome stone structure is used for both GO and VIA services, with space inside for a GO agent. But the station seems to lack air conditioning and is inhospitable in the morning owing to a greenhouse effect, but at least it's still open for easy washroom access. A small group of us used to go here frequently in the early 2000's (Matt Watson, Brian Switzer, Shane Murphy, Marcus Stevens, RTCDave amongst others) and now a new group seems to frequent the station, it's a nice quiet place to watch trains.<br><br>This is a detour train, called 373 and it was an otherwise calm windless, but hot morning until this train entirely of centrebeams passed at track speed. I'd certainly say this train made an efficient fan, kicking winds upwards of 50 MPH, threatening to blow over someone's tripod setup. In the lead was a CN GEVO, with 70 or so empty centrebeams , the DPU as you see here, and 60+ more empty centrebeams, the "fan train" as I dub it did a good job keeping us cool as it passed by, during this unusually hot and sunny Ontario summer. Thank god it cooled off this weekend, instead of gallivanting about this weekend for more photos in the rain, I'm taking a nice break and catching up on posting some pictures amongst other chores :) Cheers all.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	07/15/2018
Location:	Georgetown
Province:	Ontario

7 Comments | 10 Favourites

This is an era of GEXR that was not often photographed, as they ran at night. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the motive power, but I was able to get a couple photos here and there. Outside of locals, photos of 432/1 from the darkness era 2008 to what, 2012? are hard to come by due to the night ops, also an eastbound at dinner was photography hell as you'd be shooting into the sun. Imagine my surprise when I found this in my archives, it's not that half bad! Around the time of G&W Takeover 432/1 returned to daylight and ran in perfect timeslots for photography, and still does.<br><br>This photo was taken at 8:31 PM from Jones Baseline Rd. At least we have the right leader, Built in 1968 as DRGW 5334 as a SD45, rebuilt as an EMD SD40M-3, HLCX 6522, 3821 and 4019 on 432 just outside of the City of Guelph.<br><br>Photo notes: Nikon D70, 50mm fixed lens at f/2.5 to keep the shutter speed fast in rapidly failing light.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Goderich-Exeter
Date:	06/2/2008
Location:	near Guelph
Province:	Ontario

6 Comments | 15 Favourites

When CP 142 was added on the Hamilton sub it was a gift from the gods. Not only was junk power assigned, which now needed pushers to get up the hill, it often ran in Daylight in the mornning due to delays. Here is the head end of the train as they rolled by Desjardins. We'd crawl back up the hill to get to York Rd for a photo of the pushers curving up the hill. Since the pushers had 1st and 2nd generation EMD, the drama was amazing. <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=15354 target=_blank>Here's a shot of a different train with the pushers getting a workout! </a>. The GE's quickly invaded as did the ECO's.. about a year later it wasn't as good as this!

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/26/2014
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 20 Favourites

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	BNSF
Date:	07/02/2004
Location:	Milton
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 9 Favourites

With Engr. Steve Bradley at the throttle, he's making sure patrons of the Credit Valley Explorer get great views of the countryside as fall colours begin to make way for Winter. This is Branchline railroading at its best, near Boston Mills on the former CP Owen Sound Subdivision. I was the only photographer out this day, and it was a glorious relaxing outing.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Cando
Date:	10/15/2017
Location:	Boston Mills
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 12 Favourites

The time is 0724 and CP 6062 east has the early morning light glowing on its action red stripes. With an empty Herzog ballast train in tow, the train blasts by to load at Fisher Wavy in Sudbury at track speed. Wasting no time, the hogger of this train averaged 49 MPH between London and Guelph Junction, chasing was a futile effort, but bagging one of these in 2018 was not.<br><br>Action red stripes leading in 2018 is a very rare thing - there are three GP38-2's in this paint scheme that are active, and maybe a small handful of re-activated SD40-2's so finding action red on the point, once common, is now almost a lottery draw. It was also nearly 5 years since my last <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=12782 target=_blank> photo here</a>. Here's to many more :)

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/21/2018
Location:	North Dumfries
Province:	Ontario

8 Comments | 20 Favourites

On Fathers Day, celebrate your dad or Granddad, past and present, or have your kids, or Grandkids (or in some cases, Great Grandkids!) celebrate you. Wishing everyone a happy Fathers Day! Here we see a young child getting a Shoulder ride from Dad along a picturesque fall scene in Guelph, Ontario.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Ontario Southland
Date:	10/13/2017
Location:	Guelph
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 21 Favourites

Some snow to cool y'all off. On this day I had 4 hours to kill and in 3 hours (with 1 hour of travel booked) I first managed to find the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27476 target=_blank> Resolute Forest Products switcher</a> <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27440 target=_blank>(Image 2)</a>, then I found <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=30470 target=_blank>Trillium</a> working and followed them around for an hour, and on the way back toward Hamilton, I ran into this critter! What luck! Mother nature was angry and the squalls were moving north with me, and finding this guy was a real treat regardless of the weather. This is the former double track CASO mainline, with a track now removed from the HWY 140 crossing. This engine, ex Stelco is heading back to Martech's home base having delivered a load of fresh pipes to Southern Yard. Martech Industrial Services has two GE critters, #816, and a blue-white 80 tonner (OSH Rail Operations 101) both in service. What I didn't know at the time is Martech crews operated both the RFP train and this train, probably the same crew as some time had passed between both runs. RFP was switched by Trillium from 2014 to 2016 (Using RFP power) and using Martech crews until they closed at the end of 2016. Brrrrrrr.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Industrial
Date:	12/14/2016
Location:	Welland
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 15 Favourites

If you ever find yourself near Conc. 8 this is a great spot for pans on the Hamilton subdivision, and what better subject than two elephant style F units peeking from out of the bushes as CP's 150th train heads north. Keep it classy, CP!

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	8/10/2017
Location:	Flamborough
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 17 Favourites

So, how about that heat? In this photo GEXR's plow crew (from the MOW team) are cleaning out the switch for the east leg of the wye as they have to turn the train to plow back west to Stratford, and you can see the battle was already quite good. We had a number of plow runs in 2014 on the GEXR mainline between both Stratford and London, and toward Guelph , not to mention dozens of plow runs to Goderich. Mostly memories now, as it's quite rare for GEXR to use their plow to Goderich, the only saving grace is we have yet to see winters as bad as they were in 2014 and 2015. The last three winters (2016, 2017 and 2018) all started with a bang (Often requiring a single plow run, by someone - GEXR, CN, or OSR) but ended with a fizzle as the precipitation and cold did not come to pass as the farmers almanac would have had you believe. I'll share more of these memories over the years, the number of plow runs I shot in those two years was upwards of 40! Technology and age of equipment may threaten the use of a wedge plow but when mother nature is at her worst there is only one time tested solution, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to do this so close to home. GEXR's snow removal crews made it look easy but I know a lot of hard work and knowledge goes into their success. Cheers to the GEXR gang!

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Goderich-Exeter
Date:	01/25/2014
Location:	Guelph
Province:	Ontario

6 Comments | 23 Favourites

I'm standing on a nice small farm near Carlisle where the owner gave us permission to take a photo from their property. This is the second time I've shot here and both times was the weed sprayer. I don't find the Hamilton subdivision to be all that scenic, but there are a few nice photos to be had, and this is definitely a nice spot. Only issue is it's a very small window of time to have good light here, but if you can get a southbound around 1-2 PM you'll be golden. Please ask for permission if you plan to shoot here :) It's an active farm.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Delaware and Hudso…
Date:	05/26/2018
Location:	Carlisle
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

It doesn't matter where this photo is, it could be anywhere, but as a friend Ryan Gaynor said - lightning stripes and pans just look good. I agree. Also on my 80-400 f/5.6 and I am surprised this one turned out.. I rarely pan with that big honkin lens and when I do they don't usually work :)

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Delaware and Hudso…
Date:	05/22/2018
Location:	Guelph Jct
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 9 Favourites

CP's Weed Spraying Train passes through quaint Campbellville, and somehow, I managed to cut all of the clutter in my final shot - all the crossing gates, everything. It was so dark that any photos including headlights blew the train to a silhouette, as the engines turned in the curve it looked far better (and I was shooting 1/400 in Manual mode) and my final shot here was the best. 80mm on my 80-400 f/5.6 lens. <a href=https://www.google.com/search?q=bill+thomson+campbellville+site:railpictures.ca target=_blank>Bill Thomson</a> shot here tonnes of times and I am reminded of his photos when shooting here! Thanks Bill for sharing them. I'm glad to continue in your footsteps.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Delaware and Hudso…
Date:	05/22/2018
Location:	Campbellville
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 12 Favourites

One of the hallmarks of a shortline is personal service. Here we have OSR setting off propane cars into Dowler-Karn's facility in St. Thomas, opened in 2015 as joint venture with Factor Gas of Sarnia, and itself a family run business. On one hand, we have a railroad that believes in winning customers back to rail, large and small, and a family run company who matched with this belief to open a small terminal in St. Thomas capable of handling 7 cars at a time. During winter, when the propane is flowing I've heard this facility can get quite busy. This photo was taken <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=31831 target=_blank>after an epic battle with snow</a> and with motive power like this, the keepers just keep rolling in. Thanks, OSR!

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Ontario Southland
Date:	12/27/2017
Location:	St. Thomas
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 15 Favourites

GEXR has played a large role in the ION LRT by delivering the new cars to the Commonwealth Plywood siding in Waterloo. The cars don't sit for very long as they are desired to be delivered very quickly. Imagine my surprise to head to Kitchener to find both 431 and a LRT sitting in the yard, mind you, by this time of night (8 PM!) 431 is long off duty and a new crew from Stratford has taxied over to bring 431 across to Stratford. 584 would deliver the LRV that evening and was switching the yard as I took this photo. At any rate, an ex SP SD45 and a Bombardier Flexity side by side is an odd pairing to say the least.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Goderich-Exeter
Date:	05/16/2018
Location:	Kitchener
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 9 Favourites

Railpictures.ca contributor <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/author/noe target=_blank>Jason Noe</a> and I teamed up for this photo, we ended up meeting up in Kitchener by chance and heard 516 was west of town and coming our way, so we went west to see what we could find, and ended up here. We had a bit of a wait on our hands, but you could hear this train coming for miles as they seem to be up-grade leaving Baden.It sounded so good before I took some photos I dropped my phone in the grass on record to capture the action. I've since extracted and edited the audio, and I'll let you listen for yourself, but I was clicking the camera shutter with some fury, and it is included in the audio because I just don't know how to edit it out. <a href=http://steve.hostovsky.com/april18/516_audio_cropped.mp3 target=_blank> MP3 is linked here - click to listen</a> and turn up your audio. What a show.

Name:	Stephen C. Host
Railway:	Goderich-Exeter
Date:	04/29/2018
Location:	Baden
Province:	Ontario

6 Comments | 13 Favourites

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