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About Paul O'Shell

Started my railroad career at CN in July 1969 and retired from the industry 49 years later on March 1, 2018. My area of expertise was railway Work Equipment. Reside in Kelowna, BC. I use a Nikon D850 full frame & Nikon D7200 (Nikkor 24-70mm, 24-120mm, 35mm, 18-140mm, 55-300mm, & 80-400mm) and scan with an Epson V550. Enjoy my contributions. Be safe. Lots more of my photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/197431498@N07/albums

Paul O'Shell's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 439
Total gold: 4852
Number of comments recieved : 916
Number of comments posted : 886
Total views: 640232

Paul O'Shell has 1 image in the Time Machine

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Paul O'Shell's 439 photos on Railpictures.ca:

TH&B 26, an International hi-rail boom truck sits next to the Aberdeen yard tool house inside the gate just off Studholme Rd. A nice versatile maintenance vehicle with hi-rail gear, extra crew compartment, squirt-stick hydraulic boom & outriggers, and dump box.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Spring 1974
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 15 Favourites

TH&B X 763 at Aberdeen Avenue yard in Hamilton, ON in early summer 1976 doesn't look so bad for 52 years old. Although that fresh coat of yellow paint certainly helps obscure some of life's blemishes. From information I've gathered (on the internet), this car was built by C.C.&F. in 1924 as baggage car 51. It was converted to MoW service and renumbered to X 763. It was retired from service in 1984 at 60 years old Having gone through at lot of my old photos since retiring 5 years ago, I look back now and wish I had splurged for another roll or two of film, and captured so much more of what was out there!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 17 Favourites

During my tenure as CN's Regional Supervisor Work Equipment Operations in the mid-1980's, I was able to renew the fleet of Work Equipment Field Maintainer vehicles with new, purpose-built service trucks. CN N175464, a 1985 Ford F-350 XLT had only been in service a few short months when I snapped this photo. These well equipped (at the time) vehicles had an air compressor, diesel fired welding machine, oxy-acetylene equipment, tool chest storage compartment, component bins and racks, and plenty of space for spare and repair parts. They certainly stood out amongst the crowd in their bright CN Orange No. 12 Work Equipment paint. Behind the truck is a plethora of vintage CN rolling stock from the era. 40' box cars in Work Equipment tool car service, a wood sheathed box car converted to a generator car, a Work Equipment machinery flat, an insulated and heated water transport tank car, a transfer van, and a Transportation Department 'Blue Fleet' accommodation unit. Oh, the good old days! :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	05/17/1985
Location:	Capreol
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 20 Favourites

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 18 Favourites

Recently back from another cross-Canada and return trip on VIA 001 & 002 The Canadian (January 25-February 3). Only had about 6-8 hours of sunshine on the whole journey. Not a lot of well-lit photos to post. So, I'm reaching back to March of 2020 for this clear sky and sunshine photo of VIA's Pacific Central station in Vancouver, BC. I would be boarding VIA 002 in a few short hours on what would turn out to be one of the last, if not the last departing cross-country trip for The Canadian for quite some time to come. I arrived in Toronto on March 10, 2020, and Covid lockdowns began a few days later.
For such an imposing exterior presence, this impressive looking structure has a very small main hall, with an equally small waiting room and check-in area. The bulk of the buildings main floor is office and commercial space to either side of the front center entrance.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/06/2020
Location:	Vancouver
Province:	British Columbia

1 Comments | 10 Favourites

VIA 002 The Canadian has arrived in Jasper, AB on this frigid January 31st morning and the headend crew has detrained making way for the VIA Maintenance crew to clean and restock the lead locomotive. Further to the west on the platform is the VIA Maintenance Department's red Ford Ranger pickup stopped next to baggage/buffer car VIA 8602. It a few minutes, Jasper maintenance will disconnect the power cables between the leading end of the baggage car and the deadheading VIA 8702 Assiniboine Park so the train can be separated to allow the setoff of the third unit VIA 6448 and Assiniboine Park on the yard track one over from the station track. All this while the rest of the train was being serviced, garbage and dirty linens removed, new linens and food supplies loaded, and the Skyline and Park Car dome windows cleaned.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	01/31/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

2 Comments | 10 Favourites

It's dusk in Capreol as CN 50936 (Class Code 3IA) Jordan Type J, 4-100 spreader lowers its angled nose plow and extends the left side wing over a roadway and another track while CN 5650 waits for the command from the operator to take it up a couple of notches and begin the process of clearing the yard. With the first four tracks from the station platform free of inbound or outbound trains, this late evening work train is free to move about the yard and will make short work of spreading the rest of the tracks once VIA 001 departs. CN 50936 wears serial number 1466 and was built in 1978. It has a front cab, medium front blade (snow plow curls have been removed), articulated side wings, hydraulic cylinders, and a high rear platform. She looks pretty good for 45 years old!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	01/25/2023
Location:	Capreol
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 20 Favourites

It's a blustery, cold evening in Winnipeg and quite windy on the station platform outside the protection of the train shed. VIA 6443 is on the head end of VIA 001 The Canadian and has just arrived in Winnipeg, MB. The two units and baggage/buffer car are sticking out the west end of the train shed while several Prestige sleepers, VIA 88710 Prince Albert Park, and, VIA 8316 Christie Manor (tail end buffer car) bringing up the markers sit outside the east end of the shed. My trip from January 25-February 3 on VIA 001 & 002 The Canadian yielded about 8-10 hours of sunlight over the 10-day journey so I have very few photos to post. :-(

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	01/26/2023
Location:	Winnipeg
Province:	Manitoba

3 Comments | 13 Favourites

CP 1245 sits in the yard just west of CP's Golden car shop on a very pleasant February 18, 2009.

Retired by CP on March 28, 2012, three years after this photo was taken, it was sold to Ontario Southland Railway on October 20th that same year.

This unit was built new by GMD in 1960 with serial number A 1909 as CP 8163, Class DS-12. It was then rebuilt by CP in 1982 as SW1200RSu and renumbered to CP 1245.

At 63 years old it continues to earn its keep on the OSR in 2023.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	02/18/2009
Location:	Golden
Province:	British Columbia

3 Comments | 15 Favourites

After seeing Seth B's fabulous (as always) post this morning http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=50903 I followed up on his comment about the numbering and rebuild history of lead unit CN 4609 by searching my files, and came up with this shot of CN 259 (ex-CN 4609, nee-NAR 211 Fort McMurray) at Thornton Yard Vancouver, BC June 6, 2022. Built in June of 1958 as a GP9, renumbered to CN 4609 in 1981, then rebuilt into this slug in 1990, it lives on, and looks good, 65 years later! :-)
Should this photo get posted, it will be my 250th contribution to the RP.ca site.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	June 6, 2022
Location:	Vancouver
Province:	British Columbia

5 Comments | 12 Favourites

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Erie Lackawanna
Date:	summer 1976
Location:	Fort Erie
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 17 Favourites

After a brief station stop, AC 154, an EMD GP7 built in March 1951 leads a small passenger train northbound out of Oba, ON in July of 1976. trailing the locomotive was a nice Algoma Central consist that included AC 74 steam generator unit, AC 201 express baggage, AC 209 express baggage, AC 422 coach, and, AC 424 coach. I was working in Oba at the time on a CN regional tie renewal gang and took the opportunity to walk across CN's yard and onto the ACR yard tracks to capture the movement as it continued its journey to Hearst, ON.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Algoma Central
Date:	July 1976
Location:	Oba
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 11 Favourites

While working on a CN tie renewal gang stationed in Fort Erie, ON in the summer of 1976, I came across a couple of Erie Lackawanna units idling away in the yard. Here, EL 1210 with its patched road number sits coupled to sister unit EL 1405 on this beautiful mid-summer afternoon. The exaggerated shadow of the single trumpet horn almost looks like it was painted on the short hood.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Erie Lackawanna
Date:	summer 1976
Location:	Fort Erie
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 17 Favourites

On a return trip from Golden & Field, BC after putting some new Nordco spike drivers into service for CP Engineering Services, I stopped in at CP's Alyth Yard complex in Calgary, AB. While there, I spotted Sperry Rail Service SRS 141 'E.B. JACKSON'. The rail flaw detection unit was tied down in a stub track waiting its next assignment on this very pleasant mid-June afternoon.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Other
Date:	June 19, 2008
Location:	Calgary
Province:	Alberta

1 Comments | 9 Favourites

No plow? No problem! Coming up on 45 years ago this month, CN 1323 leads the way freight into Jarvis from Hagersville on the west leg of the wye which is the Hagersville Sub. The Roadmaster (my Dad) has inspected the front of the unit and is satisfied that the cuts between Hagersville & Jarvis have been cleared. :-) The Pyle National dual sealed beam headlight with incandescent bulbs produces enough heat to keep the snow melted from the lenses. That won't happen with todays LED lights. The radiator is completely covered so the cab should be nice and warm. While there is not much snow on the ground, the numerous cuts along the route from Rymal in Hamilton to Jarvis can fill in quickly and become major problems if not attended to. CN 1323 taken care of that on this cold January 25, 1978 day.

Name:	unknown, Paul O'She…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	01/25/1978
Location:	Jarvis
Province:	Ontario

11 Comments | 21 Favourites

Having seen the head end in a previous post, here is the tail end of an Algoma Central passenger train departing Oba, ON in July of 1976. After a brief station stop, AC 154, an EMD GP7 built in March 1951 is leading this train northbound out of Oba headed for Hearst, ON. The consist from front to rear includes AC 154, AC 74 steam generator unit, AC 201 express baggage, AC 209 express baggage, AC 422 coach, and, AC 424 coach supporting the marker lamps. A string of cars can be seen on the CN/ACR connecting track at the left, and a couple of resident dwellings on the right. Note the nuts on the ACR rail joint bolts all face the field side, unlike the CN next door that staggers the bolts & nuts in each joint. Looks like a few tie plates will be replaced in the not-too-distant future.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Algoma Central
Date:	July 1976
Location:	Oba
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 13 Favourites

With the head end captured in a previous post, http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=50588 here is the tale end of the same westbound N&W freight scooting along the Cayuga Sub. through Jarvis ON in the summer of 1976. Caboose NW 557774 is carrying the markers today. Just like the headend crew, one of the tail end crew members stands on the rear platform ready to acknowledge any of us that might be out in my parents back yard. The west backtrack switch, the restricted clearance sign for the elevated freight shed platform at the mill, & the pole line wires are clearly visible along the right-of-way. The wheelbarrow and garden tools by the well tilled garden belong to my dad, a.k.a. the CN Roadmaster stationed in Jarvis at the time. My parents house was less than a hundred feet from the Cayuga Sub. which, unknown to us at the time, was a treasure trove of railroad action waiting to be photographed. That worn path up the side of the hill now leads to a much larger trail where the Cayuga Sub. once was. Norfolk & Western is no more. The Cayuga Sub. is no more. And the garden is no more. :-( My how things change!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Norfolk and Wester…
Date:	July 1976
Location:	Jarvis
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 15 Favourites

While on an Atlantic Region road trip in August of 1979 to test a new tie inserter for CN in Halifax, NS, I stopped in for a visit at CN Gordon Yard in Moncton, NB and came across several pieces of idle OCS equipment. Double ended snow plow CN 55696 was sitting in a line with other units (CN Blue Fleet Transportation Dept. accommodation unit to the left, and a scale test car to the right). Information in two recently posted photos of these rare bi-directional plows indicates there were only four of the specialty units constructed by CN at Transcona shops in Winnipeg, MB in 1939. When new, this unit, like other snow plows and flangers was painted box car red, but now sits covered in the once very popular for CN Work Equipment, CN No. 12 orange (CN Spec. 470-9N). Over the years, and before CN began accepting new Work Equipment in industry standard MoW yellow paint, a few locomotive cranes received this paint treatment as well. I do not recall any Jordan spreaders being painted No. 12 orange.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	August 9, 1979
Location:	Moncton
Province:	New Brunswick

1 Comments | 15 Favourites

After a brief station stop, AC 154, an EMD GP7 built in March 1951 leads a small passenger train northbound out of Oba, ON in July of 1976. This Algoma Central consist includes AC 154, AC 74 steam generator unit, AC 201 express baggage, AC 209 express baggage, AC 422 coach, and, AC 424 coach. The CN Oba station on CN's Ruel Sub. can be seen at the right of the photo. I was working in Oba at the time on a CN regional tie renewal gang and took the opportunity to walk across CN's yard and onto the ACR yard tracks to capture this movement as it continued its journey to Hearst, ON.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Algoma Central
Date:	July 1976
Location:	Oba
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 20 Favourites

With white flags flapping, N&W 3671 and N&W 3661 pull a freight westbound along the Cayuga Sub. through Jarvis ON in the summer of 1976. The headend brakeman gives a friendly wave as all the crews did when they went by the back of our house. The west backtrack switch, the restricted clearance sign for the elevated freight shed platform at the mill, and the pole line wires are clearly visible along the right-of-way. The wheelbarrow and garden tools by the well tilled garden belong to my dad, a.k.a. the CN Roadmaster at Jarvis. Our house was not much more than an auto parts car length from the Cayuga Sub. but it still didn’t prompt me to take many photos when I lived there, or all the times I came back to visit my parents. That worn path up the side of the hill now leads to a much larger trail where the Cayuga Sub. once was. My how things change!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Norfolk and Wester…
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Jarvis
Province:	Ontario

7 Comments | 22 Favourites

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