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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. Currently reside in Binbrook, ON. I use a Nikon D850 & 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: 406
Total gold: 4400
Number of comments recieved : 856
Number of comments posted : 831
Total views: 568158

Paul O'Shell has 1 image in the Time Machine

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Paul O'Shell's 406 photos on Railpictures.ca:

<b> Looks like were gonna need a tunnel </b> <br>
A three-day stay in Jasper after a trip on VIA 005 and 006 The Skeena to Prince Rupert and return is over, and I'm now on my way back to Toronto. <br>
On an absolutely beautiful afternoon, VIA #2 The Canadian is running at track speed past Mile 220.0 on the CN Edson Sub. between Henry House and Devona, AB on November 28, 2023. <br>
The solid rock wall in front of us will send The Canadian through numerous curves and tunnels as it navigates through the majestic Rocky Mountains east of Jasper, AB. <br>
Another much appreciated edit by a good friend. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/28/2023
Location:	Between Henry Hous…
Province:	Alberta

9 Comments | 14 Favourites

<b> Long hood forward </b> <br>
TH&B 402 sits idling at the Chatham Street engine facility in Hamilton, ON July 12, 1975.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	07/12/1975
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 12 Favourites

<b> Nature-made and man-made beauties </b> <br>
Sitting in the valley below the majestic Rocky mountains in the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park are four man-made majestic monsters. CN 6015 on static display, CN 3230, CN 2257, and CN 5687. <br>
No matter where you were in town, there was always a great view of this wonderful natural scenery, as a backdrop to the railroad images we all like to capture. <br>
<b> Happy New Year everyone! </b>

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	11/26/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

1 Comments | 13 Favourites

<b> Skirting the shore of Burns Lake </b> <br>
VIA 005 The Skeena is on its way from Prince George, BC to Prince Rupert, BC on the second day of its northwest trek. Just a mile or so from entering the town of Burns Lake, the locomotive and two-car consist (VIA 8102 coach, and VIA 8707 Kokanee Park) glide smoothly along the shore of the namesake lake. <br>
Once again I have the entire Park car to myself for hours at a time on this wonderful journey. :-) <br>
Another photo graciously edited by my friend Extra 5610 West.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/23/2023
Location:	Burns Lake
Province:	British Columbia

7 Comments | 15 Favourites

<b> George Little House </b> <br>
Is also known as the Terrace, BC VIA Rail station. <br>
The clouds are below the peaks to the left of the frame while the sun is desperately trying to break out and shine on the mountain tops at the right. <br>
The back of the house faces the CN mainline at Mile 0.0 of the CN Skeena Sub., and Mile 131.9 of the CN Bulkley Sub. The building is shared with the local tourism office. <b> https://www.georgelittlehouse.com/ </b>

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/24/2023
Location:	Terrace
Province:	British Columbia

Comments | 13 Favourites

TH&B 53 basks in the sunshine on a beautiful summer day in 1974 at the TH&B Aberdeen Avenue Yard in Hamilton, ON.

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

Comments | 19 Favourites

<b> Rock & Steel </b> <br>
Two very imposing sights at CN Henry House, AB Mile 225.8 CN Edson Sub. <br>
The Rocky Mountains, and the CN trestle over the Snaring River where it joins the Athabasca River east of Jasper, AB. <br>
It was a beautiful afternoon to have the whole dome of VIA 8504 Skyline all to myself. Easy to move around front to back and side to side when it's wide open. :-) <br>
Thanks to my friend R.W. for editing the photo.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/28/2023
Location:	Henry House
Province:	Alberta

3 Comments | 12 Favourites

<b> The opposite view </b> <br>
Further to my trip last month, and posting showing the dated furnishings in VIA 8707 Kokanee Park on VIA 005 The Skeena, here is a view in the same car looking towards the staircase to the dome level. <br>
As in the original CP Canadian Park cars, there are six clocks for Canada's time zones (none of them accurate), a stationary desk for writing a post card, and the hallway leading to the Mural Lounge. <br>
What a great car to travel in! :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/22/2023
Location:	Harvey
Province:	British Columbia

1 Comments | 17 Favourites

<b> Sounds like The Pas, but feels like The BRRRR! </b> <br>
If it wasn't for the sun shining I likely wouldn't have ventured outside in The Pas, MB in the middle of March taking railway photos. It was a rather chilly -23C feeling -30C when I started my morning walk to the station, but fortunately it warmed up by lunchtime to a balmy -18C feeling -23C. <br>
The former CN station in The Pas is now shared by VIA Rail Canada (trains VIA 690, 691, 692 & 693 The Hudson Bay) and, The Keewatin Railway Company (trains 290 & 291 The Pukatawagan Mixed). <br>
This trackside view is from a laneway along the Fence Track (PZ89) which runs behind a row of houses fronting onto Bignall Avenue. <br>
During my time in The Pas I had an opportunity to climb aboard 'The Puk' mixed for a tour of the trains equipment. The local KRC supervisor was telling me they were hoping for some updated equipment in the not-too-distant future. Recent photos posted on the internet are suggesting KRC might be receiving that new (refurbished) equipment early in 2024. I'll likely take another trip north to Churchill in the fall of 2024 and will be looking for that updated consist on The Puk.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/17/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 15 Favourites

<b> On summer vacation</b> <br>
TH&B X786 is catching a warm summer breeze at the Chatham Street engine facility in Hamilton, ON in mid-July 1975. It will be several months before anyone has to think about getting her ready for what she was built for.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	07/12/1975
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

<b> Classic Canadian Budd Park Car interior </b> <br>
On my recent Toronto, Jasper, Prince George, Prince Rupert trip, I took VIA #5 The Skeena November 22 and 23 from Jasper to Prince Rupert. The consist (after removing baggage car VIA 8613 due to a bad wheel) was VIA 6455, VIA 8102 coach, and VIA 8707 Kokanee Park. <br>
The interior of Kokanee Park was a spectacular trip back to the original CP Canadian days with its pastel green colours and individual arm chairs in the bullet lounge area. <br>
On the return trip on VIA 006 The Skeena November 25th, I was the only passenger on the train for the entire day from Prince George to Jasper. It was like riding in my own private rail car! :-) <br>
If they are viewing and reading this, I'd like to send thanks out to VIA Service Manager Ron, and VIA locomotive engineer Dan for their kindness and patience toward me during all four days of this journey. They made a great trip even better!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/22/2023
Location:	Harvey
Province:	British Columbia

9 Comments | 16 Favourites

<b> Get the shovels out! </b> <br>
Heavy snow and a strong wind have left a mighty big drift all around the Thompson station and is now making its way up and over the roof of the building. The HBR front end loader has gone down the platform to make a clear path for passengers to detrain, and, for the fuel truck to make its way to the locomotives. <br>
There was no walking into town on this blustery day. 15 minutes outside to snap a few pics, then back on board to the Skyline car for a large hot chocolate.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/15/2023
Location:	Thompson
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 13 Favourites

<b> Waiting for the Doctor </b> <br>
VIA 6455 was dragged into town as the second unit on VIA 006 The Skeena from Prince George, BC the day before. After making multiple switching moves, it has been shoved against the stop block next to the wayside power connections on the shed track just west of the Jasper train station. <br>
Later in the day the local VIA equipment department truck would pull up, and a technician would begin diagnosing the power problems this unit had been experiencing on it previous run heading up The Skeena.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/26/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

Comments | 15 Favourites

<b> Switching things up </b> <br>
This years VIA Santa Train in Jasper was made up of equipment from VIA #5 and #6 The Skeena consists. But before the special train could be made up, the crew had to switch out a troublesome VIA 6455 that was dragged into town as the second unit on VIA #6 The Skeena the night before. <br>
They also had to move a passenger car off the shed track in order to shove VIA 6455 against the stop block next to the wayside power connection. <br>
Lots of VIA switching action on this chilly morning in Jasper.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/26/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

<b> Waiting for clearance </b> <br>
CN 2815 sits at the head end of an empty unit train of aluminum coal hoppers at Mile 0.29 on the Albreda Sub. just a few car lengths from the Hazel Avenue crossing in Jasper, AB. <br<
A new crew has climbed aboard and will begin the move into the yard as soon as they receive clearance to do so. <br>
This was my third day in Jasper on this trip and I was rewarded with clear skies and sunshine for the entire morning before I boarded VIA #2 The Canadian for the trip back to Toronto. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	11/28/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

2 Comments | 9 Favourites

<b> Attention passengers. There will be a slight delay </b> <br>
VIA #5 The Skeena is all set to pull up to the station and begin boarding passengers at Jasper, AB Mile 235.7 on CN's Edson Sub. on this overcast, windy, and lightly snowing morning, however, a bad wheel on baggage car VIA 8613 has necessitated a switching move to set the car out causing a delay in the 12:45 scheduled departure. <br>
Once the baggage car was removed, the new consist for VIA #5 became VIA 6455, VIA 8102 coach, and VIA 8707 Kokanee Park. <br>
Unknown at the time, the 4-day trip from Jasper, AB to Prince Rupert, BC and return would hold even more surprises for yours truly. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/22/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

Comments | 9 Favourites

<b> CN mixed freight </b> <br>
CN 2690 & CN 3072 leading a mixed freight consist sit a few hundred feet east of CN Home Mile 0.55 Albreda Sub waiting for clearance into the yard at Jasper, AB. <br>
This photo was taken at the Hazel Avenue road crossing Mile 0.29 CN Albreda Sub. at the west end of Jasper yard where I spent numerous hours during each of my three days in town. There was a continuous string of east and westbound train traffic in and out of Jasper that could be easily viewed from this location. <br>
The Hazel street crossing is at the west end entrance to the CN yard and crew hostel and provided some nice views of the yard, the town, and the mountains while I waited for train movements. <br>
Two of the three days were sunny and blue, but all three were bitterly cold. Fortunately, it was only a stones throw to a variety of bake shops, coffee shops, and restaurants where a pastry and hot chocolate could be had! :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	11/26/2023
Location:	Jasper
Province:	Alberta

Comments | 15 Favourites

<b> The Skeena </b>
VIA 6455 is heading up VIA #6 The Skeena on its return trip from Prince Rupert, BC to Jasper, AB and is stopped at the station in Smithers, BC for a headend crew change. <br>
The headend and on-board crews were exceptionally friendly during my entire trip from Jasper to Prince Rupert and return. Being able to walk the entire length of station platforms along the way for head and tail end shots was great. <br>
Hours of daylight were short, and the mountain weather was not always cooperative, but I managed to snag a number of interesting pics on both directions of my journey. <br>
I will definitely take this trip again in the not-too-distant future, in mid-summer when the daylight hours are much longer. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	11/24/2023
Location:	Smithers
Province:	British Columbia

1 Comments | 12 Favourites

<b> Won't be long before it looks like this outside. </b> <br>
Winter will be here before we know it and scenes like this will be plentiful. <br>
Looking north, the well maintained exterior of the VIA/KRC station at The Pas, MB shows off its winter coat on a sunny, crisp, and clear March 16, 2023.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/16/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 16 Favourites

<b> Trains and grains. </b> <br>
CN 2788 ES44AC with a yard long string of grain hoppers sits idle in front of the Kamloops North VIA Rail station at Kamloops, BC on a very pleasant October 26, 2023 morning.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	10/26/2023
Location:	Kamloops
Province:	British Columbia

Comments | 11 Favourites

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