Railpictures.ca - Profile and photos of Paul O'Shell

Profile Page for Paul O'Shell

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

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: 4851
Number of comments recieved : 915
Number of comments posted : 884
Total views: 639088

Paul O'Shell has 1 image in the Time Machine

Contact Paul O'Shell

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

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

<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

1 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

<b> CN Margo, Assiniboine & Togo </b> <br>
Three CN subdivisions converge here at Canora, SK. <br>
CN 3244 rests on the loco track while VIA 692 The Hudson Bay makes its scheduled stop at Canora, SK Mile 0.0 Assiniboine Sub. on September 30, 2023. <br>
Stainless Steel Budd built passenger cars VIA 8511 Skyline, and VIA 8202 Chateau Bienville sleeper are the last two of five cars and two locomotives on today's VIA 692 headed to Winnipeg, MB.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	09/30/2023
Location:	Canora
Province:	Saskatchewan

4 Comments | 13 Favourites

<b> BCOL 1879 </b> <br>
BCOL 1879 is a long way from home at the CN Work Equipment Repair Facility yard in Transcona, MB. At this point in its life, it has been relegated to Engineering work train service. <br>

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	BC Rail
Date:	09/25/2007
Location:	Winnipeg (Transcon…
Province:	Manitoba

1 Comments | 13 Favourites

<b> VIA 693 The Hudson Bay in Churchill, MB. </b> <br>
Arriving earlier in the day at 09:30, VIA 693's consist gets cleaned, serviced, fueled, and otherwise prepared for its south bound return journey as VIA 692 at 19:30 this same evening. <br>
Looks like a high load of baggage or some other piece of equipment has knocked the station name sign from the north corner of the building overhang. <br>
The station track has been completely rebuilt since my visit there in August of 2022. New ties, rail, ballast and surfacing has made quite a difference. :-) <br>
What a great place to visit!!!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	09/28/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

<b> It's 18:00 in the The Pas, MB with overcast skies and a little fire smoke in the air. </b> <br>
VIA 692's consist with VIA 6441 and VIA 6451 is idling away on Fence Track PZ89 at Mile 0.0 HBR Wekusko Sub., Mile 4.7 The Pas Terminal Sub. <br>
It will be another 9 hours before there is any activity in this scene which will be just prior to the 03:15 scheduled departure of 692 southbound.
It was a very pleasant 19C on this September 29, 2023 early evening.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	09/29/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 11 Favourites

<b> Well, look what just rolled into town! </b> <br>
Keewatin Railway Company KRC 290 The Pukatawagan Mixed has just arrived at The Pas, MB with PRLX 2269 and PRLX 2265 in charge. <br>
Tonight's 'Puk' has all four of KRC's ex-VIA, exx-CN NSC and CC&F built passenger cars in tow, along with two boxcars, a flat car, and two bulkhead flats. <br>
The diesel generator in the baggage car is running to provide lighting in the coaches, as evidenced by the plume of exhaust smoke drifting over the station. No need for the furnace to be on as it was 19C in The Pas on this beautiful September 29, 2023 fall day. <br>
In a few minutes, after all the passengers have detrained and the baggage has been off-loaded, the four passenger cars will be pulled ahead then shoved back into VIA Storage Track PZ70 to the left of the station platform. <br>
All of this taking place in 2023!!! :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	09/29/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 10 Favourites

Northbound VIA 693 The Hudson Bay rests on the station platform track during the scheduled 5-hour stop at Thompson, MB Mile 30.5 HBR Thompson Sub. on September 27, 2023. <br>
The yard at Thompson was quite active today with GREX 2400 Dump Train waiting to depart, a pair of locos making up the next days way freight, and flatcars on the ramp track being loaded with 53' highway trailers by Arctic Gateway Freight Services. <br>
It was a wonderfully warm day in Thompson so I took advantage of it and got my steps in around the station and yard. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	09/27/2023
Location:	Thompson
Province:	Manitoba

1 Comments | 14 Favourites

VIA 693 The Hudson Bay backed into Churchill, MB at 09:30 on this fabulous fall morning of September 28, 2023. By 11:00 all passengers had detrained and baggage had been off-loaded leaving the station platform empty except for a few bags of trash and used sleeping car linens. <br>
The grain silos and elevator sit dormant in the background, but, substantial trackwork including ties, rail, and fresh heavily dumped ballast on several yard tracks and the two leads going to the once busy dumper tracks suggest there may be some new business anticipated in Churchill. <br>
It was so nice to make the journey from Winnipeg to Churchill and return without the annoying 'buffer car' tacked on to the tail end of the train. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	09/28/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 12 Favourites

first ◄…2 345 6…►last

Paul O'Shell'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.