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Caption: Ever outpaced a Dash 7 on a bicycle? That would be the story of this little operation of mine in recent weeks. The most recent episode of this little gem being reactivated by SSR since its last action in 2020 (Check out Matt Watson's captures of its previous activity http://www.railpictures.ca/upload/while-i-was-kind-of-bummed-that-the-stewart-southern-railway-had-no-cars-on-the-return-trip-out-of-regina-a-b23-7-on-the-road-in-2020-is-definitely-worth-a-shot ) began roughly sometime in April when some other attendees at Railfest Regina spread the word about the B23-7 being active once more. Being pre-occupied with my summer job here in Regina and a healthy flow of Albertan work trains from Winnipeg in May, it took me until June when I began placing the SSR in my crosshairs as this trio had been sitting in Regina shops for almost 2 weeks straight.
Having just missed an outbound run to Stoughton a couple of days prior and the thought that weekend runs weren't a possibility due to the nature of shortlines hiring retired Class 1 crews, I was blissfully out shooting CN local power at the other end of town on my bike when I heard SSR call the Assistant Trainmaster to work Regina. I quickly concluded my CN activities and rode a tailwind across the city with a small detour by the shops to confirm my suspicion. I then continued to my first planned spot on Highway 33 which runs parallel to the Tyvan Subdivision, where I posted to wait them out. Realizing that track speed is 10mph, and that my bike just averaged 20mph getting to the first spot after shooting it, I decided to make chase and beat them to Richardson where they terminated, just 2 mileposts away. During this rush to pack up my equipment, I accidentally destroyed my radio scanner earphones, snagging them on the bike chain and I even had a small wipeout pulling into Richardson due to the gravel road consisting of a looser grade of gravel. The bike was temporarily incapacitated with the chain coming off so I briefly abandoned my bike while I ran off to grab this frame. Just another fun adventure with a pay-off in the end for the books. By the time I returned to Regina, my mileage that day totaled 64km.
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Really nice image for a reward for getting a little over excited, I’d suspect.
) I would be too.
Really nice image ! Your captions are always interesting but I’m also looking forward to reading them when you get a car.
@Aitch Thanks! I would imagine I’d do a better job actually talking about the train more haha. When I get to borrow the car it of course helps out but boy that 10mph track speed does tempt me to try this bicycle chase again
. I do genuinely enjoy using alternatives to cars to shoot trains as well, gets me to burn some real calories without needing the gym.
Well, I’d have to admit, Eric, that a nice reasonably wide road such as Hwy 33 would be a safe enjoyable ride. And you can see for miles. Not like being in Sou Ontario where you could get run over in a heartbeat.
) I loved it out there, but could not get used to how long one had to wait for the train to catch up once I got ahead of it.