Caption: The drama began earlier in the morning when train 399 stalled on the Copetown hill after their lead unit, CN 5667 shut down, leaving the BNSF 6946 to do all the work. 550 shoved the train up the grade and they limped into Brantford to await the arrival of Q148, as 399 would be unable to make the grade out of Hardy and into Paris. 148 arrived with the intention of setting out their trailing unit, WC 6936 at Paris for 399 to lift. Simple enough? Well, BNSF had gotten tired of MU cables going missing and bolted the cable onto the BNSF 794; with no other MU cables at Brantford, the only option was to set out the BNSF 794 which was facing eastwards. The 794, sporting desktop style controls, lacked the ability to lead backwards and had to be wyed at Bayview, as the 5667 was shut down with no heat and the clock ticking towards battery power running out, leaving the unit without any functionality. Here we see the power for 148, WC 6935 and 6936 back together in the Brantford Yard, as the BNSF 794 runs down to get in a position where 399s power (seen behind the WC units) can lift it. As this all plays out, VIA 73 cruises into Brantford behind VIA 6433. As luck would have it, 399 would roll through Paris a few hours later, with their pristine Warbonnet leading into the setting sun.
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Nice shot Rob! Really captures the essence of railfanning the Dundas Sub back in 2006-2007.
Excellent story Rob and great action.