Railpictures.ca - Rob Smith Photo: The joys of this hobby… My intention was to have a leisurely day following GEXR 581 to Goderich. After arriving good and early in Stratford, and watching crows walk on RLK 4095 for over an hour, I threw in the towel shortly after 09:00 and headed for Salford. Is the crew for GEXR 581 not on duty at 08:00 anymore? Anyway, I got to Salford in time to watch the Woodstock turn’s crew fire up Ontario Southland’s RS18s 181 and 182, so chasing them became plan B. I’m sure the crew thought I was an idiot by the end of their day (if not well before), after I spent all day fighting clouds in an attempt to get a few semi-decent photos. Earlier in the day Mr. Bishop informed me that CP 7017 was leading CP 235, and I had kept that in the back of my mind. Now late-afternoon, I found out CP 235 was still at Wolverton so I decided to wait for it. Of course CP T69 scooped 235 while they were at Wolverton, and then worked Coakley, so 235 was at Wolverton for almost 2 hrs. After starting off as a mostly cloudy day, the intended targets not going as planned, the late-day unexpected photo op. ends up being the photo of the day. The lengthy CP 235 finally showed slowly rounding the curve at Coakley, approaching Woodstock, in nice evening light. Gotta love it. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

The joys of this hobby... My intention was to have a leisurely day following GEXR 581 to Goderich. After arriving good and early in Stratford, and watching crows walk on RLK 4095 for over an hour, I threw in the towel shortly after 09:00 and headed for Salford. Is the crew for GEXR 581 not on duty at 08:00 anymore? Anyway, I got to Salford in time to watch the Woodstock turn's crew fire up Ontario Southland's RS18s 181 and 182, so chasing them became plan B. I'm sure the crew thought I was an idiot by the end of their day (if not well before), after I spent all day fighting clouds in an attempt to get a few semi-decent photos. Earlier in the day Mr. Bishop informed me that CP 7017 was leading CP 235, and I had kept that in the back of my mind. Now late-afternoon, I found out CP 235 was still at Wolverton so I decided to wait for it. Of course CP T69 scooped 235 while they were at Wolverton, and then worked Coakley, so 235 was at Wolverton for almost 2 hrs. After starting off as a mostly cloudy day, the intended targets not going as planned, the late-day unexpected photo op. ends up being the photo of the day. The lengthy CP 235 finally showed slowly rounding the curve at Coakley, approaching Woodstock, in nice evening light. Gotta love it.

Caption: The joys of this hobby... My intention was to have a leisurely day following GEXR 581 to Goderich. After arriving good and early in Stratford, and watching crows walk on RLK 4095 for over an hour, I threw in the towel shortly after 09:00 and headed for Salford. Is the crew for GEXR 581 not on duty at 08:00 anymore? Anyway, I got to Salford in time to watch the Woodstock turn's crew fire up Ontario Southland's RS18s 181 and 182, so chasing them became plan B. I'm sure the crew thought I was an idiot by the end of their day (if not well before), after I spent all day fighting clouds in an attempt to get a few semi-decent photos. Earlier in the day Mr. Bishop informed me that CP 7017 was leading CP 235, and I had kept that in the back of my mind. Now late-afternoon, I found out CP 235 was still at Wolverton so I decided to wait for it. Of course CP T69 scooped 235 while they were at Wolverton, and then worked Coakley, so 235 was at Wolverton for almost 2 hrs. After starting off as a mostly cloudy day, the intended targets not going as planned, the late-day unexpected photo op. ends up being the photo of the day. The lengthy CP 235 finally showed slowly rounding the curve at Coakley, approaching Woodstock, in nice evening light. Gotta love it.

Photographer:	Rob Smith [379] (more) (contact)
Date:	07/30/2021 (search)
Railway:	Canadian Pacific (search)
Reporting Marks:	CP 7017 (search)
Train Symbol:	CP 235 (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	Not Provided
City/Town:	Woodstock (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=46205

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9 Comments

mberry

August 1, 2021 at 11:19 am

7017 looks fresher than most of the 7000′s.
Stephen C. Host

August 1, 2021 at 7:58 pm

Rob, I’m informed GEXR runs as required out of Stratford, no longer 7 days a week.

They are about a 3-4 day a week operation from what I can tell and timing is basically the same as it was otherwise. Just have to get them on a day they run and have a crew.
Joseph Bishop

August 1, 2021 at 8:16 pm

Yup, this rocks.
rsmith

August 2, 2021 at 11:00 am

Thanks Steve, news to me. I’ve since been informed that in the summer GEXR runs even less, maybe only 1-2 days per week.
Stephen C. Host

August 2, 2021 at 2:11 pm

Wow nuts. Two summers ago 7 days a week….

I got them on July 10 (Saturday) this year while having a family gathering in Bayfield, 23 cars coming off the branch too.
Noe

August 2, 2021 at 6:47 pm

Nice shot Rob.

Yes it seems this summer that Monday-Tuesday are better bets for GEXR to run as well as Saturday’s. On Thursday and Friday’s, the Stratford guys tend to cover the GJR out of Guelph Jct.
rsmith

August 2, 2021 at 7:53 pm

Thanks. Good to know. Thank you Mr. Noe.
awmooney

August 13, 2021 at 11:35 am

Just a marvelous image, Mr. Smith !
rsmith

August 13, 2021 at 9:22 pm

Thank you Mr. Mooney. Lucky too, a week later and CP now has a long string of autoracks stored in the siding.

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