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Caption: I realize I am always moaning about the swift passage of time, but this seems ridiculous. Can it be that come September it was been 20 years since the CBC train crossed the country? Shocking.
Well, since it has been that long already, the memory has a few bit of blanks in it and I had to work hard to exhume some of that rather active day.
I recall arriving early at Sudbury Jct on anticipation of this train coming down from Capreol via the Ruel/Bala subs. It was miserable. Heavy fog. And no train. I heard there was a derailment north of Capreol so the train was diverted to the Algoma Central to the SOO and across the Huron Central. Geez. So off I go, barreling along Hwy 17 hoping to head it off somewhere. I'm somewhere around the far side of Espanola and on the scanner I hear about a car on the ground not far off. Derailment on the HCR!!! Before I can figure out what to do I hear CP talking to the CBC train which apparently somewhere northwest of Cartier. So now it is on the CP. Around I go and off like a rocket (well, rather quickly)back the way I came and race up Hwy 144 toward Cartier, hoping to hear of the trains progress via radio. It was somewhat of a panic..........by the time I got within 40 miles or so I only knew the train was either at Cartier or had departed. Unable to think quickly enough of a location that had some decent ID, I settled to park underneath the Hwy 144 bridge at Larchwood and when the train came into sight, run up the hill and shoot from the overpass. And this, after 250 miles of tearing around, was the result. The "red" thing on the end is what I heard referred to as a 'tool car', but apparently was a flat car with compressors of sorts. No idea why it was dragged along. Send unit behind 6403 is 6449.
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Fantastic story and a very memorable shot to mark #1900. Congrats !
Appreciate the note.
) Yes, this was one of those “I thought to be routine” days that, for me, was a rather hairy one. Tearing around all over is not my idea of a good time. But it paid off. Caught up to the train in Sudbury later, and spent the night about 10 miles from where I started the morning. And had planned on being back south.
Arnold, you certainly are intrepid ! Love the narrative, tearing around empty northern Ontario in the cold damp weather for miles and miles to get a “train shot”. Many would question your sanity that day, but I am thankful you did what you did – a very good picture of the “CBC unit”, the train and surrounding scenery, very much Sudbury region . Thank you for your “intrepidness “, John
Thanks John. I would imagine you chuckled over the silliness involved on this day…..but what saved me was the fact there was an empty seat next to me in the car…….no one barking about speeding, watching out for other cars, or telling me I did not know how to drive.
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Great caption.
Neat capture – a lot invested in this one !
Q: Is it possible that compressor laden flat car is an inverter generator? Given a CBC charter, the CBC would require ‘clean’ electrical power for the electronic equipment.
sdfourty
Thanks. I am sure you have had days like this.
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I was informed the equipment on the trailing flat car is marked “Aggreko”; makers of temporary power generating equipment and temperature control equipment.
Good guessing !!!
Loved this photo when you first posted, but it came up again today and I read the narrative. Unbelievable, but we’ve all had days like this. Someone once said when the D&H unit lead the weed train through Southern Ontario that it seems “….only on days like this that the good power comes out”. I’ve had my fair chases through the Chatham-Kent region, some successful and others not so much….so I have to say your narrative is wonderful as it not only created a memory for you, but for all of us who read it…we all have that one chase!