a harbinger of things to come.
I was out near Hoffentoth Bros. icehouse the other day, near the outskirts of Dunnville. The Grand Valley's north-south mainline splits here, with the track in the foreground dropping down on a steep grade to the industrial area of town, and, eventually, to the West Dunn yards and engine terminal. The centre track, meanwhile, heads up-grade to the Dunnville passenger station, and from there to the Grand River bridge and the interchange with the EG&E. The track in the background, the only level track in the area, is the siding for Mercury Knitting Mills.
I was about to head back to my car, as there didn't seem to be much happening, when I heard an air horn in the distance. In about 10 minutes, and without further warning, a diesel burst from behind the trackside trees, the hogger widening on the throttle for the grade ahead, even though his train was still rolling down-grade.
Looks like the Grand Valley, chronically short of motive power, has leased another CNR loco. And because the RS-3 has no boiler for train steam, another visitor was in attendance, FPB-4 262, from the EG&E.
CNR 8520 is a regular around here.
As is NYC 4748.
CNR RPO/Baggage 7776 is also a frequent visitor.
The Grand Valley's own Willowgrove, or one of her sisters, is the usual passenger accomodation on this run. Doesn't look too crowded.
The EG&E's air-conditioned coach Seneca is a bit of a surprise, though, as she's usually in the consist of her home road's Grand River Chief.
And bringing up the rear, another regular visitor, Macassa.
While it's always nice to see a train, this one kind of made me wish that I'd left when I originally intended to: the passenger business was dying. Oh, sure, express business was still fairly strong (trucks will take that soon enough, though), but the writing was on the wall for these coaches. Perhaps for the railroad itself.
Wayne
I was out near Hoffentoth Bros. icehouse the other day, near the outskirts of Dunnville. The Grand Valley's north-south mainline splits here, with the track in the foreground dropping down on a steep grade to the industrial area of town, and, eventually, to the West Dunn yards and engine terminal. The centre track, meanwhile, heads up-grade to the Dunnville passenger station, and from there to the Grand River bridge and the interchange with the EG&E. The track in the background, the only level track in the area, is the siding for Mercury Knitting Mills.
I was about to head back to my car, as there didn't seem to be much happening, when I heard an air horn in the distance. In about 10 minutes, and without further warning, a diesel burst from behind the trackside trees, the hogger widening on the throttle for the grade ahead, even though his train was still rolling down-grade.
Looks like the Grand Valley, chronically short of motive power, has leased another CNR loco. And because the RS-3 has no boiler for train steam, another visitor was in attendance, FPB-4 262, from the EG&E.
CNR 8520 is a regular around here.
As is NYC 4748.
CNR RPO/Baggage 7776 is also a frequent visitor.
The Grand Valley's own Willowgrove, or one of her sisters, is the usual passenger accomodation on this run. Doesn't look too crowded.
The EG&E's air-conditioned coach Seneca is a bit of a surprise, though, as she's usually in the consist of her home road's Grand River Chief.
And bringing up the rear, another regular visitor, Macassa.
While it's always nice to see a train, this one kind of made me wish that I'd left when I originally intended to: the passenger business was dying. Oh, sure, express business was still fairly strong (trucks will take that soon enough, though), but the writing was on the wall for these coaches. Perhaps for the railroad itself.
Wayne