Occasional Canadian photos, mostly from Vancouver area

[PaulRhB]

The then new pedestrian subway at the West end of Jasper yard 

 

 

many of the lakes were still covered in ice and snow due to a late thaw, this is Maligne lake

 

a slow drive by on the icefield parkway

 

Bow Valley parkway

 

 

 

 

Morants Curve

 

 

 

 

Two Jack Lake

 

My mate John at Lower Bankhead

 

Banff

 

And Banff Depot

 

 

 

with another pushing on the back. 
 

 

 

Banff Springs Hotel of the CP

 

 

 

back to the Depot 

 

 

Rocky Mountaineer 

 

and finally Calgary

 

 

Temporary shoo fly tracks while they replaced level crossings with underpasses. 
 

CP HQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

[newbryford]

On 20/08/2021 at 23:34, PaulRhB said:

Really enjoyed that thanks chaps   Here’s a few from my trip in 2011

 

 

From the tower in Vancouver 

 

 

 

 

 

I did ask the question quite a few pages back and nobody seemed to know.

Maybe a "new" viewer to this thread might know the answer.

 

What is the significance of the yellow painted roof panel on the bi-level cars?

It isn't the cab control car as one is visible in the lower pic and even they have the yellow panel at the other end. The only common factor seems to be that they are all the same way round, but this wouldn't make any sense in identifying them from ground level.

Edited August 21, 2021 by newbryford

[PaulRhB]

5 hours ago, newbryford said:

What is the significance of the yellow painted roof panel on the bi-level cars?

It isn't the cab control car as one is visible in the lower pic and even they have the yellow panel at the other end.

As far as I know it’s just a livery element of West Coast Express to match the locos yellow swoosh. I guess they all have it so it doesn’t matter if the set is shortened and because of the slope each end to match the loco it is visible from the ground as a train approaches. The control car probably just carries it to match the others. 
Although it seems a bit pointless out of view the first full SWT livery 159’s here carried the livery swooshes and white on the driving cars over the roof but it was decided to drop it and they painted the roofs grey due to how they showed dirt and exhaust staining. Salisbury depot didn’t have a top wash but I think it was 017 that carried it for several years before the first SWT livery refurb though. The electric units all carried it over the roof though and I guess commuter lines in high rise urban areas do get viewed from above a lot anyway. 

[mdvle]

Picture on this page shows how it might just be the paint scheme as mentioned by PaulRhB - looks good if seen slightly elevated.

 

https://canada.fandom.com/wiki/West_Coast_Express

 

Is it worth the likely small additional expense?  Perhaps, given how potential customers can be swayed by otherwise inconsequential things.

[pH]

Canadian Pacific AC4400CWM #8062 as the pusher on westbound coal loads in Burnaby this afternoon:

 

 

 

As often happens, I didn't see the lead loco until it was too close to get in a position to photograph. Then there were roadworks on the road I wanted to take to photograph the midtrain helper. So all I got was this photo of the pusher.

 

The line here is owned by BNSF, but is maintained (and I believe, dispatched) by CN. The train is standing on a new third track at this location. 

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by pH

[pH]

Now, if that cabinet hadn't been there ...

 

SD30C-ECoS #5014 and #5005 on a train consisting mostly of empty autoracks in Coquitlam today:

 

 

One of the racks was owned by the Providence and Worcester Railroad in New England, another was from the Kansas City Southern de Mexico, and another still had the Conrail logo on it.

Edited December 30, 2022 by pH

[pH]

There often seems to be a train leaving the Port Coquitlam yards westbound as I'm returning from playing soccer in a Port Coquitlam park (twice weekly). Today it was a 'baretable' train - empty container cars - with a very few grain cars and tanks on the front.

 

To try to get in front of trains going the way this one was, I have to go through town streets, with speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs etc. while the train can progress at a steady speed. That means that I usually have to get through the towns and out onto a stretch of highway to have enough time to get in position for a shot. So I did that and got set up for a nice 3/4 shot of the front of the train on the north track (right-hand running). Sound of train blowing for an earlier crossing, bells and lights start on the crossing I'm at, the barriers come down and ... the train comes round the corner on the south track!

 

 

Engines are SD30C-ECoS #5004 and #5017

 

And the traditional 'going away' shot:

 

 

 

The wide separation between the tracks here is because this used to be the location of a station plus several sidings serving a huge sawmill.

Edited May 6, 2022 by pH

[pH]

Major tree pruning being done on the CPR line through Nelson, BC:

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by pH

[pH]

Spot the CN yard switcher:

 

North Vancouver yards across Burrard Inlet.

Edited May 6, 2022 by pH

[newbryford]

2 hours ago, pH said:

Spot the CN yard switcher:

 

North Vancouver yards across Burrard Inlet.

 

Memories of a trip not many years back. I've been under the bridge on the water and over the bridge by car (and floatplane)

[jamie92208]

I could add that I've been under the bridge on a steam hauled train.  

 

Jamie

[roundhouse]

Been on the bridge and then a few years later under it in an RDC on the penultimate run to Prince George

[roundhouse]

deleted as posted twice

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by roundhouse

[jamie92208]

On 24/11/2021 at 22:51, jamie92208 said:

I could add that I've been under the bridge on a steam hauled train.  

 

Jamie

I've even managed to find the proof.

I think it's an Alco. June 78.  This was the loco hauling my train.

I have a vague memory that the bridge was built with money from the Guinness family who were trying to develop North Vancouver with money from Ireland to escape high taxation in Eire.

 

Jamie

 

Edited April 20, 2022 by jamie92208

[Mike_Walker]

583 was a MLW built RS10, a model unique to Canada and basically a cross between the RS3 and the later ALCo RS11 and MLW RS18 models.

 

For those not in the know, MLW (Montreal Locomotive Works) was ALCo's Canadian partner.  When dieselisation was sweeping across the continent there was no free trade between the US and Canada with both imposing high tariffs on imports.  So the loco builders got round this by partnering with Canadian companies who built locomotives for Canada (and export).  In addition to ALCo/MLW, Fairbanks Morse partnered with the Canadian Locomotive Company whilst EMD set up its own Canadian company, General Motors Diesels Ltd which later became General Motors Diesel Division.

 

Whilst most designs supplied replicated US offerings, all three did produce special designs to meet the requirements of Canadian customers.

[pH]

A remarkable pair on a local here this afternoon:

 

 

Canadian Pacific SD40-2 #5973 and Central Maine and Quebec SD40-2F #9017. It's one month short of four years since I last saw a CPR SD40-2. As of April this year, there were only seven SD40-2s operating on CP - I don't know how many there are now. #9017 is in a 'heritage' Bangor and Arroostook colourscheme. It once was a CPR 'red barn' with the same number. Canadian Pacific acquired Central Maine and Quebec last year.

 

I tried to get a better photo in the industrial business they were switching, but security wouldn't let me in. (They also warned me about taking photos looking into the yard.) 

 

Here's a better picture (not mine) of the pair in nicer weather yesterday:

 

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/790593/

Edited May 6, 2022 by pH

[pH]

The CPR mainline through Port Moody this afternoon looked like a CN line. Here's a meeting between a pair of light engines and a train of grain empties. All engines belong to CNR.

 

 

 

The light engine pair are ET44AC #3264 and C44-9W #2711, sublettered for Illinois Central. They had brought in a train of sulphur hoppers, and were waiting to go back east and (presumably) back to the CNR engine facilities at Port Mann. The grain empties are coming from the terminals in downtown Vancouver - the power is ES44AC #2963 and ET44AC #3108.

 

#3108 was one of the locomotives given markings to celebrate CNs centenary in 2019:

 

 

 

A crew member from #3264 was on the ground, giving the grain train a roll-by inspection. The headlight on the engine is dimmed, and the ditch lights are out.

 

 

 

Once the grain train had passed, the light engines moved out to cross over to the nearer line and reverse to go back east. The headlight and ditch lights are on again.

 

 

 

(Note - pictures 1,2 and 4 taken from outside crossing barriers and on the roadway.)

Edited May 2, 2022 by pH

[pH]

Three-unit switcher working in the Port Coquitlam yards this morning. They were switching a massive train, consisting mostly of tank cars.

 

 

 

From left to right:

- #2219, a GP20C- ECO. Rebuild using some parts from withdrawn GP7/GP9 engines

- #4523, a GP38-2. Originally built as Union Pacific #9001, a GP40X.

- #3094, a GP38-2

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by pH

[pH]

A couple of 4-axle/6-axle combinations in the local area this afternoon.

 

GP20C-ECO #2243 and SD30C-ECO #5016 switching in Port Coquitlam yards:

 

(Sorry about the pole - the picture was taken through a gap in a fence, with no choice of a different view.)

 

GP38-2 #3070 and SD30C-ECO #5011 switching an industry yard in Port Moody:

 

 

The red colour on #3070 is clearly darker than on #5011.

Edited May 1, 2022 by pH

[pH]

Track maintenance train on Canadian Pacific in Port Coquitlam this morning. 

 

Motive power for the train(!):

 

 

 

And the machine being employed:

 

 

 

It wasn't in operation, so I don't know what work was being done.

 

Here's a video of the machine's capabilities. It is an advertisement by Brandt (the maker), so the tone's a bit annoying, but it does show it in action:

 

https://youtu.be/rK2gzbVyUbU

 

Edited May 1, 2022 by pH

[Jim49]

Ah, so that's what its called!  Thanks Peter for the photos and the link to Brandt.

I saw one of these working in Banff yard in May 2019 when we were last in Canada. At that time it was loading ties, presumably in readiness for spot replacement of time expired ones.  It was strange to see it shuffle itself along the length of one of these bogie wagons and then to my surprise, clamber from one wagon to another. There was no sign of the other half of  the unit, the road/rail tractor, but later on the unit moved out of the yard and headed West towards Lake Louise headed by CPs 6234 and 6062. I'm afraid I don't now enough about Canadian locos to identify the types but they will mean something to someone one here.

 

Also in the yard that day was a long procession of assorted P/W units stretching Eastwards well past the station limits. These remained at Banff during the day but by early evening were being lit up and readied for moving out to work. By the size of the convoy there would have been a sizeable maintenance job to be done. 

 

As an aside, does anyone know if the Wye triangle at Banff is still in use? Google Earth shows it to be there but it is situated well out of the station and difficult to reach on foot.

 

Jim

 

 

[pH]

50 minutes ago, Jim49 said:

… later on the unit moved out of the yard and headed West towards Lake Louise headed by CPs 6234 and 6062. I'm afraid I don't now enough about Canadian locos to identify the types but they will mean something to someone one here.

 

Also in the yard that day was a long procession of assorted P/W units stretching Eastwards well past the station limits. These remained at Banff during the day but by early evening were being lit up and readied for moving out to work. By the size of the convoy there would have been a sizeable maintenance job to be done. 

#6234 is a “spartan cab” (as distinct from a “wide cab”) SD60. #6062 is a SD40-2. It was one of a few units that were converted to ‘B’ units (cab windows plated over etc.) but later re-converted to ‘A’ units.

 

Track  maintenance machines often move about in ‘swarms’. It’s quite amusing to see a dozen or more trundling along in a line, all beeping and with beacons flashing.

[jamie92208]

49 minutes ago, pH said:

#6234 is a “spartan cab” (as distinct from a “wide cab”) SD60. #6062 is a SD40-2. It was one of a few units that were converted to ‘B’ units (cab windows plated over etc.) but later re-converted to ‘A’ units.

 

Track  maintenance machines often move about in ‘swarms’. It’s quite amusing to see a dozen or more trundling along in a line, all beeping and with beacons flashing.

Somewhere in my American photos thread there are pictures of such s swarm at Rosevill yard compleye with  it's own little fire engine and a portable loo on a trolley. The swarm was at least half a mile long.

 

Jamie

[dibber25]

Took this some years ago - about 2008 I guess - but only recently found it filed away on the computer. Two Southern Railway of BC switchers returning through New Westminster after taking a long train of auto-racks over to the island. The way it looks, this picture could be equally at home in the 'Street Running' section. In fact, its little more than a grade crossing on a curve.

[newbryford]

45 minutes ago, dibber25 said:

Took this some years ago - about 2008 I guess - but only recently found it filed away on the computer. Two Southern Railway of BC switchers returning through New Westminster after taking a long train of auto-racks over to the island. The way it looks, this picture could be equally at home in the 'Street Running' section. In fact, its little more than a grade crossing on a curve.

 

Same block of flats in the background from 2017?

 

I never went far enough down the overpass!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2022 by newbryford