An Engineer With a Smile

Our engineer who will be taking us on our first leg westward from Jasper was a very friendly fellow.

He happily posed for a picture or two and he explained the train operations for The Canadian.

Here we see our power, three FP40H's with some twenty or so cars. A fourth dome car was placed on the train here to allow more travellers to enjoy the mountain vistas.

Jasper, Alberta

We've arrived Jasper in the late afternoon. Lisa and the girls head into the station while I snap a few pics of the locomotives.

We have another diesel added to our consist for the run through the mountains.

These FP40H's are something else. They look attractive in the VIA paint scheme.

Now we have three units on our headend. Should be enough power to take us through the Rockies.

Three trains in one picture...The Canadian, the Rocky Mountaineer and a CN freight. Ah, railfanning is great in the Rocky Mountains!

Edmonton and On Westward!

Well, after a short stop in Alberta's capital, it's onward to the mountains. Let's see what we discover on our way to the foothills!

The Alberta Terminals Ltd. certainly is a big facility judging by its size and the number of freight cars around the grounds.

These Inland cars looked pretty fascinating so had to snap a shot of them against the bright blue sky!

I love when the train passes the big freightyards. This open hopper is very similar to the ones my good buddy, Chris Lyon, has on his model railroad. Hey Chris...these ones are weathered! (Just teasin')

This CN freight is "in the hole" awaiting our train and a crewman has jumped down from the diesel locomotive to perform a visual runby and get the switch.

I snapped this interesting angle from the below deck side window of the rear dome car known as the "Park Car"!

In my next posting we arrive Lake Wabumen...the site of a major derailment the summer before. I'll have to post some of last year's pics there as well!

More From Edmonton

We were lucky to have such beautiful weather when our train stopped at Edmonton. The layover was short...maybe 30 minutes. This gave us time to stretch our legs a bit.

It's nice to see that the railroad wants its passengers to enjoy the view...and good clean windows go a long way for our "creature comforts!"

Another shot of our Park Car on the rear of the train. The stainless steel sure looks beautiful against the deep blue morning sky!

How's this for your "artsy shot" of the day. Yes, that's the moon as it descends towards the horizon while the sun has established itself on such a fine day!

After the "all aboard" call we find our seats inside the train and I am eager to see what else is in the railyard here in Edmonton. It isn't long before this spreader comes into view. What a nice surprise that was!

Yet, another surprise awaits me as we pull out of the station. Yes, this BCRail Diesel sitting in the yard sure looks lonely in the mix of red, white an black CN motive power!

And...another picture of the same diesel all dressed in blue!

Indeed, Edmonton is a very busy yard!

Edmonton's Rail Yards

The next selection of images were taken when we approached the station in Edmonton.

This CN train, an eastbound was throttling up as it began to let the slack out to begin its journey across the Canadian prairies. The lead unit CN 4766 is a GP38-2.

Here's a "going away" shot of the same train. Those sergeant stripes on the second unit certainly stand out against any background! The trailing unit, #5503, is an SD50AF.

It was a thrill to capture this locomotive, GMD1 #1063, as they are rare beauties spotted mainly on prairie rails!

Here's another GMD1u #1409 sitting next to the shop building in a sergeant stripe scheme.

More equipment...an SW1200RS. The 1385 is enjoying a rest before it is called out for duty once again in an around the yard.

Another view of the switcher as it sits below the clear blue Edmonton skies.

This fellow, a GP38-2, appears to have suffered some sort of mishap!

On my model railroad we call similar incidents "service interruptions"!

Out On the Prairies

We've departed Winnipeg and soon the evening light diminishes. The following morning I awake and head up to the dome car to check out the sights before we arrive Edmonton.

It is a real treat to spot a couple of grain elevators...especially the older wooden ones. Of course, we probably passed quite a few throughout the overnight but at least I caught a shot of this one!

Again, my apologies for the bug splattered windows. This shot was taken in the early morning light somewhere in Alberta east of Edmonton.

This industry seems to be hopping judging by the amount of rail traffic on the property! My next posting will be of the action in and around the Edmonton diesel facilities.

In Winnipeg on "The Canadian"

We arrive Winnipeg late in the afternoon of our second day's travel and we're granted a short amount of time to get off the train and walk around.

On my trip the previous year, I learned that there exists a railroad museum on the second floor of the Winnipeg train station. I ran up the stairs with enthusiasm and found this beautifully restored locomotive, "The Duchess of Dufferin". It is the first steam locomotive to ply the rails in western Canada.

This beautifully restored snowplow was also another "catch" of mine from last year's trip in Winnipeg.

What this unusual passenger set I see outside my window in Winnipeg during last year's trip? Why, it's the American Orient Express! Nice "capture" Mike!

Rather than head to the museum this year, I try my luck walking over to the market area beside the station where I'm told there are some old refurbished passenger cars.

And, so there are! I locate these two beauties in the parking lot of the market area. I learn quickly that I can enter the cars. It seems they are being used for other purposes!

Precisely what I thought! A candy store! Boy the little (and big) kids sure are happy to be aboard this train!

And...what else do I find in the parking lot? Yes, an old CNR caboose!

Before I leave Winnipeg, I snap a picture of the front of the station...an elegant and large structure indeed!

As we depart Winnipeg on the journey this year, I'm able to snap a shot of yet another interesting passenger train...this one with unique billboards painted onto the sides of the passenger cars. I hope you enjoyed my views of Winnipeg aboard "The Canadian"!

Scenes From On Board "The Canadian"

Taking a trip across Canada on our country's premier passenger train is a lot of fun! It is like being in a cottage on wheels! Check out some of these scenes from inside the train.

Our dining car and the dining experience that goes with it over the three day journey is "first class" all the way! Imagine dining at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa or the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City or the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta...well, that is what our dining experience was like aboard "The Canadian"!

We meet many interesting people and strike up friendships aboard "The Canadian". This couple is from England and the gentleman behind is Pierre Ozorak, a well-known railroad photographer. We're in the dome car here.

That's me in the foreground and the gentleman in the white T-shirt has come all the way from France to tour Canada.

This little tyke is enjoying his journey across Canada. I timed the shot as we passed through a freight yard in order to get the UP symbol framed nicely in the background!

This is Ivan, one of our VIA employees stationed in the "park car"...which is the first class lounge and tailend car.

The park car is a great place to unwind...as if you need unwinding! The entire trip is a pleasant experience! Check out the old ashtrays now used as cup and glass holders!

A "Meet"ing of "Similar Kinds"

Well, we're back aboard the train and the only two locations on board to get decent shots of passing trains is from the dome cars or the tail end park car. Keep in mind that these shots are taken through curved glass with much reflection. You can certainly grab some great interior shots though!

We've entered a siding in a long rock cut so I climb up into the rooftop dome section of the first dome car behind the locomotive set. There happen to be four dome cars on our train this trip.

And...here's who we've been waiting for...an eastbound CN freight train and he's travelling along very slowly.

The front door below the cab opens and a crewman steps out onto the front of his diesel to conduct a runby inspection of our train. It's certainly nice to know that we're well looked after!

We await our clearance before we head back out on the main in our westward direction. Hmmm...I wonder who we'll visit on our next "meet" in another siding.

I don't have to wait too long as we tuck into another siding. What a pleasant surprise to see our counterpart, train #2, the eastbound "Canadian" passing by! Could there possibly be any other surprises in store?

Why, yes there is! Now looky there would'ya! It's Spiderman pulling our eastbound friend...and because I managed to snag this shot from the rear car through the cleaner window...I'm able to get an okay shot!

I wave goodbye to the tailend car on train #2 and I wonder if someone in that car is taking a picture of me!