Railfan Stories

Railfans are usually visual people. We take photographs of trains. We read books about trains. We watch trains videos. But sometimes, we listen. And smell. And touch. And rarely, taste.

The weather outside is frightful, but the railfanning is delightful.

If you’re a fan of trams (or streetcars, or trolleys), then Lisbon, Portugal is the place for you. Tram lines run all through the downtown area, and the vehicles are a delightful mix of relatively modern units and classic Brill streetcars.

I haven’t been doing much work on my model train layout. However, I do like to stop by my favourite train store, Ware House Hobbies, now and then.

After switching Autoport, it was time for CN 509 to head back to Dartmouth. By this time, the train had grown to a decent length, with 9 or 10 auto rack cars behind the tank car they were carrying around.

The short chase of CN 509 from the yard in downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to Shearwater was over. The two CN locomotives, pushing the tank car lifted from Irving Oil, arrived in the four track yard outside the Autoport facility.

In early October 2024, I was on my way east to visit my company’s offices in the Halifax area for a few days. I messaged my friends Caleb and Chris to ask if they would be available to get together. Chris was up for a meet-up but Caleb was going to be working. Since Caleb works for CN, this gave me an opportunity to meet both at the same time…

It was an early morning, late September; a fine morning to be out by the rails.

The morning started with a ballast train bombing through Diamond at six AM, darkness enfolding all.

Back in June, I felt like going for a long bicycle ride, and I brought my camera with the “long lens”. Why not?