Retracing Your Route

Map of CN railway passenger routes in 1974

I get railway-related inquiries every few weeks via email. They found my web site and have a technical question about trains, or a question about railway history, or just want to say “hi”. Most frequently, I get a question like the one from Diane below. Often people are doing genealogical research and want to know … Read more

Food on the VIA Rail Canadian

Breakfast on the train

I recently rode the VIA Rail “Canadian” from Winnipeg, MB to Sioux Lookout, ON and back. On that trip I had the opportunity to eat two meals aboard the train. I’ll share them here so you can get an idea of the meal experience, coach class. I need to emphasize that I was in coach … Read more

Consists

Train passing another train

Here are some details on the two Canadians I rode on July 4, 2022 between Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout, and the CN trains we met along the way. You may want to refer to the CN Redditt subdivision listing for locations. Even train numbers are going east, odd-numbered trains are going west. VIA 2 Locomotives … Read more

Print It!

Collection of printed photographs

I embraced digital photography as soon as I could. As a computer geek, I like digital things and I am comfortable working with image files and virtual folders and image editors. I never learned how to develop film. The downside of digital photography is that you hardly ever hold your images in your hands – … Read more

I’m Going to Ride the Canadian

VIA Rail's "Canadian" in a golden sunrise

For the first time in my life, I’m going to ride VIA Rail’s Canadian train! I’m not going to ride it very far, mind you – Winnipeg to Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and back – but I’ll be on it! This was one of the things I said I wanted to do in 2022 in my … Read more

Three Views of the Salem and Hillsborough

Douglas Courtney slide of SH 8245 in Hillsborough

Here are three slides showing the Salem & Hillsborough Railroad in operation in the 1980s and 1990s. The S&H was a tourist railway that operated from 1984 to 2004 in the Hillsborough area south of Moncton, New Brunswick. I had the pleasure of volunteering for the railway in the last few years of its operation. … Read more

Excerpt from When Trains Ruled the Kootenays

I recently reviewed the excellent book When Trains Ruled the Kootenays (RMB, 2022) by Terry Gainer. You can read my review here. Please enjoy this 10 page excerpt, provided by the publisher. THE BATTLE BEGINS: RAILS TO THE WEST KOOTENAYS Daniel Chase Corbin built the first American railway into the Kootenays. Fully cognizant of the … Read more

Seasons of Interest

Frozen Clear Lake, Manitoba

I haven’t really been interested in railfanning for the past year or so. I’m not feeling it. For someone who has been actively railfanning for over 20 years (yikes), it’s been more than a little unsettling to feel this way. As I mentioned in my Let’s Talk post, I think I’m depressed. I am taking … Read more

Celebrate

Fireworks

I’m not good at celebrating successes.
As a Canadian I am turned off by self-aggrandizement. We aren’t the boasting types, in general. Quiet and self-confident, that’s us.