Railfan soliloquies

To chase, or not to chase, that is the question;
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to sit
On the couch and watch YouTube videos
Or to take your car to see some trains
And photograph them. To video – to sleep,
No more.

We shall go on to the diamond;
we shall ‘fan in Kingston;
we shall ‘fan by the seas and oceans,
we shall fan with growing confidence and many drones in the air,
we shall buy new gear, whatever the cost may be,
we shall ‘fan on the beaches,
we shall ‘fan by the rail yards,
we shall ‘fan by farmers’ fields and stop in the streets,
we shall drive up the hills;
we shall always railfan.

Four tens and three days ago our railway brought forth on this continent, a new train, conceived in MacMillan, and dedicated to the transport of all cargo to Vancouver.

Now we are engaged in a great journey, testing whether that train, or any train either general or unit, can long endure.

Photographs taken August 4, on the CN Rivers subdivision between Winnipeg and Elie, MB.
First photo: VIA Rail’s Canadian, mile 17.9
Second photo: Eastbound freight train, Dacotah
Third photo: Westbound freight train, Dugas Siding Road, near Dacotah
Fourth photo: Westbound freight train, mile 16