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.
Recently I found a CPKC train doing some work on the outskirts of Winnipeg. I’ve seen this train several times, stopped to work the Paterson grain terminal. They bring cars to the elevator, maybe take some empties away, then rejoin their train on the main line.
They were leaving the terminal when I saw them. The two locomotives rounded the bend onto the main line. The conductor dismounted to reline the switch for the main, then they backed onto their train and coupled up.
I decided to head to the west end of Makwa siding, a mile or so to the west, to photograph them in motion.
Sunrise was at 7:50 AM on this day (February 8) and they passed me 2 minutes after that. It was overcast so there was no sun to speak of!
Once the train passed me, I hopped in my car and gave chase. I didn’t have much hope of passing them, but I thought there might be an eastbound train at Meadows or Marquette, so why not?
I caught up with the tail end at Meadows and, over the next eight miles, the highway and the single track main line parallel each other, straight as an arrow.
Pulling abreast of the mid-train unit, Kansas City Southern 5019, I decided to open the passenger window and just… listen.
I matched speeds with the train – 50 MPH or 80 km/h, choose your units. The roar of the 4400 horses permeated the air, a steady noise, almost a scream. 5019 was working hard and working well.
Mile after mile, we rolled together, the train and I, alone on the highway and on the rails, side by side. Green signals and no stopping.
All good things come to an end, and for me that was Marquette, with its 50 km/h speed limit. I reluctantly slowed down and gave the train a little wave as it continued westward, following the railway’s own speed limits.
Fortunately, I have a dashcam in my car, and I pressed the “record” button a couple of times to get snippets of video (with sound!). I made a little video.
I’d never really paced a train before. I know the steam train fans do it often – much to the annoyance of motorists and other railfans – but it never occurred to me.
I might do that again, given the opportunity. It was a good experience.
Great story about the train and also the fun of pacing them when it is safe to do so. I stay away from the steam trains because of all the idiot drivers 🙂
Thanks, Gene, we only have one steam train around here so there aren’t so many nutty drivers. When CP 2816 was heading south, I heard a story of an idiot railfan who held everyone up for quite a few miles.
I really enjoyed that post
Thanks, Glenn!
Good post. Such a difference between my experience on an Ontario branchline in Grey County compared to mainline prairie high speed running. I hope the train staff in the cabs (I hesitate to name them otherwise for fear of misnaming), have some ear protection. Locally there was one stretch of branchline that paralleled a road, just north of Hanover. I did pace a freight along that stretch (more years ago than I wish to admit), but it was just over one mile. One engine, lots of stock cars and actually a van! Ian Wilson has photos of such trains in one of his books.
Hi Jim, modern locomotive cabs are fairly well insulated – sound, vibration and heat – compared to older units, but yes, hearing protection is strongly recommended. I’m amazed at how many workers I see doing noisy work without hearing protection – non-railway workers.
Pacing that train, even for a mile, must have been quite an experience.