A collection of rail encounters during my runs in and around the Greater Toronto Area, and wherever else I may be. I grew up near the 'coal banks' in Sydney, N.S. and often played on the coal train cars. I'm also an avid runner having logged over 20,000 miles. Here I put them both together.
Had to assemble the video for this post and only got to it today.
Up early and headed up the trail to a unique viewing perch high over the Bala line near Northline Drive. Catching the ONR Northlander northbound. Not sure which unit was leading, usually it's 1800 for this Sunday run.
After that, scooted over to Wicksteed Avenue to catch CPR units 8807 and 8621 absolutely flying through the level crossing westbound on the Belleville sub.
When shooting at a double track, always stay clear of the open track as you cannot hear anything coming up behind you. I stayed in line with the barrier for safety.
I later hooked the trails through Crother's Woods up to Pottery Road to see if anything else may chance by on Bala, and a brief stop to peek at the Don Branch rails . At the northern end, the Don Branch is pretty grown over with fallen trees and other debris scattered around the tracks. Who knows if Metrolinx will ever really use this section of the line, it would certainly need some extensive cleaning up. I returned via Crother's Woods on the path closest to the ROW, but nothing was happening on the return trip. Long run day, 12 or 13 miles of mostly trail.
This was the Northlander, lead by 2 power units, #1809 and #1800, southbound at about 6:15 PM, September 28, 2012 at a crossing between Hwy 16 and Major Mac in Richmond Hill.
It's Sunday morning, September 23, 2012. I'm up and off to a perch high above the East Don River on the off-road biking trails just west of Northline Road in East York. I was hoping this video could be shot later in the fall when the trees were ablaze in red and gold, and catch the orange and blue colours of Ontario Northland's Northlander as it winds it's way through the Don Valley and northwards on it's run to Cochrane.
However, this is the last Sunday this train will make this trek, the video couldn't wait. It will still be running for the next 5 days but I'm unlikely to find any time.
It's a chilly morning and I was a bit late getting started. It took me 25 minutes to reach here, normally it's a 30 minute run. I made it with seconds to spare as I could hear the familiar bell of the GP38-2 just beyond the bend as I arrived. In the original footage I'm still catching my breath during the first few seconds and quickly adjusting for position.
It's a slow incline along the edge of the golf course, listen in as power unit #1800 has to crank it up once it crosses the bridge. The wind was kind enough to abate as the train made it's way past, picking up as it disappeared to the north.
Scooted down to Pottery Road to catch the ONR Northlander, as it's days are coming to an end. Used the Nikon today to try for a few good snaps. Would have been better had I realized the white balance was set to incandescent. Post processed it get the colours decent anyway.
Next Sunday is it's last Sunday run. I have a week to decide where to shoot from. I have one Tuesday morning I can try as well depending on timing.
Saved the running for later in the day, at the Terry Fox Run (Wilket Creek), 3 1/2 miles to the venue, run 10k (up paced, not race effort), and 3 1/2 miles back for 13ish miles. Added a bit to make up for their short 10k loop as I wanted at least 13 today.
While vacationing in Muskoka over the last week, we popped into Bracebridge for a little shopping and replenishing of supplies. A quick stop into The Right Track to see what obscure model train items they may have in stock before they closed at five, we were greated by the blaring noise of a diesel air horn on the tracks nearby.
It turned out the be the southbound ONR Northlander running about 40 minutes late, lead by 1800, fortunate for me as we had just arrived. I managed to just get my phone out and grab 4 quick shots as it rolled over the street out of the platform and on it's way.
This section of the line is part of the Newmarket Subdivision, a control box one street over shows mile marker 121.87.
It's a pretty cool location to catch rail traffic as it's so intimate with the surrounding streets and crosses a bridge over the Muskoka River.
As I wasn't expecting to be taking in any rail traffic on the excursion into town, I'd left the Sony cam behind. Too bad as I would have had some of that in-town air horn to present.
