Normally August is a very slow month for me, foamer wise. It's hot, there's lots of bugs, the nights are short, and there's more people out to potentially bother me. Plus, summer just isn't my time of year. I've been spending August weekends at the steam threshing shows the past few years.
This year, August was quite different. When it came to railfanning, I hit the motherlode! For starters there was the week spent riding the train across Canada--first class! Then I found an obscure steam railroad up there that gave me a cab ride up a mountain! Finally, just last weekend my local 0-6-0 steamer was back running again, and I got some more cab time. It's been a real foamer cornucopia for me the past three weeks! I've been enjoying it because I know it will never last.
So, where do I start? I guess I'll start at the beginning, up in Canada. The train is the Canadian No. 1 run by VIA. I'll describe it as a cruise ship 8 ft. wide and nearly a quarter mile long! Historic stainless steel dome cars, first class dining car with a sous chef, I could do a whole write up just on this trip! I would, but I'm not sure anyone would be interested. A few shots:
1. W/b train enters the Canadian Rockies east of Jasper.
2. Dawn: we meet the e/b in the canyon east of Kamloops.
3. Train takes on supplies, additional passengers, additional cars at Jasper.
4. Fueling from a tanker truck in Kamloops, dawn.
5. Obligatory shot of the engine in Jasper. I asked the conductor about taking some shots of the engine and was told it would be OK as long as I didn't cross any tracks. I only had one flash with me, and I used it off camera in Nikon's iTTL mode. I had taken a couple of pops when I saw a white SUV heading my direction in a hurry. As an experienced foamer, I assumed this meant trouble. I quickly grabbed my flash and flattened myself against a nearby box car. Sure enough, a CN rail cop came sneaking around. Technically I did have permission to be there, but I didn't want to chance missing getting back on board. I waited motionles while the cop poked around. When he wasn't looking in my direction, I picked up a piece of ballast and chucked it over towards the back side of the engine, where it clattered on the ground. He went for it! Oldest trick in the book. I quietly disappeared back into the night, with my shot.
This is no doubt the best rail trip in North America, and we met adventure travelers from all over the world on it. My wife now wants to ride from Winnipeg up to Churchill, a trip we did 20 years ago. I have many stories about this train (and more photos,) but I think this will do. Don't want people falling asleep on me. Cab shots from the two steamers will have to wait for next time.
Kent in SD