2Railz

01/07/2025

A Quick Visit to Smiths Falls

I was in Ottawa for work recently, and in the very limited downtime I chose to go train hunting. All of the advice I saw was to visit Smiths Falls. It was about a 45 minute drive from the hotel, reasonable enough with the time I had. Unfortunately all I had was late in the evening, and it was well after dark by the time I got there.

I walked around the old train depot, now apparently a theater, but late at night in a town where I'm not 100% confident of safety (go ahead, call me what you wish!) I didn't stick around. The few signals I could see weren't indicating movement, and as it happened nothing but the one VIA train did.

Smiths Falls is a town with a bit of railroad history. Today it is CPKC and VIA, way back the Canadian Northern Railway (CNR or CNoR) built from the Canadian Pacific towards Ottawa. It's not a simple crossing, the line from the south meets the CPKC with a wye/triangle junction, and then the former CNR to Ottawa is a simple split just a little further west. Passenger stations have serviced the town on both railroads in the past, but VIA built the current station in its current location in part to get away from the hustle and bustle of the CPKC and avoid delaying or being delayed by their fellow railroad.

While I was waiting, a gentleman who had been sitting in his truck wandered over. He asked if something special was coming - I just told him it was special to me! I see the GE units all the time - for now, anyway - but not in VIA colors. Perhaps if/when I return they'll have been phased out in Canada also.

From Smiths Falls to Fallowfield, most of the route is what most railfans would consider "Higher Speed" - not fast enough to be High Speed, but definitely runs at about 100mph for most of the trip.

If I get to return, I may have to tack on an extra day just to spend some more time at Smiths Falls and hopefully catch a few CP/KCS/CPKC-painted units running by.

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

I was in Ottawa for work recently, and in the very limited downtime I chose to go train hunting. All of the advice I saw was to visit Smiths Falls. It was ab...

24/06/2025

VIA Corridor Service at Fallowfield

I was recently visiting Ottawa for work, and had just a little bit of time in the evening - after the productive work and the social dinner events were done for the day - to get out and railfan. The first day was quite wet so I didn't go very far, Fallowfield seemed the most promising for a good parking opportunity and some train activity.

I was hoping to see the last two trains of the day, and surely enough I pulled in just as the first of them was arriving. I got a few quick photos and then retreated a bit to watch the Bus Rapid Transit system for a while, as I also monitored the second train approaching from the west.

The system seems pretty cool - similar GE units to what I'm used to seeing with Amtrak (and an F40 as a cab on the second train). From photos I've seen, it looks like a similar move to Siemens units as Amtrak has been making.

I'm not sure I'll ever be in Canada long enough to take a ride, but I'd love to if I could!

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

I was recently visiting Ottawa for work, and had just a little bit of time in the evening - after the productive work and the social dinner events were done ...

17/06/2025

Ottawa's O-Train

I was in Ottawa for work recently, and whilst it isn't the most rail-centric city in Canada it is not without its railroad activity.

We kick things off with the O-Train - the Light Rail system which services the city. There are three lines, all of which are grade-separated. Between them, they service both the main downtown VIA station and the Airport. Perhaps somewhat uniquely, Line 1 uses electric light rail equipment while the remaining two lines (Line 2 and Line 4 - Line 3 remains under construction) use diesel light rail stock.

Without a lot of time, I counted my lucky stars to capture a couple of trains close to the VIA station. If I get to return to the city I'll try to take more time to explore the O Train!

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

I was in Ottawa for work recently, and whilst it isn't the most rail-centric city in Canada it is not without its railroad activity.We kick things off with t...

10/06/2025

[FTA] Hi-Rail Off-rails

Hi-rail vehicles are dual-mode vehicles designed to operate on both roads and railway tracks. They are also known as road-rail vehicles, rail-road vehicles, or two-way vehicles. These vehicles are often converted road vehicles with added flanged steel wheels for running on rails, allowing them to switch between road and rail operation.

In the United States, they're commonly used by maintenance workers who need to inspect track segments or to access areas that may not be readily accessible by other means for the purposes of vegetation control, for example.

They can sometimes present a challenge at level crossings as they may not shunt the track circuit enough to trigger the gates. I almost got hit by one myself whilst chasing N&W 611 a few years ago for that reason!

Getting off the track is easy enough - lift the rail wheels, and drive away. But it is still cool to watch.

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6 (Audio Recording) -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm

Hi-rail vehicles are dual-mode vehicles designed to operate on both roads and railway tracks. They are also known as road-rail vehicles, rail-road vehicles, ...

03/06/2025

Intermodal Train I135 for Chicago

It's a common trend in the Railfan Community to bemoan the current rail scene, and to remember how great it used to be. How boring it is to only see GE locomotives, how the trains seem so uniform, how they all look the same after a while.

They forget that once upon a time the SD40-2 was a ubiquitous workhorse and they may bemoan now their decision to not take as many photos as they could have back then.

Even in something as "boring" as a container train, there can be much to pique the interest if you look for it. For example, there are several types of well car in this one train: 5-pack 40 footers, 3-pack 53 footers, a few singles in there. There are 20ft and 40ft containers, a few 20ft tank-tainers, and some canvas-topped containers. I'm not absolutely sure, but I'm fairly confident there are some rebuilt wells in the train too: as 53' containers took over as "normal" from 48' containers, the wells that were built for the 48' containers were rebuilt to carry smaller 40 footers. New cars were built to carry the longer containers, though they could also be "piggybacked" on top of smaller containers.

And just for kicks, there's an EMD unit in second, so it isn't all GEs here either!

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

It's a common trend in the Railfan Community to bemoan the current rail scene, and to remember how great it used to be. How boring it is to only see GE locom...

27/05/2025

EMD Leader on NS 274

NS 274 is lead by unit 1210, an SD70ACe, supported mid-train by 1824, an SD70ACC. It's not the most common sight to see only EMD/Progress Rail units for a high-priority train like 274, which is carrying mostly containers (and a fair chunk of sailboat-fuel) from the Virginia Port in Norfolk to Enola Yard in Harrisburg.

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

NS 274 is lead by unit 1210, an SD70ACe, supported mid-train by 1824, an SD70ACC. It's not the most common sight to see only EMD/Progress Rail units for a hi...

20/05/2025

Mixed Manifest at Shenandoah Junction, WV

It's a Saturday in May, I haven't been out train catching for a while (August of last year? Has it been that long?!) I'm another year older, and the first catch of the day is NS 11Z!

He blazed down the northern part of the H-line, but I did hear him on the radio not much further south talking with the PTC desk about some apparent issues. He was authorized to continue at restricted speed and then I didn't hear any more.

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Panasonic HC-VX1 (Camera) - https://a.co/d/46pB12B
Zoom H6e (Audio Recording) -- https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1805576-REG/zoom_h6essential_32_bit_float.html
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm
Zoom H6 -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF

It's a Saturday in May, I haven't been out train catching for a while (August of last year? Has it been that long?!) I'm another year older, and the first ca...

08/02/2025

Capitol Free-mo, February 2025 Packdown Timelapse

Capitol Free-mo (http://www.capitolfreemo.org/) is a loosely organized group of like-minded model railroaders. We model various areas on sections called Modules which comply with the documented "Free-mo" standard (https://free-mo.org/). Every layout we setup is slightly different and is designed to fit the space that we are allocated and the modules/people that are available to participate.

Our "home" show is the Great Scale Model Train Show (https://gsmts.com/) which happens three times per year at the Maryland State Fair Grounds in Timonium, Maryland (just north of Baltimore).

08/02/2025

Capitol Free-mo, February 2025 Setup Timelapse

Capitol Free-mo (http://www.capitolfreemo.org/) is a loosely organized group of like-minded model railroaders. We model various areas on sections called Modules which comply with the documented "Free-mo" standard (https://free-mo.org/). Every layout we setup is slightly different and is designed to fit the space that we are allocated and the modules/people that are available to participate.

Our "home" show is the Great Scale Model Train Show (https://gsmts.com/) which happens three times per year at the Maryland State Fair Grounds in Timonium, Maryland (just north of Baltimore).

Capitol Free-mo (http://www.capitolfreemo.org/) is a loosely organized group of like-minded model railroaders. We model various areas on sections called Modu...

13/11/2024

First Amtrak 41 Floridian

There's work going on in New York, and also a shortage of Superliners. Amtrak have decided to solve both problems (at least in part) by "temporarily" replacing the Capitol Limited and the Silver Star with a single service that runs between Chicago and Miami via Washington DC.

The first trains left on November 10th, which put them through the Washington DC area on the 11th. The North/West-bound train was going to arrive after dark (or close to it) but I was able to catch the East-bound service through Shenandoah Junction, WV. First time I've seen Amfleets on this line!

There's work going on in New York, and also a shortage of Superliners. Amtrak have decided to solve both problems (at least in part) by "temporarily" replaci...

12/11/2024

First Amtrak 41 Floridian

There's work going on in New York, and also a shortage of Superliners. Amtrak have decided to solve both problems by "temporarily" replacing the Capitol Limited and the Silver Star with a single service that runs between Chicago and Miami via Washington DC.

The first trains left on November 10th, which put them through the Washington DC area on the 11th. The North/West-bound train was going to arrive after dark (or close to it) but I was able to catch the East-bound service through Shenandoah Junction, WV. First time I've seen Amfleets on this line!

There's work going on in New York, and also a shortage of Superliners. Amtrak have decided to solve both problems by "temporarily" replacing the Capitol Limi...

27/09/2024

Rerouted Freight in Shenandoah Junction, WV

In 2016, CSX opened the first Virginia Avenue tunnel in DC to double-stacked containers. This was one of the final pieces in the puzzle that had been blocking double-stacks from traversing through DC from the south to the west.

But to the North... Baltimore's Howard Street Tunnel remains a similar block. Only single-stacked containers can pass through. After years of planning and negotiations on funding, CSX had begun the work in early 2024 to raise the height restriction through this choke-point.

The tunnel itself is on a highly-trafficked route for CSX trains. To free some time for work to proceed, CSX rerouted a number of trains around it. This is one of them - M422 is a manifest freight train that was sent west in DC to go "the long way" to the north of Baltimore.

=====================================
2Railz equipment:

Field Recording:
Canon GX10 (Camera) -- https://bhpho.to/3vlvlBD
Zoom H6 (Audio Recording) -- https://amzn.to/3B4kQUF
Te****le Sync -- https://bhpho.to/3paLWqI
DJI Osmo Action (Action Camera) -- https://amzn.to/3vlXTLk
Tripod -- https://amzn.to/3lNcEU9
Whistler WS1010 (Radio Scanner) -- https://amzn.to/3lZgPMZ

Studio:
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO (Video mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3DPb7mM
Zoom Livetrak L-8 (Audio mixer) -- https://amzn.to/3FQVTzo

Also in the bag:
Zoom H1n -- https://amzn.to/3DTRxpk
Zoom H4n -- https://amzn.to/3vlF1Mm

In 2016, CSX opened the first Virginia Avenue tunnel in DC to double-stacked containers. This was one of the final pieces in the puzzle that had been blockin...