Railpictures.ca - Canadian Railway Photography - photographie ferroviaire Canadienne. » Stephen C. Host http://www.railpictures.ca The BEST Canadian photos on the Internet, eh? Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:06:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Images by headtailgrep http://www.railpictures.ca/2026/%postname?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=1 http://www.railpictures.ca/2026/%postname#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2026 06:24:54 +0000 Stephen C. Host
Part 3/3. So on this nice pretty Saturday morning with no plans I went out to capture Train 236 in the snow. After capturing them on the hill on the curve, at a blistering 1 MPH <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59429 target=_blank>seen here in part 1</a> and after a quick meet with 237 seen in <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59463 target=_blank>part 2</a> I was delighted that 237 was a fast and short train. After 237 blasted by in about 30 seconds, I was in position hoping, praying, that the locomotive on 236 wouldn't be so far over that I couldn't frame the old brick works (also lumber and coal company) in the shot, and bam, there it was. Click Click and goal achieved. Little did I realize i'd get a full meet sequence at the same time. We recently had some great discussions on this place <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59382 target=_blank>here on Arnold's recent posting</a> with great info from Mr. Bowman and Terry O'Shell who are both right. Jacob did the research a couple years ago and posted this <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=47110 target=_blank> here in this 1950's shot</a><br><br>And here's some more:<a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=36994 target=_blank>Last run of CPR #21, Bill Thomson</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25072 target=_blank>Last run again, this time in colour. </a>Note this means Bill carried two cameras and switched cameras to get the going away shot in colour.<br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=35009 target=_blank>Modern view #1</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=33429 target=_blank>Modern view #2</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=31841 target=_blank>Steam by Bill Thomson</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=16118 target=_blank>CP F units Bill Thomson</a><br>I mean if you really want to go digging into Bill's stuff at Campbellville, <a href=https://www.google.com/search?q=campbellville+thomson+site%3Arailpictures.ca target=_blank> This google search will do it (click images afterwards)</a> but just click someone's name on the site to dig into their profiles.. we lost Bill in 2022 but the gold he's shared with us is all there, and campbellville was one of his, and still is one our favorite spots to go for us locals!<br><br>Note the caboose was removed from the property last year. They tried to sell it with the business that operated in it and I guess that failed to pan out.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 1/2/2021
Location: Milton
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 15 Favourites
Part 2/3. As you can see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59429 target=_blank>in the first photo</a> the lights were off on 236 as they had a meet coming, and quick. After capturing 236 grinding up the hill, I was able to capture 237 coming around the curve behind me, but I turned again and captured this "meet shot" - while not exactly the way I'd like I kinda realize we don't have the luxury of time. But I had another goal in mind, and you'll see next week just how difficult the goal was in part 3/3. The truth is moving meet shots are one of the most difficult to get, and get right, you're basically at the mercy of what the Lord throws at you when it happens and your ability to navigate with your feet, a camera and lens. How many times have you had an opportunity to shoot two moving trains and be in the right place right time? It's rare right?
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 1/4/2021
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 18 Favourites
Part 1/3 - After posting <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=43895 target=_blank>this shot in 2021</a> where a lively discussion ensued, I figure during our times of extreme warmth I'll cool everyone off with some January winter action. So pictured we have 246 (236?) grinding up the hill on what <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59382 target=_blank>Mr. Ron Bowman calls Angel's Rest - the steepest part of the Galt sub grade </a> and the pair of GE's are on their knees. Doing about 1 mile per hour with wheels squealing, this all black locomotive was slowly coming toward me while train 237 had just cleared the junction to the west. I was able to take the time to capture a photo that shows off the grade. Next photo to come later - and believe me it gets much better!.<br><br> Speaking of which, has everyone gone digging to find the comments many folks add to photos long after they are posted? If you click a commenters name it will show you how many comments were made, and Mr. Bowman has graced us with his railroading memories for quite a long time now with over 700 comments posted. Many more folks have done the same and I thank all who continue adding to our discussions - it's not just about the photos, it's about the memories and railroad history too. Keep them coming everyone!<br><br>When clicking a photo make sure you scroll to the bottom to see what was added since your last visit, you never know what you may learn.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 1/2/2021
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
5 Comments | 16 Favourites
What a difference a few years makes. When I first spent time around here, there was some kind of business jutted in the middle of the Huron Park Spur and the GEXR mainline. <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=11249 target=_blank>Then a layover yard was built.</a> Google has since sprung up, built three buildings, and large condos are now built all around this site. That business located by the tracks was razed and a parking garage was built for exclusive use by Google. Us Kitchener area "locals" anticipated the day it would open for nice vantage points for us non drone photographers. Pictured is the entire train 568 rolling through downtown Kitchener by Google's campus and the GO Park Ave layover facility. The Huron Park spur is at the bottom right.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: BNSF
Date: 2/6/2024
Location: Kitchener
Province: Ontario
5 Comments | 24 Favourites
Approaching Mclaughlin Road near the north end of Brampton, the Credit Valley Express is almost at Snelgrove where they will run-around their train and head north. GP9 4014 was only assigned to the line a few months and was sent away due to mechanical ailments.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Cando
Date: 10/22/2016
Location: Near Snelgrove
Province: Ontario
Comments | 13 Favourites
Signs of the TH&B are abound in Hamilton as a Kinnear to Aberdeen yard transfer rolls by the elevated right of way in the southern part of town near the Hunter St. Station area. This transfer had a crap ton of steel for the Steel Centre on it and surely that solo GP9 was working hard. I enjoy photographing around here but without a drone or major elevation it is a challenging place for photography of trains. I've pulled off a few shots over the years.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 10/21/2007
Location: Hamilton
Province: Ontario
10 Comments | 22 Favourites
Continuing with the CSX/Chessie/C&O in Canada photos that some are posting right now, Here's Train D725 in the final months of operation between Sarnia and Chatham - the right of way is pristine, not a weed in sight. Big trains are operating daily on the 50 miles between Sarnia and Chatham/Blenheim, and the Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) is busy. Soon this will all change: the CSX RTC would go from handling three movements on mainline track per day each way between Blenheim and Sarnia, to basically one each way, but only operating three days a week. Imagine that, having a dispatcher basically in the chair for a Branchline, which is what this line became between 2006 and 2013. The RTC office was closed in October 2013 and the entire line became what it is now, yard limits, and operated out of town "as needed". I'm not counting the yard jobs that operated since they didn't need RTC permission - but there were 4 to 5 daily in 2005 and today, 1 to 2 daily with pretty much nothing operating on Sundays. To listen to the RTC's audio check out <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25773 target=_blank>This link</a> and a few more I posted here in earlier years<br><br>Note this line is basically still mostly intact. I have heard there may be a washout south of Sombra somewhere. Anyone have any info? Also I've heard the Ridgetown station is about to be demolished. Might be some artefacts going into the dumpster..
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 8/25/2005
Location: St. Clair
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 19 Favourites
Concrete mileposts that date back to the Erie & Huron Railway, a "new" station name sign as this was the Wallaceburg siding (Bruce - was this a re-located name sign when the station ceased to exist?) and D724 passing it all - in reality, this was the only siding that was actually used to meet trains from time to time and as you can see it was still in use. Most often it was used to run-around, and I did see parked cars in the siding after the big freights stopped operating in '06, but in this era it seems to have been kept clear for operational flexibility. The "new" wallaceburg siding was about 6000 feet in length. <a href=http://steve.hostovsky.com/clearance_nine_north_chatham_wallaceburg.mp3 target=_blank>Here's an audio recording with a clearance to Wallaceburg taking the siding at Wallaceburg.</a> <br><br> Here's something neat: I didn't realize the names "Subdivision No 1" and "Subdivision no 2" went as far back as the Pere Marquette. Check this out! Get a copy before this link is no longer valid folks. https://wx4.org/to/foam/maps/2-Zukas/30/O/1939-04-09PM_Canadian16-Zukas.pdf
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 8/25/2005
Location: Wallaceburg
Province: Ontario
9 Comments | 18 Favourites
One of the OSR Guelph Division engineers Manley Johnson preferred Alco/MLW's. He also preferred this pair. Pictured is Job 2 heading North in the early afternoon, passing a farm located between Corhwin and Arkell on the Guelph Junction Railway. This day the boys will run straight to the CN interchange and north end of Guelph, by the time they arrive in the north end of town, the sun would come out. <br><br> I had missed the BC Rail era - didn't make it out west before they sold to CN. What BC Rail scheme do you guys enjoy the most? What I find the most striking is the Erie Lackawanna did this scheme first. Was it a 1776-1976 thing or something else?
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 12/17/2019
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
6 Comments | 16 Favourites
With the RERA crew in a celebratory mood, and extra flags flapping, smoke was coaxed out of 3612's 251 block for the photographers waiting for the final departure out of Goodwood on March 29 2026.<br><br> It took three months, and it was only supposed to be a single day of movements back on <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=58053 target=_blank>December 21 2025</a>, but the Railroad Equipment Restoration Association pulled it off. Despite numerous attempts over the winter, extreme cold, snow, and motive power that can be best described as "temperamental", warmer weather coupled with mechanical repairs to 3612 and the movements started actually going off without a hitch. Goodwood, a hamlet that once had a Station and passenger trains, along with a grain elevator and frequent service, was mostly silent for the last few decades. Between December and March, Goodwood became a beehive of activity: Mechanical repairs were conducted on equipment, locomotives were watered, repaired and tested, crews reported for duty and when everything worked, trains operated along the Uxbridge sub between "the dip" (A location 4 miles south of Uxbridge) and Lincolnville all based out of Goodwood. The best part? It was all done with locomotives with prime movers designed in 1944 and 1951, MLW/ALCo's, which as noted in December, are a dying breed in Ontario.<br><br>All of it came to an end on March 29 2026: Pictured the last cut of cars is now ready to go, mechanical modifications to the cars are completed, and the last order of business is to load the train with *everything left* that wasn't already tied down into the coaches. You see, the RERA purchased *everything* that the former YDHR owned, including all sundries: this included old souvenirs, TV's, mechanical equipment, uniforms, stuff in storage, historical artefacts, everything. The RERA was tasked, contractually, with removal of it all and it took a team of about 10-15 people to hand bomb what remained all into these coaches and send it to Saskachewan and North Bay. After the picture you see above the train would stop on the crossing and the last of it would be loaded from waiting trucks and vehicles. Then they'd reverse back to Goodwood to make one final run out of town, blasting the horn, again, to a gaggle of waiting cameras and a few locals observing the end of their tenure on the Uxbridge subdivision.<br><br>What does the future have in store for this line? At the moment, nobody knows for sure, but it would appear GO transit isn't exactly done with the railway and neither is the town. The town is working on a "railway district improvement plan" and their plans show trains calling at the Uxbridge station but with much improved lands surrounding what I would call a GO station platform. The town and Metrolinx are also re-negotiating the lease in 2026. Could GO service happen? Is a 6 car train that far off the mark when it's only a 10 mile run and about 30 minutes from Uxbridge to Linconville at 30 MPH, then they can blast off at the Uxbridge's 50 MPH after stopping at Old Elm. Until the tracks are ripped out, never say never. A train or two to Uxbridge would also help the town re-develop the lands and reach the Province's goals of urban intensification, by right, near transit stations. We'll just have to see what happens from here. In the meantime, the 244's and 251's are silent in Uxbridge and the York Durham's legacy is now gone for good and on to better things.<br><br>Over the next few days and weeks, all this equipment would move over Metrolinx and CN to Mac Yard, and then to North Bay and Kronau, Sackachewan. For updates on the equipment and their plans, visit the RERA Canada website at <a href=http://www.reracanada.ca> www.reracanada.ca </a> where announcements are yet to be made as I type this. I couldn't be happier to see the equipment at least preserved, it took a ton of money and effort to pull this off and folks, please give the RERA a good look. They deserve it.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Preservation
Date: 3/29/2026
Location: Goodwood
Province: Ontario
9 Comments | 27 Favourites
Well, there weren't many places in 2020 where you could find two RS18's working a mainline, and now, it's even harder to find in Ontario, let alone Canada. Pictured is 182 and 181 paired together for the first time in years as they haul autoracks on the CP mainline back when OSR's largest customer CAMI was actually shipping by rail. Where else can you find MLW/Alcos working the mainline in Canada, anywhere? And by mainline i mean a CN or CPKC Class 1 mainline track, or any major mainline like a GO/AMT mainline. Comment below with your knowledge if you have it!
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 11/24/2020
Location: Woodstock
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 12 Favourites
The last CSX Train (to date) is reversing across the C&O Drawbridge over the Sydenham River in Wallaceburg complete with it's C&O markings. Not only was this the last CSX Train to Wallaceburg, the C&O Built (Typical of them per Bruce Mercer - cheap cinder block construction) RTC office pictured at left also closed on this day with the line changing to rule 105 territory on the 3'rd. By this time the CSX dispatchers were all consolidated in Jacksonville except for this tiny office, which also housed the Bridgetender's equipment. A clerk would have to come down from Sarnia to operate the bridge, joining the dispatcher for a visit prior to the train's arrival and to ensure the bridge was properly closed and safely secured for trains to pass over. The Region of Chatham-Kent bought the line the next day and has since sold it to a numbered company - the rails are still in place, but it will cost millions to bring the line back to service and 13 years later as I write this, nothing has operated south of Sombra since. The track from Dresden south to Chatham also hasn't seen a train since 2006 and is also still in place. What do you think the future holds for this line? I'd love to see another train and this is NOT the last train to Wallaceburg. Add a comment below to add what you'd like to see happen. <br><br> Bonus: Let's go back into the white C&O cinder block Dispatchers office again.<a href=http://steve.hostovsky.com/clear43.mp3>RTC asks a train to clear track for the next northbound where they clear mile 43.</a> then this happens <a href=http://steve.hostovsky.com/clearance_nine_north_chatham_wallaceburg.mp3>Clearance nine</a><br> Audio recorded July 15 2005, back when the Sarnia division had about 60-80 employees on the payroll and started 8 to 10 crews per day. Now they have about 6-7 employees and run 1 to 2 crews per day. Sigh. <br><br> If you are interested in more recordings, check out <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=23404 target=_blank>This pic at Whitebread</a> and <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25773 target=_blank>More wallaceburg</a> and you just might find more photos. I've posted more than half of my stuff from this line, but still more to come!
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 10/2/2013
Location: Wallaceburg
Province: Ontario
6 Comments | 18 Favourites
Heritage units? While everyone freaks out about CN's America 250 heritage units the real heritage is at mac yard, toiling away, and you have to be lucky to find it working let alone this far south. CN 7311 is the last CN SW1200 officially on the CN active roster, but there are others: RT110/1394 in yellow at Mac Yard, 7304 in Hamilton, and fairly recently in 2020 one or two at the Hallet Dock company in Duluth as CN bought this dock and assigned DMIR 1250 (ex CP) and 1251 to the dock. 1250 to replace a green NW-2 that's been a fixture at that dock for many decades.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 2/1/2026
Location: Vaughan
Province: Ontario
5 Comments | 16 Favourites
Heritage yard set CN 7600 is pictured rolling by CN's main Toronto administration building, also formerly used as the RTC centre until November 2020. Now basically the bunkhouse/hotel for Port Rob, Sarnia, Belleville or Capreol crews when needed.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 2/1/2026
Location: Vaughan
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 15 Favourites
The highest priority passenger train, #1 is pictured at Snider entering the York sub enroute to Vancouver. At right is a clear signal for CN's highest priority freight train, CN 101, who will follow #1 all the way to Vancouver.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: VIA Rail
Date: 2/1/2026
Location: Toronto
Province: Ontario
Comments | 19 Favourites
CN's Grand Trunk Heritage unit leads a P276 with a Siemens Venture delivery, rolling by the construction site of what is soon to become the Milton Intermodal Terminal. Chasing from Paris, it was cloudy all the way until Aldershot, when the sun came out, but the only chance of catching up to it would be a meet on the Halton. A meet indeed was scheduled at Ash, but they would wait almost an hour for the westbound to come, and a few minutes after it passed me on the bridge at Brittania Road the sun basically disappeared for good. This scene has been further changed as the CN overpass is now complete, and track installation for the new terminal should be continuing into Spring 2026.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 3/16/2025
Location: Milton
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 18 Favourites
ETL 107, a former EMD Demonstrator SW1500 has just exited the Essex Terminal Railway's engine shop and will head out to start switching customers on a late April afternoon. Jacob and I took the day off to finally get to Windsor and get this operation off my list (having only been in January 2006 I always wanted to go back) and with the 2 Heritage units out and about the goal was to get one of them: we got none. Little did I know that there were plans to repaint every locomotive out of the late 20'th century yellow scheme and that these photos would age very quickly as now, there isn't a yellow locomotive on the property. Note the spur and set of trucks - that is the former ETR Belt line that ran toward Downtown to serve a few industries, the lands of this former line were sold to local developers in 1998. For anyone interested, an article on the ETR will be going to Railfan and Railroad's March edition, which you can find at newsstands (Indigo/Chapters stocks it nationwide in Canada)
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Essex Terminal
Date: 4/26/2025
Location: Windsor
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 15 Favourites
When these things were patched a year ago, Jacob and I decided to head to Hamilton to see if it was out and about - sure enough, it was, and after following them for a little bit we realized they'd run-around and shove into Railcare with this thing leading in nice light. <a href=https://railpictures.ca/author/ettorrematthew target=_blank>Matthew Ettorre</a> was also out and had the same idea, so the three of us watched them shove into the railcare yard with a cut of cars, only to slow to a crawl, and notch up into 8 under the bridge - with a sound and smoke show to match multiplied by the bridge blasting it all right back down at us - naturally we're smiling at the smells and sounds before us. I didn't think sound and smoke would get any better, then the sparks began to fly. The crew didn't take long to realize what happened and were able to recover and shove into the yard without much issue. I know the Hamilton crews watch this site - I hope they see this :) <br><br>A footnote is I'm told this unit was painted recently - why is CN in such a hurry to paint the BNSF four axle locomotives they purchased but seemingly nothing else in the series? Any ideas? Seems strange.. if you know of any other repaints or have any other ideas please comment below.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 1/21/2025
Location: Hamilton
Province: Ontario
9 Comments | 19 Favourites
After a fire destroyed the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=18795 target=_blank>Orangeville Bunkhouse</a> according to those in the know (Mr. Bradley et al) insurance settlement allowed the town to re-build a new structure in Orangeville. So they built a sorta replica of the Orangeville Station on the station site, complete with a witch hat. The actual CPR station still survives and was moved off property to become a restaurant, but for about a decade this replica building was alive with rail service - complete with a waiting room and washrooms for Credit Valley Explorer patrons. What a great station and a shame the town decided enough with railways. Alas, it is still a nice looking station just no rails at present time, and now used as a GO bus station. Pictured 12 years ago is the "Snow Train" with a briefly loaned brand new Eco on the point pulling into the station after completing the last run of the weekend. This would be last passenger train until that spring.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 2/22/2014
Location: Orangeville
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 22 Favourites
Enemy territory, or well, what used to be. Back in the hot sweaty days of Summer 2025 this locomotive was sent to Parkdale Yard for a couple months to pinch hit for <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=20713 target=_blank</a>CN 7304</a> which was sent to Lambton in Sarnia for repairs. So they chose a former <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28585 target=_blank>Stelco unit</a> to switch the facility. In the background is Stelco's Hamilton arch nemesis, Dofasco - where until 2013 or so you could find locomotives swithcing behind their fence pictured as they had active dofasco track back there. If you're interested in more Stelco Hamilton stuff, check out <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/author/stuart-streit target=_blank>Keith MacCauley's</a> profile for more gold.<br><br>photographers note: for folks who know how to walk back here and many of us have been doing so for a while, just beware, there's an active encampment behind former Centre Mall and the pathways beside Kenilworth Ave. Have your head on a swivel, wear proper puncture proof PPE boots (steel toes if you can) and get in and get out.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Industrial
Date: 7/17/2025
Location: Hamilton
Province: Ontario
Comments | 13 Favourites
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