Profile Page for Stephen C. Host


This page shows statistics, photos, and an all-time map for Stephen C. Host. Photographers: Filling your map and earning awards can only be done one way. Submit today!

About Stephen C. Host


I've been into photography since 2001 - but like many others grew up interested in all things railway from an early age. I reside in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and currently use two cameras: Nikon D800, and a Nikon D90 (Backup only). Prior Nikon cameras include D60, D70 and D100, and a F65 for when I dabbled in Film (Kodachrome/Fuji Velvia and Provia). Lenses used tend to be either 70-200 F/2.8, 50mm/1.8, or 16-35 F4 (Until 2016) and a 18-35 F/4-5.6 (2016+). I recently acquired a 80-400 Nikon which I've been playing with with some results I'm happy with, but the jury is out if I am OK with the image quality :) Professionally - I am an Engineer (P. Eng. - Computer) for a large automotive concern. I also freelance as a photographer with the Canadian Press and their affiliates (AP/etc.) since 2009.

Stephen C. Host's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics


Number of images: 870
Total gold: 7331
Number of comments recieved : 2478
Number of comments posted : 4054
Total views: 971590


Stephen C. Host has the #4 all time image on railpictures.ca!
Stephen C. Host has the #27 all time image on railpictures.ca!
* Note: Placement on the Top all time image list is subject to change. Taken from the 'Top Shots' page measured by number of favourites


Stephen C. Host has won Editors Choice 1 time




Stephen C. Host has 4 images in the Time Machine


Contact Stephen C. Host


To contact Stephen C. Host for licensing, permission, or to send a private comment click this link: (contact)
* note: all inquiries are moderated

Stephen C. Host's 870 photos on Railpictures.ca:


Seriously... three FP9A's hauling Freight in Canada in 2015.... pinch me. Of course back then I was looking forward to years of this...... but .. I'd love to say it happened again after this.. but I'm not aware of it.. maybe soon? We'll just have to see... you never know on the OSR! I should have chased this all day.. but I didn't.. I had to get back to work :)
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 09/17/2015
Location: Ingersoll
Province: Ontario
Comments | 10 Favourites
Of course, Only on the Ontario Southland Railway.. but I'd never have guessed this.... would happen in 2018. Truth is, the owner of 1556 is Don Broadbear whom is a director of the Ontario Southland Railway hence a major shareholder so it's being stored by OSR after finishing its tenure on the Waterloo Central. 1556 - a former Port Stanley Terminal Railway (and St. Thomas Central / Waterloo Central) engine is now inside the shop parked behind CP 24 the business car. The PSTR and OSR have very similar roots, where many of the leaders and employees of both railways started with the Pinafore Park Railway in St. Thomas, a long defunct narrow gauge steam road inside a public park (Equipment is now at Muskoka Heritage Place - many photos on this site posted by Wayne Shaw - Search for 'em!). OSR and the PSTR are both very successful organisations, but who knows what may be possible once the PSTR gets connected to the mainline in St. Thomas. Will it ever happen?
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 07/29/2018
Location: Salford
Province: Ontario
8 Comments | 7 Favourites
And here's part 2/2 - After work I discovered that both GEXR locals were running a few hours late, and after photographing 580 on the former CN Fergus sub I heard GEXR 582 just down the street. Here's582 reversing onto the Guelph siding beside the former CN Freight shed - The train would park here for the night.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: St. Lawrence and A…
Date: 02/20/2018
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 6 Favourites
GEXR 580 is seen running 5 hours late, northbound in Guelph on the old CN Fergus subdivision, and the wide nose of a Canadian Cab is placed beside some very old original automatic crossing protection. While I took this photo I heard GEXR 582 at the junction a couple blocks to the south so instead of following this guy (the light was no good after this) I went to the jct to see what they where doing. That will be part 2/2 posted next.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 02/20/2017
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
Comments | 6 Favourites
<b>Last Cando train on the OBRY:</b> I was away the week before and knew I had no chance in hell at getting the last OBRY run on the Friday. But when I got home I learned the train was delayed a day... and of course I booked it Saturday to Streetsville to get a couple photos of the last train. I had had an interest in this bridge for some time but never scoped it out - and thankfully I had the time to compose something that turned out rather nice - luck was also on my side as the sun came out at the last minute just as Steve Bradley and Steve Thomas, crew for the train, crossed over the Credit River and into my frame.<br><br>I would also learn that the former Toronto Suburban Railway (to Guelph, abandoned 1930's) right of way and diamond with the CPR (CVR) Branches was just to the left by Derry rd. The TSR ROW basically was within feet of the river on other side of the railway bridge on the left (west) side. There isn't much evidence left of the TSR But some does exist at this spot, it's one of the few undeveloped portions of land in the sprawling Mississauga area.<br><br>Cheers to the Cando boys and thanks for the great memories.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Cando
Date: 6/30/2018
Location: Meadowvale
Province: Ontario
Comments | 11 Favourites
Signal 426: Restricting. Framed in an old wooden farm bridge, Sentinels stand guard on the double track CP Galt Subdivision as train 650 heads east on the south track. The north track displays this aspect by default when no trains are lined. Curious if anyone knows if there is any actual meaning in this case.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 08/15/2018
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 12 Favourites
Here's a nice after work suprise, after BC Rail was taken over by CN, it took me about 2 years to get my first BCOL leader, but it took me another 12 years to get a pair solo on a train - here it is. These Red, White and Blue locomotives may as well be Red, Yellow and Blue owing to dirt.<br><br>And photographic notes - notice the forest fire haze lately? Remind you of the early to mid 2000's when coal burning was at peak? Well, if I may, young photographers would be VERY wise to invest in a good polarizer lens to cut the haze and bring out the contrast and blue sky. Get one ASAP, this haze isn't going anywhere for a while yet. My Circia 2001 B+W C-POL by Schneider Optics (Germany) is a godsend and I've used it on a few photos on this site to great effect. Retail price for a good polarizer is about $150 USD. Don't skimp when buying filters, the last thing you want are artefacts like headlight reflections, which ruin photos. If you want any blue sky in your afternoon photos, this is now a must.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: BC Rail
Date: 08/20/2018
Location: Speyside
Province: Ontario
12 Comments | 19 Favourites
This photo was made possible by OSR who were kind enough to spot the locomotives just before the boys on CP were coming out to start spraying. With thanks to MDC for arranging it of course :) <br><br> Great timing is when you have the rare chance to photograph OSR beside any train at Guelph Junction. Even better timing is looking through the archives on this site and finding a nearly identical photo from decades past.. as <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27874 target=_blank> David Parker </a> submitted some time ago - meaning we added these to the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/time-machine target=_blank> Time Machine</a>. We also added 2 others - have a look! Took a while to do it, sorry for the delay. Thanks Dave for posting - and keep posting the classics guys, it's great inspiration for us to replicate your work!<br><br> The new "flanders" plant would be at far left in DJP's photo, now a mess of CTC signals in mine. Behind the Guelph Junction station is OSR's new station and Engine Shop, the key here is the light post that is in both scenes. This photo was taken from a place I call "Bert's Hill" as Bert Eliander, former Yard master for CP in Toronto for a long time lived on this property and allowed 'fans to stand on it for photos, and we still can today, as long as the new owners let us. I wonder if anyone actually bought the place as it was for sale a few months ago. This would make a great Railfan house. On the same subject, the house that Bisects OSR's Beachville Siding over toward Woodstock is also for sale... as of August 2018.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Delaware and Hudso…
Date: 05/24/2018
Location: Guelph Junction
Province: Ontario
Comments | 13 Favourites
<br><br>Phil Hall recently commented: "these days power is assigned by HPT. In the good old days it was all about the ruling grade" - I think this is an example of a ruling grade train no? Instead of taking the Oakville sub this train had enough power to tackle Waterdown Hill so up it went..<br><br>The fact this came as a suprise really goes to show how much has changed in our fanning world in 12 years. It's hard to believe, but we didn't always know what was running and back on this day, I was at Hamilton West with some friends and this Northbound went by after Barnes Turn returned form working the Compass Minerals plant. We knew a SD40-2 was leading, that was just normal - the scanner being our source of information. Once we saw six locomotives.. I had to chase it. I didn't know the roads well so I didn't chase for multiple shots, instead I just went straight to the jct and got this photo, and I'm glad I did.<br><br>The funny thing I was thinking about this - Since 2001 I have carried a Blackberry and by 2005 I was well connected to various chat groups (one of which I started with a friend - you are welcome to join us if you want - <a href=http://hostovsky.com/cgi-bin/irc.cgi target=_blank>#railfan on IRC Chat - since 2003!</a> ) but for the most part, before Facebook, before Twitter, not too many people carried the Internet while 'fanning and I was mostly communicating with people on desktop computers at home. Phone calls still dominated any sighting reports and naturally to very small groups. It didn't take long for people to get Blackberries in the next year or two, and the <a href=http://groups.io/g/fpon target=_blank>FPON (Join us if you want sightings for Ontario!) </a> group was started to take advantage of technology and it's only taken off since then to other arenas such as Facebook and what not. I'm amazed how simple it was 12 years ago compared to today.<br><br>If anyone has noted to what train symbol this was it's appreciated. Thank you.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 10/16/2005
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
8 Comments | 14 Favourites
Nope, I can't time machine this, it's close, but it's not the same composition as Arnold's <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=34347 target=_blank>recently posted shot.</a> But I pulled it out anyway. <br><br> I had a family event in the area (my first, actually) and I still end up here about once a year for something family related, but I made sure to capture the NS trains while in town. What bothers me the most is I could have easily photographed NS 327 (pictured) meeting 369 at Duf fas they waited for 327 to arrive before they could come back light power to make their lift. DARN - but I didn't know back then. <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=30303 target=_blank> Here's the picture of 369 about an hour later almost ready to depart</a>.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Norfolk Southern
Date: 06/11/2006
Location: Fort Erie
Province: Ontario
9 Comments | 11 Favourites
I don't give GO transit enough attention... and they deserve some lovin' too , right? Maybe? Well, this isn't too bad, it's a nice meet of two GO trains on the Oakville subdivision from the famous Sunnyside pedestrian bridge. This is a place worthy of a visit once a year if you have time.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: GO Transit
Date: 2/18/2017
Location: Toronto
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 6 Favourites
VIA and Amtrak's Maple Leaf passing by CN's Parkdale ave Steel Centre in Hamilton. As you can see, this was my last photo of the morning and I almost didn't get it.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Amtrak
Date: 02/20/2016
Location: Hamilton
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 7 Favourites
Before 6508 was repainted from its CN inspired green and gold, a plow extra is reversing at Gladstone to take a second pass. I'll never get tired of this.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 02/13/2015
Location: Gladstone
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 15 Favourites
I didn't record the train number for this guy, but I am going to guess this is train 339 at 0926 AM passing Grimsby Station. Corrections welcome. Multiple Cowl units were quite easy to get in this timeframe.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 05/20/2006
Location: Grimsby
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 11 Favourites
With a limestone church (now a hall) in the namesake town of Limehouse, and with quarries all around the area, one can tell what was the rich resource that built the town of Limehouse now just a stones throw from sprawling Georgetown. Fall colours were in rich bloom as VIA 87 passes through, mimicing the yellows of foliage with their Via 150/40th anniversary paint scheme.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: VIA Rail
Date: 10/15/2017
Location: Limehouse
Province: Ontario
Comments | 8 Favourites
At Nova's Corunna site, two switchers sit idle as the day has ended. The first far in the background is NCLX 2003, a MPI MP1500D and fairly new (last 10 years?). The one up front, it probably has a number but I can't see it in this picture is an older SW of some kind. Each Nova plant has two to three switchers, for a total of about six top eight in the area, but only one plant is shootable (today) from public property. This is along HWY 40 toward Chatham. Note that NOVA plans a $2 Billion expansion adjacent to this site, and at the Moore site (construction is underway) with planned rail yard and track expansions. See <a href=http://www.novachem.com/ExWeb%20Documents/sarnia-lambton/MEGrowthFactSheet_Dec2017.pdf target=_blank>here</a> for more if interested.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Industrial
Date: 04/15/2017
Location: Sarnia
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 13 Favourites
Another of 'my' Oldies again. July, the time of year of high weeds. In 2018 the weeds are really bad - higher than our country's infatuation with.. weed. Avoid. So this is an oldie? Well, it's only been 14 years, but let's see what's different: The CSX engines are off the roster, Guelph Station does NOT look like this anymore as Metrolinx has added their 'improvements', and where I'm standing there's a fence or a Steam locomotive in the way. Also Both GEXR units in this photo are off the roster - LLPX 2210 was blown up and sent away for repair never to come back, and RLK 2210 re-numbered 2211 to avoid confusion - is out of service. Could it return?<br><br>For the un-initiated (read: kids born after 2000) when the EMD London plant was really busy with new products, they tended to test new units on the Guelph sub with help of local railways, and GEXR was a very willing participant.This was the first run of the CSX locomotives and interest was VERY high from local 'fans. Pairs of CSX units, sometimes with GEXR assist power, sometimes without would test some days, and on others, just regular GEXR power. They even tested one or two BNSF units and a pair of UP units (the UP's only ran at night.. ONCE!) Who remembers GEXR's Police/Security they briefly had to help stop vandalism on these locomotives in Stratford and the police cruiser? Didn't last long.. and the guy had quite the reputation for being a 'bull'. Train is eastbound 432 - which ran around Lunchtime - if you were lucky a light power 432 could roll by around 10-11 AM in better light, but westbound was much better<a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=26340 target=_blank> and I was there to capture the westbound run that day.</a>
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 7/3/2004
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 17 Favourites
Mile 30, a famous spot for us 'fans and on November 12 2006 I went out on a lark and photographed only two trains. This was one of them and while at the time, I would have said 'wrong leader' - my slightly older self now says 'right leader'. The train is 422 and of course this sounded really good. Also enjoy the extra class lights lit up. These were golden days.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 06/12/2006
Location: Speyside
Province: Ontario
7 Comments | 15 Favourites
Georgetown was one of my favourite towns as a child, and I have family history here. Not surprising my favourite childhood towns involved some form of railways: Georgetown, Brampton, and Streetsville :) Built in 1855-1856 by the Grand Trunk, this handsome stone structure is used for both GO and VIA services, with space inside for a GO agent. But the station seems to lack air conditioning and is inhospitable in the morning owing to a greenhouse effect, but at least it's still open for easy washroom access. A small group of us used to go here frequently in the early 2000's (Matt Watson, Brian Switzer, Shane Murphy, Marcus Stevens, RTCDave amongst others) and now a new group seems to frequent the station, it's a nice quiet place to watch trains.<br><br>This is a detour train, called 373 and it was an otherwise calm windless, but hot morning until this train entirely of centrebeams passed at track speed. I'd certainly say this train made an efficient fan, kicking winds upwards of 50 MPH, threatening to blow over someone's tripod setup. In the lead was a CN GEVO, with 70 or so empty centrebeams , the DPU as you see here, and 60+ more empty centrebeams, the "fan train" as I dub it did a good job keeping us cool as it passed by, during this unusually hot and sunny Ontario summer. Thank god it cooled off this weekend, instead of gallivanting about this weekend for more photos in the rain, I'm taking a nice break and catching up on posting some pictures amongst other chores :) Cheers all.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 07/15/2018
Location: Georgetown
Province: Ontario
7 Comments | 8 Favourites
This is an era of GEXR that was not often photographed, as they ran at night. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the motive power, but I was able to get a couple photos here and there. Outside of locals, photos of 432/1 from the darkness era 2008 to what, 2012? are hard to come by due to the night ops, also an eastbound at dinner was photography hell as you'd be shooting into the sun. Imagine my surprise when I found this in my archives, it's not that half bad! Around the time of G&W Takeover 432/1 returned to daylight and ran in perfect timeslots for photography, and still does.<br><br>This photo was taken at 8:31 PM from Jones Baseline Rd. At least we have the right leader, Built in 1968 as DRGW 5334 as a SD45, rebuilt as an EMD SD40M-3, HLCX 6522, 3821 and 4019 on 432 just outside of the City of Guelph.<br><br>Photo notes: Nikon D70, 50mm fixed lens at f/2.5 to keep the shutter speed fast in rapidly failing light.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 06/2/2008
Location: near Guelph
Province: Ontario
6 Comments | 13 Favourites
◄12345…►last

Stephen C. Host's Map:


Note: Due to Google's greediness you may have to click the OK button when it asks you if you own this website. We'll replace this in time, but it's going to be a while. Sorry :)

*Note: Only photos with GPS added upon submission are mapped here. Some users do not map images and may show a blank map.