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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 or videos 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 acquired a 80-400 Nikkor which I've been playing with and after some trial and error and a free repair by Nikon it is producing nice sharp results. 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: 1350
Total gold: 14959
Number of comments recieved : 4564
Number of comments posted : 6823
Total views: 2033126


Stephen C. Host has the #3 all time image on railpictures.ca!
Stephen C. Host has the #30 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 6 images in the Time Machine


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Stephen C. Host's 1350 photos on Railpictures.ca:


GEXR 583 is arriving in Guelph with construction equipment all around. With the death of the OBRY the Guelph Junction Railway is expanding due to increased business from the OBRY, and where the OBRY rails are being removed the GJR is adding them in return. A new track is being added at what is now called Kaufman's siding with another track planned - soon this will be a 4 track yard with the mainline right down the middle, I imagine it'll have to be called Kaufman's yard after completion. The name apparently harkens back to a company called Kaufman's Shoes (Kaufman's Rubber) but this company name only indicates a very large Kitchener factory presence, not one in Guelph based on a cursory search on the subject. More research is required.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 5/11/2022
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
7 Comments | 10 Favourites
With a half dozen cars in tow, GEXR 583 has finished rounding the wye along Sackville St in Guelph, and will soon head on the south leg of the wye to head to the next customer. Nearby is the ever present "northern rubber" factory where signs of local industrialist James Walter Lyon's vision of development remain (Build industries, and housing nearby for workers - something we frown upon now). An interesting mashup, houses and the railway right beside each other harkening back to a different time when folks didn't have cars and workers walked to work in nearby factories. Now, the folks just park on railway property with full city permission (it's signed!) This would have probably been one of Guelph's poorest neighbourhoods and kind of still is, but there are signs of gentrification all around as many of the pretty beat up looking homes are being fixed up as well as the factories are currently turning to Condos in a flurry of construction. For now, the dichotomy between railway and housing continues and is worth a visit to see for yourself.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 5/11/2022
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
Comments | 12 Favourites
Hot enough for you? Summer hasn't even started and we're nearly at 30 degrees in Ontario as I post this so I saved this for a hot day to help cool you off. Pictured after a snowstorm, the sun is glowing orange through a filter of blowing snow carried by a cold and stiff January wind. Blowing snow is obscuring views of the motive power which sent a gaggle of folks trackside, this CP Heritage - "executive" mac scheme are working Guelph Junction, with the crew begrudgingly performing a set off of nearly 40 cars. After calling the RTC to belabour the difficult conditions they were encountering, the RTC forced them to proceed with their work but not after they pleaded for a maintainer to be sent to help as it can be very difficult for one person to dig out switches after a snow storm, let alone in winds this stiff and snow that viscous. I'd like to point out to folks who dream of working for the Railway that this is what I consider the ultimate "are you sure you do?" photo: behind that train is a man (or woman depending on the crew) trudging through all that, broom in hand, digging switches, alone, climbing up and down setting handbrakes, toiling away for the company's benefit, with only a locomotive cab to keep them warm when it's all done. Bless the folks that do; often unsung heroes; normally on days like this you do your work and move on and no one notices, probably not even your boss, but on this day there was an audience for the day's railway theatre, and we noticed. The maintainer never did come and it took over two hours. Good job.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 1/16/2022
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
8 Comments | 18 Favourites
This is a rare photo for me, because in the few months that I followed the CSX Sarnia to Chatham turn this was the only time I arrived to find power actually sitting in Chatham already waiting for a D724 to Blenheim. Usually the power would be carried in the morning by D725 for a 1400 order time. Parked in the small yard that was located where the "roundhouse" (as they called it) was - it was a four stall engine house and between the roundhouse and this track was the mainline. Across a bridge in the distance was the station area and CP diamond, behind me is the CN diamond. After quickly exploring Chatham I went to the station where the clerk invited me in to cool off - it was *hot*. <br><br> This was the place that time truly forgot - and Chatham truly manifested it - not only did CSX call out of here twice a week, there were three vehicles parked at the "roundhouse" for what? I don't know, but there were friendly CSX employees everywhere and now you'd be lucky to find two or three folks on duty up in Sarnia per shift. CP also had a yard job a few times a week out of Chatham, plus a very busy mainline, and not to mention CN's locals and pair of mainline trains at the time. A far cry from what goes on now. Add to it the copious amounts of visible MOW equipment that i'm sure <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/author/poshell target=_blank>Paul O'shell</a> will enjoy (all of it had Chessie markings too, and still does to this day many of which you can still find in Sarnia). <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=13162 target=_blank>Here is Geoff Elliott's shot from the same day</a> as this was when I met him with his crew :)
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 7/15/2005
Location: Chatham
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 15 Favourites
Testing the corridor, VIA 688 "Charges" away from Guelph Downtown with a Venture trainset. Testing all corridor stations in Ontario except the Strathroy Sub, not until acceptance testing is completed (which is a multi month process) will the units receive VIA marks and VIA ownership. Hence why they are still SIXX reporting marks, indicating Siemens ownership.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: VIA Rail
Date: 4/14/2022
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 15 Favourites
GEXR 431 passing the Boehmer Box building near downtown Kitchener while traffic waits to cross including a GRT bus on Duke St. The power was the attraction, and you pretty much had a pair of these almost daily for a few months while they were being tested by EMD on GEXR 431/2. All of these are off the CSX roster but I believe a few are leased to some of the iron ore road(s) up in Labrador/Quebec.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: CSX Transportation
Date: 8/26/2004
Location: Kitchener
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 13 Favourites
A nice pair rounding the curve at Guelph Junction. This wasn't a special train. It was every day and nobody cared then. Now, this would send the people flying looking for their next religion trackside
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 11/19/2005
Location: Campbellville
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 15 Favourites
GEXR 583 working the yard at Arkell as they head toward Guelph to work the customers surrounding the Lower Yard area of the Guelph Junction Railway.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 5/4/2022
Location: Arkell
Province: Ontario
Comments | 12 Favourites
Basking in that golden late spring end of day sun, QGRY 2004 looking clean and spiffy after a rebuild at Hamilton's RLHH shop over the winter, now in service on the Guelph Junction Railway. A neat unit because it's a straight GP38, built in 1970 as BO 4819. If you can believe it, this unit was a (regular?) visitor to St. Thomas on the CSX Canadian division back in the day as per <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=41523 target=_blank>Arnold's photo posted 2 years ago</a>.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Quebec Gatineau Ra…
Date: 5/4/2022
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 9 Favourites
Running as intended - or is it? I'm told that some GMD-1's are set up to run long hood forward, and some short, while similar arrangements exist on CN's other 4 axle switchers (7000 series gp9's for example). Anyone wish to clarify how all that works? Anyway, a nice Branchline scene - GMD-1 running solo, and Boxcars - the Westrock plant in Guelph always good for some variety as boxcars come in all shapes and sizes to unload where, I believe, giant rolls of pulp are unloaded, used to make cardboard and cardboard products in Guelph. In this picture L542 is heading in to lift the empties, once done the four loaded boxcars at left will be spotted at various loading doors before departing. <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=48702 target=_blank>Seth B's photo posted earlier shows CN 1082 and two more</a> but CN 1408 was formerly 1075... maybe it's in there?
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 8/20/2020
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
14 Comments | 19 Favourites
A chance encounter en-route to pick up a dog with my family near Goderich, keeping the scanner on paid off as I heard something switching near Clinton. With 13 cars in tow and after working the Junction to lift some cars, 581 is enroute toward Hensall and possibly Exeter on the Exeter Subdivision while OPP Clinton Detachment #9 passes by looking for their next victim. I'd get one more shot on the Exeter Subdivision as they blast south at.. a blistering 10 MPH pace. Talk about some of the slowest subdivision track out there... BTW is this really the first HESR 3510 shot on here? HESR 3510 is a former HLCX 1843 in new paint - repainted in November and shipped from Panama City Florida and re-directed to GEXR due to power shortage.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Goderich-Exeter
Date: 5/1/2022
Location: Clinton
Province: Ontario
12 Comments | 21 Favourites
The Sprint Train, as it was also known, passing through Putnam and framed in some signs, railway and non. Nearly done for the day, they're wasting no time doing all of track speed (25 MPH) heading to St. Thomas with only 30 minutes to go. It was <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=48509 target=_blank>really neat seeing OSR do the same thing</a> a few weeks ago. Here's hoping that CP can win the business and OSR can haul it again.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 03/2007
Location: Putnam
Province: Ontario
1 Comments | 12 Favourites
With the Orangeville highlands in the background, the GIO crew is busy serving customers in the north end of Orangeville in the industrial park with only a few weeks to go before all service ends. By all accounts the track in Orangeville is now all ripped up. Even Open Street Map on this site shows it all as a trail... already.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Orangeville-Brampt…
Date: 10/19/2021
Location: Orangeville
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 14 Favourites
While not in the timetable, this is the place they call "Dumfries" Ontario, near Orrs Lake. The reason I was dragged here was for the 5911 west, one the "large multimark" of the very few at the time (three left then - all now retired/gone). It didn't lead all that often around here..
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 12/8/2005
Location: Dumfries
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 8 Favourites
It's hard to believe this scene is so close to Toronto, but it is, and at what would have been Kleinburg Ontario is some old grain elevator (not the prettiest looking one, mind you) still standing in defiance to Toronto land prices. Here is a rail train heading south after parking overnight in Palgrave in nice morning light. Also, as it would turn out, some of these are now in Mayfield KY getting rebuilt and repainted by Progress Rail back into CP beaver.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Central Maine and …
Date: 6/5/2021
Location: Kleinburg
Province: Ontario
4 Comments | 17 Favourites
<a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=48548 target=_blank>Rust never sleeps</a> in Hamilton as scrap metal dealer Triple M. Metal (Hamilton Parkdale, one of three sites in the Hammer) sorts ferrous (Iron Oxide covered) scrap with a magnetic loader to load into rail cars. A CP Kinnear yard job is up in the north end in nice morning light as they bring empties for AIM (American Iron and Metal). I worked in the building just out of sight across the tracks at Right, back in the late 1990's when Philip Services cornered the metal trading and scrap metal market in Hamilton. I had to visit all the sites in Hamilton (Upgrading DOS computers to Windows 95/MS Office 97 to Office 98 and Oracle client installs) and they were all over the place near rail yards and I loved it. Even watched CP trains from HQ (Stelco building, 25th floor) rolling through downtown Hamilton as they passed by. Philip Services went under in a blaze of financial glory (Share price when I started - $27. When I left - $4 and that was only four months later) and now many other companies have rolled in to handle the growing Scrap business in Hamilton. Most of the scrap metal goes out by rail.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian Pacific
Date: 11/29/2020
Location: Hamilton
Province: Ontario
3 Comments | 12 Favourites
CN 1501 sits for the night in Guelph, Ontario by what was formerly known as Knight Lumber. I was able to shoot this thing being delivered to CN as <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=12219 target=_blank>15106</a> but before this it was VIA 6108, then CN 6108, then CN D-108. We don't have any shots of this on the site that I can find in it's VIA or CN life - anyone have some? :) Cheers.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Canadian National
Date: 4/17/2019
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
Comments | 15 Favourites
Dave Young recently shared a pic of the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=47372 target=_blank> Frame Train </a> heading back from St. Thomas in 2009, and due to an outage of the Talbot spur, OSR's now handling frames to keep GM plants and the St. Thomas Magna plant from shutting down. It only took 13 years but here it is - OSR's "Sprint Train" handling 5 loaded frames after bringing 16 'empties' back earlier in the day.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 4/10/2022
Location: Putnam
Province: Ontario
2 Comments | 17 Favourites
Just west of the Woodstock diamond at CNR Carew is this ancient signal used to govern eastward movements toward the CNR crossing. This signal is one of the older types out there, and you can see similar ones on the former CNR Cayuga subdivision near the CPR Diamond (where CPR would have been junior) such as <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=41951 target=_blank>This one from April 2020. </a>Pictured in OSRs Glory years is three FP9As hauling autoracks for CAMI automotive. Very soon CAMI will go dark as they will stop production to re-tool to build Brightdrop Electric delivery vehicles for the likes of Amazon, UPS, Fedex, etc. However, as I post this OSR should be out hauling frames for Formet to Beachville, win some, lose some right? However the frames are supposed to be temporary while CN has issues on the Talbot sub.
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 01/13/2015
Location: Woodstock
Province: Ontario
7 Comments | 20 Favourites
A rare chase by me in my early days of photography had me following a light power move from the north end of town to the south and I cut off my chase here. It wasn't easy to get half decent lighting on the north side of this bridge as most OSR jobs were northbound in the morning and south in the afternoon. Alas, I did get a couple here and there :) Easy when I live in town. While this bridge girders has recently been replaced, it looks largely the same..
Name: Stephen C. Host
Railway: Ontario Southland
Date: 4/16/2005
Location: Guelph
Province: Ontario
Comments | 13 Favourites
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