Images by poshell

Paul O'Shell — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:38:57 +0000

Passenger train to nowhere
A plethora of retired passenger cars sit on a deadline in ONR's North Bay, ON yard on May 4, 2004.
ONR equipment in the lineup originated from many different roads such as CN, CP, GO Transit, L&N, N&W, and VIA Rail.
Coupled to the nose of ONT 1732 is ONT 1407 Moose River. This car was built by Pullman Standard in July 1954 for CN as their CN 908 Luster Lake, Class PC-79-A Buffet Parlor car. It was transferred from CN to VIA in March 1978 and was sold to ONR in 1986.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Ontario Northland
Date:	05/04/2004
Location:	North Bay
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 16 Favourites

Out of steam
ONT 210 has seen its last days of producing steam to heat passenger cars.
This 40' 8" NSC 1960 built Steam Generator Car is ex-VIA 15482, nee-CN 15482.
The ONR deadline I photographed on this date was full of passenger cars, freight equipment, and motive power, all waiting to be moved to the local scrappers location to meet their final fate.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Ontario Northland
Date:	05/04/2004
Location:	North Bay
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

No one sleeping here
ONRX 1167 Greenway is ex-VIA 1167 Greenway, nee-CN 1167 Greenway, a Class PS-79-D, 79' 2" 6 Section - 4 Double Bedroom - 6 Roomette Sleeping Car, Pullman Standard built in 1954.
It's sits waiting its fate among other passenger cars, freight equipment and motive power in a deadline at ONR's North Bay, ON yard on May 4, 2004.
1167 Greenway was transferred from CN to VIA in March 1978 and subsequently sold to ONR in August 1990.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Ontario Northland
Date:	05/04/2004
Location:	North Bay
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 12 Favourites

No shortage of power
There's plenty of power stationed on the storage tracks at CN's Thornton Yard diesel shop. Most ready to go, but a number of them in the deadline.
CN Thornton Yard is located in Surrey, BC. The specific address is 13883 117 Ave. Surrey, BC V3R 2V4
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Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/06/2022
Location:	Surrey
Province:	British Columbia

2 Comments | 12 Favourites

100 years old!
Built 100 years ago in 1926, BAOX 1995 now sits on static display in the town of Redwater, AB.
While working in town with some new MoW Work Equipment I took some time to walk around and snap a few pics with this preserved tank car being one of them.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Industrial
Date:	06/07/2007
Location:	Redwater
Province:	Alberta

3 Comments | 14 Favourites

Futuristic look, high-tech track motor car, 1970 style
CN 999-82 is a 2-man inspection track motor car with experimental welded aluminum chassis and fiberglass cab with bi-fold aluminum doors.
An attempt to make the conventional track motor car a little more 'user friendly' with lightweight aluminum frame, fully enclosed operator compartment, front windshield wipers, headlight, red flashing roof beacon, and west coast mirrors.
The car as shown did not get purchased in any quantity by CN at the time, but it helped lead the way to continued improvements in future track motor car construction, safety, and crew comfort.
Photo taken at the Danforth Work Equipment shop located at the rear of 2314 Gerrard St. East Toronto, ON which is now a cluster of town homes.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=42224 ' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	CN Work Equipment p…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1970
Location:	Toronto
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 17 Favourites

The Shed
At the left of the frame, VIA 6419 and unidentified VIA passenger car (VIA 8109 economy coach I think) sit partially under the canopy of the Winnipeg train shed, while at the right, stalled CN 3884 sits on one of the shed bypass tracks.
The stalled freight caused an hour and a half delay in the departure of VIA 693 The Churchill train which gave me time for a few more photos and lunch at The Forks Market behind Union Station. :-)' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	04/28/2026
Location:	Winnipeg
Province:	Manitoba

5 Comments | 12 Favourites

A paddle on the rear
VIA 8224 Chateau Roberval carries the markers (or in today's display, the paddle) on the rear of VIA 692.
Backed into the station at Thompson, MB for its scheduled stop, passengers mill about the station area, baggage gets handled by local VIA personnel, and the head end crew swaps out.
There is still a lot of snow on the ground for May 1st. There are concerns for the amount of water that will be present along the right-of-way when the melt comes.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	Thompson
Province:	Manitoba

3 Comments | 11 Favourites

10 per on the curve
VIA 692 pokes along at 10 m.p.h. heading north on HBR's Thompson Sub. towards the station stop at Thompson, MB on May 1, 2026.
Numerous locations on HBR's Thompson Sub. drop from the average 30 m.p.h. to 10 in several locations, and 5 m.p.h. through a major bridge work spot.
The track improvements along the entire route to Churchill have been quite noticeable since 2022 when I began traveling after retirement.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	near Thompson
Province:	Manitoba

3 Comments | 13 Favourites

Takin' on some juice
VIA 692 has backed into the station at Thompson, MB for its regular scheduled stop.
Passengers have a few hours to mill about the station and surrounding area, go into town for a walk and maybe a little Walmart shopping, or wait in the parking lot for a driver to show up with pre-ordered restaurant food from one of the many local beaneries. I chose to get a large 'all meat' pizza from Santa Maria Pizza which was delivered quickly and was still hot as it was enjoyed in the dining area of the Skyline Car.
The head-end crew is in the process of changing out for a fresh team of engineers as a local diesel fuel supplier has the nozzle in place and is topping up the tanks on VIA 6421 and VIA 6455.
All of the VIA personnel were very accommodating in my efforts to get all the head end shots I wanted at every stop made along the way from Winnipeg to Churchill and return. :-)
' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	Thompson
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 12 Favourites

It's wait and see
KRC 2509 (ex-Amtrak P40DC) is coupled to 4 refurbished (ex-LIRR C-1) double deck coaches at VIA Rail's Winnipeg Maintenance Center Maintenance Center waiting unknown modifications before heading to The Pas, MB to replace some very dated VIA Rail (nee-CN) passenger equipment on the Pukatawagan Mixed service. The former commuter coaches have raised platform height doors which don't quite match up with the infrastructure along the KRC's Puk Mixed route. I have several more trips lined up on The Canadian and The Churchill Train this year and will watch for any developments with this consist.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=59006 ' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	05/02/2026
Location:	Winnipeg
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 11 Favourites

Look up, Look way up
CN 3884 leading a mixed freight consist stalled as it was making its way past the elevated Winnipeg train shed causing a delay in departure of VIA 693 my Winnipeg to Churchill train.
While anxious to get on board and start the journey, this delay allowed for a little more outdoor photo time as well as a delicious lunch at Fergie's Fish & Chips in the refurbished ex-CN Express Garage building at The Forks Market behind VIA Rail's Union Station.
Below the stalled freight is VIA Rail's shipping & receiving dock and warehouse.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	04/28/2026
Location:	Winnipeg
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 10 Favourites

End of the train at the end of the line
17 years ago today on May 19, 2009 ONT 104, ONT 125, and ONT 127 have reached the end of their days of bringing up the markers of ONR freights.
It is an overcast and rainy day in ONR's North Bay yard which seems to magnify the sad end for this trio of cabooses. :-(' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Ontario Northland
Date:	05/19/2009
Location:	North Bay
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 20 Favourites

No HBD, no problem!
There are a few new electronic Hot Box Detectors on the HBR's subdivisions between The Pas and Churchill, but where they have yet to be installed, the hand-held laser gun method is deployed every 40 or so miles along the remote route.
Seen here is VIA 692's second engineer, who has climbed down from the left side of the locomotive cab at Munk, MB Mile 269.0 on HBR's Thicket Sub. to use a laser temperature sensing device to check the axle bearings on each car in the trains consist.
A slow roll-by of the entire length of the train from locomotive to the tail end sleeper, a stop, a crossover to the other side, then a slow reverse movement to check bearings on the opposite side is undertaken before reboarding the locomotive and continuing the journey.
This procedure is done at predetermined, safe, and snow cleared locations along the way.
It sure beats the old Tempilstik method! :-)' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	Munk
Province:	Manitoba

8 Comments | 19 Favourites

Doesn't look a day over 114
The majestic CN station in Dauphin, MB was built in 1912 by the Canadian Northern Railway and is still looking magnificent 114 years later on May 1, 2026.
It was constructed to a design by architect John Schofield and was designated a Heritage Railway Station of Canada in 1990.
Being a scheduled stop for both VIA 693/692 the north and southbound Winnipeg to Churchill trains, passengers have an opportunity to detrain for a leg stretch, some fresh air, and a chance to snap some pics of the station, other local architecture, or have a quick visit to the Dauphin Rail Museum inside the station. :-)' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	Dauphin
Province:	Manitoba

1 Comments | 16 Favourites

Heading back to the cab
It's early morning in Ilford, MB where VIA 692 the southbound passenger train from Churchill has made its scheduled stop.
Passengers are all boarded, baggage has been loaded, and as the baggage car door slides closed the second engineer makes his way back to the locomotive to continue the trek towards Winnipeg.
Ilford is just one of the many remote locations where this VIA lifeline train stops along the 1,024 km (636 mile) route.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	05/01/2026
Location:	Ilford
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 13 Favourites

Meeting at the Port
It's a cool and overcast April 30, 2026 morning in Churchill, MB.
VIA 693 had backed into the station track at 10:00 and an hour and a half later the HBRY way freight with HBRY 55376 (ex-CN 55376) single track snowplow pulled up alongside.
The VIA consist will sit idling until 19:30 this same evening while its crew gets their mandatory rest before making the return trip to Winnipeg.
The HBRY way freight will get a fresh crew right away and start switching todays consist onto various ramp tracks in the yard across from the station.
It was quite the sight to watch the way freight make all its switch moves with the plow still attached to the locomotives.
When the switch list was completed the four units and plow headed south out of town to the wye and turned the plow. On return to Churchill, they dropped the plow behind the consist of VIA 692 while they made up their return train.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Hudson Bay Railway
Date:	04/30/2026
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 19 Favourites

A transfer of duty
CN 76659 transfer van has been retired from service and is now sitting at right angle to the mainline on static display at the CN Station House Museum in Canora, SK.
Passengers on VIA 693 and VIA 692 the Winnipeg to Churchill and return trains have the opportunity to detrain in Canora while the head-end crew is changed out.
I have passed through Canora numerous times since 2022 on my annual trips to Churchill looking each time for the CN road number to be stenciled on the side of the van. But, once again, there it isn't. :-)' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	05/02/2026
Location:	Canora
Province:	Saskatchewan

Comments | 16 Favourites

What light through yonder horizon breaks?
I know that very familiar white light on the tail end of VIA 693, but that odd combination of lights on the approaching main line train in the distance has grabbed my attention.
After snapping several shots, and with the movement a little closer, it became quite evident that the HBR way freight was arriving in Churchill with a single-track snowplow on the point.
It's kind of ironic that the way freight with the plow up front followed the VIA passenger train from Thompson to Churchill. Go figure!
Capturing the plow was a great bonus to my day in Churchill. :-)' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Hudson Bay Railway
Date:	04/30/2026
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 18 Favourites

I'm about to get scanned
VIA 693 has a clear signal and is about to leave the double track section on CN's Rivers Sub. at Mile 50.3S and pass through one of CN's numerous 'Portals' where it will be scanned with hi-def cameras and other sophisticated equipment to ensure there are no defects or concerns in the consist.
The hi-intensity lighting inside the portal becomes quite evident when viewed from the dome of the Skyline car.
https://www.cn.ca/en/stories/20190814-machine-vision/ ' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	04/28/2026
Location:	Nattress
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 13 Favourites

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