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About Paul O'Shell

Started my railroad career at CN in July 1969 and retired from the industry 49 years later on March 1, 2018. My area of expertise was railway Work Equipment. Reside in Kelowna, BC. I use a Nikon D850 full frame & Nikon D7200 (Nikkor 24-70mm, 24-120mm, 35mm, 18-140mm, 55-300mm, & 80-400mm) and scan with an Epson V550. Enjoy my contributions. Be safe. Lots more of my photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/197431498@N07/albums

Paul O'Shell's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 484
Total gold: 5457
Number of comments recieved : 1024
Number of comments posted : 1005
Total views: 918675

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Paul O'Shell's 484 photos on Railpictures.ca:

'I've been working on the railroad' .... VIA 693 has backed onto the station track at Churchill, MB and detrained all passengers on this bitterly cold (-29C feeling -39C) March 14, 2023 morning. The track maintenance crew has put their hi-rail vehicle on the track and is ready to begin their patrol and maintenance duties over the 98 mile territory they cover. But, before they do, they need to get the guide wheels on the right side of the vehicle rolling free. It is so cold that the grease in the rail wheel bearings on the shaded side of the truck is too stiff to allow the wheels to spin freely. A little more back and forth movement will eventually free the wheels up and they will be on their way! These two guys (one ex-CN and one HBR) were kind enough to spot the truck in the sun for me then stop and chat for a few minutes about railroading and the challenges they face here in the far north. Just another part of a great visit to Churchill on my winter excursion. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Hudson Bay Railway
Date:	03/14/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

5 Comments | 16 Favourites

VIA 6455 is leading VIA #693 The Hudson Bay on its journey from Winnipeg to Churchill, MB on this beautiful March 12 afternoon. During the stop at the majestic Dauphin, MB CNR (1912) station I grabbed a few shots of the sunlit station building and surroundings, then headed to the front of the train to catch this view of the head end, the station/museum, a CN van on display, and some crew/passenger activity during the stop. The start of what was to be another fabulous Canadian train voyage. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/12/2023
Location:	Dauphin
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 15 Favourites

Prior to capturing some ex-VIA, exx-CN passenger equipment on the Pukatawagan Mixed in The Pas, MB in March of this year, I snapped RPCX 5307 (ex-VIA 5307, exx-CN 5307) Class PA-74-F, 74' 0" First Class Car (coach) sitting all alone in the middle of the CN yard in Saskatoon, SK. With candy canes over the running number, and a Santa hat with Ho Ho Ho over the vestibule door opening at right, it appears this car may have been on some kind of Christmas excursion, or Santa Train prior to being parked. Hadn't seen VIA blue equipment in service for years, then BOOM!, twice in less than 60 days!!! The only thing missing from this photo is sunshine & blue sky. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Other
Date:	01/27/2023
Location:	Saskatoon
Province:	Saskatchewan

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

Prior to boarding VIA 693 The Hudson Bay for my winter journey from Winnipeg to Churchill and return, I wandered around inside and outside of VIA's Union Station in downtown Winnipeg, MB.

Having arrived by taxi from my airport hotel, I entered the station through the front street level doors into a magnificent looking, and well preserved rotunda.

From this street level, there is a long sloped ramp leading the the multi-track waiting area, ticket agents desk, and baggage check/claim area. Walking to the furthest end of the lower level waiting area one can go out the rear doors of the station to what is know as 'The Forks'. This is a pedestrian walkway, park, and touristy market place. It was once a very busy CN stub track yard occupying space the length of the station complex above.

When walking back from The Forks, the lower level entrance to 'Union Station' presents itself as depicted in this shot, which also shows the dome of the main entrance rotunda, and the side wall of the Winnipeg train shed.

This 09:20 morning shot in Winnipeg at -10C feeling -19C would be warm compared to the freezing temperatures I was about to experience in Churchill and The Pas in the coming days. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/12/2023
Location:	Winnipeg
Province:	Manitoba

1 Comments | 11 Favourites

VIA 691's train is to the left of me, the Pukatawagan Mixed has left town, some idle ex-VIA/exx-CN Puk Mixed passenger equipment sits plugged in to wayside power at the south end, affording a clear shot of The Pas railway station from trackside.
With departure of the Puk Mixed the station has once again been closed and locked until the arrival of VIA 692 from Churchill later this evening.
Note the Canada grain hoppers (NWAX 606435 & five others) at the far left of the frame, along with KRC 286245 (ex-CN 286245) boxcar.

From: The Pas Landmarks (heritagemanitoba.ca)
The Pas Railway Building 329 Hazelwood Avenue
The Pas Canadian National Railway Station (1928), rare in its use of multi-coloured brick, is an important physical reminder of the crucial role of the railway in the development of northern Manitoba. Its hipped roof, with dormers centred on both long sides, and its deep eaves with plain but elegant brackets, make it a typical example of the so-called Second-Class railway stations built in many centres by the Canadian National Railway, many of which do not survive. The example in The Pas is in good condition and still in use as a station for VIA Rail. It has been designated under Canada's Railway Stations Protections Act.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/17/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

Comments | 12 Favourites

A winter street view. It's 12 noon on March 14, 2023 in Churchill, MB. The sky is clear, the sun is bright, but it's -27C feeling like -36C!!! But, on the positive side, it's warmer than my arrival earlier in the morning at 08:30 when it was -31C feeling like -43C!!! VIA's 693 The Hudson Bay consist is parked on the station track in front of the stately station/Parks Canada building. As I was only staying the day, my next 10 hours in Churchill would alternate from 1/2 hour outside taking photos, to 1/2 hour in a restaurant, or the community center, or a store, then back out again for more pics. With the light breeze, and ice crystals in the air it was a bit challenging at times, but overall, a very enjoyable day walking around the station, yard, and town. Travelling to, and spending time in Churchill is a great experience. I'm so glad I have been able to do this trip in both summer and winter, and would highly recommend it to everyone. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/14/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 12 Favourites

VIA 690 has wyed its train and is gliding past the Hudson Bay Railway engine terminal and yard in The Pas, MB on another beautiful but frigid morning. I have yet to count all the different HBR locomotives I captured during my two-day stay in The Pas but the number is around twenty! On this storage track next to the mainline, a rather new HBRY 6001 leads a line of new and old HBR power that is all shut down, and waiting for their turn to go to work. To the left of the frame is the diesel shop, roundhouse, & shop tracks, and behind me is the HBR H.Q. office building.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Hudson Bay Railway
Date:	03/16/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

6 Comments | 14 Favourites

Having arrived earlier in the day as VIA 693 The Hudson Bay, the gleaming consist now sits idle until its 19:30 southbound departure as VIA 690 to The Pas, MB. The Budd stainless steel passenger equipment is being kept powered and warm by headend power supplied by VIA 6455 and VIA 6457. It's just too cold in Churchill to shut down the locomotives and connect to wayside power on this trip. It was a bone chilling -31C feeling like -43C when the train arrived at 09:00 this morning, but the temperature has spiked to an almost balmy -23C feeling like -32C at the time of this 15:00 hrs. photo!

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/14/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 18 Favourites

The shadow of VIA 693 'The Hudson Bay' blankets the ground where the station track at the Dauphin, MB station once ran. Sitting on the mainline where the CN Gladstone Sub. ends and the CN Togo Sub. begins, the VIA Service Manager has opened up the vestibule doors and allowed those interested passengers to detrain and walk around for a few minutes. Cold temperatures, clear blue skies, and lots of sunshine would be the daily weather for my next five days on this wonderful winter journey from Winnipeg to Churchill to The Pas, and back to Winnipeg.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/12/2023
Location:	Dauphin
Province:	Manitoba

5 Comments | 13 Favourites

The tail end of KRC's Pukatawagan Mixed has cleared the 3rd Street West (Provincial Road 285) crossing and begins its northwest journey out of The Pas. The end of train device is firmly attached and connected to the trainline air hose of the trailing bulkhead flat. Today's Puk Mixed consisted of units PRLX 2265 & PRLX 2269, baggage car KRC 3248, combination coach/baggage car KRC 5648, 3 plug door box cars KRC 691792, unknown, & KRC 410581, bulkhead flat WC 38289 with a load of new track ties, flat car KRC 667100 with a school bus, and bulkhead flat KRC 701213 with an unknown bagged cargo. Quite the spectacle.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	03/16/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

9 Comments | 12 Favourites

Prior to KRC's Pukatawagan Mixed being put together on this cold, clear, March 16th morning in The Pas, the ex-VIA, exx-CN passenger equipment was parked on storage tracks PZ70 & PZ71 at the south end of the station building. The two cars closest to the main on PZ70 (KRC 5649 & KRC 9631) had the on-board generator fired up and were being warmed up to accept passengers and supplies. These two cars would soon be pulled from their resting place by a pair of PRLX locomotives (2265 & 2269), while the remaining two cars on PZ71 (KRC 3248 & KRC 5648) would sit, cold and un-powered.

Passenger cars used on the KRC (Keewatin Railway Company) Pukatawagan Mixed are all ex-VIA, exx-CN equipment as follows:

Baggage/Coach KRC 5649 ex-VIA 5649, exx-CN 5649 CC&F built 1954 converted to baggage/coach in 1998

Baggage KRC 9631 ex-VIA 9631, exx-CN 9631 NSC built 1955

Cafe/Coach KRC 3248 ex-VIA 3248, exx-CN 3248, exxx-CN 5454 coach CC&F built 1954

Baggage/Coach KRC 5648 ex-VIA 5648, exx-CN 5648 CC&F built 1954 converted to baggage/coach in 1998

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	03/16/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

4 Comments | 15 Favourites

The Hudson Bay Railway H.Q. building is looking mighty impressive on this cold, sunny, cloud-free, mid-day in The Pas, MB. I stayed in the small northern Manitoba town for two days and three nights on my return trip from Churchill, and had nothing but crystal clear skies each day. My walks around the yard, engine terminal, H.Q. building, and downtown station were filled with opportunities to capture some rare, and unique equipment.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Hudson Bay Railway
Date:	03/17/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

2 Comments | 12 Favourites

It's 12 noon on March 14, 2023 in Churchill, MB. The sky is clear, the sun is bright, but it's -27C feeling like -36C!!! But, on the bright side, it's warmer than my arrival earlier in the morning at 08:30 when it was -31C feeling like -43C!!! VIA 693's consist is parked in front of the stately station building with all the vestibule doors closed. No connection to wayside power for the equipment today as both locomotives have been left running to stay warm and ready for departure later in the day as VIA 690 to The Pas. My entire day in Churchill alternated from 1/2 an hour outside taking photos, to 1/2 an hour in a restaurant, or the community center, or a store, then back out again for more pics. With the light breeze, and ice crystals in the air it was a challenging, but very enjoyable day walking around the station, yard, and town. I'm so glad I have been able to experience this trip and locations in both summer and winter, and would highly recommend the adventure to everyone. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	03/14/2023
Location:	Churchill
Province:	Manitoba

7 Comments | 15 Favourites

So, I took a little trip last week and came across this nice consist along the way!!!

VIA 693 from Winnipeg to Churchill (stayed for the day) then boarded the same equipment which became VIA 690 to The Pas. Stayed in The Pas for two days then returned to Winnipeg on VIA 692 and flew home. Another great trip (8 days in total) with nothing but beautiful blue skies and sunshine, coupled with bitterly cold temperatures for my one day in Churchill, and two days in The Pas.

Having walked from my hotel to beautiful downtown The Pas (about a mile), and taking photos along the way, I was warming up in the waiting room of the VIA station when I noticed some movement trackside and watched some very familiar VIA blue roll-by! It was the Pukatawagan Mixed being assembled on the mainline in front of the station!

Two units, PRLX 2265 & PRLX 2269, KRC 9631 baggage/generator car, and KRC 5649 combination baggage/coach were stationary and boarding passengers, while another locomotive was marshalling a variety of mixed freight cars in the yard behind to tack on the rear of the train. I made my way outside and to the sunny side of the consist to grab some shots then headed back to the station platform for some pics of passengers entraining and other activity.

I asked one of the KRC guys if I could climb aboard and have a look through the coach end door, and to my surprise, he said he'd give me a tour of the two cars! He also asked if I wanted to climb up in the head-end but I could hear the engineer in my earpiece urging the crew to hurry up as they wanted to get moving, so I declined.

Lots of rare & interesting photos to share! I'll see if I can pretty up one or two of the on-board shots for posting. :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Keewatin Railway
Date:	03/16/2023
Location:	The Pas
Province:	Manitoba

5 Comments | 17 Favourites

The journals on this TH&B outside braced wood boxcar turned boarding car were last repacked 9/66 according to the stencil at the close end. A few new panes of glass and this car could go right back to work. NOT! :-)

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

OUCH! Between downtown Hornepayne, ON and Becker (Hornepayne Lumber) a few miles to the east, is Cree Pit. In the late 70's and into the 80's, CN stockpiled new concrete ties here to be used by the then new P-811 Concrete Tie Machine. It was also a storage location for the old wood ties removed from the track after the P-811 had done its job. I was there in the summer of 1976 on a CN Great Lakes Region tie gang and managed to snap some salvaged rolling stock from a recent derailment. CN 565203 built May 1951 sits on cribs of new track ties, and securely tied down on CN 661812 built 1942 at Cree Pit. I'm guessing that load is bound for London, ON and a visit to the CN Reclaim Yard.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Cree Pit (Hornepay…
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 13 Favourites

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Spring 1974
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 18 Favourites

It's lunchtime at Hagersville as a trio of CN locomotives sit idling near the new Operations trailers. A pair of North American maps and a line of zebra stripes on this power splits the snow covered ground and the clear blue sky nicely on this cold, clear day.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	03/06/2019
Location:	Hagersville
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 13 Favourites

Home away from home. There's no one sleeping in this windowless boarding car tucked away in TH&B's Aberdeen Avenue Yard. At least not any railway employees! Box cars and old passenger equipment converted into MoW service were a mainstay of most railroads prior to the introduction of modular housing units mounted on flat cars in the early 1970's. Lots of neat little features on this old car. Outside braced wood construction, roof level hand brake wheel, roof walk, full length car end ladders, single side coupler cut levers, end doors for between car access, and, the smoke stack for the coal or oil stove is still standing. I spent many a night in old cars like this beginning in 1969 and into the 1970's during my early CN days.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Summer 1976
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 15 Favourites

'Take a tip. Be safe this trip' TH&B 69 sits in the Aberdeen Avenue yard on this mild, late spring afternoon. A much earlier application of weed killer appears to be taking affect.

Name:	Paul O'Shell
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton a…
Date:	Spring 1974
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 14 Favourites

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