My one and only cab ride was on a CBCNS train with three of the big C630Ms, which the crew said could really pull – but also broke down regularly. Every train with these C630Ms got at least one extra locomotive, as a breakdown could be expected en route.

An hour after I was told this, the third loco of our trio set off the alarm bells and cut out – low oil pressure. We proceede to Port Hawkesbury just fine on the remaining two.