Comments on: Copetown memories: The original track was laid thru here back in the 1850s by the Grand Trunk. Problems developed in this stretch of track between mile 9.0 and 9.1 Dundas sub after a second track was put in. Apparently the underlying ground was of a sandy silt nature and ground water seeping in caused some instability in the track bed. Problems grew worse as trains became more frequent, longer and heavier. Water was at times pooling between the rails. By 1995 a slow order restricted trains to 5 MPH over this stretch and a watchman was on duty 24 hours a day who kept an eye on the railbed as each train rolled over. CN shored up and realigned the track frequently. Beginning around 2013 and completed not long after, the railroad using new technology put a hopefully permanent end to the problem, and the slow order lifted and watchman removed. In this photo, eastbound, coming at the photographer is #386 with CN 9489, CR 6479, CN 7106 and 4132. Heading west is #387 powered by CN 5626, GT 6413 and 6205. Off to the left by his “shanty” stands the watchman. Note he has some conveniences, such as his lawn chair so he can sit out and catch some rays. I wonder if he cut his own patch of lawn, too? Not that many winters ago, maybe 2020, I walked the access laneway that led to the long gone shanty, and despite it was well below freezing, water was bubbling out of the hillside and running down thru the gravel. The problem, in a minor way, still persists.

By: Ian Malenfant-Picard

Ian Malenfant-Picard — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:27:16 +0000

Paid to watch trains go by, now that’s a job one can only dream of! Great capture Arnold!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:11:18 +0000

He sure had better have some sort of A/C in that little cooker. Make for one heck of a long day otherwise. He would have to sit in the shade with the mosquitos.

By: Aitch

Aitch — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:19:59 +0000

Wonderful image ! I can’t decide if the watchman had a sweet job or a boring one. Interesting to see a tank car in the siding at the old feed mil.

By: Noe

Noe — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:10:48 +0000

Great meet photo Arnold. I remember having the foreman there provided heads-up to any approaching CN trains on the scanner.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:37:07 +0000

There’s a new shanty near where the old one was and new detection equipment between the rails on both tracks. Also some very interesting installation which appears to be for water control. I also read in the CN timetable that whatever is installed there is remotely monitored and if there is an issue the dispatchers will be notified.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:07:43 +0000

This is sweet! I was here last weekend, crazy how much it has grown in over the years.