Comments on: I figure I must have showed up at an opportune time to grab this shot of VIA 6790 barrelling thru past the old station at Burlington West (formerly Freeman Sta); as I neglected to get a train number and the ID of the B unit to my notebook. Makes for a nice scene though. The station is restored and relocated over to Fairview Av by the former Beach Sub overpass. The FOFS (Friends Of Freeman Station) are doing a fantastic restoration job; and hopefully there will be an Open House sometime in the fall after this Covid situation is cleared up…….IF it is cleared up. VIA 6790 is now #73 at Napa Valley Wine Train, in Napa, California…..if still in service.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:16:12 +0000

John, I worry about what is going to become of Freeman station. There’s been some changes there I am not familiar with; just hope they are for the better.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:07:53 +0000

Great picture Arnold, love that MLW nose, and can just hear and feel the 6790 thundering by ! How this scene has changed, With John Mellow now gone, just hope the Friends of Freeman Station will keep it up in his memory. Thanks for sharing, John

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 17:10:46 +0000

Love it, love it! I can hear the 251 prime mover now and that smell that is pure MLW.
LOL, I guess its too early in the daytime for all the “foamers” to be out in their lawn chairs trainspotting. Before I became a hogger I was a brekeman/conductor on many passenger trains and always got a kick out of seeing those guys in the lawn chairs and Burlington station. Of course being the nice guy that I am I used to toss out the “flimsies” train orders to the gang trackside Oh the memories

By: bruce

bruce — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:50:30 +0000

The brown car was the operator Stan Roscovich’s Stan the Man.He worked the day shift .Super friendly person.

By: Brundle

Brundle — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:08:55 +0000

Wow, thanks for the great explanation Terry. Very much appreciated.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 02:58:40 +0000

Wonder when it was last a flag stop….

In the final years a railway technology company leased the building but I only went on weekends… wonder if it was still useable and could be activated then.

By: terry.oshell

terry.oshell — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:27:49 +0000

Arnold, great photo. In response to Brundle. The crossing signal light units on the Train Order Signal mast is a “Flag Stop” Signal equipped with a green lens and a white lens for each direction, the height of the light units on the mast is for maximum line of sight visibility for the crew on an approaching train. When activated the flashing green and white light provided an indication to the train crew on certain trains, as indicated on the timetable schedule or in special instructions, to stop at the “Flag” Station (UCOR Rule 28). In the CNR Toronto Area Timetable 54 dated October 29th, 1961 the “Flag Stop” at Burlington was applicable to certain CNR and CPR Passenger Trains.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:26:52 +0000

I cannot remember seeing it lit.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:25:14 +0000

The signal was there until the station was removed in 2006…… surprisingly.

Not operational of course.. it was dark as in this photo! Arnold is there a picture of this on the site with it lit up by chance?

I never saw it lit up… we wondered if we could plug it in…

By: Brundle

Brundle — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 20:36:59 +0000

That is an angle I did not think of. They are high up and visible to the engine crew. Quite possibly they may be a flag to stop and pick someone up when flashing? Thanks Arnold.