Comments on: On this Friday afternoon, train 561 (Mont-Joli – Matane turn), departed Mont-Joli light with a set of 3 engines, including a newly brought GTW GP9r, likely the first one to ever roam the Mont-Joli and Matane subdivisions. We can see them here unloading the Georges-Alexandre Lebel railcar ferry with the help of 6 buffer cars and the recently refurbished CFMG caboose, serving as a shoving platform. The rare trio formation of engines would prove helpful, as they ended up pulling a staggering 52 cars out of Matane, most of which were loaded. Apparently, an engine failure caused half of the previous trip to be left out in Matane, which would be the reason behind the massive train.

By: Ian Malenfant-Picard

Ian Malenfant-Picard — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:46:54 +0000

Oh for sure, i can imagine the struggles of being a photographer back in the day! I’m glad for the technological progress that has since been done with cameras, its a shame it didn’t happen sooner though!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:03:21 +0000

You’re lucky in a way for digital. You talk of costs … film resulted in me taking usually only one photo of each subject and if the shot was screwed up, I had no back-up. And now, some of my negatives are breaking down…. ( So, I have to be more energetic at scanning before I lose more of them.

By: Ian Malenfant-Picard

Ian Malenfant-Picard — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:53:44 +0000

I know that in the few decades to come, most of the rolling stock and operations that i find interesting will fade away, so it is now or never… Then, i will likely focus on more tourism-based trips and discover wonders of the nature, obviously not travelling as much as i do now.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:35:39 +0000

Certainly appears you wander all over the province. Years from now you will look back and realize this is one of the best things you ever did……….and like many of us, wish we had done a lot more when we could have.

By: Ian Malenfant-Picard

Ian Malenfant-Picard — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:09:02 +0000

Thank you very much Arnold! The ferry usually operates from Monday to Friday, unless they are having mechanical problems or maintenance. The train starts shunting the ferry at around 1 PM.

And yes, but luck does play a lot in my favor sometimes, along with managing my money in order to make trips the most efficient way!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:44:05 +0000

Now this is a gem of a shot. Something someday I hope to see.
How often does the ferry operate?
Ian, you must really ‘work hard’ to achieve the images you have been presenting here.