Comments on: Want a loan? Need a Loan? RLHH 496 trundles along Clarence St past some of Brantfords finest downtown establishments, with green arrows indicating clear signals for both the railway and cars. Funny Story, A bit earlier I was with Rob Smith waiting for the train who was discussing with me when 496 would make its appearance. Time kept ticking and lunch was nearly over. Rob said “I have to pull a Mooney and go.. which means as soon as I leave the train will come”. Rob left, and sure enough so the train came. How our friend Arnold got wrapped into this is a thing of legend, but I’ll let the legend himself comment below to how this Mooney-ism came to be :) I don’t make the trip to Brantford often, only once or twice a year, but I was lucky this day as they were 5 hours late allowing me the chance to catch them during an afternoon off. To me this really is a time machine, being a SOR (RLHH) operation, and having missed the first time RLHH operated this spur from 1997 to 2000 or so.. with just a single customer, this could last for decades, it could last for months, you just never know. Glad to have shot it!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:47:01 +0000

As nice as an over/under would have been, it was nice to shoot the breeze Great stories guys.

Arnold the proof is in the pudding, and as the story goes, you can’t win ‘em all. Your collection is surely amazing, and for all the good stuff one gets… there are always misses!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:27:14 +0000

Yeah, Smith. I was trying to think of one of the endless times that happened in Ontario; but the ICE train was by far the worst. After seemingly hours and hours of standing there with a bunch of other guys (inc. McArthur) waiting for this &%$#@& thing; I noticed the light angle swinging to the other side of the track; so, checked the lights right after a freight went by; jumped in the car; tore off out of the spot and down under the bridge and up the other side. And there the damn thing goes. Right out of nowhere!!! I could have, that day, written a whole new book on profanity; spewing out stuff I didn’t even know I was capable of. In the end, I guess everyone felt sorry for me. Ended up with some 8x12s and a bunch of slides; after I only was able to bag a lousy ‘going-away’ shot. Still would like to know who those two Brantford cops were that showed up for the train. I don’t believe I have ever run into them again.

By: rsmith

rsmith — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:02:03 +0000

Mr. Mooney… the story about the ICE train at Silver Creek comes to mind…

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 23:48:16 +0000

Ever seen so many green lights? Too bad they are not signalling the city’s economy.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 23:46:58 +0000

I swore I was not going to get mixed up in awarding a ‘star’ to another of those “Brantford” shots, but well………I guess I lied. As far as “the train coming when I leave” I am really not sure which (probably hilarious) story you guys are on about. Depressing thoughts get fuzzy over the years. And there has been a lot of them.

By: rsmith

rsmith — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:48:33 +0000

Yes, and as James pointed out, while Steve and I were chewing the fat at Colborne Street waiting for the train, we missed an extremely rare “over/under” photo opportunity with RLHH 496 stopped at Brant Foods while CN 580 passed overhead on the Hagersville Sub! Doh!

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:35:31 +0000

This was a fun afternoon, despite missing the train all the way until Brant Foods…I did however get to enjoy the presence of Steve Host in Brantford (which is rare) Now, when will he make an appearance in “Calee”???

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:36:18 +0000

And Rob thanks for the explanation. Was curious about that!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 18:35:20 +0000

Yep! They aren’t sales calls, though. My wife has a medical condition that I won’t get into here, but requires four hours of medical treatment and a driver to bring her to/from the St. Josephs Hospital area in Hamilton.

This gives me a couple hours of freedom in between and usually where I get my ‘steel steve’ shots. On the 13th I went to Brantford instead, only one other time have I ever used this time to go to Brantford over the last six or so years (and counting)

I’ll be back on February 24th

By: snake

snake — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 17:26:26 +0000

anyone notice that Stephen has allot of sales calls on Wednesdays?? just sayin…