Comments on: What’s your favourite era in railroading motive power and why? – These were golden years for me. Great power was still on foreign roads and boy did it ever make inroads into Canada in 2006… this was NORMAL and almost an every day multiple times a day occurrence until the CN Union grievance award finally put an end to it I believe what in 2007 or 2008? These are my ‘good old days’ era of motive power with SD40-2′s in abundance along with other EMD’s, loads of predecessor paint schemes (Which are quickly dissapearing on all roads in 2017 into 2018) but my era won’t be the same as your era. I’m a big SD40-2 fan and I can still find my favourite engines out and about somewhere without having to go too far. What’s your era and why? Comment below. And for the photographers, if you have photos of YOUR era especially in other decades, throw one up and tell us your story of why they mean so much to you. I’d love to hear it as would many of our viewers! Cheers

By: Brandon Nawrocki

Brandon Nawrocki — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:47:10 +0000

Great pic!
My favorite era would have to be 2004 – 2007. Its when I started taking the hobby seriously and its when I would force myself to go track side and catch some trains. Little did I know at the time that this was a great time to be a railfan. Both CN and CP had a great array of power still and the Foreign power was plentiful. Like you Stephen, the SD40-2 is my favorite as well.
Sadly, I definitely took it for granted as I didn’t bother taking pictures. Thankfully photographers like yourself have captured these moments.
Thanks to all for posting pics in my favorite era.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 19:20:44 +0000

Tough question in a sense, Mr. Host. I quit work in 2006…..I ‘wound down’ by going out to the tracks instead of to work. Frequency of trains made this a nice time to be trackside, but I think early spring of 2007 was when almost anything could be seen on CN. made it a favourite period. And then there was the era on CP (mid 80s) when 250+ leasers were running around. My most favourite time does not count with this group. CP took over the D&H in 1990 and for a few years there shuffled anything decrepit onto that road….tired leasers and born-again Alcos make it heavenly between Albany & Bingo. The introduction of the ACs on CP and the demise of the SDs spelt the beginning of a huge downturn in my ‘trackside energies’ in Ontariowe. Blame EHH too. Thank goodness for the growth of shortlines, or there would be not much of anything.

By: Iain Murray

Iain Murray — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 17:58:35 +0000

2010-2011 ish, on Ontario Northland when the Northlander still ran, and when there were a few units still left in the original cheveron paint scheme. If only I could’ve made it to at least North Bay to see some, but I would’ve been 8 or 9 at the time.

By: CNSD60F

CNSD60F — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 12:10:42 +0000

my absolute FAVORITE era was the oil boom of 2014, modern enough for me and great power, 2017 isn’t to shabby compared to what 2016 was… but could be better

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:50:27 +0000

2006

By: Extra 1014

Extra 1014 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 04:45:08 +0000

I’m a transition era lover. When I hired on CN, the F-units and GP9′s were still very busy earning their keep. But they had lost their hold on the mainline, the SD40 had been around long enough to get a firm hold on that position. My favourite engine sound will always be the F-unit and nothing beats walking through a string of them with that 567 rumbling as you went past. Here again though, the SD40 was making its audible presence known. Going to the shop track to pick up your units with that turbo whine all around, you knew that big power was surrounding you. Glad I turned 18 when I did as it allowed me to experience the overlap of 2 eras, 567 to 645.