Canadian Railroads > AltaMont 2014

This year the annual AltaMont slide show weekend was held in Cranbrook, B.C. To the best of our knowledge this was the first time it has been held north of the border. It was well attended and we had a great time. The weather was good for Friday and Sunday and hit and miss for Saturday. We left Edmonton early Friday morning and didn't shoot much before Sparwood.

1. Westbound train 387 is just leaving Sparwood with a recently returned to service UP SD9043 on the point.

2. After a meet with an eastbound in Fernie, UP 3729 heads west with the Three Sisters mountains in the background.

3. The final slivers of light shine on the Lizard Range as 387 departs Caithness westward.

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After a great slide show lineup Friday night, Saturday weather was a bit of a challenge. We went east onto the Crowsnest Sub once again to try our luck.

4. Eastbound train 374 with a seldom seen, in CanAm service, UP AC4400 leader climbs the hill to Elko.

5. UP and CP work together to hustle empty grain through Fernie.

6. With a Lethbridge "run long" crew aboard in Sparwood, 374 crosses Michel Creek as they climb the hill towards Crowsnest.

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7. My last shot of 374 along Summit Lake on the Alberta side of the border.

8. We headed west and into the Fort Steele museum for some shots from their back property overlooking CP Fort Steele. CP Fort Steele is where the Cranbrook Sub from Crowsnest to the east and Cranbrook to the west meets the Windermere Sub from Golden to the north. Loaded and empty coal trains, some Vancouver bound grain, sulphur and the daily Cranbrook-Golden wayfreight travel the Windermere Sub and manifest, US grain and Kootenay bound freight travel the Cranbrook Sub west of Fort Steele. Empty grain train 324 sits around the wye and across the Kootenay River waiting for a westbound grain train to come off the Cranbrook Sub from the east.

9. We went north on the Windermere to shoot the causeway at Canal Flats in the failing light of the afternoon. The body of water in the background is the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River.

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Sunday was day 3 and our final day. We headed east towards the Alberta border and eventually home.

10. Eastbound empty coal works uphill passed the siding at Caithness.

11. Over on the other side of the Crowsnest Pass, westbound grain 387 grinds up the hill between Fort Macleod and Brockett.

12. Last spot for us was Fort Macleod for a few trains. Westbound potash loads, 673, has finished robotizing their train and does the air test before departing.

Thanks for coming along with us. We had a great time with some old friends and new faces. Maybe we can convince the powers to be to do more AltaMont weekends north of the border.

Happy Hunting, A.J.

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About time we got some Alta-Mont postings. Any photos of arwye's car?

Rick

Wonderful...

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

CN got the grades, but CP got the scenery.

Beautiful photos.

- Paul

Cran-Mont 2014 was a great weekend. I've got a few photos most are similar to AJ's since we were traveling together.

#1 Storm light at Cokato with UP 5527 West

#2 Glint light with UP 6546 East working hard upgrade near Elko BC

#3 The Castle on 1st. Fernie BC

-Trevor

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#4 CP 8509 at Fabro BC

#5 UP 5535 East at Fort Steele BC

#6 CP 8923 works as the raer DPU on a westbound at Natal BC

-Trevor



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/14 09:58 by tsokolan.

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Trevor,

It was great hanging out with you and A. J.

Your shot #6 is actually the DPU on a westbound train.

Best regards,

Rob L.

#7 This shot pretty much sums up the shooting for the day. Have great light, then the clouds roll in as the train appears! UP 6546 East Crowsnest BC

#8 Got Arwye'd pretty good at Frank

#9 More clouds at Canal Flats, with a southbound empty coal train

-Trevor

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WOW! Great photos. Thanks for sharing. wag216

Excellent bunch! That last location is absolutely picture perfect.
JB

Posted from Android

Great pictures from beautiful country! Makes me long for "home"!!!

Brian (California)

Fantastic!

Andrew C

Gotta ask, has the Izaak Walton finally priced itself out of the game ??

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

rob_l Wrote:
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> Trevor,
>
> It was great hanging out with you and A. J.
>
> Your shot #6 is actually the DPU on a westbound
> train.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Rob L.

Good to see you again Rob! Thanks for the photo correction!
Trevor

Not sure when I will make another Alta-Mont weekend but enjoy seeing what took place. My first was in 91 and the last was about four years ago. Don

rob_l Wrote:

> It was great hanging out with you and A. J.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Rob L.

Good to see you again as well Rob. Glad we could help out with details and some spots. Come up to Edmonton anytime and we would be glad to give you a guided tour.

As to Bill Miller's question, I believe price, space and maybe availability were factors in the decision to change venues the last few years. CranMont is the third year that it hasn't been at the Izaak Walton.

A.J.

Posted from Android

rschonfelder Wrote:
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> About time we got some Alta-Mont postings. Any
> photos of arwye's car?
>
> Rick


Unfortunately with the drive there and back, enjoying the shows and people's company we didn't have a chance to post anything on the weekend but it's only been 3 days ;) As for arwye's car, it was only the window and was promptly fixed on Saturday.

A.J.

Posted from Android