Canadian Railroads > A busy morning at Turcot West

This morning I went to the Angrignon overpass in Montreal and was rewarded with 4 freights in about a 90 minute period (as well as two westbound VIA's). Ray Murphy also showed up not too long after me. Here are photos of the freights.

1-CN 120 has a varied GE lashup, including Dash8-40CM CN 2434 leading, which was repainted in 2008. Trailing is ES44DC CN 2235, Dash9-44CW BCOL 4648 and ex-ATSF Dash8-40CW CN 2193.

2-CN 5621 & CN 2592 lead CN X310.

3-CN X310 had 4 brand new side dump cars for Arcelor Mittal Mines.

Michael Berry

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4-A pair of NS Dash9's (NS 9820 & NS 9970) lead a short CN 529.

5-CN 2848 & CN 2867 lead a short enough CN 324 (220 axles) through Turcot West. At right are the eastbound lanes of highway 20.

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It was a pretty nice morning except for a pesky cloud build-up (sky being blue everywhere except right over us starting at about 10 AM or so).

We had two questions:  How come the NS units on 529 often run without any headilghts on?  Both Michael and I have seen this quite often in the Montreal area.   

Question 2: what does this sign mean? It looks like a hand pulling a beaded lamp chain. My son says it's not in the rulebook he's been trained with.

Ray

Edited to add Via 633 to Ottawa at about 9:15 or so.     



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/15 18:19 by Ray_Murphy.

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Ray_Murphy Wrote:
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> Question 2: what does this sign mean? It looks
> like a hand pulling a beaded lamp chain. My son
> says it's not in the rulebook he's been trained
> with.

It means there is a defect detector one mile ahead.  Not sure if there is a special meaning when it's lying on its side like that.  :-)

GTD

cn6218 Wrote:
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> It means there is a defect detector one mile
> ahead.  Not sure if there is a special meaning
> when it's lying on its side like that.  :-)

Thanks. As far as the graphic is concerned, talk about not being obvious.

Ray

Ray_Murphy Wrote:
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> cn6218 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It means there is a defect detector one mile
> > ahead.  Not sure if there is a special meaning
> > when it's lying on its side like that.  :-)
>
> Thanks. As far as the graphic is concerned, talk
> about not being obvious.
>
> Ray

It's supposed to be a speaker with soundwaves. Crude depiction at best.

Ray_Murphy Wrote:
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> It was a pretty nice morning except for a pesky
> cloud build-up (sky being blue everywhere except
> right over us starting at about 10 AM or so).
>
> We had two questions:  How come the NS units on
> 529 often run without any headilghts on?  Both
> Michael and I have seen this quite often in the
> Montreal area.   
>
> Question 2: what does this sign mean? It looks
> like a hand pulling a beaded lamp chain. My son
> says it's not in the rulebook he's been trained
> with.
>
> Ray
>
> Edited to add Via 633 to Ottawa at about 9:15 or
> so.     

Like the guys said, that sign means 1 mile to the hot box detector. As far as the headlights go, engineers dim their headlights for oncoming trains and in this case oncoming traffic as well. With very few crossings in this area (Dorval to Pt. St. Charles), a lot of guys just keep them on dim or off. I find If I do this then you tend to forget about them... Better practice to turn them on and off as needed, but that's just me :) 

cpcnguy - Thanks. I'm familiar with the normal headlight dimming practice I see followed on the CN lines around Montreal; it's just that more often than not 529 runs without any lights on at all, regardless of the presence or absence of other traffic. No other trains are like this.

Ray  

Ray_Murphy Wrote:
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> cpcnguy - Thanks. I'm familiar with the normal
> headlight dimming practice I see followed on the
> CN lines around Montreal; it's just that more
> often than not 529 runs without any lights on at
> all, regardless of the presence or absence of
> other traffic. No other trains are like this.
>
> Ray  

Must be personal preference by the crews I suppose Ray. I cant think of any rhyme or reason for it... 

Nice pics!!