Canadian Railroads > BNSF Northern Detours on CN

Due to congestion on the Hi Line caused by severe winter weather, BNSF has started to send detour trains over CN's route through Canada. The trains are currently running in both directions between Vancouver BC and Emerson Manitoba. Although BNSF power has appeared on CN frieghts in Canada, this is the first time entire BNSF freight trains have traveled through western Canada on a detour. Yesterday marked the arrival of the second eastbound detour train to reach Edmonton Alberta.

#1 Eastbound detour train F305 (symbol created by CN) crosses the North Saskatchewan River and into Edmonton Alberta. Upon arrival at CN's Walker yard, the crew will set out 3 bad order hoppers as well as the training 2 GE's Fittingly, the train is being led by an ex. Santa Fe C40-8W

#2 Several hours later, and a few tons lighter, F305 heads west on the Edson Sub at Spruce Grove AB

#3 Outdoor hockey season is just about over now that warmer weather has decended on Alberta. F305 passes Lake Wabamun AB

-Trevor
 

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#4 F305 rolls over the trestle at Magnolia Alberta

#5 THe light is fading fast as F305 pulls up the grade near Wildwood Alberta. 

With more detour traffic on the way, fans in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have some unique action to capture!

-Trevor

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Excellent capture of a different consist.

611

Terrific opportunity, and well executed. Nice to see the sunlight our way as well. Thanks for posting.
Fred

Great catches. Why do they all have CN leaders?
​JB

I love that its an ex BNSF unit leading.

Awesome. I would kill to play hockey and watch trains at the same time!

tsokolan Wrote:
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> With more detour traffic on the way, fans in
> Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have some
> unique action to capture!

Can folks from B.C. play too?  The detour isn't going to work if the trains can't get threough B.C.

You got some nice pictures there but I'm curious about the cars.  All the hoppers in your pictures
are dark in colour but the cars in the train that I spotted yesterday (link to thread is below) were
all gray.  I assumed at the time that they were empty potash cars but according what you've said
the detours are for grain trains.  Does BNSF have gray coloured hoppers?  Or did I see something
different?

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,4227995

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC

LKeithR Wrote:
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> tsokolan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > With more detour traffic on the way, fans in
> > Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have some
> > unique action to capture!
>
> Can folks from B.C. play too?  The detour isn't
> going to work if the trains can't get threough
> B.C.
>
> You got some nice pictures there but I'm curious
> about the cars.  All the hoppers in your
> pictures
> are dark in colour but the cars in the train that
> I spotted yesterday (link to thread is below)
> were
> all gray.  I assumed at the time that they were
> empty potash cars but according what you've said
> the detours are for grain trains.  Does BNSF have
> gray coloured hoppers?  Or did I see something
> different?
>
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,
> 4227995


Yeah I forgot about the BC boys! Yesterday's detour had a bunch of the light grey hoppers (AOKL reporting marks IIRC) as far as I know they are used for grain/other crops. I'll have shots of the other detour train later tonight (hint more BNSF power!)

-Trevor

i am a huge bnsf fan living in winnipeg i head to dilworth minn to shhot bnsf how many detours  and what kind of trains maybe i get some thanks www.paulspaints.com

Dilworth Wrote:
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> i am a huge bnsf fan living in winnipeg i head to
> dilworth minn to shhot bnsf how many detours  and
> what kind of trains maybe i get some thanks
> www.paulspaints.com

Not sure on the number of detours, but so far it's been one train per day in each direction. (One railfan  got lucky and caught a meet between 2 detour trains outside of Saskatoon the other day). So far its just been unit grain trains, which normally would travel the High Line over Marias Pass in Montana.
-Trevor

3rdswitch Wrote:
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> Great catches. Why do they all have CN leaders?
> ​JB

I would assume to accomodate Canadian/union locomotive requirements such as hot plates in the cab.  Not sure what other requirements may differ, perhaps someone knowledgeable can elaborate.