Canadian Railroads > West Coast Cowl in Nova Scotia

While the blockades have reduced CN trains 120/121 and 407/408 to a rather sporadic schedule in Nova Scotia, the gypsum business seems to be going full tilt.  511 has been running 6 days a week for the past few weeks.  Perhaps an abundance of crews with not too much else to do is a factor.  Power has been a variety of 4000 HP units, depending on what arrived on 408 the night before usually.  This past Monday BCOL 4609 and Dash-8 2101 came in on 408 and were promptly pressed into service for 511 later that morning.  They are shown here on the return trip to Dartmouth, first at Wellington, and then in Waverley, NS.

With the crew usually called for 06:00, getting the westbound trip with 4609 leading meant I had to be up early too.  At  08:40 yesterday morning, 4609 was cutting through the fog at mile 24 of the Bedford Sub with all ditch and cornering lights blazing and 55 empty hoppers behind.  They typically get back to Wrights Cove in Dartmouth with the loaded train in well under 8 hours.  The lack of other traffic on the road means they haven't been waiting for 120 or 407 these past few weeks.  This particular pair did not last long on the job however.  After they finished dropping the loads at Wrights Cove yesterday, the two GEs were taken over to Halifax, where they would be the power for that night's 121.  Today's 511 had a couple GMDs that would have come in on 408 from Moncton.

GTD



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/20 09:58 by cn6218.

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Nice catch with the BCOL cowl in the lead.  I keep hearing they're on extremely borrowed time, so it's good to still see a few out earning their keep.

Nice video, the fog adds something to the mood. 4609 makes me homesick for the BCR.
Doug

hoggerdoug Wrote:
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> 4609 makes me homesick for the BCR.
> Doug

4609 still has an Airchime K5 horn, nice.  Adds to the nostalgia of the video. 

d.

edited to fix spelling error



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/29/20 16:00 by 251F.