Canadian Railroads > D-Day in the Canyon.

The elusive CP 6644, the D-Day military tribute SD70ACu, made a daytime appearance in the Thompson and Fraser River canyons of BC last Sunday. It was leading train 149 from Chicago to Roberts Bank and had passed the Revelstoke railcam on Saturday afternoon. Normally it would be in the Thompson River Canyon about 6-7 hours later. I was not expecting to see it in daylight the next day. For whatever reason, the train must have been held for hours around Kamloops.
I had camped the night at Martel, east of Spence's Bridge. I was just getting going in the morning when 6644 came around the corner. It took all of five minutes to break camp, pack up the air mattress and throw the tent in the car. The chase was on. Here's the best of the morning chase.

1. CP 6644 rounds a curve just a couple of miles west of Spence's Bridge on the point of train 149.

2. CP 6644 exiting the Skunka rock sheds and tunnels at mile 80.5 CN Ashcroft Sub.

3. West of Seddall, CP 6644 leads CPKC train 149 deep in the Thompson River Canyon.

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4. Easing along the cliff and slide detector fencing at mile 86.5 between Seddall and Morris.

5. Side on view of CP 6644 along the cliff at mile 86.5 CN Ashcroft Sub.

6. CP 6644 in the rugged White Canyon at mile 94 on the CN Ashcroft Sub.

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7. CP 6644 leads CPKC train 149 through Conrad on the CN Ashcroft Sub.

8. A friendly wave from the conductor on CP 6644 at Falls Creek.

9. Crossing Ainslie Creek at mile 120 CN Ashcroft Sub.

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10. Just before a crew change at Boston Bar the train crosses Stoyama Creek running on the newer south track that crosses the creek on a fill rather than a bridge like the older north track.

That was the end of the chase this day. Enjoy.

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An excellent chase.
JB

Great catch, great chase. Epic scenery.

photos 9 and 10 are interesting for me, before the directional running agreement a Friend and I had waited at what appears to be #9 for about four hours waiting for a train to pop out of the tunnel, by the time we hiked out and drove to Boston Bar a WB pulled in for a crew change. Later I realized the CN did Maintenance windows by day and ran trains all night.

On another trip they were finishing up the fill at Stoyoma creek as I was dribing in, a few days later the radio said here's the first train and it came around the corner and across the fill. Job done.

t4p.

Great presentation.    Thanks!

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Awesome catch. That last photo is great!

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Excellent series. The crew must be a little anxious traveling through the rugged White Canyon.
John



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/25 14:58 by jmbreitigan.

Great shots!!  Thanks for posting.

jmbreitigan Wrote:
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> Excellent series. The crew must be a little
> anxious traveling through the rugged White
> Canyon.

They call it "Avalanche Alley".

 

Absolutely nailed it Ken, I envy you!! 

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

funnelfan Wrote:
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> Awesome catch. That last photo is great!

They're all great!

...jr