Fraser Surrey Docks August 1999

My friend Roman H. came to Vancouver in August 1999 to visit family.  While he was in the lower mainland we went out for a day of railfanning.  We caught several trains including the inbound Amtrak passenger train to Vancouver.  

On our way back from White Rock we decided to stop in at Brownsville in Surrey BC to see what was lurking there.  A set of BNSF SD40-2 still in full BN paint were waiting to head south, and there seemed to be more activity in the Fraser Surrey Docks area so we headed down there.  This was prior to all the additional security that was put in place post 9/11, so you were free to wander through the area so long as you didn't trespass or cause problems.  

We stopped outside the fence around FSD and shot some of the action through the fence, and tried to do the best we could to get photos of the ex CP RS23 that was on the property.  The re-engined S-2 was in use that day, so we shot it while it switched.  

The locomotive pulled through the gate across the road, and a crewman told us to climb aboard.  We didn't think twice about the invitation and clambered up the rear step of the locomotive.  We chatted with the crew as they switched some cars from the yard into the dock area.  It was quite interesting to see the locomotive easily handle a fairly long string of container cars.  

8014 was one of the CP lightweight units used on branchlines.  The large circular cutout was one of the ways these units had weight removed by MLW

After profusely thanking the crew we climbed off the engine as they headed deeper into the docks.  We got permission to photograph the RS23 prior to leaving, and were quite pleased with how the morning had turned out for us.  We continued our travels that day, but there was nothing that topped that ride on the FSD.