A Manitoba Sojourn Part 1


Recently my family and I traveled to Manitoba for a summer vacation. Beyond visiting family and friends, I managed to squeeze in some railfanning while in the Keystone province.  Beyond the majors (CN and CPKC) there are a number of smaller regional railways that operate in Winnipeg and area.  I managed to see a few of these smaller operations around the city.  I didn't manage to catch the GWWD this go around but hopefully will on another trip.    

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (Manitoba)


The BNSF operates the former Midland Railway of Manitoba in Winnipeg.  Historically they ran to the Canada/US border but now they operate a switching and transfer operation between CN and CP on the central/western part of the city.  Midland #2 was a GP9 that was used for decades in this operation.  It was retired and donated to the Prairie Dog Central.  Now a variety of BNSF 4 axle units hold down the assignment.  Currently a GP38-2 is working the BNSF trackage.   



Westview Park, more commonly known as "Garbage Hill" is an old garbage dump that was turned into a park in the early 1960's.  It is one of the higher points in otherwise flat Winnipeg.  It also has a good view of the CP and BNSF tracks on the east side, looking towards downtown.  I managed to catch BNSF 1545 coming in with a transfer for CP.   



Garbage Hill is in the background.  Unfortunately in the morning you are shooting into the sun but decent shots can still be had.  The shot above and below is at the Sargent Street level crossing.  The SUV is a BNSF employee that throws switches for the train as it carries out its work.
  



A once common green BN grain hopper is now a relatively rare sight on the rails.

Central Manitoba Railway

I took my kids to see the Canadian Paleontology Museum (https://discoverfossils.com/ ) in Morden Manitoba.  It has the largest Mosasaur fossil in the world along with many other marine reptile fossils from the Cretaceous period.  It is well worth the 1:20 hour trip.  The kids enjoyed the fossils as well as their burger and fries from Syl's Drive In in Carman.  The original owners (Sylvesters) were friends of my parents and also had a drive in restaurant in my home town.  Having a Syl's burger brought back many memories.  Now my kids have some memories as well.






We caught a Central Manitoba Railway (CEMR) train switching the fertilizer plant at Homewood, east of Carman.  A former CN GP9RM and an ex-GMTX exx-UP GP38-2 carry out the switching.  







On our way back to Winnipeg after visiting the paleontology museum we caught the same train we saw earlier doing some switching at Sanford Manitoba.  The train picked up a cut of tank cars before continuing its journey northeast to Winnipeg.  

The CEMR is storing many freight cars on their track.  The majority of the cars I saw were either tank cars or potash hoppers.  Potash cars were the most common ones that I saw.  
 
Prairie Dog Central Railway

The Prairie Dog Central is a tourist train that has been running in Winnipeg for decades.  It rosters a fleet of ancient wood passenger cars and one of the oldest steam locomotives in Canada.  Unfortunately the #3 is undergoing boiler repairs so it wasn't running.  On this occasion ex GTW GP18 4138 was leading the train to Grosse Isle.  Ex Midland Railway #2 (BNSF 1685) was parked at the shops at Inkster Junction.



I was invited on a cab ride when they took the locomotive around the wye.  How could I say no to that?  I had a good chat with the head end crew as we rode around the wye to get the locomotive oriented for the return trip.   






After everyone on board had lunch while being entertained by musicians and a magician (he was a hit with the kids) the train headed back to the station at Inkster Junction.  I headed back and got some shots of the southbound train in nice light.    



This was my friend Mark's last run on the PDC.  He has volunteered since 2009 and has decided to take a break.  The train isn't quite riding into the sunset (it's southbound) but the metaphor still works.  Happy trails Mark!

I'll post more on my Manitoba Sojourn later on.



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