Canadian Railways are big!

9th February 2011

Here are some views of the main line railways around Cranbrook and Fort Steele showing just how large their locomotives and trains are!

Below: An empty coal train, consisting of 150 wagons and three locomotives.

Below: The yard at Cranbrook, with switching (shunting) operations taking place with a pair of CP Rail locomotives.

Below: On my last day in Cranbrook, Bob Whethman took me out to see what freight trains were running out of Cranbrook. By a stroke of luck a pair of Union Pacific SD90s were waiting to start away with a freight train consisting of grain, steel coil and coal wagons. Here they are awaiting permission to proceed.

Below: Out on the line and a few miles into their journey...

Below: And a few miles further on in a stunning setting...

Below: In Cranbrook there is a unique museum called 'Trains Deluxe'. This museum aims to recreate some of the famous trans-Canadian trains from history, with tours starting in a recreated terminal station before proceeding into and through the trains themselves. Various periods are represented and plans are in hand to cover the collection in a railway style roof.

Below: A final view of four CPR locomotives switching at Cranbrook. After that it was off to the airport for the journey home...