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A photo gallery of the Algoma Central trip in late July. The trip covers CN trackage from the "Soo" northward to Hearst, Ontario. |
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Uploaded by: Jim Brown
Created: Thursday, August 21, 2003
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ACR's 'Agawa' - Algoma Central's private car 'Agawa' has been restored to traditional maroon by the railway's new owner, CN. It's available for private charters, and is seen here at Sault Ste Marie, ON. 28 July 2003 |
ACR Canyon Train leaving Steelton - We waited for ACR's Agawa Canyon Tour Train to leave town before departing Steelton Yard, two miles from ACR's Sault Ste. Marie, ON station. 29 July 2003 |
Batchewana through a dirty windshield - Occasional rain had spattered the windshield by the time we reached Batchewana, 80 miles from the Soo. 29 July 2003. |
The First Nine Cars, Montreal Falls - Our convoy comprised 32 motorcars of various types, plus three operator-owned HiRail trucks. The first nine cars are seen here at Montreal Falls. 29 July 2003 |
Agawa Canyon Train, Montreal River - We waited at Montreal Falls for the southbound tour train, shown here crossing Algoma Central's well-known curved bridge over the Montreal River, with SD75I 5729 in charge. 29 July 2003 |
Wendell on Montreal River Bridge - Wendell Stahler brought his Sylvester motorcar (built in Lindsay, ON) to the meet from Lima, Ohio. Here the Stahler Sylvester braves the heights of the Montreal River bridge. 29 July 2003 |
Our ACR Hosts - CN's ACR Superintendent Greg Wolnairski and his family, and our lead escort, Art Munn, stand in front of the convoy (and Greg's HiRail) at Canyon. 29 July 2003 |
Art Munn - Algoma Central's Art Munn, Manager of Maintenance, was our lead escort for the meet. He preceeded the convoy in his HiRail truck, arranged for our operating authorities, and generally kept us in line. 29 July 2003 |
Waiting for a train, 1, Tabor - The ACR is a moderately busy railway, and we took siding frequently, as directed by Art, to allow trains to pass or overtake our convoy. 29 July 2003 |
Waiting for a train, 2, Tabor - Here's Excursion Coordinator Ted Stevens (in his Tilley hat) passing the word at Tabor as we wait for a southbound freight. 29 July 2003 |
Waiting for a train, 3, Tabor - Meets were a fine time to visit with fellow operators, or tend to maintenance chores. 29 July 2003 |
Meet at Tabor - CN's ACR Superintendent Greg Wolnairski and his wife Dawn look over 5791 south at Tabor. 29 July 2003 |
Crossing CPR at Franz - After an overnight stay at Wawa, our cars headed north to Hearst. Here we're crossing the CPR transcontinental main line at Franz. 29 July 2003 |
Diagnosing - Breakdowns are unfortunate, but are almost inevitable on long motorcar journeys. Here Geoff Elliott and Bob Layfield discuss a problem with Geoff's M19. |
Motorcar Cuisine - Motorcar operators take whatever opportunities they can to sustain the inner man (or woman). Here's Gary Elliott whipping up sandwiches on the back of Geoff's M19. 30 July 2003 |
The Skrockes' MT19A - Amy and Mike Skrocke brought their Norfolk Southern Fairmont MT19A to the meet from Farmington Hills, Michigan. 30 July 2003 |
...and the Moraskis' MT19A - Carol and Jeff Moraski hauled their Northern Pacific MT19A to the meet from Clarendon Hills, Illinois. 30 July 2003 |
Tanker Stan - "Tanker Stan" Conyer brought his HyRail Dodge Dakota (aka KC135) to the meet from Columbus, Indiana. Stan provided an invaluable service by supplying fuel en route to the motorcars. 30 July 2003 |
Fuelling at Mosher - With an on-board tank and electric pump (powered by the truck battery), Stan Conyer's "KC135" did excellent en-route fuelling duty, as seen here at Mosher. 30 July 2003 |
Meeting The 5698 south, Mosher - Here we're 'in the hole' at Mosher for a meet with another southbound. 30 July 2003 |
CN 5729 overtaking, Hale - Delayed by motorcar problems, we took the siding again at Hale to allow a following train to pass. In sharp contrast to the curving alignments further south, the track here was tangent for miles. 30 July 2003 |
Morning Preparations, Hearst - As ACR's train #2 prepared to leave Hearst for Sault Ste. Marie, nearly 300 miles to the south, we were busy with our own pre-departure preparations. 31 July 2003 |
ACR No. 2 leaving Hearst - ACR's train #2 (with CN GP40-2 9618 in charge) backs out of Hearst to a wye west of town, from which it will head south to Sault Ste Marie. 31 July 2003 |
The Oba Trapper - During our pause at Oba (where CN's transcontinental main line crosses the ACR), a local trapper displayed and sold furs and woodcarvings. Here Jim Curran examines a carved goldfinch (which he brought home). 31 July 2003 |
Oba Furs - Here's a sample of the Oba trapper's wares. 31 July 2003 |
Art Munn 'Knifing the Diamond', Oba - To cross the CN main line at Oba, Art first obtained permission from the CN RTC (dispatcher)in Edmonton. He then opened the knife switch on the signal bungalow, preventing main line signals from being cleared. |
Sue Wilson at Mile 213 - A favorite lunch stop is the curve at Mile 213, and the adjacent bridge across an arm of Oba Lake. Here's Sue Wilson taking the air as the last cars roll up to a stop. 31 July 2003 |
Lunch Stop at Mile 213 - Bunched up for the lunch stop at Mile 213, this was one of the rare opportunities to photograph the entire convoy. 31 July 2003 |
Fishing - Taking advantage of every opportunity, Terry Boucher and Fay Capili try out the fishing in Oba Lake, at Mile 213. 31 July 2003 |
bPart of John Brown's Crew - John Brown, of Waubaushene, ON, took the award for the most people on one motorcar: five! Here are three of the faithful standing by John's Fairmont A3, which was making its first major trip after John restored it. 31 July |
Lunch Stop at Mile 213, encore - Here's a last look at the convoy, stopped for lunch at Mile 213. 31 July 2003 |
Meeting 5714 north at Franz - A quick run south to Franz got us in the clear just as the 5714 finished its work at the CPR interchange, and made ready to proceed north. 31 July 2003 |
Lending a Hand - John Brown lends a hand as Rod Wilson works beneath his car, replacing a sprocket key. 31 July 2003 |
Rod's Repairs - Rod Wilson detected a loose key in the drive sprocket of his MT19. Rather than risk a breakdown, he elected to replace the key, doing the job on the installment plan to avoid delays. 31 July 2003 |
The Wilson family, concerned - Sue and Scott Wilson look doubtful as Rod completes his repairs. 31 July 2003 |
Wet Running, Perry - This year's ACR run was much wetter than in 2002. Despite having some sun each day, we also had considerable rain. Here's an example of wet running, south of Perry. 1 August 2003 |
Rainy meet, Tabor - It was raining steadily at Tabor, as we took siding for a northbound. The motorcar doors were closed, storm curtains in place! 1 August 2003 |
Canyon in the Rain - Canyon is the destination point for ACR's excursion train from Sault Ste. Marie, 112 miles to the south. But it was a dreary place when we arrived, southbound. 1 August 2003 |
A-4 towing a Woodings - Frank and Heleen Hubley's Woodings CBL car suffered irrepairable exhaust system problems northbound, and was taken in tow for the rest of the trip by Bob Craven's A4. Such is the brotherhood. 1 August 2003 |
Lending a Hand, 2 - In another example of helping out the other guy, here's Fred Lonnes' HiRail Dodge with Dave Moore's M19AA 'on the hook'. 1 August 2003 |
Ben at the Head End - Frank and Heleen Hubley's son Ben took immense pleasure in every aspect of our run. At Canyon, Art Munn offered the co-pilot seat in his HiRail truck to Ben, who remained on duty there to Soo. 1 August, 2003 |
Ready to leave Canyon - Thoroughly dampened, Steven Duff mounts up for the departure from Canyon. 1 August 2003 |
Tour Train arriving at Canyon - With the appearance of the tour train at Canyon in the rain, we were free to depart on the last lap of the journey south to Sault Ste. Marie. 1 August 2003 |
Waiting for No. 1, Batchewana - After a difficult climb on slippery rail out of Canyon, and a spirited run to Batchewana, it was time to pull in for a meet with No. 1, the regular train for Hearst. 1 August 2003 |
Art and Jim, Batchewana - Art Munn and videographer Jim Curran oversee our meet with train No. 1 at Batchewana. Once the passenger train cleared, we set off on a nearly non-stop run back to The Soo...and the 2003 ACR run was over. 1 August 2003 |
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