ONR Convention - Warm up Trip to White River

With the ONRHT&S convention scheduled for Kirkland Lake this year, I had originally planned for a few days to railfan my way up to the convention as well as to ride VIA's train 185/186, with its two Budd cars that travel from Sudbury to White River.  I have photographed this train several times over the years, but never have been able to ride it.  Bram Bailey and I had decided to jointly make our way to the convention this year, and it didn't take much for me to convince Bram that we should make this side trip to White River.  Somewhere along the planning, we mentioned our plans to Lloyd Leonard and soon we had three ONRHT&S members making the trip.  So the Monday before the convention, Bram and I headed towards Ontario from Ohio.  With tickets purchased long before the ride, Bram picked me up at 0100 (yes that's 0100 dark) to begin our trek east and northward into Ontario and our destination for the day being Sudbury.  As many of you know, Bram lives on the far west side of Cleveland while I live on the far east side.  In a few hours we found ourselves talking to the officer at the Peace Bridge about where we were headed and what we were planning to do. I can only imagine what he thought, maybe something like what kind of folks to I get crossing so early in the morning and going to ride a train?  After passing into Ft. Erie, it was onwards to beat the Toronto traffic and get northward of all of the commuters. A quick stop at Tim Horton's and we were ready to begin our day railfanning around Perry Sound before ultimately landing in Sudbury.  A few trains were caught south of Sudbury, as well as exploring some of the old CP trackage before we decided to head north.  Of course after setting our departure time from Perry Sound after sitting there hoping to catch a shot of a train coming across the CP trestle that spans the river, our railfanning pal Murphy's Law came along and sent a NB CN train while both our camera's were packed and we were ready to leave.

Tuesday morning we met Lloyd at the Sudbury station, and after a small delay, our train arrived and we boarded with about a total of close to a dozen passengers.  As most of you may know, the VIA train shuttles back and forth between Sudbury and White River three trips each week.  The train provides flag stop service to many remote locations only accessible by rail on the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline.  The journey is some 300 miles in length and averages about 10 hours travel time as it treks through Ontario.  The typical equipment are Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDCs), using an RDC-2 (6219) and RDC-4 (6250).  Lloyd mentioned that he had ridden the train when an extra RDC had been included.  While it’s a long journey, there were several stops at established stations such Chapleau as well as the opportunity to photograph some meets with CP Rail freight trains.  I also used the time to take some photos of the landscape, in hopes that I could add some of that Ontario flavor to my home layout. 

Brief stop at Chapleau

One word of advice for the trip is make sure that you make motel reservations prior to the trip and bring along enough munchies for a two-day trip. While White River has a grocery store, selections were a little limited, although a sufficient stash of crackers and peanut butter was available to make the author happy, especially for the return trip. 

So after our return to Sudbury Wednesday afternoon (we actually arrived ahead of schedule), it was on to Englehart for the evening and meeting fellow convention attendees Thursday evening. 

ONR Convention - 2018 @ Kirtland Lake - Saturday

Day 2 of the ONRHT&S convention had us reviewing the morning lineup and trying to determine which trains and locations we could photograph.  Our first train of the day was the southbound train from Englehart to North Bay.  ONR SD75I #2105 was leading a newly repainted SD40-2 #1734.  While some of the group decided to shoot this train at Englehart, Bram Bailey, Mike Robin and I opted to head south to Earlton, where we had previously seen some piles of hay bales.

Southbound train passing by Mini Farm Rd crossing at Earlton. Photo by Ken Stroebel

We chased this train southward, however, he got ahead of us and we watched him beat us to the Hwy 11 crossing at New Liskeard and broke off the chase.

Pacing shot through the farmers fields around Earlton. Photo by Ken Stroebel

We found the ditcher still working at New Liskeard after a brief lunch break at Gillies, however, the sun was mostly behind the clouds and the ditcher would soon be headed back north.

Work train at the New Liskeard station siding. Photo by Ken Stroebel

So it was back to Englehart as we tried to remain one step ahead of the northbound work train.

Work train approximately 1/2 mile east of the Englehart River bridge. Photo by Courtland Saunders

Northbound Work 1733 is captured crossing the Englehart River. Photo by Mike Robin.

ONR 1733 and 1735 at Englehart. Photo by Terry Shwetz.

Catching the work train was our last bit of railfanning for the day, as attendees had an appointment to tour the Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake. Located in the former chateau home of successful mine owner Sir Harry Oakes, this museum focuses on Northeastern Ontario including the Kirkland Lake area.  The site’s collection dates from 1907 to the present and includes many objects related to the home as well as mining industry and documents from the area.

Chateau of Sir Harry Oakes

Various mineral and rock specimens; note large scale on top of cabinet

Our evening presentations included a review of mining and smelting operations for Kidd Creek, Rouyn-Noranda, and Sudbury, as well as an overall review and discussion of the geology of the area and how the various ore deposits came to be.  Bill Woods then taught us how to make conifer trees using wire, hemp sisal, spray paint and ground foam.

ONR Convention - 2018 @ Kirtland Lake - Friday

This years convention was held in Kirkland Lake, with accommodations provided by the Super 8 motel.  Our thanks to Peter Ross for doing all of the planning and up front work to secure locations. Special thanks to Gerald Harper for helping to arrange our Friday morning trip to the Glencore Horne copper smelter located in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.  The following set of blog entries recounts my impressions as well as the fun we had once again getting together to share our interest in the Ontario Northland railway.  I will try to post some thoughts and photos to summarize the daily activities. 

We begin our day after a great meal on Thursday evening at Vienna's Bar & Grill. Somewhere in the night the weather changed to rain and cooler temperatures.  A quick breakfast and we were off to Rouyn-Noranda and the Glencore Horne copper smelter.  According to our two tour guides, Glencore is one of the world's largest copper and precious metal producers, as well as North America’s biggest recycler of electronic components. 

Aerial view of smelting operations (Photo courtesy Horne website)

Copper casting (Photo courtesy Horne website)

Our tour started with an overview of the company and operations which take place at this site, as well a history and discussion of the geology of the area and previous copper deposits.  After suiting up in coveralls, safety glasses, steel toed shoes, dust respirator, gloves and ear protection, we got the chance to see the molten copper coming out of the furnace as well as seeing the copper cast.

Hey we look like miners....Check out all of that PPE on ONRHT&S members as we get ready to enter the smelter bldg

Boxcar spotted outside of smelter. Note reporting marks

Sulfuric acid plant

Switching gondolas

Our trip back included a stop at Cheminis, MP 32 of the where members of the ONRH&TS got a chance to photograph train 211 as it passed through on its way to Noranda.  

Cheminis MP 32. Photo by Mike Robin

Passing MP32 sign. Photo by Ken Stroebel

After returning to the Super 8, Bram Bailey gave an outstanding presentation of his new book, Trackside around Ontario’s Cottage Country, which will be available on January 5, 2019.  This book will showcase various ONR, CP, ACR and CN trains around the cottage country of northern/southern Ontario. Looks like another solid read from Bram and shouldn't be missed.

Monday - still heading home

OK I wasn't going to post the pics from Monday, as we woke up to totally overcast and dark skies. However,  someone on FB requested that I post them, so here they are.  The rain held off while we were in Englehart, but just after leaving and getting ready to photograph 214, it really started to rain and got even darker.

Power for today's SB 214, ONR 1733 and 1730; a decent lashup. Now if that rain would only hold off

Maybe this is the power for the SB train...not to be

Northbound  coming into Englehart with 2103 leading.

Earlton - OK it's dark, rainy and railfanning is over for the day. 

Sunday - Time to head our separate ways

Sunday morning starts with breakfast at the nearby Husky station and then it's time to pack the cars and head back to our respective homes.  It was great seeing everyone again and I look forward to the next convention, which Peter plans to announce and share some details in the coming weeks/months as things firm up.

So while no trains were moving in Hearst, Mike had provided us information that the ditcher would again be working the Kapuskasing Sub, and we were able to find it watering down the loads just outside of Val Rita before heading to its next location to dump some ballast.

ONR 1802 leaving Val Rita and headed for Hearst with fresh ballast.

Adding ballast and watering the loads at Val Rita.

After leaving the ditcher, we were once again headed for Kap, as we knew that 313 had been called for 1100 out of Cochrane and would be making it's way towards us.

#313 crossing the Buskegau River ? outside of Hunta

After shooting the 313, it was time for another quick refueling stop for some lunch and then we were headed south again, our destination for today being a room in Englehart.  We wanted to check out the condition of the former paper plant at Iroquois Falls.  After approximately a years worth of work, this is what it looks like. Paper machine rollers scattered about and lots of concrete and steel rubble.

Former paper mill at Iroquois Falls

Abandoned engine house (tracks were on the other side)

Note rollers and other parts of the paper machine in the right side of photo

Arrival in Englehart late in the afternoon and no power visible in the Yard.

Monday saw the three of us leaving Englehart and chasing the SB 214 freight towards North Bay.  However, the weather didn't want to cooperate and the skies opened up, so after some quick shots at Earlton, we headed the Prius southward.  Arrival in Mentor at about 1045 and Vermilion 0000.  So a long week of driving and shooting trains, but well worth it and it was great to hand out with everyone for a few days.

Saturday Convention Activities

Saturday sees the convention attendees getting up and heading to Kap for a tour of the paper mill.  Great tour, however, they did ask that we restrict the amount of photos and not post photos from inside the mill to the web.  Therefore in order to abide by this request, I have only posted photos of the rail power and views from the public streets.

Blue skies and a nice sunrise are always a good start. Some foreign power arrived in the middle of the night.

Some MOW action outside of Hearst

Tembec paper mill main gate at Kapuskasing

Ex-ONR 1600, now a leased unit serving the mill

#168 sitting out in the weeds

Old Spruce Falls switcher #108 in the shops

Sunset in Hearst

Demonstrating the latest in railfan technology, Mike gets his drone ready for a demo flight in the parking lot of the motel

After a sunset flight over the Hearst mill, master drone operator Mike Robins readies his drone for landing.

Visit to the Hearst Sawmill museum and interesting discussion of history and transportation politics in the north with our hosts.

Friday Convention Posting

2017 Hearst Convention - Officially Day 1

Waking up to a cloudy day that turns quickly into a great sunrise

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Tour of the Cochrane shops

Otter Rapids dome car

Re-building passenger car 650

Passenger car 650 interior

Engines 1603 and 1601

General view of the shop floor

Ever wonder what it takes to keep the maintenance are clean?

After returning to Hearst for dinner, the group got together for a presentation by Bram Bailey and discussion of some group business.  Bram's presentation was about railfanning in cottage country and showed a progression through time of various locations on the ONR, CPR and CN.  Bill Woods also brought some fantastic models that he has built, including the canoe car and a wood chip hopper.  There were several more but these were the only ones I got photos of.  Thanks for sharing Bill.