August 4th, 2008
In Guelph, the August long weekend is now known as John Galt Day. These are shots taken by me and my wife of the move of the handcars GHRA ran, borrowed from the historical railway group in Palmerston, and then only by my wife of the festivities -- and of course of VIA #85 crossing the viaduct.
Guelph, Ontario
(map) The city of Guelph is my home town and is just East of Kitchener-Waterloo on the GEXR Guelph sub, and the Ontario Southland Railway/Guelph Junction Railway track, the other end of which is at Guelph Junction.
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Two handcars are delivered to the Guelph Junction Railway and tested ahead of John Galt day celebrations which include free handcar rides.
August 21st, 2008
Guelph's new tourist train's first test run was sponsored by Sleeman and ran south from the River Run Centre with a number of VIPs. I took a few minutes to shoot it, the first passenger train this century on the Guelph Junction Railway, passing under the Goderich-Exeter viaduct over the river, then waited a few minutes for OSR 182 with one plastics car and VIA 85 to pass. Had 85 been running on schedule, I would have shot it in the same frame as OSR 182 -- the holy grail of Guelph railfanning.
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The first ever run of the Guelph Junction Express pulls out of the River Run Centre with OSRX 506 and 3 demotored RDCs.
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OSR 182 follows moments behind the Guelph Junction Express with one car on its way to PDI.
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VIA #85 runs 5 minutes late over the GJR 5 minutes after the passing of OSR 182... had it been running on time, it would have been a meet video, the holy grail of Guelph railfanning.
