Railfanning on the CPKC Railway Heron Bay Subdivision - Mid June, 2024

June 12-14, 2024 ~ CPKC Heron Bay Subdivision
*Detailed captions and narration in this video*
After a very dry winter thanks to El Nino its now the total opposite with below average temperatures and plenty of rain to keep the boreal forest full of bugs and nice and lush. When the sun does come behind that thick layer of fog you can see the beauty of Superior Country! We begin our travels in Marathon, Ontario, Canada about midway and the largest community on the 118 mile Heron Bay Subdivision linking Montreal and Vancouver built in the 1880's along the north shore of Lake Superior. This is CPKC's mainline hosting several high priority intermodal trains, manifest, vehicles, and grain trains. Most trains operate distributed power with 10000ft ore more behind the drawbar. Fifty six miles west of White River the railway encounters Lake Superior for the next 200 miles towards Schreiber and on towards the Lakehead city of Thunder Bay.
June 12th
After a pair of early morning eastbound trains pass Marathon its off down the Trans Canada Highway to Struthers, just east of Barrick Gold's massive Williams Mine which can be scene in the distance as 100 takes the siding to meet westbound intermodal 113. From here its over to White River to watch 100 whiz thru town not stopping for a crew change as it is running extended run. On my way back west to Marathon I swung into Mobert to see 118 pass along White Lake. Back in Marathon eastbound boarding cars ease into Marathon behind a solo SD40-2 at Carden Cove Road. After a meet down the line westbound hotshot 101 makes its way west along the Heron Bay Sub passing Marathon. I follow 101 to Neys catching 112 and 421 later in the evening between some thunderstorms.
June 13th
The following morning I relax around Neys Provincial Park taking it all in as three trains pass. Later in the day I head down the highway to see 112 following to Marathon. After 112 passed I would follow 421 back to the park catching it at Ripple Lake following to the Steel River.
June 14th
Another relaxing morning at Neys I head to the highway to follow getting some aerial shots and video at Neys, the Mink Tunnel, and Heron Bay under perfect conditions. I head into Marathon to grab some supplies and kill some time before following 113 west to Neys. Later in the evening I would hike to the train bridge for a shot of 112 before enjoying a campfire and the weekend!
Cheers!
~Chapters - Locations & Trains
0:00 CPKC 420 & 100 east at Marathon West
2:54 CPKC 100 entering the siding at Struthers
8:15 CPKC 113 down the main and 100 departing at Struthers
11:55 CPKC 100 high ball at White River
17:44 CPKC 118 passing Mobert and White Lake
21:20 CPKC 2WHB boarding cars passing Marathon at Carden Cove crossing
22:31 CPKC 101 passing Marathon at Pebble Beach
25:21 CPKC 101 crossing the Little Pic River at Neys
27:08 CPKC 112 passing Ripple
32:26 CPKC 112 climbing Neys Hill
34:10 CPKC 421 at the Neys boat launch
37:14 CPKC 100, the coffee express from Neys Beach
39:19 CPKC 118 at Middleton and Neys
44:38 CPKC 113 crossing the Little Pic River
49:50 CPKC 112 at Neys along the Trans Canada Highway
51:56 CPKC 112 at Marathon West
54:57 CPKC 421 at Ripple Lake
55:48 CPKC 421 west of the Steel River
57:47 CPKC 118 crossing the Little Pic River
1:02:19 CPKC 118 at Heron Bay and crossing the Pic River
1:04:06 CPKC 113 passing Marathon
1:06:16 CPKC 112 crosses over the Little Pic River tackling Neys Hill
#cpkc #lakesuperior #canadianpacific #heronbaysub #trains