December 2019 In Photos

You know it's wintertime when the sounds of leaf blowers can be heard echoing through the yard. The sun has gone down but the work carries on as Cochrane's Section clears switches while heavy snow falls on a chilly December 6, 2019.

The Christmas spirit is alive and kicking at Cochrane Station December 7, 2019.

Cochrane Shops Hostlers Wendy and Jonathan arrive to wye the power for 213 (SD75I 2101 & SD40-2 1730) December 6 2019.

Shoving tonnage into the south yard, GP38-2 1801 kicks up the snow during the afternoon yard job at Cochrane Dec. 6, 2019. 

50 foot reefer 250 at Cochrane Yard's Freight Shed on a stormy December 6, 2019.

GP38-2 1806 and the Cochrane Shops' Dodge Ram sit quietly on a cold December 7, 2019.

GP40-2 2201 and GP38-2 1802 stand ready to roll at Cochrane Shops December 7, 2019.

One of Ontario Northland's snowfighters is taking a rare break on the blower track at Cochrane Yard Dec. 7, 2019. 

GP9 1601 arrives at Cochrane via 213 after a lengthy stay at North Bay December 13, 2019.

213 rolls in from Englehart with SD75I 2104 on point while GP38-2 1809 working yard duty rolls out with southbound Ryam loads in the North Yard at Cochrane Dec. 13, 2019. 

GP38-2 1809, the first unit to recieve ONR's 'arrow' paint livery, is seen teamed up with GP40-2 2202 on 3 track at Cochrane Shops December 14, 2019.

The northbound 421 Polar Bear rolls through mile 1.8 of the Island Falls Sub at track speed December 16, 2019. 

Dining car 701 is seen in the coach yard at Cochrane Dec. 14, 2019.

The passenger consist of the 421 Polar Bear snakes it's way from the ladder track, through the center lead and onto the main on a frigid December 16, 2019. 

Boarding the 421 Polar Bear at Cochrane December 16, 2019.

A 'Saturday Shops Shot' featuring plow 554 standing ready to be hauled into service at Cochrane December 21, 2019.  

 A special Sunday 421 Polar Bear rolls northward through mile .64 of the Island Falls Sub. December 22, 2019.

All is quiet in Cochrane's Coach Yard on a chilly December 21, 2019. 

Reefer 252 and GP40-2 2201 are seen at the south end of Cochrane Shops December 21 2019.

It's Christmas Day but the tonnage has to move as we catch Don and Glen hauling southbound 414 at Mile 23 of the Devonshire Sub heading for Englehart. 

Ontario Northland's latest SD40-2 rebuild the 1733 is seen holding her own and maintaining her shiny new coat running second fiddle on 414 at Cochrane December 25, 2019.

GP38-2 1802 is surrounded by a beautifully lit up morning sunrise at Cochrane Shops December 26, 2019.

The morning sun peeks out from the clouds bouncing off the morning's 421 Polar Bear at Cochrane December 26, 2019. 

Over the last 20 years of photographing and chronicling my adventures along the Ontario Northland, I wound up meeting some great people who ended up becoming good friends. I ran into one of those good friends Don who gives an enthusiastic wave from 414's lead unit 2105 at Cochrane Dec. 25, 2019.

The beautiful sunrise reflects off of GP38-2 1805 at Cochrane Shops December 26, 2019. 

The morning sun bounces off the boarding Polar Bear Express at Cochrane Dec. 26, 2019.

Southbound 414 preps to pull at Cochrane December 25, 2019.

The 421 Polar Bear embarks on her New Year's Eve journey north out of Cochrane December 31, 2019. 

GP9 1601 is captured on the Rip at Cochrane Shops Dec. 28, 2019.

GP38-2 's 1808 and 1806 are good to go on track 4 at Cochrane Shops December 25, 2019. 

November 2019 In Photos

Switching out the oil spur at Cochrane Yard November 29, 2019.

APCU 221 stands ready to go among the consist of the Polar Bear Express between the baggage car (412) and the HEP powered line car (264) at Cochrane's Coach Yard November 30, 2019. 

A 'Saturday Shops Shot' featuring from left to right, GP40-2 2201, GP40-2 2202, GP38-2 1802, and GP38-2 1805 on November 30, 2019.

Southbound 308 crosses the Frederickhouse River bridge at mile 96 of the Ramore Sub on a snowy November 24, 2019.

A front view of newly refurbished SD40-2 1733 at Cochrane November 29, 2019. One of the obvious changes from this angle is the re-application of the unit's snowshields.

Northbound 213 rolls up 1 track at Cochrane Yard arriving from Englehart November 29, 2019.

I finally caught up with freshly rebuilt SD40-2 1733 November 29, 2019 at Cochrane. Here's a look at the tail end of the unit where you not only see the intake and exhaust of the diesel powered warming system, but you'll also notice the addition of a rear pilot plow, a first for the current locomotive fleet.

Hellooooo Shawn and Dyson! 🙂👍 A young railfan and his loving dad drop by Cochrane Yard for a visit November 29, 2019.

421 Engineman Jerry gives a smile from the cab of lead unit 1806 as the Bear is put together at Cochrane Nov. 25, 2019.

A morning track patrol rolls out of Cochrane Yard heading north November 25, 2019.

The 421 Bear hauls Moosonee bound chain cars and the mail car from the North Yard at Cochrane November 25, 2019.

Southbound 308 crosses the newly refurbished bridge over the Porcupine River at mile 104 of the Ramore Sub on a snowy November 24, 2019.

Engineer Brandon gives a wave from the cab of SD75I 2104 as 308 handles switching at Kidd November 24, 2019.

Southbound 308 with SD75I 2104 on point rolls through mile 87 of the Ramore Sub on a very snowy November 24, 2019.

Snow covered wheels at Cochrane Shops November 23, 2019.

GP38-2 1805 ready to go at Cochrane Shops November 9, 2019.

Multiple GP38-2's at Cochrane on a freezing November 16, 2019.

APCU 220 is spotted looking a little frosty on the bunkhouse track at Cochrane Shops Nov. 16, 2019.

A November 16, 2019 'Saturday Shops Shot' that can only be described in one word, frigid! From left to right 1603, 1808, 1806, 1801, 1802, and 1809.

GP38-2 1801 at Cochrane Shops Nov. 9, 2019.

A snowy afternoon along the shed tracks at Cochrane November 9, 2019

GP38-2's 1801 and 1809 on 4 track at Cochrane Shops November 9, 2019.

GP40-2 2200 is teamed up with GP38-2 1805 on 3 track while GP9 1603 can be seen in the background on a snowy November 9, 2019 at Cochrane Shops.

A view of GP40-2 2200 as seen from the South Yard at Cochrane November 9, 2019.

A 'Saturday Shops Shot" featuring GP38-2's 1809 and 1801 teamed up on 4 track November 9, 2019. Here you can see the difference in yellows (yup, it was changed) between 1809 (the first 'arrowed' unit) and 1801 (a more recent 'arrowed' unit).

A gloomy and snowy morning at Cochrane Shops November 2, 2019.

A roster shot of Ontario Northland's latest GP38-2 rebuild at Cochrane Shops Nov. 2, 2019.

Cochrane's afternoon yard job lifts a load from Rockshield Wood Products with recently lifted Ryam lumber loads serving as buffers Nov. 1, 2019.

Dining car 750 amongst the Polar Bear Express consist at Cochrane Yard on a snowy November 2, 2019.

A very unique and personal favorite trait of the 1801, seen in this photo from Nov. 2, 2019, is the method of application of the 'safety stripes' to her nose. If you look carefully, you'll see how the stripes actually wrap around the edges of the front rather than end just before the edges of the nose as they do on all other 'arrow' painted units (except 1809 of course). This particular stripe application reminds me of CP's 'action' stripes from years ago. Kudos to the North Bay Paint Shop!

1801, Ontario Northland's latest GP38-2 rebuild is captured on track #4 at Cochrane Shops teamed up with 1802 November 2, 2019.

A 'Saturday Shops Shot' featuring GP38-2's 1806, 1805, and 1802 on a snowy November 2, 2019 morning.

Cochrane's afternoon yard job shoves loads into the south yard November 1, 2019.

Stay tuned for December 2019's Photos coming soon!