Athearn Rotary Snowplow

[doctorwayne]

I decided to take a break from the rotary plow project, and drove to Mount Forest for a little railfanning.  While I have a few connections there that allow me more access than the average train nut, I hadn't done much preparation, and knew only that there'd be a mixed train heading south sometime within the next hour-or-so.

I had barely set-up near the roundhouse when a whistle heralded a coming train...



...and after only six cars, the combine bringing up the rear signified the end of the short train...



Preparing to get my camera gear together, I was surprised to see that the train had a surprise for me, and I quickly grabbed this shot...



I tried for another, but didn't have time to get up onto the gondola parked nearby, resulting in this cut-off view...



I scrambled back to my car, as I knew that the train would be stopping at the nearby Mount Forest station, where I should be able to get a better shot.  However, as I rounded a bend in the road, the plow and tender were slowing, well before the station.  Must be another train in the way (there's an interchange with CNR's LeeTown sub just south of the station), so I was able to get a somewhat better look....



As the shutter closed on the photo above, I heard the slack running out, and knew that my train would be moving on to the station.  I was fortunate to get a decent look at both the tender...



...and the plow, just before they began to move...



I threw my gear back in the car, and caught up with the train, stopped again, just in time to catch the business end of the plow...



That caboose on the adjacent track, and the train ahead of it, will have to wait it's turn, as the mixed has first  priority today.  I learned, from a friend at the station, that the plow and tender will go to Dunnville  (the eastern terminus of the Grand Valley), where they'll  be turned on the wye at Airline Junction, and then sent, on another train, to Lowbanks, on the Erie Northshore, their permanent destination.

I'll try to get some better photos of the two later.

Wayne