I
got up and got dressed. I went to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast I
went out to the Galleria Mall to wait for a shuttle to the yard to see the Big
Boy. My friend Karl has told me to go early. When I got to where the shuttle was
picking people up, I saw they were using highway coaches instead of cutaways
like I thought. I wasn’t complaining. I took a photo.
I
boarded a bus and rode to the Norfolk Southern yard. I saw the Big Boy and its
train. I also saw Norfolk Southern’s New York Central heritage unit. I took
some photos.
I
have now seen three of the surviving Big Boy steam locomotives. I previously
saw #4018 in Dallas on my 2009 Dallas trip and #4006 at the National Museum of
Transportation in St. Louis on my St. Louis-Chicago trip. I have now seen
#4014; the only operational Big Boy.
I
took some more photos.
A
couple passenger cars were open. I went inside and took some photos.
I
then stepped off and took some photos.
I
waited in a line for some merchandise. After I got what I waited for I went
back to #4014. I took some more photos.
At
one point, a railroad employee was taking various people’s cameras to take
pictures of the Big Boy from the other side. I let him use my camera and he
took some photos.
I
got my camera back and took some photos.
I
then photographed a Norfolk Southern SD40-2.
At
one point it started to rain heavily. I took shelter under a tent. I could see
steam coming off #4014.
The
rain let up and I photographed the New York Central heritage unit.
I
figured I was pretty much done and got on a bus back to the Galleria Mall. I
photographed the bus after I got back.
When
I got back a saw a HUGE line of people that stretched halfway around the mall!
I’m glad I went when I did.
I
then went inside the mall and had a massage at a spa. I looked around and had
lunch. I went into Dave and Buster’s for a few minutes. I then walked back to
my hotel.
I
went online and worked on this report some more. I went for a swim in my
hotel’s pool. I went back and worked on this report.
A
little while later, I went to Mighty Taco across the street for dinner. After
dinner, I made my way back to my hotel. I worked on this report some more. I
sent the alarm on my phone and called it a night.
June 11, 2026:
I
got up and got dressed. I went to the lobby for breakfast. I then returned to
my room and finished packing. I then checked out of my hotel. I then walked to
the bus stop and waited for the route #46 bus. When it came, I rode to Dick
Road and got off. I had a strong belief that #4014 was going to leave Buffalo
on the Norfolk Southern line that runs parallel to the CSX line that Amtrak
uses.
I
then looked around to find a vantage point to watch the train. I eventually saw
some other railfans gathering. I joined them as we walked up to the line. More
and more railfans gathered by the bridge over Broadway. I figured it would be
okay. We stood by the line and waited. At one point, I could see Amtrak train
#48 at Buffalo Depew station. I attempted to photograph it.
I
went back to waiting. I checked Union Pacific’s website to track #4014. At one
point I saw it was moving. I had heard the whistle.
Some
other railfans put coins on the tracks. Finally, I saw smoke on the horizon,
Union Pacific #4014 showed up and I filmed the train.
As
#4014 passed, I was enveloped in a cloud of steam. Fortunately, it wasn’t hot
and felt like I was in mist, but I got the train passing. I was happy. I took
one last photograph of the train.
I
then made my way back to Buffalo Depew station. I pulled out my laptop and
worked on this report some more. I went out onto the platform and photographed
the mid train helper locomotive on a CSX freight train.
A
few minutes later, another CSX freight passed. I photographed it.
Less
than 15 minutes later Amtrak train #64 pulled in. I filmed it pulling in and
took a picture of the rear of the train.
I
noticed it had the exact same consist as the train I had arrived into Buffalo
on. I sprinted to the far end of the parking lot only to see the locomotive had
stopped further than it did when I came into town. If the platform was open
from its whole length this wouldn’t have been a problem. I attempted to
photograph the locomotive.
I
then filmed the train departing and attempted to take one last photograph of
the train. I then walked to Holy Burger which used to be a Tim Hortons. I had
lunch there. After lunch I photographed a stopped Norfolk Southern intermodal
train.
I
then made my way back to Buffalo Depew station. I still had a couple hours. I
pulled out my laptop and worked on this report for a bit. I went onto the
platform and noticed dark clouds on the horizon. I heard it was supposed to
rain. The rain started 10 minutes later.
Soon
train #63 arrived right on time. Earlier it said the train was running two
minutes late but it had made up time. Ironically, this was only 30 minutes
later than when I boarded the train in Syracuse back in January coming home
from Great Wolf Lodge’s Fitchburg location. I filmed the train pulling in.
I
was seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82688. The train departed. I had problems
finding a seat but I eventually found one. My ticket was scanned by the same
Amtrak employee who asked if I was coming to see the Big Boy two days earlier.
I pulled out my laptop and worked on this report some more.
The
train stopped at Buffalo Exchange Street. After we left, I was given a form to
fill out for customs. I filled it out and worked on this report some more. We
stopped at Niagara Falls New York a little while later.
At
Niagara Falls New York passengers continuing onto Canada were told to stay on
the train. Multiple U.S. custom and law enforcement people came onto the train.
After several minutes they left. The train departed and crossed the border into
Canada.
We
stopped at Niagara Falls, Ontario. After several minutes we were told to get
off and go through Canadian customs. I went through with no problems. I then
photographed the train.
The
train was led by P42 #93. This unit had been added to the front of the
Lakeshore Limited back in January in Albany.
I
then made my way to the station to await reboarding of the train. We ended up
boarding one minute before VIA train #98’s scheduled departure. I was now
seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82763. The train departed 5 minutes late. I was
hoping to see Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls but the view was blocked by a
dirt wall.
I
pulled out my laptop and worked on this report some more. A VIA employee lifted
my ticket. I phoned home and left a message on my dad’s phone and let him know
I was back in Canada.
The
train slowed to a crawl but the bridge over the Welland Canal was down. On the
left hand side I saw a ship in one of the locks but it was not close to being
delayed by the train. The train stopped at St. Catherines a few minutes later.
I went to the café car for dinner.
The
train passed nonstop through Grimsby. A Niagara bound GO train passed. We
slowed as we passed through Hamilton. I saw CN switcher #7304 but it wasn’t in
a good position to be photographed.
A
few minutes later I photographed a pair of CN GP38s.
The
train stopped at Bayview Junction. This was to let a westbound GO train pass.
The train was underway a few minutes later. However, I figured there was no
chance we would have made up the 5 minutes we lost at Niagara Falls.
A
westbound CN freight train passed. We stopped at Aldershot a few minutes later.
East of Aldershot the train slowed to a crawl as we passed through Burlington
GO station. We picked up speed again. The train stopped at Oakville a few
minutes later.
Between
Oakville and Union station the train stopped. The crew announced that we were
waiting for a green signal. We were underway again at 7:48 pm; 5 minutes after
were supposed to have arrived at Union Station. I caught a glimpse of the
construction of the Hazel McCallion LRT at the Port Credit GO station in
Mississauga. The train hit a slow zone.
The
train seemed to slowly pick up speed. As we passed VIA’s Toronto Maintenance
Center, I filmed the equipment in the yard. I saw the train owned by the VIA
Historical Association and not one but two of the new Siemens Venture trainsets
for the upcoming Northlander relaunch.
We
were soon nearing Union Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.
The train stopped outside of Union Station for several minutes. I filmed a VIA
train with a P42, a mixture of LRC and HEP2 coaches, and an F40. I then filmed
one of VIA’s Siemens Venture trainsets passing. After a GO train passed, we
were underway again.
Train
#98 arrived into Union Station 39 minutes late. I got off and photographed the
train.
I
went downstairs and phoned my dad and let him know I was back in Toronto. I
then caught the subway home.
Conclusions:
This
trip was nearly perfect. I got to ride Buffalo’s light rail, see the Big Boy
and catch it leaving town. Maybe some day I’ll get to ride behind #4014 on a
future trip.
As
for me, my next trip it may be a final trip on VIA’s LRC coaches or on the
revived Northlander. Until next time…
Click to go home.
