Due to a CN freight derailment early this morning near Brighton ON, Via will be using buses between Cobourg and Belleville ON today. Trains are expected to depart their home terminal on time. Effected trains are Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa, Via's busiest routes.
I saw a few Via trains today, and they had units at both ends. Here is a picture of an eastbound at Cobourg about to change directions and head west. You can see the hogger walking up to the unit. Passengers were transferred to buses. [ March 13, 2005, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Milne ]
Via and CN trains on the Kingston sub and CP trains on the Belleville sub were blowing horns and reducing speed as they passed through Cobourg yesterday. There were media and onlookers everywhere beside the right of way. The volume of smoke from the fire was unbelieveable, and as you can see from the pictures, I got close enough to feel the heat and hear the roar from the flames. Over 11 fire departments were called for assistance, and they were having a lot of difficulty containing the blaze. When the foam fire trucks arrived from the Armed Forces Bases at Trenton and Bordon, they had an enourmous effect on containment and reduction. There are benefits to living close to a military base. Media report Another media report [ April 27, 2005, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Milne ]
Via 61 today holding at the east end of Cobourg while fire crews extinguish a grass fire. After about a ten minute delay, train 61 resumes its journey.
If you live outside British Columbia, it always rains. If your a BC resident, the air is frequently cleansed. The line was reopened one day later.
