Ticket To Ride

Once Upon A Time

At one time the Drumheller sub connecting Calgary to Drumheller was an active subdivision. However in 2014 the subdivision was abandoned other that the section that connects Calgary to Lyalta.

The reason for this is the fact that there is a P&H elevator located near Lyalta that CN services with empty grain hoppers delivered and then once filled with grain, picked up to start their journey to the coast.

Earlier on this morning I was just leaving the house when on my scanner I heard the forman talking to the engineer on this P&H grain train giving him permission to enter the Drumheller sub with his unit train of P&H hoppers to be delivered to the elevator.

I decided to make the drive to a location just east of the elevator where the remains of a rail crossing exists and a spur in to the elevator is located.
After driving in as far as I could with my truck, I walked the last 100 meters over to the track with the P&H train coming in to view in the distance lead by engines 2835 and 2937.

Upon arrival the conductor exited 2835 and set the derailer, then the train moved on up the track till the last grain hopper cleared the switch giving access into the elevator where the conductor took care of that switch.

We exchanged good mornings as he walked past, and he made me laugh when he said they though I was there to help out!

Expand the photo for a closer look.....

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