Railfanning Saint John

In the City

NB Southern handles all the switching within the city, with the exception of the potash terminal, which is done by CN. NB Southern's interyard switching is often performed by its two SW1200 units, but you can see GP38 units at work singly or in pairs. The switching at Island Yard is almost always performed by leased CN GP9 units, sometimes in concert with an NB Southern GP9.

Typical switching runs within Saint John are:

• At least one transfer train daily between the Dever Road yard and Island Yard over the Reversing Falls bridge (usualy two SW1200 units)
• At least one daily train to east Saint John (Irving Paper, Irving Refinery, industrial park) (usually two GP9 units but sometimes a GP9/GP38 pair)
• A switcher to the freight terminal near Harbour Station (usually one SW1200 but sometimes one GP9)
• A train to the Port of Saint John (usually two GP38 units)

Yard Action

The Industrial Scene

Saint John has several large industries that are served by rail, as well as many smaller ones. The largest rail customers are Irving Paper, the Irving Refinery, Moosehead, PCS New Brunswick, and the Port of Saint John. Most of these are not accessible.

The Irving Pulp Mill at Reversing Falls.

Pier 12 at the Port of Saint John.

Smaller industries include the two Ocean Steel facilities, and several industries in the Broadview and McAllister Industrial Parks.

Praxair in the Broadview Industrial Park. They ship carbon dioxide in tank cars.

Broadview Industrial Park, with Bercon Atlantic on the right. It receives plastic pellets.

Favourite Spots

Rothesay Avenue - One can see the switching action, as well as watch CN 305 assemble its train. Hanging around the "throat" of the yard allows you to watch for the east end local as well.

Green Head Road overpass - With a telephoto lens one can see the whole yard.