We call it "Train TV". You can hear the rumble of the train for quite a while, especially when its coming from the west. In both the old cabin and new, a large window faces out onto the beach, to where much of the ghost town used to be. Now instead of coal docks, fishing shacks, boats and houses, an open field leads up to the train tracks. The tracks are just far away from the cabin to be inherently interesting without being intrusive. It's almost impossible not to watch when we hear the familiar rumble.
The trains are usually of three varieties; 1) Long trains pulled by three engines, often with one in the middle, with most of the railcars each carrying two large containers. Common names on the containers include Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd, and K-Line. 2) the second type of train is not seen as much, given regulation changes after the Lac Megantic tragedy, Oil cars. 3) The third type is a mixed train, often a bit shorter in length, that includes a variety of rail cars; flatdecks, vehicle cars, boxcars, and sometimes work cars. Occasionally we see something truly out of the ordinary, such as windmill pieces. Regardless, we always have to stop what we are doing to take in the view, as there just might be a "blue engine" on the tracks.
So on to the blue engine.
First we noticed them, then started a game... It began much like punchbug, but we decided we didn't really need to wait and watch to punch each other every time we heard the sound, so instead we decided a switch to hugtrain would be benificial to all. So big hugs go all around every time we see the elusive blue engine!
Eventually I decided to look them up to see where they came from... The red engines belong to the CPR. Evidently they also lease engines from a US company called CSX. This research began with the following engine...
courtesy of rrpicturearcives.net
At one time, trains used to be an all day occurrence at Jackfish. In fact, there were even 6 daily passenger trains to Thunder Bay, and back until the 1960's. The trains no longer stop, but their magic continues as a daily reminder of the purpose and history of the village.
Our place is in the middle of the peninsula, the original Dahl family house stood where our cabin sits today.
