Railfanning
Here are some suggested locations for those wanting to take a look at prototype railway operations in our area. We are fortunate to have Canadian Pacific, Canadian Nation, Via Rail, AMTRACK, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and Southern Rail of BC nearby.
There are no guarantees that you'll actually see a train at the time you visit, but we've had lots of success. Most, if not all, have easy access and parking nearby.
The 7th Division in no way offers any safety guarantees. Visit entirely at your own risk, and please respect railroad and other private property.
There are no guarantees that you'll actually see a train at the time you visit, but we've had lots of success. Most, if not all, have easy access and parking nearby.
The 7th Division in no way offers any safety guarantees. Visit entirely at your own risk, and please respect railroad and other private property.
Lower Mainland locatioNS
Good viewing from Still Creek Dr, across from Costco, The Willington overpass, or Alaska St.
What goes by: CN, CP, VIA, AMTRAK
CN Stack trains 3 or more times a day coming out and going into downtown.
CN Unit potash trains, unit grain trains, and mixed freight headed to North Vancouver.
CP Unit coal trains headed to North Vancouver.
VIA Train #1, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 0800, Sunday and Thursday. If on-time around 0740.
VIA Train #2, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1500, Monday and Friday. If on-time around 1520.
AMTRAK Train #516, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1230, Daily. If on-time around 1210.
AMTRAK Train #517, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 0715, Daily. If on-time around 0735.
AMTRAK Train #518, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 2200, Daily. If on-time around 2140.
AMTRAK Train #519, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1645, Daily. If on-time around 1705.
What goes by: CN, CP, VIA, AMTRAK
CN Stack trains 3 or more times a day coming out and going into downtown.
CN Unit potash trains, unit grain trains, and mixed freight headed to North Vancouver.
CP Unit coal trains headed to North Vancouver.
VIA Train #1, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 0800, Sunday and Thursday. If on-time around 0740.
VIA Train #2, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1500, Monday and Friday. If on-time around 1520.
AMTRAK Train #516, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1230, Daily. If on-time around 1210.
AMTRAK Train #517, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 0715, Daily. If on-time around 0735.
AMTRAK Train #518, Schedule arrival at Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 2200, Daily. If on-time around 2140.
AMTRAK Train #519, Schedule departure from Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 1645, Daily. If on-time around 1705.
Good viewing from the Costco parking lot facing Government St.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction.
Parking can be difficult, but parking in the industrial and walking back to the railroad is not bad.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction plus BNSF.
The CP unit coal trains take the leg of the wye going east. The other traffic goes south towards the Fraser River Bridge and north to Vancouver and North Vancouver.
CP runs a transfer to Lulu yard and interchange with the SRY (Southern Railway of British Columbia).
Braid Junction in New Westminster is a good spot. Just off the Trans Canada Highway, it has a sidewalk on the bridge and a pedestrian walkway under the bridge along the side of the Junction; no trespassing is required.
It has CN, CP, BNSF, VIA and Amtrak. Interchange between CN and CP and frequent switching and light engine moves along with everything heading to North Vancouver and Vancouver passing through. Anything heading south to New Westminster, Surrey or the US goes through here as well.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction plus BNSF.
The CP unit coal trains take the leg of the wye going east. The other traffic goes south towards the Fraser River Bridge and north to Vancouver and North Vancouver.
CP runs a transfer to Lulu yard and interchange with the SRY (Southern Railway of British Columbia).
Braid Junction in New Westminster is a good spot. Just off the Trans Canada Highway, it has a sidewalk on the bridge and a pedestrian walkway under the bridge along the side of the Junction; no trespassing is required.
It has CN, CP, BNSF, VIA and Amtrak. Interchange between CN and CP and frequent switching and light engine moves along with everything heading to North Vancouver and Vancouver passing through. Anything heading south to New Westminster, Surrey or the US goes through here as well.
Unless headed north on Brunette Ave, Access to this location is via Braid St. and Canfor Ave.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction plus BNSF.
The traffic goes south towards the Fraser River Bridge, and North to Vancouver and North Vancouver.
Sometimes the BNSF local switcher can be seen switching West Coast Logistics, CalPortland Cement, and the Stella-Jones pole yard. Another good viewing of the Stella-Jones pole yard is from United Blvd, continue east on braid and it will turn into United Blvd.
What goes by: Same as Willington Junction plus BNSF.
The traffic goes south towards the Fraser River Bridge, and North to Vancouver and North Vancouver.
Sometimes the BNSF local switcher can be seen switching West Coast Logistics, CalPortland Cement, and the Stella-Jones pole yard. Another good viewing of the Stella-Jones pole yard is from United Blvd, continue east on braid and it will turn into United Blvd.
Lots of industrial trackage, a good place for modern industrial inspiration.
What goes by: I haven’t seen much in the daytime so I think most switching is done at night. There is the SRY Car Float dock, See Boomer Diorama’s River Road Series.
What goes by: I haven’t seen much in the daytime so I think most switching is done at night. There is the SRY Car Float dock, See Boomer Diorama’s River Road Series.
West entrance to CP yard and Mainline to the Vancouver Waterfront.
What goes by: CP trains feeding the Vancouver Waterfront.
What goes by: CP trains feeding the Vancouver Waterfront.
What goes by: BNSF and SRY
Access to the Surry Docks via Timberland Rd.
Access to the Surry Docks via Timberland Rd.
What goes by: BNSF, AMTRAK
BNSF’s route to the US. Local switching to the Tilbury Industrial Area.
BNSF’s route to the US. Local switching to the Tilbury Industrial Area.
What goes by: CP, CN, BNSF, AMTRAK
BNSF’s route to the US. CN and CP access to Roberts Bank
Four, daily AMTRAK trains (See Willington Junction.)
BNSF transfers to the US.
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
BNSF’s route to the US. CN and CP access to Roberts Bank
Four, daily AMTRAK trains (See Willington Junction.)
BNSF transfers to the US.
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
What goes by: CP, CN
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
What goes by: CP, CN
CN Main into Vancouver
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
CN Main into Vancouver
CN and CP stack and unit coal to Roberts Bank.
What goes by: CP, CN
CN’s and CP’s route into Vancouver.
CN’s and CP’s route into Vancouver.
What goes by: CP, CN, West Cost Express
CN’s and CP’s route out of Vancouver.
CN’s and CP’s route out of Vancouver.
Downtown Vancouver, BC
Roundhouse at Davies St. and Pacific Blvd. for a visit to Engine 374 in the Pavilion.
The rail bridge at the Second Narrows
The rail bridge at the Second Narrows
Lower Mainland
Kennedy Road at the east end of the Pitt River rail bridge.
Sites Outside the Lower Mainland
Fraser Canyon – just about anywhere, but here are a few:
- Emery Creek to Yale,
Just east of Yale on the old highway where the tunnels are
- Boston Bar
- Alexandria Bridge area
- Jackass Mtn
- Cisco, but from the highway. Illegal to go down to the tracks!
- Lytton BC
- Boston Bar
- Alexandria Bridge area
- Jackass Mtn
- Cisco, but from the highway. Illegal to go down to the tracks!
- Lytton BC
Thompson Canyon
- Kumsheen area - Used to be good at the bottom of the hill where the CP went over the highway, but has changed a lot now since the Nov 2021 floods. Still be some spots to stop and observe
- Around Spences Bridge, and just before, looking across to the tunnels and sheds on the CN side
- Around Spences Bridge, and just before, looking across to the tunnels and sheds on the CN side
Other Areas
- Juniper Beach - www.campingrvbc.com/sites/bc/juniper-beach-provincial-park-cache-creek/
- Kamloops area Notch Hill, many locations here
- Canoe BC – south side of the Shuswap Bridge over the lake/river entering Sicamous
- BC Eagle Pass BC - 12 km southwest of Revelstoke, British Columbia.
- Revelstoke, right outside the museum, and east in to the Kicking Horse Pass. Take you pick of locations here…
- Anywhere around Field, especially the old Big Hill area and the Spiral Tunnels
- Ottertail west of town Fort Steele BC Engine 3716 in Summerland, BC
- Kamloops area Notch Hill, many locations here
- Canoe BC – south side of the Shuswap Bridge over the lake/river entering Sicamous
- BC Eagle Pass BC - 12 km southwest of Revelstoke, British Columbia.
- Revelstoke, right outside the museum, and east in to the Kicking Horse Pass. Take you pick of locations here…
- Anywhere around Field, especially the old Big Hill area and the Spiral Tunnels
- Ottertail west of town Fort Steele BC Engine 3716 in Summerland, BC