It's late June, 1959 and Canadian National Railway has given us permission and access to railfan their Blackwater subdivision. You have to get up pretty early to catch the first signs of activity at the enginehouse.

When we get to the engine facilities at Blackwater, we find the crew has already started  #7023, an EMD SW1200rs, and coupled it to Caribou Lumber's ancient caboose. Caribou Lumber has been using the CN locomotive for it's logging work for a couple months, ever since its Climax was sidelined with boiler troubles.

#7023 has set the caboose at the lead to the switchback that goes up to both Caribou Lumber's logging operations and the Blackwater mine.  Caribou Lumber uses the caboose to transport logging crews up to its operations, as well as an office on wheels.

Coupling up to a gondola carrying some crated machinery for the Backwater mine, the crew prepares to pick up the caboose and start heading up the switchback. The gondola is typical of the old equipment sent up to the mine and logging camp. It's archbar trucks ban it for regular mainline movements but it'll do the job on the branchline.

The short train squeals around the very tight corner as it begins its climb up the 4.5% grade from the first switch. The sharp curves are one of the reasons the railway has to use the smaller road switcher for this job. But since the short swtichbacks dictate short trains, the tonnage is nothing the engine can't handle.

Arriving at the mine, the #7023 drops the gondola off and then spots the caboose in front of it so they can pick up the two loaded log cars for the sawmill. The mine has been in operation for years but the townsfolk still don't know what kind of ore it produces. Their guess is that it's a mix of silver and copper but only  the managment knows for sure.

Around the corner from the mine is Caribou Lumber's main logging camp and transfer station. Here logs are transfered from the narrow gauge, 3' line to the standard gauge where they will be taken to the sawmill in Blackwater. Here the crew picks up two loaded log cars for the mill.

As the train eases back down the grade you can see the other reason the small roadswitcher is used. The wood Howe-truss bridge isn't rated for some of the heavier diesel engines used on the line.

Back in Blackwater the train passes behind the tie mill, also known as "Stan's sawmill". Caribou Lumber often sends it's cut-offs here to be made into ties.

The train backs across the mainline to get to Caribou Lumber.

The Engine crew has cut off the caboose on the lumber loading track and dropped the two log cars off on the ramp track.  Caribou lumber is the major industry here in Blackwater, keeping the railroad fairly busy with loads in and out.

With the lumber company traffic taken care of for now, the roadswitcher crew starts to make up the cars for the daily freight to pick up. It first takes the two boxcars from the station's team track

It would seem that they have an extra rider in the second boxcar....

Among the other cars is a flat loaded with freshly cut lumber from the mill. The cars are set out on the passing siding  for pick up. Note the gap for the road crossing.

Within minutes of the switcher finishing up, the freight arrives, bursting through the western tunnel portal. Leading are Alco FA-2, FB-2 #9408 and #9409. The engine crew will stop at the station and go into town for lunch.

After lunch the freight will back up and cut off the Caboose and last two cars, just in front of the passing siding's track, then move forward to the other end of the passing siding. It will leave its train's other four cars on the mainline.

The two engines will then back up the passing siding, picking up the cars left there, and continue out the other side to pick up the caboose and two cars.

With the train made up and the orders in hand, the freight pulls out, past the station and into the eastern portal on it's way to Port Teresa. To the left you see the Blackwater enginehouse which Both CNR and CPR use for minor engine and car maintance. You can also see the 30's Packard, which has been converted to an inspection vehicle.

With the freight out of the way, the switcher can go back to work putting the cars left behind in their proper places.

Behind is the small town of Blackwater. It has mostly wood framed buildings giving it that 'old-west' feel.

This concludes part one of the tour and railfanning,. Next time we'll see the operations in a larger city and port environment.