Tanker Cars Rolling Through London

This kilometre-plus-long freight train is rolling through London, Ontario, heading for the core of the southwestern Ontario city. From there it will pass through east end residential neighbourhoods before exiting the city.

What makes this train worth noting are all the tanker cars. As you may recall, the horrific train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, in 2013, involved tanker cars carrying crude oil. The fire following the derailment destroyed the town centre leaving 47 dead. If your town has one or more major rail lines traversing densely built-up areas, you should read the BBC report on Lac-Magantic.

Since the Lac-Megantic accident there has been an off-and-on again discussion of creating a bypass to enable freight trains like the one pictured to avoid London's core and its densely populated residential neighbourhoods. But a new route would be exceedingly expensive, not to mention time-consuming. The tracks running straight through London will remain for the foreseeable future.

When I worked at the local paper, The London Free Press, I covered a number of local derailments with some involving tanker cars. Shooting pictures of derailed railroad cars is fraught with danger. Tanker cars can explode and propel the massive, round, metal ends a surprising distance. The ends are the weakest point in a tanker car. I always shot burning cars from the side and with as long a lens as possible. There were good reasons for the homes in the immediate area being evacuated.

Wild Turkeys Spotted in London, Ontario

 

Wild turkeys are back. Unregulated hunting and loss of forest habitat resulted in Ontario being devoid of wild turkey by 1909. I know that I never saw a wild turkey when I was a boy in the 1950s. But that has all changed.

The first wild turkeys of the present reintroduction program were released in March 1984. In the coming years approximately 4,400 wild turkeys were released at 275 various sites across the province.

Wild turkeys are not common in Ontario but there are flocks living in certain parts of the city. This one was spotted deep inside the city on the front lawn of a Riverside Drive home. There are a number of big flocks to be found in the area immediately south of my southwest London home. Every once in awhile we spot a turkey strolling through our backyard. 

For more infor the Ontario Ministry of Resources has posted information online.

Suburban Walkway Joins Two Courts

Suburban residential streets are often said to discourage walking. This isn't true in my immediate Byron neighbourhood. Byron is an older suburban area in southwest London, ON.

Since moving to Byron I've learned to walk a lot and lately biking has entered the picture as well. Why? My granddaughters. We have two parks in our immediate area. And both can be reached by walking on trails that are devoid of car traffic and even sidewalks, for the most part.

My photo today shows the trail at the far end of my court. It leads into a bush and up a hill, ending at an extended, terraced, concrete staircase terminating in the court above mine. At that point, the smallest park is but a short walk away. My granddaughters call this walkway through the woods "going on an adventure."

Note the well trodden pathway. Lots of people take this path, often when walking their dogs.

Honey Locust Form Drifts Reminiscent of Snow

When the Edie and Wilcox subdivision was built in the uplands of the Byron area of London, the trees that lined the streets were often picked for the beauty of the spring blossoms or the lovely fall colour of the leaves.

The small leaves of the Honey Locust trees turn a very bright yellow before falling and quickly turned a deep, golden brown. The leaves are so numerous in many areas that driveways are slippery with drifted piles of honey locust leaves.

Boler Mountain: a ski hill inside the city limits

It was looking iffy as far as weekend skiing was concerned. The weather had been warm and the city was looking rather green. My wife even spotted a robin, along with some other spring birds, in our backyard.

Then Thursday it turned colder and the city had about 15 cm of snow dumped on it. Nice.

Plus, the local city hill has some of the best snowmakers anywhere. They have a reputation of being able to make snow at temperatures that other folks can't.

From the looks of the hill, yes hill, Boler is one small area delivering big fun way out of proportion to its size, the snowmaking crew has earned the reputation.

Was it record warm weather in London?

Apparently Windsor, Ontario, as well as Toronto, hit new record highs for Feb. 28th yesterday.

Did London? Don't know. That said, it was warm. My thermometre read 16-degrees centigrade. That must be close to a record.

My granddaughters and other London kids went outside to enjoy the warm weather while they could. Today, the day after, it's going to be close to freezing with an accumulation of 15 cm of snow.

Oh well. There may be skiing this weekend after all.

Road graders become snow plows come winter

It's been snowing all day and now, in the evening, the snow plow has arrived - sorta.

I've always called this giant piece of equipment a road grader. I don't recall these being used as snow plows in the southern Ontario town I once called home. I decided to do a Google search for more information.

I learned Cat calls these motor graders and the wing on the side and the blade at the front are custom additions for snow removal.

A good operator can plow a street and leave the roadway clear and yet not plug the entrances to everyone's driveway. This operator was good. Very good.