2018 Holiday Train Trip

Last Thursday my friend and I jumped into her car and headed out toward Ayr Ontario to catch some pictures of the CP Holiday train that was going to pass through Cambridge and Ayr as it headed toward Windsor Ontario. On the way we stopped at Blair and took some photos, at the River Bluffs in Cambridge and then at the train station in Cambridge, before going out the other side of Ayr and capturing a shot of the train as it flew past us at a crossing where we were able to be right beside the tracks.

I'm sorry the videos won't play.

These trees are just to the left of the falls that we were going to get some photos of.

This was what we were planning to capture. It is quite a long time since we were here before. Many things have changed since then but I love the scenery around it.

A close up of the water as it flows beneath that foot bridge.

The evergreens add to the beauty, and counteract the effects of the browns of the leafless branches.

In this photo, I see "old man river depicted by the stones and the way that the water ripples along near the bottom of the photo. Maybe my imagination is getting the better of me, but I can see his eyes and nose.

I was wishing I had taken my cane along so I could go and see what is on the other side of that foot bridge like my friend did. Next time I will do that for sure.

With the help of my camera and my zoom lens I was able to capture the icy branches that were visible below that bridge. It was cold enough with the wind that whipped us as we were there taking photos, and I'm guessing that is why there was ice on those branches.

Looking back at the parking lot where we had parked, I noticed a red tree against the background of the evergreens.

Across Homer Watson Blvd we saw this sight and decided to get a closer view. It meant that we had to cross at a round-about. Not one of my favourite things to do. But we made it safely all the way around and back to the car.

I'm not sure where this water came from but think it might be from the falls that I had seen earlier. It was very colourful.

Back across Fountain Street, this is what I saw. Reflections and I'm not sure if that is ice at the edge or ripples from the flow of the water.

Then we went down a walkway toward the Grand River that flows under a new bridge that was built on Fountain Street last year. These stones were along the edge of the embankment that was built by the new bridge.

There is a trail along the side of the Grand River that is shown in this photo.

A view of the bridge through the trees from the trail.

And then the underside of the bridge from beside it.

Another shot of the Grand River from beside Fountain Street.

This was taken from under the bridge to the Kitchener side of Fountain street.

Then we headed a short way down the trail before heading into Galt/Cambridge.

As we came back to the car we discovered this spot that was also picturesque. I will have to get back here when there is snow and also next year when there are leaves on the trees.

From there we went to the River Bluffs Park area, and this was a view of the railway tracks from there.

The river reflected the railway bridge and the buildings across the river from the bluffs.

Behind where I was standing there was a rock wall that is part of the escarpment.

While I was taking the photos just before this I heard a train whistle and saw a freight train crossing the railway bridge. I also took a couple of videos of it as it crossed it.

And a few more photos of the train as it crossed in the pictures as I was taking shots of the scenery around the River Bluffs Park area.

And then we saw this beaver swimming up river.

This red shrubbery made a colourful scene.

Looking up river from near the train bridge on the path.

And then the train had disappeared and the sky was colourful.

Then we finally arrived at the train station and were able to park close to there because of my disability parking pass. This was taken while we were sitting in an enclosed area for people with disabilities at the train station, and waiting for the Holiday Train to arrive.

If you look hard you can see the train arriving just over the heads of the people to the right of the Policeman.

Here is my video of the train as it arrived at the Cambridge train station.

It stopped right where we were sitting and the special car that would soon open up and display the entertainment stopped right here.

Suddenly the car opened and as it did I took a video of it and part of JoJo Mason's gig. We decided we wanted to see the train in the dark so we could actually see the decorations in the beauty that was depicted when the lights were visible.

JoJo Mason and his team as they did their gig?

As we were driving down Water Street I spotted this beautiful scene of Christmas lights, which would have been even more beautiful without all the cars in it.

And then we found a place west of Ayr Ontario where we were able to see the train in the dark and a brief 30 seconds later it was past but I did capture this video that shows all the lights.