I have several traditions in my life. For me, the holiday season begins when I see a brilliantly-illuminated, holiday-decorated, diesel-powered locomotive and two dozen lit-up boxcars rolling through New York.
For me, the Christmas season does not commence until I actually get a photo of the CPKC Holiday Train. And that’s the plan this year. I have several “bucket list” shots I want, and I’m going to snag them. Trust me on this.
Every year at around this time, the Canadian Pacific (sorry, now CPKC) Holiday Train travels across North America. It’s a free country music concert and a fantastic fundraiser. And in the past, after I’ve filmed this magnificent show, I’ve sent a check to Feeding America, as the Holiday Train operates to help those in situations of food insecurity.
Two years ago, I snagged enough photos to create a personal View-Master reel. That was fun.
And after an abbreviated run last year, due to foot injuries and surgery … I want to create something even more scintillating this year.
And it starts in Montreal.
First … I have to GET to Montreal. Car is fully packed and ready to go. And so am I.
Up the New York State Thruway. And upon arrival at the border, I presented my paperwork to the border guard.
“Purpose of your visit to Canada?”
“I’m photographing the Holiday Train.”
“And when are you returning to the United States?”
“I’m coming back on the 23rd.”
The guard looked at me for a moment. “But the Train arrives on the 24th. If you’re coming up to photograph the train, why are you leaving Canada before it gets here?”
After a couple of explanatory moments, we confirmed that the Holiday Train date he referenced was in Lacolle, Quebec on the 24th, right near the border crossing. He and his family were attending that one. The train stops for my destination were for the 22nd and 23rd. All is well. He handed me back my paperwork and waived me through.
Still … I wasn’t 100% sure I had officially arrived in Canada until I stopped in THIS parking lot.
Okay, we’re good.
And can I say this? I used to joke about how the worst drivers in the world came from Boston. Boston, where the driving mantra is, “If you don’t like how I drive, stay off the sidewalk.”
Montreal has NOTHING on Boston drivers. I mean, I saw a couple of cars change lanes in front of me and THEN use their turn signals after they’ve arrived in the new lane.
Then again, I did learn a few new French words when someone tried to pass me a little too close. “Ostie qu’il m’énerve!”
“Thank you, have a nice day too!” I replied.
Okay. Now I need to get to the Montreal-Ouest train station, where the Holiday Train will arrive at 7:00 p.m. The train was only a mile (a kilometer and a half) away from my motel, and I debated whether to walk 15 minutes to the station, or drive 5 minutes to the station.
I chose to drive.
I should have walked.
See, one of the things I completely forget about Holiday Train shows is that finding convenient parking is next to impossible. It’s like preparing for a Pearl Jam concert that just pops up at a downtown intersection. Any available parking gets claimed by local residents, while other streets are blocked off so that concert attendees can walk safely to and from the event.
Luckily, I found a spot two blocks away from the station. After confirming that I wouldn’t park next to a driveway or a hydrant or some other tow-away possibility …
I grabbed my Nikon Df and walked the two blocks to the station.
Another quick tip when photographing Holiday Train events – look for CPKC railroad police. Yes, CPKC has its own railroad police, and they make sure that nobody does anything STUPID at events like this. I asked one of the railroad police about where the train’s stage car might open. He pointed to an area along the track. But he said that all patrons would have to stand behind a fence – for safety, mind you – and that once I get in a location, I should stay put because there will be a big crowd attending.
Gotcha gotcha.
A few moments later, I saw two men walking along the train station’s adjacent sidewalk. They were part of the local Montreal food bank, and since the CPKC Holiday Train is a charitable fundraiser for food insecurity, I put a Canadian $20 in their collection tin. Trust me. Chuck needs good karma for this trip.
Okay. Let’s claim a spot. And by “spot,” found a nice one-person-will-fit-here location between the barrier fence and a tree. Nobody to bump into me from behind, no one to jostle me from the sides.
Oh, and one more thing the CPKC policeman told me. The train has to arrive BACKWARDS to the station first, then it will pull forward for the start of the show. That’s because the train has to go to Beaconsfield for its next event that evening, so … directions, directions.
And sure enough, as the crowd filled the station area … I’d estimate about 700, 800 people here at least …
Look what just arrived. CPKC Holiday Train #2249.
Mind you, this is the “back into the spot” part of the show, so I’m just getting some test images here. And as confirmation … the Holiday Train updated its illuminated signage by removing the two “Canadian” “Pacific” boxcars, replacing one with the “CPKC” logotype and adding more holiday twinklers to the other boxcar.
Oh, and remember what I said about the train backing up? The best way to determine whether a photo shows the train backing up, rather than moving forward, is to look at the flags atop the locomotive. See?
Oh, and although they replaced the boxscars, the locomotive still says “Canadian Pacific” on it. That’s fine, I suppose. Heck, there’s probably some old Penn Central boxcars still rolling along the tracks in some locale.
And then … after a few more chilly minutes … the Holiday Train arrived, this time going FORWARD.
And you know I had to sneak in a selfie. Because, of course I did.
Hey, guess what … in addition to the train’s new boxcars, the stage boxcar has been updated as well. IT NOW HAS DIGITAL SIDE PLATES!!
And yes, the stage was parked right in front of me. Which allowed me to capture the full 45-minute holiday concert that featured American Authors and KT Tunstall. How incredible is that?
Tremendously incredible.
I took a ton of photos with the Nikon Df, as well as with my cell phone. Oh yeah, this was worth the trip. Trust me on this.
Of course, getting back to the motel was an adventure in and of itself. Again, more crazy Quebecois drivers on the road. But I made it back safely to the motel.
And now begins my next journey.
Let’s make this happen.
Chuck The Writer 
I enjoyed your trip, thanks for allowing me to “tag along.”
Safe travels!
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