In late fall, I plan on vacationing in Mission B.C. I know it’s on the Canadian Pacific mainline so there will be a lot of trains going through. Is there a good place to watch trains in Mission and is there a lot of yard switching going on?
Hopefully a local will chime in with a lot more information than I have, but in the meantime, I can let you know about my one railfanning experience there.
-
West Coast Express trains terminate at Mission, but are rush hour only (I think). I wanted to ride one too, so I rode the first one out from Vancouver, and then took a Greyhound Canada bus back.
-
Whle railfanning there, I noted that they have a nasty habit of using stopped West Coast Express trains as a chance to run freight by… so if you are standing on the platform you miss the freight.
-
There is a nice footbridge over the track at the station for shooting from.
-
The yard area didn’t seem that busy to me. There was one CP engine there.
-
The VIA to Toronto comes through Mission, as it comes over from the CN track on the bridge there.
-
I think that it’s directional running in Mission, with the CP track used for eastbounds and the CN track across the river used for westbounds, but I don’t know this for sure. We need someone to confirm.
-
There was a ver nice Greek restaurant across the street from the station. Can’t remember the name of it though.