The Mouth of the River Valley - a photo on Flickriver

            An unexpected bonus to an ignorant man making his way to Eastern Quebec last March was the discovery of the Matapedia River Valley. When I came here last year, my mind was on the MLWs and mountainous ocean views provided by the SFG, and maybe shooting VIA rail on the local CN tracks, but I hadn't put much thought into the latter. 

Little did I know, the CN line had a daily freight that ran through it in daylight. During that trip I chased that train blind into the river valley and ended up figuring out the Matapedia River Valley is one of the most gorgeous and fast paced train chases you can do in the Canadian East. Towering hillsides, tracks in clear view, and a gentle river alongside make for one heck of a time. 

I originally shot it in winter and wanted to come back for better light on VIAs early morning valley run come summertime. Thankfully I was able to return. This time it seemed like I would have my luck run out and not see a CN freight run through, but just as I was considering an early quit and driving home I got word that BCOL 4646 was leading CN 562 east through the valley. So, I waited on an overpass midway through the valley short of chase-killing road construction and sat without phone reception for an hour and a half waiting on 6 lights to round the bend ahead of me. I was rewarded with a Blue Dash 9 in afternoon summer sun and made the few remaining positive sun angles work to my advantage. 

Here, CN 562 is seen slowly approaching the small town of Matapedia at the mouth of the Valley with the same name, a place where I have now spent many hours (including some time sleeping in my car to save money) and have grown to love. The sun would be horrific past this shot so I decided to turn for home with a smile on my face.

Taken on: August 5, 2025

Sets appears in: • BC Rail • CN more » • Canada « less

Groups appears in: • GE Locomotives • Canadian National Railway more » • CP and CN • GE Dash 9 Locomotives « less

Stats: 542 views / 4 comments

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