One my favourite lines to railfan on is CN's Edson Subdivision which runs from Edmonton to Jasper, Alberta. It is part of CN's Transcontinental mainline that connects Canada and the USA to the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert and sees around 30-40 daily trains. There is a great variety of traffic transported, including intermodal, mixed, grain, automobiles, coal, sulphur, potash, forest products, sand, and oil.
One of the most exciting aspects of this line are the train lengths. Most average between 9,000 and 10,000 feet, but some reach as long as 15,000 feet. Amazingly, this line is only 44.7% double-tracked and yet can still handle these mammoth trains.
In September 2016, I saw some of my longest trains on this line:
1. 253 car intermodal train bound for Kamloops (Vancouver eventually); this train had a 1x1x1 setup.
2. 242 car intermodal train with some coal at the front bound for Prince Rupert; this train had 3 units at the front.
3. 250 car intermodal train with some coal at the front bound for Prince Rupert; only two units pulled this train.
4. 258 car intermodal train bound for Kamloops (Vancouver) and had a 1x1x1 setup; longest train I have ever seen in my life.
One railfan that I know also filmed this train which is his biggest as well. Watch, enjoy, and please comment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t-NFqwS0Vo&t=2s&list=PLAgI5CfZdSUPW8oRyqf_8jfeYfQWSQTb0&index=152
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