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.
1) 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.
2) 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.
3) There is a nice footbridge over the track at the station for shooting from.
4) The yard area didn't seem that busy to me. There was one CP engine there.
5) The VIA to Toronto comes through Mission, as it comes over from the CN track on the bridge there.
6) 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.
7) There was a ver nice Greek restaurant across the street from the station. Can't remember the name of it though.
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