Low Light Mike

09/27/2026

Here is the ticket booth at the Alberni Pacific Railway.
Nerds and Geeks will wonder whether the ticket prices are $19 each, as shown in each window of the booth.
Or maybe the price is 19 coins bearing the image of Caesar.
Deep Thoughts while in Port Alberni....

09/26/2026

Onsite today at Alberni Pacific Railway, where the MBL11 diesel is pulling the passenger train today.

09/26/2026

Video scenes of the No.3716 Consolidation 2-8-0 steam locomotive pulling the passenger train through a dramatic rock cut scene at Mile 11.5 on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

This video shows both the eastbound and westbound legs of the 1:30pm trip on Sunday, June 14, 2026 on the north slope of Mt. Conkle in Summerland BC, in the Okanagan Valley.

The locations where I shot this video, other than at the trail gazebo, are non-public and were accessed by me with kind permission of the railway’s management. The locomotive crew and conductor were expecting me in those places at those times.
Appropriate care was taken onsite by myself including the wearing of a high-visibility shirt, and a good sense of situational awareness.

The westbound scene was the highlight of my 3 day visit to this railway and the culmination of much visioning, planning, and communicating.

Video scenes of the No.3716 Consolidation 2-8-0 steam locomotive pu...

09/21/2026

32 photos in this Photo Album of the Malaspina Sky near and at Saltery Bay terminal: **Click on the Pic to see Full Album**
Seen at the end of her 6:30am sailing from Earls Cove and the start of her 7:25am sailing to Earls Cove, on a quiet Sunday morning of September 13, 2026.
I grew up in Nanaimo taking Route 2 a few times a year, and so an urban ferry terminal was typical to me, and I would have included Horseshoe Bay in that category because of buildings and a major highway.
But my earliest "Schedule Fascination" was probably the Jervis Inlet route because of its remoteness when I saw it on a map.
50+ years later, I'm still fascinated by that route, and so it's fun for me to spend some time at a place like Saltery Bay, just enjoying the moment of a ferry arriving from around the point.
In my early adult years, I also had a thing for what I thought was the unique look of the Queen of Capilano when I saw her on that Jervis Inlet route. To me, the Island/Malaspina Sky has the same style look, and there's still something about it that intrigues me.
So being in a place like Saltery Bay to see a ship like Malaspina Sky is a nerd magnet for me.

09/19/2026

Video scenes of the No.3716 Consolidation 2-8-0 steam locomotive being steamed-up and moved-out to start its day of pulling the passenger train.
Seen at the locomotive shed and rail yard at Prairie Valley on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway on the morning of Monday, June 15, 2026 in Summerland BC, in the Okanagan Valley.

Video scenes of the No.3716 Consolidation 2-8-0 steam locomotive be...

09/13/2026

Low light set of ferry photos: BC Ferries ship Malaspina Sky arriving at, and departing from, Saltery Bay near Powell River BC.
Seen just after sunrise on September 13, 2026.

09/12/2026

Video: The No. 803 Diesel locomotive is started and then moves into position to pull the No. 3716 steam locomotive from the shed.
The steam locomotive will be steamed-up to pull the passenger train, and I will do a separate video for that process.
Seen at the locomotive shed at Prairie Valley on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway on the morning of Monday, June 15, 2026 in Summerland BC, in the Okanagan Valley.
The diesel locomotive was built by Alco in 1956 in Schenectady, NY, and was purchased from Neptune Terminals where it had been used for a transport train for materials to be exported overseas.

The No. 803 Diesel locomotive is started and then moves into positi...

09/09/2026

35 Photos in this Album of the No.7 Baldwin steam locomotive (ex No.1055 MacMillan Bloedel) of Alberni Pacific Railway pulling the Summer Steam Express train at Port Alberni. Seen on the outbound leg of the 11:00am trip, at the Port Alberni rail yard, and then on-board for the noon trip. Vancouver Island on July 18, 2026.
**Click on the Photo to see Full Album**

09/05/2026

Video: The No.7 Baldwin steam locomotive pulls the Summer Steam Express Train for the Alberni Pacific Railway.
This 2-8-2ST steam locomotive was built in 1929 and is ex No.1055 MacMillan Bloedel. Seen from the rail yard in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, on Saturday July 18, 2026. This was the 11:00am passenger trip.

The No.7 Baldwin steam locomotive pulls the Summer Steam Express Tr...

09/02/2026

Here is a Video of the magical moment when the visor opens on the Salish Orca, as she arrives at Little River terminal in the darkness of a mid August night.
I was going to say "Bow Visor," but because this is the #2 End of the ship, it's technically the Stern. Yes, the Orca technically docks stern-to at her home port.

Vehicle Deck visor opening on the Salish Orca ferry, and the ship's...