Caption: T'was three nights before Christmas, and all through Uxbridge, creatures were scurrying to capture night shots of trains. Pictured is 244-powered GVLX 22 (nee YDHR, nee R&S) The RERA folks are working to prepare the train for a 7 PM departure out of Uxbridge "for the last time", and will soon add a 2'nd locomotive to the head end before departure. Merry Christmas to all railpictures.ca viewers, and here's a story from last Sunday.

The Rail Equipment Restoration Association put on a really great show and effort, not only are they valiantly working on preserving all of the remaining YDHR equipment, including the 3 MLW/Alco's on the property, the crew hatched a plan to bring the Uxbridge rail yard to life for one last time. The goal was to get all the equipment to the GO Linconville layover yard area where CN will lift and send to their next destinations. The plan? Re-activate the serviceable locomotives, prepare all equipment for movement, and run a train out of town. The problem? Problems. Too many to list here, but let's just say this: These locomotives haven't operated a train in over 2 years, and the RERA doesn't have a shortline railway certificate so they need a railway to come operate for them. The Ontario Northland provided this service sending a crew down from North Bay. The town wants the railway gone, and badly, and the pressure was on. There's also the 2% ruling grade of the Toronto and Nippising Railway to deal with. This effort costs money, and a dedicated team of over 10 people are working to complete this plan in a show of guts the Canadian rail preservation world badly needs.

In present day 2025, there are only three operating MLW/Alcos in Ontario: one on the GIO Railway (1859 was re-activated in November) and two active on the Waterloo Central. That's it. The RERA folks nearly doubled that count during the operation of this train as both 22 (nee R&S same number) and 3612 (nee DW&P/CV same number) were used to haul the trains over the grade. Unfortunately, the ruling grade won and only half the equipment made it to the other side. Plan are being hatched to finish the job and I'm hearing a Brandt truck will be called to complete the task.

The plan is bold and if you want more information, or wish to donate check out their website. The equipment will be disbursed to various projects listed on their site along with other destinations, which will be announced soon. I for one am hoping for a Christmas miracle for the RERA folks.

Credit: Lighting in part by Jacob Patterson and the Town of Uxbridge's municipal parking lot lights.