Comments on: A nice surprise to find today was Trillium Railway’s newest customer. Located just across the Canal Sub from Valbruna ASW’s former Atlas Steel site, Fonthill Lumber recently expanded to this forty acre property with the spur being built in the last couple of months. Reportedly it has only been in service for the last 1-2 weeks but has been receiving steady traffic. TRRY 1859 is seen pulling a boxcar and empty centrebeam from the spur before setting off a loaded car. The vintage MLW will continue north to St. Catharines, to work Clearwater Paper and Steelcon before making their return south.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 28 May 2023 02:10:57 +0000

I believe they do it right on the main at one of their two ‘road’ crossings. Just load and unload right there.

It’s GIO so it’s topical. They are doing great attracting new business.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Sat, 27 May 2023 10:55:56 +0000

Stephen, I was looking at the Townsend Lumber Satellite. How do they unload/load the trucks from the manline? sorry to the op for getting a wee bit off the photo topic. Stephen, maybe PM me? cheers.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:34:52 +0000

Brad, it’s not a new spur, Townsend lumber is located between Tillsonburg and courtland and they take cars on the mainline. OSR serviced them a couple times a month and GIO is doing the same. It’s still new GIO business though – which is great. GIO is kicking ass.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 26 May 2023 12:27:50 +0000

There’s also a new spur in Tillsonburg, another lumber industry called ‘Townsend Lumber’that is now being served. Good to know the lumber industry is creating new business for GIO!

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Fri, 26 May 2023 02:51:48 +0000

They’ve interestingly been to St.Catharines three days in a row now, which is uncommon for them considering it’s usually a Sat/Tue/TH operation.

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Fri, 26 May 2023 02:51:30 +0000

They’ve interestingly been to St.Catharines three days in a row now, which is uncommon for them considering it’s usually a S/T/TH operation.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Thu, 25 May 2023 21:44:23 +0000

john, the 8 coil cars pictured were in transit to Steelcon for hoods, setoff there just after 12 noon. 8 cars with hoods were lifted. There are a bunch of these cars stored around Feeder. I didn’t take the time to poke around elsewhere to see what is still in storage.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 25 May 2023 20:31:17 +0000

John, thank you for the note on Fonthill lumber being a customer in the late 50′s. Very cool.

I believe the Port Colborne Harbour Railway still exists but is like the Guelph Junction Railway – owned by the town of Port Colborne and operated by GIO/Trillium.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Thu, 25 May 2023 15:02:33 +0000

Firstly, thanks to Jacob for posting the interesting picture – it is definitely encouraging to see a newly constructed siding, and am glad to hear Fonthill Lumber is still in business – my picture of NS&T UCRS Farewell excursion taken Mar 1959 at Fonthill Station shows Fonthill Lumber sign very clearly, so 64 years later they are busy now on the other (east side) of the Welland Canal and still being served by rail, and nice to see steam (?) coming from the old steelworks plant on the left. Secondly, most interesting to read all the comments regarding Trillium, GIO, references to “Wabash”, am always learning something new. Question Jacob, ere those NSC manufactured steel coil cars for NS in storage at this location waiting to be moved to Steelcon or are they in transit ? Love the railway history in the Welland Canal area-Thorold-Welland-Port Colborne localities from when I first visited – then CNR, WABASH, N&W, NYC, C&O, TH&B, NS&T and today now being CP Rail (guess I should say CPKC), GIO or Trillium (whatever it is) and CN Rail. Does Port Colborne Harbour Railway still exist, or was it folded into Trillium into GIO ? Thanks for all the comments. John

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 25 May 2023 14:27:08 +0000

St&e was gone by the time GIO acquired trillium
Yes, 369 on CN still