Comments on: A solid train of centrebeam lumber cars eastbound on Oakville Sub track 2 with all cars empty. Axle count was 490 = one ET44ac locomotive and 121 cars ~ 80′ length, approximately 9800′ train length. For comparison, the highest axle count past this spot on this Sunday morning was an eastbound CN mixed freight train of 750 axles = 4 head-end locomotives, one more about 3/4 of train length back, and 180 cars.

By: Tim Stevens

Tim Stevens — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:58:46 +0000

This was train X39671 13, which came out of storage at/near Bois, IL deep on the former IC. The train symbol originated at Bois, IL and terminated at Garneau, PQ. I’m thinking CN was a little behind in servicing their customers in Northern Quebec after having to run so many detour trains in that area over the past month. Cool move indeed.

By: Mark MacCauley

Mark MacCauley — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 03:44:32 +0000

Neat catch John, I’ve always wanted to get one of these movements.

You also highlight an interesting case study here. An empty centerbeam weights about 65,000 lbs. 121 of them totals out to 3932.5 tons (7,865,000 lbs). In comparison, a single crude oil tank car weighs 286,000 lbs maximum fully loaded. If a unit train has 100 of those cars, that’s 14,300 tons (28,600,000 lbs), and CN or CP typically puts 2 or 3 big engines on them, and the empty center beam train is about a third of the crude trains total weight. Just thinkin’ out loud, lol.

By: mberry

mberry — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:03:07 +0000

These are heading to Montreal and then presumably northern Quebec.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:41:55 +0000

Ran as x396

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:33:27 +0000

Seen a similar train running as X327 before

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:25:42 +0000

What train symbol is this? And I wonder why they’re all empty? Seems a bit of an odd move.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:28:19 +0000

Very nice shot John, assume all those centrebeam lumber cars are heading for Mac Yard . And then out west ?