Comments on: CN 330 and 331′s demise has not been as much of a loss as originally expected to be. CN has added two trains, 523 and 524, although they are only as needed from what I hear. 524 only did an Aldershot-Toronto run on this day. However, either an extra load of autoracks was ordered for Oakville, or 232 was assigned to run in relief for 422. This particular 232 is made up of 73 empty multis. Here, it begins its trip on the south track from Nelles Road towards Hamilton. Whether it was Flint or Oakville bound is unknown to me, but ATCS suggested Oakville. If it was Oakville bound and operating in relief for 422, then perhaps there were CAMI bound autoracks in this consist to go along with the Ford’s. Time will tell how CN’s new Niagara operating plan works out, but so far it has shown unpredictability, which perhaps is a nice change from knowing approximately when every train is going to show up. So far more freights have been running into the sun, which is hard to come by in Niagara. This 232 showed up around 4pm, so it would have been a bright noselit shot if it wasn’t snowing. Yes, the snow hasn’t left yet, as you can barely make out by looking at the nose and plow of 2561. I personally don’t mind, as winter barely even showed up when it was scheduled to!

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 00:29:45 +0000

@ Daniel..lol perhaps we do need a forum.
Just a heads up. I worked 532 from Mac Yrd to Buffalo today. 13.469 tons and 9535 ft. I dropped off CN 2600 in Buffalo for an auto train. I am not sure when its running though. Could be as early as tomorrow. Keep a look out.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 00:27:38 +0000

@snake. No my friend that was a different crew. I worked 369 to Belleville and missed the work train…phew!!

By: Daniel Odette

Daniel Odette — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 12:49:26 +0000

Lol! I think Railpictures.ca needs a forum!

By: snake

snake — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 11:57:56 +0000

@ngireeded4u – was that you on a ballast train Tuesday out of Aldershot to mile 11 ?

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 10:34:56 +0000

PRH..lol I was only on one. Hmm guess those green & whites keep you busy

By: rlk1752

rlk1752 — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:13:30 +0000

Ngineered4u I guess I missed lining those two up the hill!

PRH

By: rlk1752

rlk1752 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:42:33 +0000

Snake…no chance! Having too much fun with the green and whites.

PRH

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:58:24 +0000

@rlk.. well at least 2 times in the last year 232 has turned the corner at Bayview and headed west. I was on one of them.
You are indeed correct, that that when you need the cars you have to get them where you can.
On more than one ocassion I have departed Buffalo thinking we were headed to Oakville, only to have the destination change to the west.
That’s railroading I guess.

By: snake

snake — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:17:38 +0000

PRH – where are you when we need you !….come back to the REAL world instead of playing with “scoots, green shooters, dinkys”, or whatever they call ‘em !

By: rlk1752

rlk1752 — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:44:24 +0000

While anything is indeed possible on the RR, I haven’t seen any 232′s turn the corner at Bayview and head for Beachville in at least a year. There were times in 2014 that CSX (who was in the middle of some serious service problems) was handing over empty auto trains at Buffalo that were heading for plants in Michigan. Word was, if CN didn’t take it there, who knows when they would get them at Toledo or Detroit! Events have even seen some empty autos repostioned from ON or PQ for the Nissan plant in Canton MS on CN! Undesirable, but if you need the cars, you need them!

PRH