Comments on: CN 542 with a rather large train passes over the Speed River in Hespeler. Built by the Great Western Railway (Galt and Guelph) it’s likely that this bridge was built in 1857 (and possibly upgraded since then). In 2018 not long after the takeover from GEXR CN completely re-decked the entire structure in a move unseen in many many decades. The town ever changing, mills built by the town founder, Jacob Hespeler, are being converted into Condos in the background. That site, later known as an American Standard factory also had direct rail service via the former Grand River Railway’s (CP) Hespeler Branch. The GRR/CP Hespeler branch crossed the CN at a diamond behind me and ran along the river to the left of this photo to the mill. In 1991 CN took over direct rail service to the plant when CP Abandoned a portion of the Hespeler branch and eliminated the diamond and signals that protected it. Remnants of the rail line lingered into the early 2000′s as crossbucks were still located at the American Standard site on Guelph St despite rails being pulled some years earlier. I’ll post some GEXR photos of this bridge later – it was quite scary to watch GEXR Trains cross this structure.Note: Some data sourced from George Roth’s book “Steel Wheels along the grand” – copies were once upon a time sold at Credit Valley Railway for those interested in this area. The maps and photos and history are very very much worth the price of admission.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 06:46:44 +0000

Cn added a railling on this side earlier this year

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 02:10:44 +0000

Thanks again gents. CN’s spending a lot of money on infrastructure in the area – quite staggering. I think 2019 will be full of surprises.

Marcus Stevens — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 01:40:08 +0000

Fantastic image Steve! Love that bridge crossing.

Noe — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 18:49:04 +0000

Great shot Steve! Also, thanks for all the historical information on the Fergus Spur. Hopefully, we will see more GMD1′s will return in the future.

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 18:14:46 +0000

Thank you Gents.

Mike Lockwood — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:37:31 +0000

Foamy, very foamy.

rsmith — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:35:23 +0000

Excellent Sir.

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:19:13 +0000

Thanks – corrected. I am a bit dyslexic at times.

Jacob Patterson — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 01:14:20 +0000

Sweet! I believe the GRR/CPR line would be to the right though.