Comments on: CN train 331 has entered its most characteristic section of track, the Cowpath, as it departs the eastbound Oakville Sub at Hamilton Junction, following this side of the wye to join the westbound Dundas Sub. CN 2319 is working hard while CN 8823 is taking it easy, apparently out of order and shut down. On the far side of Burlington Bay the west end of Hamilton can be seen – at the right near the water is Stuart Street Yard which this train had passed a few minutes previously. Of interest are the old junction signals that continue in service, and the new signals that will eventually replace them. A group of us who regularly railfan in this area agreed Train 331 had not been heard of in a very long time; the word is that that it is reinstated.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 05:36:04 +0000

Doesn’t make sense

By: Benjamin strang

Benjamin strang — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 01:28:44 +0000

Okay, Because 330 did not run the day before due to the crash on the chatham sub, so I was just making sure.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 01:23:51 +0000

Why would you think this benjamin…. the answer is no as of today

By: Benjamin strang

Benjamin strang — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 21:13:56 +0000

Question, does anyone know if 330 and 331 have been removed from service again?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 17:12:43 +0000

They did the switcheroo… 555 does the Hamilton (Grimsby sub) work at night and 551 a yard job @ Aldershot – like it was for many years before the change around a year or two ago.

Subject to change again of course. The pattern used to be sometimes 555 would outlaw in Hamilton Yard and get a rescue/recrew early morning (making for a rare daylight run) and might get the occasional Hamilton yard run by a local in daylight.. but it was not as predictable.

551 on the daylight Grimsby sub schedule it had in 2017/8 was very easy pickings..

By: jp4pix

jp4pix — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 17:01:02 +0000

I have not seen daily train 551 (Aldershot yard to switch along Oakville/Grimsby sub in Hamilton area & return) since the reinstatement of train 331. Either it’s no longer needed, or runs at a completely different time.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Wed, 16 May 2018 02:57:37 +0000

It sounds like the upturn in traffic was a good reason to reinstate 330/331. Possibly CN’s take over of Hamilton Yard and other leased trackage may have influenced the decision too

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 16 May 2018 01:53:30 +0000

330/331 appear to be on a schedule very similar to the old train…

Kevin, Remember, 330/331 were also cancelled after the recession in 2008/2009…. only to be put back after things picked up

Let’s just call it the yo-yo train from now on. But the yo-yo’s occur over a decade

By: jp4pix

jp4pix — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:07:53 +0000

My train 331 photos taken at 1:30PM. As I recall, heard of it on the radio before noon, but seems like trains 331 & 550 were in each others way a bit, 331 had some work at one of the Hamilton yards, and suspect they may have attempted to get CN 8823 running before the ascent. Otherwise could have shown up earlier.

By: rlk1752

rlk1752 — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:10:50 +0000

Train 330 and 331 are indeed back as regular trains.