Comments on: Ever have one of those things that just went your way? I missed the party last week as I was up north in Tobermory camping with my family. We came home a day early and on Saturday afternoon I was relaxing but getting itchy to do something. I knew the train was parked at the Robin Hood elevator in Port Colborne and I checked the weather – crap sunday, back to work for me Monday, but looks nice for this afternoon, so I decided to do it. So I called a buddy of mine who enjoys brew pubs and said I want to go down to the port, get a photo, then we can go eat then go home. I left at 3 PM and went straight there as the light gets good from 4:30 to 5:30 PM, and when I arrived, the train was gone! What the heck, a friend told me it was there only 3 hours previously. I went north to look for them and they were already about to get off the Harbour spur and take the Canal spur, so I had a chase on my hands. I didn’t get the Robin Hood photo, but I came home with a dozen shots instead, and a trip to Cold Break Brewing across from the St. Catharines VIA afterwards – no complaints here especially when the sun came out this nicely. This train should be going back north any day now as they, at the time I shot this, were waiting for CN to give them a pilot and a time slot home. Have an eye folks in the GTA and north! Pictured is the “film shoot train” heading north on the former CNR Canal sub, crossing the former Welland Canal. This part of the line was built around 1972 for the Welland Canal relocation project and much of the line from here to somewhere near Thorold is welded rail.. yet still only 15 MPH due to Rule 105 special instructions.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:24:58 +0000

I would never have thought that this line would be idled that quickly after taking this photo.

I knew it was marginal at best and It was most certainly at risk…

Of course, since it’s still in place.. I’m not counting it out yet

has there been a train here since March 2024?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:40:23 +0000

Rats. Next time. For folks who had their scanner on the ONR train operated on ONR Channel 1, 160.545 not Trillium’s channel

By: RTCDave

RTCDave — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:34:29 +0000

You should have stopped by for a beer. I’m in that Subdivision. Missed the train going by.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:50:12 +0000

Another fun note is when I left Guelph it was cloudy and crappy but I believed the weather network forecast calling for sun in the Port… I was right.. but the clouds cleared just in time for this chase Just good dumb luck.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 23:41:40 +0000

A small note, the Canal sub between Yard Limits in Welland mile 8.0 to 14.0 (which this is pictured) was 50 MPH in 1980.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:06:08 +0000

The train departed this morning, it’s in the Toronto area now.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 14:02:52 +0000

Thanks John and gang. More to come for sure. The brew was good (I had a sample only, don’t drink really anymore) but the food was awesome.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:19:04 +0000

Very nice picture Steve, a great location, with very nice sun light, shows off the “ONR blue” nicely on the coaches and the 1802, very striking ! Hope the brew was tasty and the QEW traffic not too bad. Thanks for posting, and would love to see more, John

By: GO564

GO564 — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 12:47:07 +0000

That’s awesome Steve- my parents now live in that subdivision in the background! They cross this track getting in and out every day.

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:07:13 +0000

Great shot Steve.