Comments on: For a brief spell in the late 1980′s GTW, which was now part of the CN empire; ran what was dubbed “The Laser”, a daily TOFC (trailer on flat car) train; I believe Detroit to Toronto/Montreal, and I am not even sure of the train number: I recall 231/232 but would appreciate corrections. The GT had taken over the DT&I (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) back in 1983 and their power was intregrated into GTW, so it was possible to see one of their original paint units in service on the Laser. Here, we catch one on the lead as it rolls east thru Aldershot past the old Howard Rd extension that was a popular place for train nuts to hang out at that time. With a third rail going in a few years ago, this location became redundant and now is just a memory. Power is DT&I 6410, GT6408 and 6415. Note the DT&I has been renumbered into the GTW roster. That is Lemonville Rd bridge in the background.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:55:43 +0000

Mr Mooney and gang: At a UCRS meeting last night we were gawking at slides from the early to mid 70′s – around the time CN passenger trains stopped running and moved to VIA and the Grand Trunk passenger engines routinely found on Chicago – Toronto trains would have been dispersed for other uses

The photos depicted a number of trains in the 70′s including Niagara falls trains with GT GP9′s in Black with torpedo tubes on the roof (passenger service units) as well, a GT locomotive on a local at Bayview with a single car and caboose.

Would anyone have photos of these in local service and a timeline on when this was routinely found because at some point, these GT locomotives ended up going back to the states…. and GT’s on locals became rare except of course, these “laser” trains or mainline trains which had just about anything on them

This is to settle a discussion i’ve been having with some friends about how GT locomotives were assigned, then not, and then assigned to Canadian operations.

There’s a GT GP9 now in Moncton, in 2026.. which itself raises eyebrows

thanks all!

By: Cdntrainphotog

Cdntrainphotog — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:02:54 +0000

Yup…nice shot Arnold.
I wished you had taken the odd picture of the trailers etc but with what you used for a camera you couldn’t just shoot everything. Oh well, we can’t go back in time. Question: Did the Laser Train terminate at CN MALPORT and have the trailers distributed from there?

By: Cdntrainphotog

Cdntrainphotog — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:00:53 +0000

Yup…nice shot Arnold.
I wished you had taken the odd picture of the trailers etc but with what you used for a camera you couldn’t just shoot everything. Oh well, we can’t go back in time.

By: Mike Lockwood

Mike Lockwood — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 18:49:47 +0000

I remember seeing the odd patched pumpkin at Mac Yard back in the day, but never a true DT&I unit. Pure set, regardless of scheme, of former DT&I GP40-2′s is just great.

Those wellcars, if I’m not mistaken, are the 677*** series and still earn their keep for CN, though not hauling trailers anymore (but the hitches remain).

By: smithgl

smithgl — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:55:55 +0000

Yes – welcome back and what a great shot. In the early 90′s these trains were 238/239 and were Chicago/Toronto. I remember seeing one GP40 in DTI orange with a white GT noodle on a 238 once – that was my closest to seeing a DT&I!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 05:28:27 +0000

Yes Dave, I think you’re right. I wasn’t sure. Ditto for the train numbers.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 02:39:08 +0000

I thought it went all the way to Chicago.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 00:49:22 +0000

Thanks for noticing I was absent, Docta!!! (a vacation from doing nothing was needed, so I took one)

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 00:32:16 +0000

Welcome back Mr Mooney!

By: rsmith

rsmith — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 22:13:56 +0000

Excellent! They just keep coming…