Comments on: Here’s an angle not often utilized. I’m standing on the old Hwy 2 bridge (later Plains Rd East) looking South. If the sun was out, this shot would not be possible. A unit train of some sort with a pair of SD-40s up front. In the background, left, one can see the Fariview Av bridge, and just to right centre behind the train is the Burlington West station, barely visible. And behind that, the chemical operations and the yard that once was a busy place. The train is just coming off the Oakville onto the Halton, Toronto-bound.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:13:28 +0000

LOL Witness Protection. I do love the comments on this picture though, thank you everyone, having been a big ‘fan’ of the area it’s most welcome. I Still visit frequently. Our skate shop is just down the road from here… and I have more plans to shoot more angles from this bridge, as well as try the GO parking garage to Arnold’s now left.

By: mercer

mercer — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:27:48 +0000

Now that there’s been some recent activity in the Comments, the 2nd engine is a very dirty GP38-2 ( air filters behind the cab, non turbo exhaust).
These hoppers look to be for ag service but that’s a moot point at this stage ( top loading troughs).
I’ll go back into Witness Protection now.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:46:50 +0000

Cap brick is now gone. Removed in the last couple months

By: bruce

bruce — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 01:13:36 +0000

I remember hearing the story of a train using the y track.Eningeer told the dispatcher that he was conducting an experiment.Shortly after that the switches were spiked and was torn up.I remember 552,always had interesting power.

By: mercer

mercer — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 16:35:52 +0000

That connecting track was put in either the same time as the Milton Sub was rehabbed into the Halton Sub (1963/64) or shortly thereafter.
Lots of moves have utilized it over the decades. One regular move in the late 60s/early 70s was daytime Oakville Turn 552, which originated at Toronto Yard ( prior to being named Macmillan), came down the Bala Sub, setoff/lifted at Oakville, came to Burlington and then went around the connecting and home via the Halton.
It was also used for such things as turning cars that needed to be unloaded on “other side” and of course engines etc.

By: Snake2

Snake2 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 13:41:30 +0000

Yes, it was a wye to the Oakville Sub; I saw the odd engine/ short local being turned on there…many years ago as a kid. early 70′s approx.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:35:21 +0000

My 1959 Burlington map does not show evidence of a wye there, MrDan. But it does for the south side off the Oakville for the Beach sub. Can’t take this as gospel though, as it is primarily a street map.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:41:15 +0000

Don’t ever recall seeing it used, Dan.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 01:21:23 +0000

Interesting, I presume the track branching off to the left was the old connecting track/wye to the Oakville Sub? Did it ever see much use?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 20:57:13 +0000

Excellent. Cap brick is still there…!!

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.3414029,-79.8148567,3a,75y,159.65h,82.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz7yGeWoMyMmGZGh8DRnSMg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192