Comments on: I have never been able to photograph CN switching the furthest surviving section of the old H&NW line that once ran between Hamilton and Burlington West. It is deep in Hamilton’s industrial core. The rest of the line for the most part between the two locations was abandoned in the early 1980′s. Of course sections of the line beyond the two cities still remain active today as the Halton subdivision and Hagersville subdivision, but this section was unique as it also ran along the shore of Lake Ontario and over a lift bridge (now a public trail). One industry remains at this location at the road crossing of Parkdale Ave. and usually receives boxcars.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 02:26:13 +0000

The Beach Sub as I knew it joined the Grimsby Sub at Lake St and went directly over the top of the infamous Stoney Creek traffic circle. It was sliced when the circle was removed around 1970 or so.
The only service that I did see from time to time when I lived in Burlington was a switcher running down to Langs Foods, that building that is still there ‘across the highway’ as you guys mentioned.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:11:14 +0000

You’re talking about the Beach sub right? Unless i’m mis-reading, I don’t see the connection to the Parkdale Warehousing spur as, per openrailwaymap, the Beach sub extended North past Parkdale Warehousing and connected to the Grimsby sub. And the Hagersville sub now as we know extended from Stuart St to Caledonia. On the other end at Burlington West, where the wye still exists, technically it connected to the Oakville sub. Great consist and shot! Love the duct tape fix!

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:53:03 +0000

The Parkdale spur practicly extends to my ex’s backyard. I’m guessing they switched at night as one day, during a daylight switch, her Sister said “there’s a train in our backyard”!. I almost lived there… too bad I couldn’t have sustained the relationship!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:44:40 +0000

It’s been easier to shoot Warehousing under CN than SOR that’s for sure. I saw SOR there like twice.. maybe three times over 10 years. Already seen CN three times.. and i’m bored of it already

Wonder if the business at Parkdale took over for Atlas cold storage across the highway (former customer on the Beach sub that got service until early 80′s). ED Smith had direct rail service once upon a time through the HG&B electric railway.

http://www.trainweb.org/hamtransithist/images/hgbedsmith.jpg

also interesting and related to question below:

http://data2.archives.ca/nmc/n0022384.pdf

For the older hats: was this spur pictured the one that went over to the traffic circle (former H&NW) or was it another line?

By: Mark MacCauley

Mark MacCauley — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:39:49 +0000

I love watching them switch out Parkdale Warehousing. Often done over two moves (take out the empties, then come back with the loads) you can get a good variety of angles. And like @jknott86 said, the variety of cars there makes it very interesting! Nice catch Marcus!

On a side note, I loved 2289 when it was in Hamilton purely for the engineers side front number board affixed with the tried and true handy man’s secret weapon, duct tape. Likely the standard tool recommended for this type of repair…

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:12:26 +0000

Just asked one of the CN guys.. the reefers can vary from anything from strawberries to tomatoes.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:09:27 +0000

It’s an interesting little business there that seems to be be pretty steady and switched out several times each week. They get the odd bulkhead and even the occassional reefer too. I’ve been told the reefers are strawberries for E.D. Smith but that’s just secondhand railfan chatter – would be curious if someone can confirm that.

Even the boxes offer a nice variety there.. DWC, Railbox, Southern, CP.. just adds to the flavour there!

Nice shot Marcus.