Comments on: In response to a future photo to be posted by Mike Lockwood which shows the Port Colborne Harbour Railway (Trillium) in their early years climbing the grade out of Port Colborne – I present you this photo which I took, unknowingly, at the same spot – but great minds think alike even when it’s 15 years apart!. While Trillium is waiting delivery of GMTX 223, I thought it was high time to see the Alco’s in action while it’s still a guarantee- this time getting lucky as I’d never shot 1859 before, not even on STER. In this photo the crew had just lifted 7 cars out of the yard by Riverland Agriculture (Robin Hood Flour) to deliver to Ingredion just up the line. With a bit of a grade and curve, 1859 is getting a good workout – a great spot for a bit of action on a mostly flat railway (except the Thorold grade, which will wait for another day!).

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 19:59:56 +0000

Coming back to this again with more solid info. Vale pays for all maintenance from Yager right down to their property. Allied does the work. In addition to hearing of maintenance work on the Humberstone itself between Yager and the urban boundary of Port Colborne in the Spring, Vale did significant work on the rail within their fences last year – nice to hear of recent investment.

Vale’s critter comes out to play about once a week is what I have been told by very credible sources. They get tanks of chlorine (which we all know) and also tanks of sulphur dioxide.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 03:13:55 +0000

Following up on this discussion, Allied has had some MOW equipment kicking around Port Colborne this Spring on the Humberstone side of the Canal (parked on the one little spur at the north end of he Vale property). I also was told that 562 unexpectedly came across a red flag in late April not too far from Yager West, so likely when Allied was doing the work.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:48:06 +0000

333 is assigned to Orangeville right now.

Operations have most definitely begun, same schedule as CANDO for now, Tuesday/Fridays at about the same time.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 13:20:14 +0000

GMTX 223 – that’s the one on the OBRY correct? Similar convo…but anyone caught it working the line yet?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 20:39:33 +0000

I spoke to Trillium Management and clarified what happened:

At one time, Trillium DID have the contract to maintain the Humberstone, but they let that contract go and they no longer provide track maintenance for any third parties.

Also, Trillium DID do third party switching for other Niagara customers, namely Resolute Forest Products for about two years in Allanburg but gave that up in 2016, Martech took the contract over until the end of service.

As of 2018 Trillium does neither for any customers.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:32:56 +0000

Thanks Glenn – if you get good photo please share with us, I enjoy little critters in action. It must be tough to get it though!

Interesting CP was there – wouldn’t put it past Vale-Inco or the City to contract out to anyone who would bid on it.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 22:00:45 +0000

Vale’s rail mover is neatly painted and part of a first class / safety conscious operation. Seemingly the same unit since 1953(yellow)albeit now in Vale’s standard corporate colours – cab / centre section and safety rails are greyish, front and back / hood sections a turquoise blue with yellow / lower stripes and side panel inscribed with VALE & logo – spotted 2017 Oct 16. Also on another visit, CP crews were busy working on / replacing the switch leading directly into the Vale compound.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:22:14 +0000

And an update to google maps imagery has proven me wrong: If you go to suncalc.net and go to Port Colborne

http://www.suncalc.net/#/42.883,-79.2406,20/2018.02.06/14:11

the INCO GE switcher/critter seems to be painted a blue colour from the top..

If you migrate over to ADM Mills there’s a white GE switcher (Likely Trilliums) so I am in error about Trillium lending them a locomotive. I know Trillium painted their critter and now it’s in St. Thomas and this imagery would be a couple years old now..

I should look for a picture of Inco’s unit… to compare to.

I was in error to guess that Trillium’s unit was lent to INCO, this evidence clearly points otherwise.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 14:42:47 +0000

Agreed Mercer. The document I linked shows that the City of Port Colborne had since been gifted the line including all rights and title from INCO in the ensuing years.

The document was in effect a motion for the City of Port Colborne to consider extending the spur on the INCO side, to the east side canal lands (near the Ship Salvage yard area) to help attract new industrial customers, and goes into considerable detail on the matters that have arisen over the 10 or so year period since it was sold by CN to INCO. This was dated 2009 and was for a 100% funded grant from the CAF Fund of Ontario.

Obviously this has not yet come to pass as no extension has occurred.

By: mercer

mercer — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 14:05:55 +0000

CN actually sold the Humberstone Spur to INCO in approx 1997. What took place after that, I cannot say. But it would make sense that CN at first, followed by TRRY, performed delivery of the 1 (or 2?) cars per month, while INCO/Vale performed it’s own move within their property. And at the same time, having purchased the Spur, INCO would then need a contract for maintenance, be that from CN, TRRY or any other firm.