Comments on: It has probably been over a decade since I last shot the NS transfer job between Buffalo and Fort Erie. These days most trip happen under the cover of darkness but thankfully today although dreary it wasn’t a night run. Admiral cab SD60 6970 lead a former Conrail SD40 as they head to the end of what remains of the yard at Duff. From there they will drop their rain and lift any CN traffic waiting for them. Surprisingly two CN trains were all in the area meeting at Duff before going their own ways.

By: smithgl

smithgl — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:00:51 +0000

I’ve wondered that too, and was told it was for US customs (they didn’t want to manage two moves with the same symbol)… but of course NS C93 has the same symbol both ways, so who knows!

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:37:57 +0000

I’ve always wondered why those two 500 series trains even change IDs for direction, when so many others do not. Anyone have any idea as to why?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:26:48 +0000

Thanks James, the directions are all wonky in Niagara. I don’t know what’s east or west…

By: deanstrains

deanstrains — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:44:00 +0000

They have been running X422 out of Fort Erie, lite power from Port Robinson to Fort Erie.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:05:41 +0000

There was a Port Robinson bound train waiting on a new crew at Duff with a log string of new covered hoppers. A moving Fort Erie bound CN with several CN auto parts boxcars met him and the NS train there. What was interesting was a crew member off the NS train went into the sitting CN train and turned on the head and ditch lights.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 01:56:12 +0000

you’ve got em backwards. 531 goes over and comes back as 530. 539 over, back as 538.

Marcus, any idea which CN trains you saw? were they both doing something or was one tied down? 531 was almost certainly one of them – meets with 531 and NS aren’t all that uncommon. The second one is more of a curiosity. Far too early for 539. Was it tied down?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:45:29 +0000

All the power comes from 421 and it’s split as needed for the four daily jobs out of port rob: 562 (day port rob job) 564 (night port rob job) 530/1 and 538/9. Sometimes the Port Rob guys keep a unit or two.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:26:22 +0000

Thanks Steve! Yes a bit ahead of myself was just surprised to see two CN trains in Fort Erie and with two units each I thought usually a single unit handles the traffic but o guess it just depends on what power is lying around.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:47:07 +0000

I think you meant yesterday… 3/12, as the train today has not yet gone across.

CN 530 heads over to Buffalo in the mid afternoon and comes back as 531 and can make it in daylight. 538 heads over late evening and that was probably 538 meeting 531. 539 returns overnight and in some rare cases can recrew and come over first thing in the morning, which I’ve seen myself.