Comments on: L554 disappearing into the vegetation pushing 36 empty hoppers down the Cement Lead to the Ash Grove Mississauga facility.

By: terry.oshell

terry.oshell — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:48:45 +0000

Thanks for all the comments. Overgrown brush seems to be everywhere. The wooden posts and crossbuck on Winston Churchill Blvd. were removed a few years ago, replaced with flashing lights, bell and gates. Lots of ongoing warehousing type construction on the southeast and south west quadrant. The blue Ash Grove Plant switcher is a hard one to catch, although I was able to get a photo through the fence in March 2025.

By: lostshoeranch

lostshoeranch — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:34:13 +0000

Here’s a nice video I found of a train headed down that spur on YouTube which shows most of the crossings. Power used was similar with two older GP’s. A rare catch, even for someone who lives near there as it’s difficult to predict when the switching will occur: https://youtu.be/aOhVFWq1woA?si=byVL3d8YLNDhhD2O

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:51:17 +0000

@lostshoeranch To see the lone switcher you have to go into the CRH plant. I saw it making an Xmas catering delivery there. It was right beside our van. Unfortuantely I didn’t have a camera. Someone up here has a photo of it with an interesting graphic on it. CN has always ran the cars down with multiple units from Oakville Yard.

By: lostshoeranch

lostshoeranch — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:07:48 +0000

Awesome shot Terry, keep those Oakville pics coming! I grew up right beside this spur and remember them switching at Purina and Valvoline as well and using fusees at Winston Churchill to warn motorists as the old wooden crossbuck didn’t have warning lights. It was rare to catch a train there unless you were lucky. For decades the only power being used was a lone switcher. I never would have guessed that engines this big would make it down there wow!

By: Todd Steinman

Todd Steinman — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:21:50 +0000

Great photo. Hard to believe this was once a clear area, with no overgrown vegetation or brush!

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:09:48 +0000

Heading into the bush with the AC on full!

By: Aitch

Aitch — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:00:36 +0000

That’s a great shot of a seldomly photographed location ! It looks like a rural branch line with all that vegetation.