Comments on: Morning at South Control meant locals and transfers. This is probably KO10 (it’s odd what the memory retains over 30+ years) which went down the Bala Sub and eventually into Leaside, often using CP to get across the Don Valley

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 23:22:14 +0000

All of the above except Ft Erie, that was closed as a destination over 15 yrs ago. Pt. Rob is the starting and ending point. road switchers move the traffic to buffalo now.
Train numbers all changed. 4 Extended runs Montreal?Toronto and extended runs on north end to Caperol

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:41:41 +0000

I lost track of train numbers years ago. London, Sarnia, Fort Erie and Belleville now the bases?

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 22:39:17 +0000

Toronto has no more regular freight trains manned by TO crews. All the trains you mentioned are all gone now. The last regular train we had was 339/338 to Buffalo. We lost that over 5 yrs ago.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 21:06:38 +0000

When I was on the road board, Toronto had the pool (730-731, 415-416, 718 (Milliken) road switchers), 431-436 (Fort Erie), and 392-393. Everything else was Belleville or Sarnia, and the north end had 470-471 to North Bay, and 337-338 to Winnipeg, and 221-217-219 hotshots wo Winnipeg. I assume there have been massive shifts……….

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:50:28 +0000

LOL..never wanted to be on the north end. 35 yrs and still in the freight pool. I could go to VIA too but love those big freight trains

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:42:23 +0000

415 the few times I worked it we changed at Mimico, but that was the route. Lots of power; lots of terminal time. Road spare board was not a fun place to be sure; calls for second half GO’s and 557 out of Mimico to Clarkson for the refinery. Oh to have been on the north end……….

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:13:31 +0000

I did not spend too much time in the yard as i preferred the mainline. 415? that was the Mac to Oshawa to the Don where the Sarnia crew took over. I hated the GO trains too..so boring.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 19:06:56 +0000

There was a better pool job than the ore train; maybe 415. I only did one 6 month stint on the main line, and so much of that was horrible spilt shift GO trains. The camera was in the car, and a lot of time was spent at the shop. Receiving control was a good pot too, but the sun was never quite in the right place.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:48:45 +0000

I hired on in June 81. I got laid off 3 times in the first 3 years but hung in there. I remember 718 to Milliken very well with those big MLW’s and the ore train to Hamilton with 5 GP40′s. I brought my camera to work (still do). I only regret not going out trackside to record more.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 18:10:12 +0000

Same for me; hired april 1982, and laid off for a year before my training was over. Stone jobs to Milliken with 3 MLW’s; it was the high point of power variety at CN, and as I go through my slides now, there is fascination and frustration at the results. How did I not spend more time out here with a camera???