Comments on: One of my favourite units in Sarnia, but not so often photographed, was Esso 7290 and after many years of storage not long after this photo was taken by me in 2009, it was repainted and repurposed for GIO Rail. It was on my bucket list to find in Niagara, so it took a chance visit in February to try my luck on what’s running on the GIO’s Trillium Railway division. As luck would have it, I drove over the Canal sub near WH yard and lo and behold, 7290 my prime target was coming toward me on what turned out to be an odd move: 7290 ran past WH yard light power, took the PCHR switch, ran all the way down to Macey yard to make a lift, then take the cars back to Verbio for switching. This gave me quite a bit of ground to cover and many photos. Pictured is the 2 car train heading back to Verbio on the former CNR Dunville subdivision, on Mooney and Klaucker’s territory :). More to come.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 02:58:33 +0000

Thanks Peter. Friends of mine live there and they’re happy it’s being done, skeptical at the road re-routing though. It was nicer beside the river.

By: cn5248

cn5248 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:23:07 +0000

As a condition of building the developments in Dain City, Empire Communities is paying about 2/3 of the cost to build the bridge. It is supposed to be completed mid-next year; no way it would have happened on that timeframe (or probably at all) if it were left to municipal, provincial, or federal governments to fund fully. Agreed, it should make chasing GIO quite a bit easier.

The tank car storage, at least some of it, is in connection with the operation in Thorold; it is business that CN used to handle out of Bronte. GIO has a few other tank car storage customers as well.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:01:38 +0000

All the port C shots from you and arnie are an inspiration. Certainly when I shoot here it is in the footsteps of many. Port colborne still has interesting stuff!

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:13:24 +0000

It is a nice shot Steve…a lot of Tank Car storage in PC these days, both Macey and Government Yards,… I did see 7290 in St. Kitts the other day crossing Eastchester outside of TRENERGY (all coil cover production for NSC is complete now but they hope for new orders)… Appreciate the honorable mention here..Cheers MIKE

By: terry.oshell

terry.oshell — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:32:01 +0000

Nice capture, it has been an elusive unit for me also. I missed an opportunity in Port Colborne the day the SS Keewatin was being towed through.

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:50:57 +0000

You’ll only get a double header nowadays if it’s a rescue.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:47:34 +0000

Lots of construction in Dain City. They rebuild the road along the canal *gasp* so they can build waterfront housing (who needs a waterfront public road when you can make it all private property?)

The feds have to pay for that bridge… good luck

Speaking of double headers, been enjoying Dean Browns photos of many Trllium double headers. Seems it was much more common in the early 2000′s

By: awmooney

awmooney — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:03:54 +0000

Well done, Mr. Host. Once they get a new bridge built down near Dain City it will be easier to get around……..if they ever build it.

By: NiagaraMike11

NiagaraMike11 — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 11:42:49 +0000

It was on the St Catharines turn this past tuesday!

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 03:33:15 +0000

This unit has eluded me so far. Only time I’ve got a shot of it was in a rare double header, with it trailing.