Comments on: Taken almost one year ago, RLHH 3049 and RLHH 3404 lead SOR train 597 through Hagersville on a cloudy evening. It doesn’t seem like a year ago, looking back right now…but at this time last year early evening SOR trains were common enough to allow me to photograph them a handful of times between Garnet and Brantford.

By: rsmith

rsmith — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 12:40:45 +0000

Joe, I agree, RLHH has been running some long trains lately. 597 was so long on Saturday that they had to cut the train for the Concession 9 crossing when they tied up at Garnet!

By: Todd Steinman

Todd Steinman — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 02:33:56 +0000

At a point long ago in time….you’d be able to catch the CN trains crossing the diamond of the CASO. Great photo from the other ‘end’ Joseph. That old 40′ boxcar marks where the former CN Staton used to stand. The former MC station us just beyond decorated in the ugly yellow siding.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 01:54:10 +0000

I’ve also noted that 597 returning from Brantford is much larger too. Largest I have witnessed is 87 cars. 435 set off 75 the other day in Brantford, majority for the RLHH

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 01:40:26 +0000

Great news Rob

By: rsmith

rsmith — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 18:02:45 +0000

It’s like Steve knows the future! I was surprised to see a half-dozen or so CN coil steel cars on the tail end of 595 yesterday. It’s nice to see cars going to Stelco. Hopefully more to come.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 17:41:42 +0000

Thanks Joe. Jacob, Ironically, due to Nanticoke being partially shut down traffic is much busier this year than last (average 60 cars/train now, last year about 20 to 30 cars)

And think of both jobs as a conveyor belt – when the days’s job ends, 595 parks safely and 597 is tasked with picking up where they left off. Then 597 has to make Paris and back on time, and if they don’t, park on the main somewhere and let 595 pick up where they left off.. and it continues from there and any delays continue to add up until they can catch up.

Last year there was plenty of time due to short trains and 595 would be done around 1700… in the yard at Garnet.

If Stelco decides to ship more by rail, it’s going to really put a crimp in the current plan and I’d predict they have to add another job to take care of it all, but until then…. it seems to be working.

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 16:06:37 +0000

Steve 593/594 are your ESSO jobs.

Jacob, 597 is ordered for 1900 but lately the train leaves from Nanticoke and isn’t on the road until 2100 or later. Last week at 21:15 they were still parked and no crew in sight.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:55:54 +0000

Rob, Thanks, a morning brain fart. I’ll correct it.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:53:51 +0000

SOR Garnet/Hagersville has four daily assignments, and to the best of my knowledge:

595 – Daily Garnet switcher (Runs between Garnet, Imperial Oil, and Stelco and other Customers as needed). Ordered about 1000 at Garnet daily.

597 – Garnet to Paris turn. Ordered at 1900, daily.

598? – Imperial Oil switcher – twice/daily – note this yard job also covers Hamilton assignments or vice versa as needed. The morning job will grab cars handed off from 595 after 595 leaves the yard (Early afternoon) but basically spends most of it’s time switching the Imperial compound with a single unit.

There are extras as required, but they are quite rare out of Garnet.

The Ingenia turn is a Hamilton assignment using Hamilton crews. Corrections welcome.

By: rsmith

rsmith — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:36:09 +0000

Steve, Garnet – Nanticoke, not Garnet – Hagersville. Show up at Garnet around noon and they should be switching there (I was there yesterday!) Early to mid-afternoon they’ll head to Nanticoke, so you can get a shot or two of them on the road in nice light.