Comments on: The changing face of 555… After a less than a year of being based out of Hamilton and using Hamilton yard power (example here), 555 has a completely new face. It’s once again based out of Aldershot and is now using big road power. The power from 570 becomes 555 at 2000 daily, bringing traffic from Mac over to Hamilton via Aldershot. It returns Hamilton traffic via Aldershot to Mac on the following day’s 570. 551 has now entered the fray in Hamilton as well, serving customers on the Grimsby Sub on Sundays and Wednesdays I’m told. I heard them in Hamilton from about 1630 to 2130 on this recent Sunday, for example. It was snowing/raining (quite frankly not sure what to call it) lightly at the time, and I was out there with an umbrella over top of the camera to keep it dry while I fired off some shots. Not sure if the hogger took pity on me, or if he’s a railfan at heart, but the class lights were a cool touch.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 19:40:37 +0000

@james..yes if you mean a direct siding off the main line then you are correct. All industries that are still in service on the Grimbsy are west of Nelles Rd

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 18:04:23 +0000

Yes, Trillium crosses over the Grimsby Sub to get to customers in St. Catharines, but none of them are on the Grimsby itself.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 17:56:05 +0000

@railwayguy and jknott86. There are still indeed customers on the Grimbsy Sub both east and west, although nothing east of the Seaway is served by CN. The shortline (forgot the name now) comes across the Grimbsy at Merriton to switch customers there.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 15:51:49 +0000

Thanks railwayguy. Yeah, the snow definitely made it much brighter there than I am used to.

There are no freight customers east of Grimsby on the Grimsby, no. I don’t even think there are any in Grimsby itself. The next customer on CN track on the way to Port Rob is Oleo in Niagara Falls on the Stamford.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 14:47:54 +0000

James, very nice photography ! And very interesting motive power and a nice touch seeing the “extra lights” lit up on BC Rail 4625. Also neat the way you included CN logo on their steel transfer building in the background. I used to find rain/snow falling a help with night shots as there was more available natural light being reflected – well done and thank you for going out on a “mucky” night ! Greatly appreciate the update info on 555 and where it originates and what it does. When travelling GO or VIA/Amtrak to/from Niagara Falls (one of my favourite train ride destinations), often wondered how the CN customers on the Grimsby Sub are served. Question, are there any freight customers east of Grimsby ?

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:33:49 +0000

Thanks Kevin. I’ve shot Parkdale Yard quite a few times at night and even though it was snowing it was fairly bright there compared to other nights. Time of the shot was shortly after midnight I think.

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:32:02 +0000

Very great shot James with such little light to play with.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 20:52:52 +0000

To be clear, they also lift Parkdale Yard after setting off and also lift Stuart before going back to Aldershot

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 20:47:28 +0000

Thanks Phil.

I’ve seen the “new” 555 a few times. One ight they just brought traffic to Stuart then left. The following night (pictured) they brought the usual traffic to Parkdale Yard and also switched out Triple M Parkdale with the use of five reachers. The following night after that they lifted a flat out of Empire Steel on the south then shoved back to Stuart and dropped it then took the north to Parkdale and dropped off the usual assortment of coils etc.

551 is handling things east of Parkdale I think. I also saw the 0600 yard job work Pearce Warehosuing off the north track the other weekend.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 20:39:35 +0000

Great shot James. I don’t get down that way these day and have not spoken to my fellow railroaders, but did it seem to you like 570/555 was doing work on the Grimbsy Sub or was it just transferring traffic?