Comments on: The fledgling GEXR had only been operating a scant two months when this photo was taken in June of 1992. The start-up power stable consisted of units 177-178-179 and 180. Here we see 179 leading 180; en route to Stratford from Goderich after working its way along the line. The train is picking up on the Thompson Feed siding. Thompson is renown for its birdseed among other things.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Mon, 19 May 2014 02:43:06 +0000

178 went to the Valdosa Southern at some point, and is now on the South Central Tennessee RR as 900. 179 and 180 ended up on the Mid Michigan RR, where they were scrapped a few years back (180 was repainted not that long before too).

180 is an oddball with no rear numberboards, and no frame cutouts like 179 has. I wonder if something happened to it while on Cartier…

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 18 May 2014 18:11:15 +0000

Two blunders with one picture!! I’ve got to remember to consult my NOTES, and not my noggin. So I will henceforth remind myself to check notes, and hope I remember to remind myself. So, I just did and you are absolutely correct. ) It was indeed 179, and it was working at Otter Tail Valley in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, May 2013. The ‘dark blue’ was faded like cheap CN SD75 housepaint. Since you are on top of GEXR happenings, why was 180 so difficult to catch? I rarely saw it, and wondered if it had mechanical problems or left very early in its’ GEXR career. Perhaps I just had bad luck.

By: RLK2211

RLK2211 — Sun, 18 May 2014 15:08:43 +0000

GEXR 177 was scrapped several years ago in Stratford, summer 2008 I think.

Arnold, It must’ve been 179 that you saw working in Michigan….179 and 180 were transferred off GEXR and went to OLOR, where they were painted dark blue. When RA sold that line off to OCRR, the pair sat on the OVR for several years before being sent to Michigan.

180 has since been painted in Michigan Shore colors.

No idea where 178 ended up, it originally left and went to Pittsburg Industrial, but I think it ended up on the DGNO or somewhere down that direction.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 18 May 2014 10:46:32 +0000

Marcus: Yes, the ‘matched sets’ were nice, the paint scheme was great, but like anything else, it got a bit tiring once you have chased the same set 4 or 5 times. It was a surprise to see 177,with shades of blue paint over the cream/green, working at Fergus Falls, MN a year or so back on the Otter Tail….but I understand now this locomotive is now history. Miss the ol’ days. I loathe this new ‘orange’.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 18 May 2014 10:42:08 +0000

Thanks again for the clarification on Thompson…..I don’t know why that name is still firmly entrenched in my noggin. At least this will give me an excuse to go for a drive one of these days to straighten myself out.

By: RLK2211

RLK2211 — Sun, 18 May 2014 05:01:49 +0000

I should mention, that is a great shot!

WG Thompson has an operation in Hensall and Mitchell, the one just east of Seaforth was sold, and is now Broadgrain….when WGT owned that particular facility it did not have a rail siding, so obviously there was no rail service. Since Broadgrain started they added rail and are a regular customer for GEXR 581 Monday to Friday.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Sun, 18 May 2014 03:15:01 +0000

Great shot Arnold! Must have been nice getting matched sets back then, always liked that paint!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 17 May 2014 18:35:41 +0000

Well that sucks. I had made notes for Thompson when I marked the photo 20 years back. Perhaps the memory is failing but when I looked at the picture, I recalled Thompson somewhere near there. This is worth checking out next time I am up that way, or perhaps someone else on this list can side with you and set me straight. )

By: RLK2211

RLK2211 — Sat, 17 May 2014 17:56:11 +0000

Actually, that looks more like Seaforth Elevators….formerly LAC. I don’t believe WG Thompson used this location as they had a facility just east of Seaforth.