Comments on: The yellow General Motors of Canada switcher was a hard one to catch, and back then it certainly was busy, usually deep in the depths of endless boxcars and such. I remember the unit bearing the number 47174, but someone please correct me if possible. Note GMs own water supply….looks from this angle almost like a moat. As for location; behind the freight cars is the Welland Canal, east side, the switcher is actually in Thorold and the GM plant is in St. Catharines. I have no information on the switcher’s status or anything else about what transpires back behind the GM these days. Perhaps one of the locals who contributes to RP can fill us in!! I am standing just off on the north side of the CN Grimsby sub.

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:53:23 +0000

This is a great shot because it captures the GM Foundry built in 1952, at over 1,000,000 ft2 it was the largest foundry in the British Empire and operated until 1995. You can see at least (2) Cupola stack melters. The plant had five (5) Melting and Molding lines, A,E,C,D,B and made every Nodular and Grey Iron Casting imaginable. It was converted to V8 Production by the late 90′s.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 02:09:11 +0000

Yes, should be Dofasco – brain fart.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:03:42 +0000

Dan – 416 is a Dofasco number. Great effort Arnold. I have not seen many if any photos of this unit and love seeing the rare critters.

Sadly, they seem to be going Trackmobile….

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 10:07:30 +0000

Thanks, guys, for the info!!!

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 01:43:18 +0000

Track was removed in the late 90′s. One of the crossings behind the plant on the is still in place beside the seaway haulage road.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 04:08:27 +0000

This is presently the GM St. Catharines Propulsion Plant (manufactures engines and powertrains), originally built as McKinnon Industries (GM-owned) Plant #2. Aerial imagery suggests the track has been removed for quite a while (sometime pre-2009?).

The switcher was built as McKinnon Industries (GM) 47074, a GMD-built SW900. Sources list it as being acquired by Stelco out of Hamilton as their 416.