Comments on: This was a bit of an oddball train that occasionally ran, often on the weekends, with solid GP9 consists. The main purpose was to exchange any loads/empties between Oakville and Toronto, typically all auto racks to/from the Ford plant. It was a treat catching the open auto racks too, so late in their lives. While the wye was still intact at this time at Burlington West on the north side, I believe I only ever heard they used it once, otherwise a run around move was needed at Aldershot. The dramatic fall colours this day at Georgetown definitely made up for the sun being on the wrong side.

By: smithgl

smithgl — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 20:55:18 +0000

Yup, 547 serviced Milton from Malport, then when Malport closed, it came out of Mac Yard for a while… then it was changed to originate from Aldershot, and then it was merged into 551 who does the work from Aldershot to this day.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 15:44:15 +0000

I remember 547 or what ever the number was back then rant to Milton out of Malport, but almost always at night. There was a period where It did run in daylight but I heard that had something to do with track work.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 15:10:30 +0000

I remember and have photos of local power at mile 30 or georgetown in the early 2000′s and often had loaded frames. Now no local operates between milton or brampton unless it is a guelph sub train running aroung in the georgetown block to go back, or a rare pusher set up the grade (which did happen recently)

By: smithgl

smithgl — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:18:56 +0000

Very nice! This should be train 403… but I only seemed to catch it with a solo SD75!

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 03:26:27 +0000

It’s interesting as I think a lot of the rails are still buried in the ground there.

By: bruce

bruce — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 03:13:17 +0000

No,this was a crew that said we are conducting an experiment.Shortly after that the y was spiked at both ends

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:32:24 +0000

I do remember one train possibly the last that was simply called “ the experiment “ I’m guessing it didn’t go well as the track is no longer intact, LoL.

By: bruce

bruce — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:29:57 +0000

I have an interesting story about the y at Burlington. Remind me to tell you about it.

By: Kevin Flood

Kevin Flood — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:05:18 +0000

Interesting. I had no idea open autoracks existed that recent. I thought they were completely gone well before the 2000s.