Comments on: Times have certainly changed in the Niagara region. When I first got into serious railfanning in the mid 1990′s the region could keep one busy all day, especially with all of the local jobs running around with rebuilt GP9′s, GP38′s and SW1200 pups. Today four axle power is a rarity on CN rails here. Trillium picked up most of the branches in the late 90′s and what was left typically could be handled by the surviving GP set. In 2011 a pair of GP’s still often was located at Port Robinson yard, working where needed and when not needed would sit near the yard office much like they did this day. These days a lone six axle unit typically handles all work.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:05:34 +0000

Thanks James for the knowledge. Even more interesting for operations!

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:41:20 +0000

Brad, CN doesn’t really go directly into industries in Niagara. For Oleo in Niagara Falls they bring a bunch of reacher cars, for Oxy Vinyls they simply do a set off and lift on dedicate tracks and a plant switcher and trackmobiles handle the actual plant switching, for Welded Tube (and formerly Martech when it was served of fthe Tube Spur) they drop and lift cars from CN Southern Yard that Welded Tube brings to/from their plant, and for Vale they drop and lift cars from the north end of the property and Vale’s centrecab moves them around from there. Other CN traffic that goes to Niagara area customers is ultimately delivered by Trillium and CP.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:08:44 +0000

Sorry it was @JamesGardiner’s shot of the SOR SD40-2 on Burford spur…but back to Port Robinson…

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:04:03 +0000

I love how CN uses 6 axles at Port Rob and at industries. I wonder how the tracks can handle them. Then again, I remember @AWMooney catching an SOR 6 axle unti on the CN Burford spur on old TH&B tracks. Thanks for the history here.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 23:39:45 +0000

562 is most often two units.

You can stay busy all day in Niagara, trust me. I was busy all day there today: 247, 255, TE11, 421, 562, 531 and two jobs on Trillium.