Comments on: To many it is surprising that the “North” could look like a southern farm setting in some areas. But here is proof that around Earlton it is just that. I’m on the Highway 11 overpass just a little bit out of town and have caught the morning Northlander making its’ way south to Toronto. The train has just left the modern station at Englehart behind ONR 2000 and 204. Next stop is another modern station at New Liskeard. And yes, there is a renovated stop at Temagami, and another new station at North Bay. It doesn’t matter though. The Ontario liberal government killed this train in 2012. The current government says it will bring it back, but I am not holding my breath. http://www.railpictures.ca The BEST Canadian photos on the Internet, eh? Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:41:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: awmooney http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-67646 awmooney Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:26:44 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-67646 You're certainly right about the ever changing world, John. It kinda makes us want to hang around and see what happens!!! As far as the ONR, yes, I noted the schedule really not favour the Northern Railfan a lot of the way. I guess we will have to hope that the ONR, like VIA, is "fashionably late". Cheers! You’re certainly right about the ever changing world, John. It kinda makes us want to hang around and see what happens!!!
As far as the ONR, yes, I noted the schedule really not favour the Northern Railfan a lot of the way.
I guess we will have to hope that the ONR, like VIA, is “fashionably late”.
Cheers!

]]> By: railwayguy http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-67645 railwayguy Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:22:47 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-67645 Stephen, five years makes a big difference. It’s not “bye-bye” ONR, it’s bye-bye CN ! In today’s constantly changing world, difficult to predict what “might happen” in 5 years time, but with the acquisition of CN’s Newmarket Sub, the ONR looks more certain than ever. Stephen, five years makes a big difference. It’s not “bye-bye” ONR, it’s bye-bye CN ! In today’s constantly changing world, difficult to predict what “might happen” in 5 years time, but with the acquisition of CN’s Newmarket Sub, the ONR looks more certain than ever.

]]> By: railwayguy http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-67644 railwayguy Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:18:12 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-67644 Very nice Arnold. Only problem with the new Northlander schedule, when the new train sets start running,passengers won’t see this as the will be passing this site in the middle of the night. Thanks for sharing. Very nice Arnold. Only problem with the new Northlander schedule, when the new train sets start running,passengers won’t see this as the will be passing this site in the middle of the night. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Stephen C. Host http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-44386 Stephen C. Host Wed, 20 Jan 2021 22:37:17 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-44386 They have tried at least three times to kill the ONR. The killing of the Northlander was the last attempt and that's all they managed to change at that time. The main sticking point is the union agreements. Employees hired before mid 1996 were guaranteed 21 years of pay until pension age if they were let go, and 10 years for employees hired after (until around 2001) when the new employees have a standard contemporary employment agreement). The financial and pension liabilities were huge and it killed the deal a few years ago. Once these liabilities are gone, all it will take is the right government and the railway will be sold. Could be a while, could be less - government has to buy out the union first or wait for most under those agreements to retire. Then CN will swoop in and say 'mine' - here's some money. Bye! They have tried at least three times to kill the ONR. The killing of the Northlander was the last attempt and that’s all they managed to change at that time.

The main sticking point is the union agreements. Employees hired before mid 1996 were guaranteed 21 years of pay until pension age if they were let go, and 10 years for employees hired after (until around 2001) when the new employees have a standard contemporary employment agreement).

The financial and pension liabilities were huge and it killed the deal a few years ago.

Once these liabilities are gone, all it will take is the right government and the railway will be sold. Could be a while, could be less – government has to buy out the union first or wait for most under those agreements to retire.

Then CN will swoop in and say ‘mine’ – here’s some money. Bye!

]]> By: awmooney http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-44382 awmooney Wed, 20 Jan 2021 20:04:03 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-44382 You're so right. Our money and their ideas fly all over the place, but nothing ever comes of anything. You’re so right. Our money and their ideas fly all over the place, but nothing ever comes of anything.

]]> By: hodgsontoaylen http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44085#comment-44381 hodgsontoaylen Wed, 20 Jan 2021 20:01:38 +0000 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ONR-Earlton-339-edited.jpg#comment-44381 Funny how 10 years previous, the provincial Conservative government tried to kill it and sell off the ONR. Politics. Funny stuff. Funny how 10 years previous, the provincial Conservative government tried to kill it and sell off the ONR. Politics. Funny stuff.

]]>