Comments on: Trillium 1859 climbs up the Thorold grade, one of the steepest in all of Canada. I was a little confused with it’s load, a single autoparts car, considering they don’t serve any places that ship out autoparts. Anyways, this line, the Thorold Spur, was once a main line that served as a connector from Niagara Falls to St Catharines. After the Stamford Sub was built through Niagara Falls, this line was no longer needed, and eventually, the main bridge that connected the two cities (Bridge 10 in Thorold South) was dismantled in the late 90′s. The only use it sees nowadays is Trillium a few times a week and that’s it. The sound of an Alco climbing up this hill is quite the sound.

By: NiagaraMike11

NiagaraMike11 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 23:06:00 +0000

It is indeed steep track, unfortunately Trillium/GIO has quit using it and reactivation or use by CN is unlikely!

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 19:27:48 +0000

Doing some reading of Andrew Panko and Peter Bowen’s “Steam in Niagara” and of course this grade is referenced. This may lend some clarity:

Page 25: “Along this line, between Merritton and Thorold, a distance of about 3 miles, the difference in track elevation is extreme due to the Niagara Escarpment. The elevation change in this distance is almost 190 feet, making this a 1.2% grade. A central portion from just east of Glendale Avenue, to about the Thorold Freight office, just south of Lock 7 on the Welland Canal, rises 150 feet in one mile, a grade of 2.8%. This is purported to be the longest continuous grade of this magnitude on the entire Canadian National System, including the Rocky Mountain areas.”

I have not researched anything myself, just sharing the quote.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 13:57:05 +0000

Hey all, according to a CN track profile the grade between merriton and thorold is 140 feet in 1.9 miles or 1.4%

It’s steep but there’s definitely much worse out there even on cn.

Former CN goderich has a claim on that too

Goderich is 2.78% per https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2021/r21t0007/r21t0007.html.

Here’s a discussion on the subject of grades

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?15,3116207

By: Dave Sherlock

Dave Sherlock — Tue, 02 May 2023 13:44:52 +0000

This line is also one of the oldest in Canada, completed in 1859 coincidentally, as the Welland Railway.

By: NiagaraMike11

NiagaraMike11 — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 12:09:30 +0000

Great shot !

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:10:24 +0000

Ahh okay thank you for clarifying!

By: rlk1752

rlk1752 — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:27:35 +0000

A source told me there are some GTW autos parts cars being used in pulp service! Some have moved from Grand Prairie AB area to Dunn Paper!

By: DoctaPinklaces

DoctaPinklaces — Sun, 13 May 2018 16:04:58 +0000

Thanks Steve — this has been a shot in the making for a while now. It’s paid off. And honestly same, it’ll be super interesting to watch them up there.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Sat, 12 May 2018 20:00:16 +0000

Can’t wait to see Trilliums work on the OBRY line!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 12 May 2018 00:18:31 +0000

Nice work – love the effort put into this!