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Caption: What year is this? A GP9 arriving in Tillsonburg with 2 cars, a CN speeder at the former CN MOW shed, and the crew tossing their garbage aside as they've completed their run to St. Thomas and back. After setting off their 2 tank cars from the CN interchange they'll be done for the day. For our folks from abroad if they didn't know any better this photo just looks like the St. Thomas and Eastern Railway which ran for 15 years - the buildings look the same as they did during their tenure and even in the CN days. But GIO would make major investments over the next couple of years including fencing off the yard and painting everything, compare to the STER days here. Any of our out of town folks would be forgiven if they thought Trillium never left the Cayuga, after all it's basically the same company operating the line today, but it's a much more mature organization. More importantly, GIO has really shown how to operate a branchline once left for dead (twice) as their short trains such as the one pictured here have grown substantially. For those keeping track, 1597 is in Sarnia getting work done, uncertain where it may go when work is completed - and the line currently operates with a pair of LDS Black units.
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Great scene. I wonder who the proud owner of that well preserved motorcar is?
CN 173-55 is a Fairmont model MT14 4-6-man section track motor car. The CN running number indicates it was acquired in the early 1980′s as part of the final orders for track motor cars.
The introduction of Track Force Rationalization and Mechanization programs at CN brought about the widespread use of hi-rail vehicles for Engineering Department forces and the ultimate elimination of track motor cars.
The ‘Fairmont’is now in GIO coporate colours and was an attractive part of GIO’s display at Canal Days, Port Colborne on 2023 08 06. Sharp little track motor car!
Hi Glenn. If you have a photo of the motor car …. you know my email address.
Nice. IIRC, they were supposed to tack the speeder on an inspection run to St. Thomas after 1597 pulled into the yard, but the mechanic was working on it still.
1597 is going to Thorold btw.