Comments on: With blockades going full tilt across the country, things got desperate and CPR started accepting reroutes of CNR trains, with stipulations, over the Belleville sub. One stipulation was a CP leader required on all trains. Brand new SD70ACu 7028 charges out of the Weston Tunnel built to placate the NIMBY’s opposed to all the train noise from the UPX and GO trains. It would take something this rare to get me into Toronto, a daylight Westbound freight on the Weston sub qualifies, but a fresh new CP leader on the Weston in sun let me have my cake and eat it too.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:02:06 +0000

Thank you very much Cityslicker.

By: CitySlicker

CitySlicker — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:44:25 +0000

Yo Steve, they go down track 2 between Wice and Humberview because of restrictions going under the 401 bridge, basically so it doesn’t scrape the walls, hence the construction to widen and add a second gap for additional tracks. Then it’s over to track 1 at Humberview down to the switch for the connecter at mile 6.33 east of Nickle. PNR supplies the switch-tender and let me tell you it’s a well paid gig.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:50:35 +0000

Cn mac yard to montreal tasch. They left mac around noon, wandered to malport, waited for a clear track thru yard, over the wye (yard track) to the weston.
Once on weston had to go on t2 to kennedy, over to t3 for weston then take the cn cp connector. A metrolinx/pnr switchtender manned the connector and then they sat at mactier signal and call rtc to establish permission and tgbo’s to enter as cp 702.

There was 2 each way per day. Some sat and waited hours if they were near the go rush to get track on the weston some went straight thru esp in low traffic windows. Sunday despite the minimal GO traffic still lots of meets to let upx by. Definately a challenge for mx Toronto rtc!

By: mercer

mercer — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 21:18:09 +0000

So which way is this going – from CP or to ??

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:31:10 +0000

To be fair I come to toronto once a year for activities for my kids: ROM, Science Centre, Aquarium etc but not often for trains not my idea of a relaxing time. It is just a hobby hehehe

By: Noe

Noe — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:26:45 +0000

You certainly bagged the best train on your return to the big city Steve.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:51:13 +0000

Thank you. It is ironic indeed that CP did not go into the tunnel. The reroute freights were limited to about 7500 feet due to siding restrictions on the Belleville sub (CP reserved the longer trains for themselves)

This was my first time being lured to this area for trains since 2004.

By: railwayguy

railwayguy — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:23:31 +0000

Hi Stephen, very glad you were lured into Toronto, great picture ! And so much for CP’s objection to placing its MacTier Sub in the same tunnel “because it would be difficult for freight trains to navigate”. It doesn’t look like the 7028 and it’s CN mate are having any trouble passing through the tunnel and two CP level crossings are not blocked by a long freight train. Ironical that it is a CP unit leading the tunnel charge. Well done and most interesting.