Blah blah blah blah blah………..

Point here is that this discussed section of track was always the Guelph Siding, and eventually this piece of track will be gone when a new switch for the Fergus Spur is cut into the Guelph Sub mainline.

This is actually the ‘end’ of the track crews would call the West Siding Switch Guelph – which used to continue to the Guelph Station until it was severed and ripped up in 2014. Currently used daily as a Switchback, trains come off the (former CN) Fergus spur (ex Sub), pull east of the switchback, then reverse onto the Guelph sub. This Switchback, is about 15 cars in length and GEXR Train 582 needs all of it for the 15 or so centrebeams they have on this day.

I posted a shot a few days ago of 582 with all their Centrebeams in tow.

Operationally, this is an interesting stub of track – no stop block, no stop sign, not even a pair of ties, nothing. Furthermore, while at this very day, this is STILL the “West Siding Switch Guelph” yet, at Mile 49 a new switch has been installed.. and the former siding at the station has not yet been put back into service.. which MP49 then should then become the true “West Siding Switch Guelph” leaving this piece orphaned.

Logically, it makes sense this track pictured becomes an extension of the Fergus spur, but I suppose it’s up to Metrolinx and GEXR on what to do.

Lastly, historically, passenger trains would come off the Fergus from Hamilton, run east down the siding all the way to the station, perform station stop, then run back west on the siding, take the crossover just behind me, and head up the Fergus Sub toward Palmerston/Southampton/Kinkardine/etc.

In other words, this was always part of the Fergus, but operationally, it was the Guelph siding.