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1225 James St, Wallaceburg. While many photographers focused on the bridge with the C&O Markings (Still there to this very day) I took a couple opportunities to record the north side of the bridge from James St. The cinder block building at right is the Wallaceburg RTC office - the smallest dispatching office in the CSX network. In 1996 CSX closed the St. Thomas division office and moved the RTC's to 1225 James St. But it was always the Bridgetender's building, and until 2013 a Bridgetender would have to come down from Sarnia to line the bridge when a train operated, as the RTC's did not have this in their collective agreements hence did not operate the swing bridge. (Note: The Bridgetender would use A mechanism inside the building, akin to a large safe with dials  to operate the bridge).
RTC's were on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and when this photo was taken only 2-3 trains a week operated into the OCS requiring a clearance. Prior to 2006 the usual number was about 4 to 6 movements a day, and in 1996 probably up to 8 to 10 with the majority being on the Chatham-Fargo segment of the CSX 

The RTC's radio tower is clearly seen at centre, and D724 is crossing the swing bridge at left. The RTC office was abolished at the end of October 2013 and by this time CSX had already reduced it from 24/7 to running on days the trains were scheduled to run.
Links to RTC recordings below!
Clearance to near Chatham
Clearance from Chatham to Blenheim
Another clearance July 15 2005
Copyright Notice: This image ©Stephen C. Host all rights reserved.



Caption: 1225 James St, Wallaceburg. While many photographers focused on the bridge with the C&O Markings (Still there to this very day) I took a couple opportunities to record the north side of the bridge from James St. The cinder block building at right is the Wallaceburg RTC office - the smallest dispatching office in the CSX network. In 1996 CSX closed the St. Thomas division office and moved the RTC's to 1225 James St. But it was always the Bridgetender's building, and until 2013 a Bridgetender would have to come down from Sarnia to line the bridge when a train operated, as the RTC's did not have this in their collective agreements hence did not operate the swing bridge. (Note: The Bridgetender would use A mechanism inside the building, akin to a large safe with dials to operate the bridge).
RTC's were on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and when this photo was taken only 2-3 trains a week operated into the OCS requiring a clearance. Prior to 2006 the usual number was about 4 to 6 movements a day, and in 1996 probably up to 8 to 10 with the majority being on the Chatham-Fargo segment of the CSX

The RTC's radio tower is clearly seen at centre, and D724 is crossing the swing bridge at left. The RTC office was abolished at the end of October 2013 and by this time CSX had already reduced it from 24/7 to running on days the trains were scheduled to run.

*BONUS* Let me bring you into the RTC's office with some radio recordings from 2005 and 2006
Clearance to near Chatham
Chatter between D725 and the Chatham Depot, with a call to the RTC to clear North Chatham
Work 2613 clear south chatham and OK for rule 105 at Blenheim

If you enjoy this - hit the star :) Also hoping to encourage some kind soul to dig out some CSX/Chessie/C&O photos - too much CN and CP lately here :) There are other Class 1's that operated in Canada! Cheers.

Photographer:
Stephen C. Host [1496] (more) (contact)
Date: 04/09/2007 (search)
Railway: CSX Transportation (search)
Reporting Marks: CSXT 2613 (search)
Train Symbol: D724-09 (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Wallaceburg (search)
City/Town: Wallaceburg (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25773
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Photo ID: 24624

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

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10 Comments
  1. This is a great shot, so much change has occurred since! You’ve captured a piece of history here Stephen.

  2. Tracks torn up through here yet, or are there still “talks” with a short line operator?

  3. neither. Chatham Kent is holding on to it due to this:http://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/2014/02/11/fertilizer-plant-possible-for-wallaceburg-area

    i suspect if this plant fails to land by the rail line its done.

  4. and thank you RLK2211 for the kind comment.

  5. You have outdone yourself again Mr. Host. Great shot :)

  6. Thank you. Another thing I noticed is the wind speed instrument. I’d love to see the operating manual for the swing bridge in relation to wind speed. If there was an 80km/hour wind blowing I imagine lining the rails would have been much more difficult :)

  7. Btw tracks all still in place and sold to numbered company. Absolute radio silence since then.

  8. Great pic. The antenna is actually the CVECO Sarnia chemical valley emergency radio. The RTC tower is a few miles east of Wallaceburg.

  9. Aha thank you. Did you work the line? I was aware there were three radio towers.. I’d be damned if I knew exactly where they were or would even recognize them – surely might need a keen eye..

    Each one did sound a little different though on the radio (different rings, etc) as per my recordings.

  10. No didn’t work the line. Signal guys are friends of mine. There were 6 towers at one time, 4 when they shut down the RTC.

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