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Caption: The elusive Resolute Forest Products switcher, ex CN 1305 (last reported as DESX 1305) makes its infrequent, two mile run to a yard at the end of the CN Thorold spur. I had known about this operation for a while, and had made four attempts over the last 3 years to 'catch' it - just by chance - they run on an infrequent and seemingly random schedule - and this time I got lucky. What the line lacks in scenery is made up for in, well, variety - not many Green switchers out there in this Country. With only a single car - I kind of wonder how much longer this operation will last. The nearby Georgia-Pacific plant was idled in 2014 and the also nearby Hayes-Dana frame plant has been idle since 2008. This spur was once very very busy - and not to mention the Pulpwood trains that were unloaded here - long gone - see an Arnold Mooney photo in suggested photos below.
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Yeah, the area lacks scenery, but with a colour like that, you wonder if scenery is even necessary.
)
My favourite switcher. Great for heavy yard work or light road duty. A definite yes from me also for the paint job. Looks darn good from this angle. Nice catch Steve.
Interesting ditch light location. It is a neat little operation. I saw it once on the way to Niagara Falls, naturally I didn’t have my camera with me.
Neat. I wonder if it changed when “rebuilt” in 2012 by DES.
Note the absence of DESX reporting marks since, I suspect its true reporting marks may be different or, unassigned
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/industrial/ont/resolute.htm
Not the easiest of trains to catch in the slightest. I’ve tried for years now, and I’ve caught it parked behind the fence a bunch, but every time I’ve seen it on the move was a coincidence and I didn’t have my lens on me. One day, one day.
Nice catch Steve! During the spring and summer it often ran on Saturday’s, and sometimes Monday’s. However, I was never able to fully predict its schedule. I eventually gave up on trying to catch it.
I’ve seen it range between 4-7 cars. They had a three week shut down during the summer, and things seems to have been slower since then. I do know RFP has been struggling financially lately.
had a quick look at resolutes nyse listing, down from $30 to $4.50 with declining annual revenue and last 3 or so years drowning in losses. Increasing debt too (700m or $8/share in debt)
Not good, a restructuring is likely in order.
OK so we all agree they are much more elusive these days; however, has anyone seen any other engines besides the green 1305 the past couple of years ? The other SW1200 and the SW900 were always kept in the warehouse when not being used but of course you’d have to be an employee to even know if those two still exist
Bruce, that’s the thing, I swear I saw a red faced engine on one visit – deeper in the plant. I can’t find my photos though – will keep looking. Daniel? Arnold? Anyone else?
One of the engines is locked away, apparently it’s busted and they obviously don’t have the funds to fix it.
There was no red faced engine though. Other switcher had a yellow and black scheme.
Did a drive-by today as I was going to Welland to visit a friend and there had been activity at Resolute. Judging by the snow the locomotive had been out between 1100-1200. Unfortunately I wasn’t by until 1300.
I see that I have posted shots of Ont Paper #4, which was greem/yellow, from back in 1982, as well as QUNO-1 in 1995 which was black and yellow. I do recall a red/black CN unit at the plant but it never came out for its’ “official portrait”. This was about 2002.
I can confirm 1324 was parked outside on 4/20/2015 with a black cab.
have a photo to prove it. Trust me I tried to get this. Darn you Mercer, now I have to go back in a few months to get 1324 if it is in rotation
Arnolds quono image, which is not listed in “you may be interested” as it is labelled Thorold South not Allanburg. http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=12825
QUNO-1 went back to Canac International and then resold to Stelco at Nanticoke becoming their 458. The SW900 came to Thorold as QOPC-2
I was trying to figure out where I had seen 1305 before. It was one of the switchers at Resolute’s Iroquois Falls operation before it shut down.
https://flic.kr/p/n1ASoz
Wow dave – does oil count as emissions?
Here’s my other shot from the day – the reason why I kept trying. Not just for the switcher, but for this crossing protection which is amazingly still in place
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27476
So, Folks, Not two weeks after I took this photo the plant was idled. It’s now (as of March 2017) in the news RFP is looking for buyers and to convert the plant to something else.
The last newsprint car would have left around Christmas according to local sources.
I should say ‘shocking’ to the news, but hey, after all, this IS the land of Kathleen Wynne.:o(
Drove by on Sunday…… all I was able to see was rust.
And I passed by there around toward the end of May…..tracks rusted and about 20 employee cars out back. Probably security and maintenance.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28707
So Bruce you think this is the third unit in the engine house?
Yes – IF its still there and hasn’t been cut up/resold without our knowing
Resolute recently sold a kraft mill at Catawba SC (southeast of Charlotte) to, as the press release quoted ” reduce our overall debt”.
No doubt this facility, if not already sold, is on the For Sale pages of your local industrial property listings.
Sounds like Thorold Yard will be getting some work in the very near future to put it back in service for car storage
Stock update: RFP recovered up to $18 by Sept 2018 but is already back down to $5.23 as of today.
In a quarterly investor conference/analyses call in Jan 31 2019 the CEO mentioned Fort Francis and Thorold as near term sale potential targets. Still no movement as of today for Thorold. Nearby GP plant has been demolished.
It’s been sold. Bioveld bought the plant and how Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority is going to run it:
http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/04/2140022/0/en/New-multimodal-hub-on-the-Welland-Canal-a-major-step-forward-for-industry.html
Thanks James for the tip.
Bruce, gang:
I’ve done some homework on this and a contact confirms that #2 is still in the plant, but it has been used as a parts source and is not operable.
All three locomotives are still on site.