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The fledgling GEXR had just completed its first 2 months of operations at the time this photo was taken. The view is of empties northbound to Goderich as seen from the bridge spanning the track on Avondale Av, NW part of town. Since the entire roster consisted of 4 identical GP9s, you pretty well knew what the power would be. :o) Sometimes they ran with three, but usually 2 locomotives and about a 20-25 car train. Loads were Sifto Salt (in season) bound for Ontario centres as well as Quebec, and Thompson Grain and Seed out of Seaforth (birdseed!) was another busy customer as well as Champion Road Graders in Goderich. There was enough business that the start up of 8 GEXR employees handled 7200 car loads the first year of operation; more than CN had the last years they operated the line. Sifto was especially pleased they could balance out their shipping a lot better, GEXR offered 5 day a week service as opposed to CN's 3. RailTex, the owner in the first years, offered at the time unique learning process for the non-union employees. They were trained in all positions from errand boy to engineer to office manager. Transportation specialists, I think they were called. I'm glad I managed the images along this line when I did, for all of us know whatever is powering a railroad today just may not be there tomorrow.
Copyright Notice: This image ©A.W.Mooney all rights reserved.



Caption: The fledgling GEXR had just completed its first 2 months of operations at the time this photo was taken. The view is of empties northbound to Goderich as seen from the bridge spanning the track on Avondale Av, NW part of town. Since the entire roster consisted of 4 identical GP9s, you pretty well knew what the power would be. :o) Sometimes they ran with three, but usually 2 locomotives and about a 20-25 car train. Loads were Sifto Salt (in season) bound for Ontario centres as well as Quebec, and Thompson Grain and Seed out of Seaforth (birdseed!) was another busy customer as well as Champion Road Graders in Goderich. There was enough business that the start up of 8 GEXR employees handled 7200 car loads the first year of operation; more than CN had the last years they operated the line. Sifto was especially pleased they could balance out their shipping a lot better, GEXR offered 5 day a week service as opposed to CN's 3. RailTex, the owner in the first years, offered at the time unique learning process for the non-union employees. They were trained in all positions from errand boy to engineer to office manager. Transportation specialists, I think they were called. I'm glad I managed the images along this line when I did, for all of us know whatever is powering a railroad today just may not be there tomorrow.

Photographer:
A.W.Mooney [2133] (more) (contact)
Date: 06/09/1992 (search)
Railway: Goderich-Exeter (search)
Reporting Marks: GEXR 180 (search)
Train Symbol: unknown (search)
Subdivision/SNS: GEXR Goderich Sub (search)
City/Town: Stratford (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
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Photo ID: 28832

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

Full size | Suncalc
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5 Comments
  1. Fabulous image Arnold! To some degree, Ontario’s shortlines continue to employ rolling museum pieces. Kinda sad to see the spreading pumpkin horde, however!

  2. It’s interesting you say non union… it’s certainly union now. What caused this change if anyone knows?

  3. Thanks, Stuart. I am certainly 100% with you on the spreading pumpkin horde. I find it rather annoying, to visit something like, lets say Utah Rwy; and it is the same orange but with different reporting marks. Feels like ya haven’t even left town :o ) Ditto for the RCP&E. Or a zillion other roads…….

  4. No idea regarding the unions, but it was the fact CN was unionized that made the line unprofitable for them.

  5. Sure do miss that paint scheme :(
    Great shot!

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