Welcome Visitor. First time here? Like what you see? Bookmark us for when you are bored, and check out 'top shots' and 'fantastic (editors choice)' in the menu above, you won't be dissapointed. Join our community! click here to sign up for an account today. Sick of this message? Get rid of it by logging-in here.



The dark and dreary weather only added to the mood of the day as OSR's "Cayuga Clipper" made some railroad history. This shot while maybe not the most scenic of the day probably meant a bit more to me then many others. For 22 years I worked for Adient / Johnson Controls in Milton until my plant shut down in 2019, so watching OSR serve the last Adient plant in Canada, located in Tillsonburg was a bit more somber for me. As the roll up door raised the crew grabbed a couple of ancient tank cars used over the years here as spacer cars, as locomotives are not allowed to enter the plant building. The train then lifted the last three tank cars spotted here filled with chemicals used in the production of automotive seating foam. Once this task was completed the train exited the spur and briefly reorganized its train of buffer cars, tank cars and MofW cars before heading back to the old CN yard on Tillsonburg's south side. After a re-crew and some last minute switching the train began its second last trip back to St. Thomas. Next weeks run should basically be a clean up run lifting all remaining cars left in town, but for Adient the last run has already occurred.
Copyright Notice: This image ©Marcus W Stevens all rights reserved.



Caption: The dark and dreary weather only added to the mood of the day as OSR's "Cayuga Clipper" made some railroad history. This shot while maybe not the most scenic of the day probably meant a bit more to me then many others. For 22 years I worked for Adient / Johnson Controls in Milton until my plant shut down in 2019, so watching OSR serve the last Adient plant in Canada, located in Tillsonburg was a bit more somber for me. As the roll up door raised the crew grabbed a couple of ancient tank cars used over the years here as spacer cars, as locomotives are not allowed to enter the plant building. The train then lifted the last three tank cars spotted here filled with chemicals used in the production of automotive seating foam. Once this task was completed the train exited the spur and briefly reorganized its train of buffer cars, tank cars and MofW cars before heading back to the old CN yard on Tillsonburg's south side. After a re-crew and some last minute switching the train began its second last trip back to St. Thomas. Next weeks run should basically be a clean up run lifting all remaining cars left in town, but for Adient the last run has already occurred.

Photographer:
Marcus W Stevens [1028] (more) (contact)
Date: 04/23/2020 (search)
Railway: Ontario Southland (search)
Reporting Marks: OSRX 6508 (search)
Train Symbol: Cayuga Clipper (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Port Burwell subdivision (search)
City/Town: Tillsonburg (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=41110
Click here to Log-in or Register and add your vote.

29 Favourites
Photographers like Gold.Log-in or Register to show appreciation
View count: 1526 Views

Share this image on Facebook, Twitter or email using the icons below
Photo ID: 39903

Sorry, there is no map for this photo. Photographer did not add GPS co-ordinates. Please add next time or ask for a correction to this photo.

All comments must be positive in nature and abide by site rules. Anything else may be removed without warning.

7 Comments
  1. Marcus, this is a sad day for sure, painful to watch the hollowing out of Canadian manufacturing. Is the ADIENT Tillsonburg plant able to stay open without the rail service or is the plant also going the way of the Dodo ? It is a great shot nonetheless !

  2. When my plant closed we were told they were getting a contract for foam for Ford so I believe it should stay at least till that contract ends. My guess would be shipping will now be by truck.

  3. It is a great shot capturing a historical moment , Marcus.
    Really like that a F unit was doing the last time switching at this plant. At least OSR 6508 adds a bit of class to a somber moment. First saw 6508 in premiere CNR passenger train service in the ‘60’s, and here she is switching nearly 60 years later. Sorry to hear about your employment disappearing, and share the concern for the future of this Tillsonburgh plant. Thanks for posting.

  4. So I’m sure you saw the CN cop at Aylmer Marcus? They along with the Aylmer police were going after those walking too close to the tracks. You can bet they’ll be out again on Thursday! No one do anything stupid please!

  5. Yes I noticed him around the back side of the elevator. Can never be too cautious when you have your kids with you. That seemed like a good time to make our exit. Keep on social distancing everyone :)

  6. No reason to think this plant will close. Some of their inbound rail traffic will get offloaded across town and brought here by truck, and other products will simply come the entire distance by truck starting next week.

  7. Unfortunately, the plant closed in November. Plug was pulled by the parent company and all jobs lost.

    https://globalnews.ca/news/9283413/adient-tillsonburg-seat-manufacturing-plant-closure/

Railpictures.ca © 2006-2023 all rights reserved. Photographs are copyright of the photographer and used with permission
Terms and conditions | About us