Caption: In the mid 1990’s the Guelph Junction Railway (GJR) lived a fairly quiet existence serving the city of Guelph with a Canadian Pacific local that was based out of Guelph Jct. in Campbellville. While the Guelph to Guelph Jct. portion was owned by the city, the GJR line was operated by CP and once extended to Goderich on Lake Huron. Officially named the Goderich Subdivision, the section between Guelph and Goderich was abandoned in 1988 after the last run occurred on December 16, 1988 with GP38-2 3032. The rails between Goderich and the Guelph city limits were lifted in 1989.
By 1994, the remaining Guelph industries that utilized rail service by GJR included; ABB, Guelph Utility Pole, W.C. Wood Company, the Guelph Co-Op, Huntsman Corporation and Owens Corning, with the latter two getting the most cars. The other customers received rail shipments infrequently and runs to the interchange with CN occurred only as needed during the week.
The typical weekday for the CP Guelph local’s crew was to switch the small yard and the nearby lumber companies at Guelph Jct. during the morning. This occurred after all the weekly morning GO Transit sets departed eastbound for Toronto. After its work at Guelph Jct. was completed the job would depart westbound on the Galt Subdivision to Puslinch to service the transload that was situated beside the siding and mainline. Following its work here, the local would return to Guelph Jct. where the crew completed any additional switching prior to departing for Guelph if required with usually a small train.
After arriving light power from Campbellville, here CP GP7u 1501 is seen lifting a hopper car of clay in the yard at Stevenson Street in Guelph. Soon the job would depart for the Owens Corning glass plant located along York Road on a very cold but sunny winter day.