Comments on: A neat critter in the depths of the north end of Hamilton that was hard to photograph, I only found it twice. With thanks to Bruce Mercer for the history of this unit: 45 ton GE built in 1957 (Serial number 32853): Formerly used at the Carmeuse Lime facility in Beachville, this unit was purchased in 2000 by Motive Power Inc. and was sold to Columbian Chemicals in August 2002. As far as we know, it was scrapped in 2015 and replaced with a Trackmobile. Too bad.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:50:57 +0000

I should note this unit has the “tall smokestack” that NSC critters had until they were chopped in the mid 2000′s…

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 23:53:15 +0000

James, no, they still have a trackmobile and use their own crews for this. I saw it as late as last weekend when on my GTW jaunt.

If AIM does it now that would be a very recent change.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 02:37:46 +0000

Pretty sure AIM does this for them now.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:46:18 +0000

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=35584

Hmm?

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 21:04:39 +0000

James, Google Satellite images show two trackmobiles in use at the plant.

By: Bill Purdy

Bill Purdy — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 14:31:27 +0000

I rode in that thing!

By: homerjay84

homerjay84 — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:38:20 +0000

Looks very different then the Bunge 45 tonner, wich was made in ’44. Must have made alot of changes in the later models. For one I know of is the side-rods were replaced with internal chains between axles.

By: jknott86

jknott86 — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:22:22 +0000

Columbian’s trackmobile made an appearance at the west end of Strathearne one night last week. Came out right to the westernmost switch, sat there for a brief while and looked at us, then retreated back east. Didn’t really look like they were doing any operational moves, and almost like they just came out to see what CN was up to and/or what we were doing there (which seems to be a common questions among the industries there). CN was working Contanda at the time and was not in Strathearne. Was the first time I’d ever seen it.. those carbon black hoppers don’t seem like they move much at all. The wheels are always rusty.