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Caption: GEXR 431 with the new kid on the block, SD40-3 QGRY 6908 is westbound leaving Acton in notch 'give er' to keep a few thousand tonnes on the drawbar moving up the Acton grade. I recorded audio again, and you can listen to the cars flying by and the train by clicking here - warning: LOUD.
And we've come full circle. I have shot ex GCFX (Alstom rebuild) SD40-3's on GEXR before - on both GEXR and CN trains, as did many others, but they were quite rare on GEXR. And I'm not one to keep records, but these I did keep thanks to some friends.
Due to derailments at both Gobles and at Bayview on the Dundas sub, a number of trains re-routed over GEXR (Total about 40). February 13/14/15 (17 CN 2 NS 8 VIA) and Feb 19/20 2003 (8 CN 4 VIA) and yes, the regular GEXR and VIA trains did run -- it was very busy! At the time, CN used lots of Alstom SD40-3's and I was already sick of 'em. By date:
February 15 2003: CN 383 had GCFX 6071 trailing as third unit
February 19 2003: CN train 271 @ Kitchener met 434 and another CN Eastbound @ Kitchener in the siding with GCFX 6043, BNSF 2636 (Santa Fe paint, blue), and BNSF 2537 (Orange). This unit became QGRY 6913 so.. very close…
February 19 2003: GCFX 6041 on CN Q14291-18
February 20 2003: GCFX 6071 on CN M39031-19
February 20 2003: GCFX 6057 on CN Q14891-19
And GEXR once borrowed a pair of SD's, back in these days they could have come in on a Potash Extra (Unit potash trains from out west, destination Agromart @ Kellys) and once on GEXR - GEXR would use them for 432/1 for as long as CN let them... which usually wasn't very long. The unit trains stopped around 2003/4..
November 13 2003: GCFX 6048 IC 6140 (in CN paint) found on 431 in Kitchener (no other motive power) returning to the regular four axle power the next day.
So yeah, full circle, eh?
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During that Gobles incident, the Maersk-painted NS unit ( whose identity I completely forget) was leading an eastbound on the Guelph Sub which I believe was a CN train, not NS 328 or 245. It went right overhead of us, as we [OSR] passed beneath the trestle with the 183-505 !!
In daylight !!
Bruce, yes! I was at the station in Kitchener for an eastbound and surprise – CN train goes by with the Maersk unit – but it was trailing. Vigilant GEXR crew spotted a car with dragging strapping, ordered the train to stop, fix the car and I was able to get ahead for a second round of crappy, for the record photos.
Feb 19 2003 CN M396 with CN 5595 east with NS 3329 trailing and it went by around Lunchtime in Kitchener.
It was darn cold and really crappy weather, but the action was great.
Truth is GEXR couldn’t handle that many detours anymore – not enough spare crew and the CN crews also no longer qualified. VIA could run trains till the cows come home though..
Never say never – it’s been a while since any major re-routes over the North Mainline.
Nice one on the sound link Stephen. Do you follow Lance Mindheim? A modeler.. Waiting on my DCC locomotive to fire through my mains here. http://lancemindheim.com/about-us/wireless-headphone-sound/
Note: location is Acton Ont.