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About mercer

Originally from Burlington ON; lived in Brantford, Aldershot, Chatham, Brights Grove and currently Brantford (2nd time), retired in 2014 from Ontario Southland Rly; also worked for CN, TH&B, C&O/CSX. Began photography in 1963 taking B&W and colour prints; began taking slides in 1966. No longer active in photography, enjoy helping younger fans with their aspirations in sharing my experiences.

mercer's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 100
Total gold: 1470
Number of comments recieved : 215
Number of comments posted : 680
Total views: 235291

mercer has 1 image in the Time Machine

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mercer's 100 photos on Railpictures.ca:

INSIDE THE SOON-TO-BE NEW ST CLAIR TUNNEL. I was privy to someone who knew someone who knew someone that allowed 2 of us inside the progressing construction of the new tunnel about 35 days after boring had commenced. This is a view of the back end of the Lovat Tunnel Boring Machine, with ceiling, sides and floor pieces installed. It is taken approximately 300 feet inside the tunnel. The actually boring head is beyond the machinery and of course for safety reasons, we were not allowed beyond this point. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	November 1993
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 11 Favourites

A change of pace from 1993 in Sarnia's Chemical Valley. One of the few times I carried my camera in the duffle bag. The day I took this image, I knew these were sitting here, so I was prepared. Brought to the Dupont of Canada Sclair Works in Corunna, for a planned TransCAER meeting. These would involve not only the host industry, but nearby industry, plus fire, police and other responders, plus representatives from local railways (in this case, CN and CSX). There are actually 3 cars here - the International Car caboose 913C, the outside-braced 50 foot cushion car 913B, and the DUPX tank car 912. The tank car, unfortunately out of sight on the backside of the curve, is for demonstration and training, as it has been equipped with multiple domes, valves and interior walkways. It is numbered 912 so as not to be confused with several other, similar cars, numbered 911 under a couple of ownerships. The boxcar not only carries further demonstration features, but has the generator to power the caboose (heating, lighting etc). These 3 cars were based somewhere in the USA and this was the 2nd time that I had encountered them in Canada. Taken with my Canon TX from the cab of some obscure CSX GP38 while working the 4pm " hill job".

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Other
Date:	June 1993
Location:	Corunna
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 14 Favourites

A late running L580 is headed out of Brantford on the Hagersville Subdivision using Dash-840CM 2444 (and 9482) to switch BlasTech, Marks Lumber and the "gyp" .
Already out on the "branch" is an X580 with 2 GP40-2L(W), who went light power earlier, to get some 50 outbounds from Garnet. I'm told they had a meet at Caledonia.
I can imagine this crew had a fun time switching with the GE in the lead.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	4/25/2019
Location:	Cainsville
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 12 Favourites

BCRail 1003, 1002 at North Vancouver Jul20/81, photo by Fred Gaines [ my collection ]. The 1002 is currently OSR 502 having arrived in Ontario looking pretty much the same as it did when Fred stood in the dreary west coast weather and captured it.

Name:	Bruce Mercer collec…
Railway:	BC Rail
Date:	7/20/1981
Location:	North Vancouver
Province:	British Columbia

Comments | 10 Favourites

CP train 500 at Bothwell with the seldom-if-ever used cattle pens keeping an eye on Soo 6611 and CP 5546-5514 as they fly past at track speed in the early evening

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	5/15/1985
Location:	Bothwell
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 6 Favourites

Another day at the CN/CP diamond west of Chatham, yields a 500 train with SOO 6615 leading CP 5522-5559 on it’s way from Chicago. Apr 8/87

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	4/8/1987
Location:	Chatham
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 10 Favourites

Train 904 about to hit the C&O diamond in Chatham on Oct 26/85, with 5721-4553-4551.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	10/26/1985
Location:	Chatham
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 8 Favourites

A cool shot on a bitterly cold day finds CP westbound time freight 917 with 5750- QNSL 208 (being purchased by CP) making a small setoff at Chatham.
There was an expression used by C&O workers, that on cold winter days when the snow is dry, it " runs " as the wind pushes it from one place to another. This was in reference to otherwise flat terrain where the snow would 'run' and accumulate to the lee of a hedgerow or a stand of trees. Such is the case on this bright morning, as 917 appears to be moving at track speed. In fact, the head-end man has made the cut on the Chatham cars and they are pulling ahead to clear the plant, in order to get the rail & signal to shove the cars into the yard. The caboose was probably being changed out for the Chatham-based roadswitcher.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	12/5/1985
Location:	Chatham
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 9 Favourites

NS power was abundant on both railways in 1997. CN leased some NS GE's while NS power was being mixed on their own trains (327/328) with CP engines. Here's intermodal train 144 with NS 8003-8004 handling another mile long consist as they tip toe across the underground river at Inksetter Road. The spring flowers are almost finished.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	6/11/1997
Location:	Copetown
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 12 Favourites

When NS decided to go cabooseless ( van-less, crummy-less, hack-less....) in Canada, they had to make an arrangement with CP in order to have leading engines with the proper on-board equipment. This became a Horsepower Hours repayment situation ( NS provided similar HP units for CP trains in the Southern Tier and D&H operating region). Saying all that just to say - here's a typical NS train 328 coming off the Dundas Sub with at least 2 CPR engines, making his way onto the connecting track known as The Cowpath, and heading into Hamilton.
No horses were harmed in the taking of this photo.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Norfolk Southern
Date:	5/13/1997
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 20 Favourites

Norfolk Southern train 27 ( St Thomas-Windsor) is in the middle of switching the west side ag facility at Thamesville one fine morning. C30-7 8046 and SD40-2 6194 have left their train east of the highway 2 crossing, pulled the 3 inbound cars beyond the crossing, then went into the mill lite power. They will switch out the outgoing cars before coupling back onto their 3 inbound cars and spot the customer. During the course of this 45 minute move, they will have cars on either end of the engines and make use of the crossovers plus the service track. This used to be a regular event several days per week for train 27.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Norfolk Southern
Date:	5/8/1987
Location:	Thamesville
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 14 Favourites

See http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=29360 for the related, and immediate prior image.
NS train 27 and VIA 74 are passing each other on the McGregor Creek through truss span while some engineering employees are discussing and inspecting the on-going project. Train 27 has a pair of C30-7's while F9's 6530-6632 are coming at me, having made the station stop just moments earlier. The dust being kicked up from both trains is not necessarily indicative of their speed; rather it is from trackwork that was done to install the connector so that CN trains can use C&O Subdivision 2 between here and Fargo, and further use the Caso Sub to Windsor and beyond.
In a couple of years, NS will revamp their service and renumbered trains 343/344 will begin using this connector and hence the Detroit River tunnel (after the ferries are removed). The speeder adds a nice touch to this scene. The high green signal on the left is the train order light for CN Chatham East. The burned and abandoned former CIL fertilizer plant is slowly disappearing in the foliage. The tan coloured pickup truck at the office belongs to Operator Fletcher who was Ken Annett's father-in-law.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	5/22/1987
Location:	Chatham East
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 13 Favourites

Knowing that sooner, rather than later, we would be moving from Chatham to Brights Grove, and NS would begin using the new Chatham East connector to run between Fargo and Windsor South, I tried to shoot a few locations on the Chatham Sub west of Chatham. On May 7/87, westbound NS train 27 passes through CN Prairie Siding with C30-7 8027 leading SD40-2 3286. On this day, 27 had stopped to make a lift in the CN yard west of Chatham station and this afforded me the opportunity to wait him out at Prairie Siding. And yes that green CP newsprint car was included in his lift, likely being another load from one of the numerous paper companies ( Abitibi, Spruce Falls, Consolidated Bathurst, Donahue...whatever), likely for an NS delivery in perhaps Kansas City or St Louis. The first hopper also came with that lift but I'm not sure if the other 2 did. Quite possibly 27 did work at Thamesville but I wasn't there to witness it. As for the Prairie Siding elevator, only CN was ever sighted switching here, utilizing trains 421 or 422 in this timeframe. Photo taken from the shoulder of Merlin Sideroad.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Norfolk Southern
Date:	5/7/1987
Location:	Prairie Siding
Province:	Ontario

8 Comments | 29 Favourites

On Apr 30/85, Conrail operated the CASO for the final time. The next day CN and CP took title of the 225 or so miles of double track and sidings, yards etc. Fast forward 2 years and CN has negotiated with Chessie ( almost CSX) to have certain trains operate between their Chatham Sub and Fargo using trackage rights and 2 new connections. Since we’re still in the train order era, a new office was put into use named CN Chatham East. This was immediately south of the CN Chatham Sub and east of the C&O diamond, using an old connecting spur that once served Darling & Co ( renderings). On Apr 8/87, I caught NS train 327 as he passes through the truss bridge and beyond the Chatham East connecting track with SD40-2’s 3261-3313 (both delivered as Southern Rly when new) operating long hood forward. The new structure for the Chatham East operator is immediately behind me. The burnt remains of the former CIL fertilizer plant can easily be seen behind the bare trees/shrubs.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Norfolk Southern
Date:	4/08/1987
Location:	Chatham
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 10 Favourites

CP RS10 8570 at The Glen (passenger car shop) in suburban Montreal in June 1983 looking none the worse for wear.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	6/xx/1983
Location:	Montreal
Province:	Quebec

4 Comments | 13 Favourites

Approaching Waterdown is Extra 4019 North with RS-3 8437 and dead SW-1 IREX 5 ex Vermont Rly trailing ( for AA Merrilees at West Toronto). The Hamilton area phone lines were buzzing this day as the train was being marshalled at TH&B Aberdeen Yard. This would be today’s version of the Ham Turn. This shot was taken off the shoulder of Snake Road immediately south of the old overhead bridge ( which at that time was iron with wood planks). Needless to say he was working hard with a 46 car train which includes a couple of transformers from Westinghouse.
It was mid morning in January hence my tendency to over expose.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	1/06/1973
Location:	Waterdown (south o…
Province:	Ontario

3 Comments | 19 Favourites

In the period 1982-1984 CP again went to B&O ( by now, officially Chessie System) for leased power.
A westbound at Belle River, Ontario shows clean 5746 with the white frame stripe leading B&O GP38’s 4800-4816 past the service equipment on Mar 22/84. In a couple of years those GP38's would become the domestic power on CSX lines within Ontario, so instead of watching them go by, I'd be operating them.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	3/22/1984
Location:	Belle River
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 10 Favourites

CP 5507 leads Penn Central GP9 + GP7 7431-5820 through Burlington on the daily STARLIGHT (Agincourt/Aberdeen). Building to the right is the CP Express office situated immediately east of CN Burlington station. This train brought all the local traffic for TH&B to distribute to local industry, including the empty piggyback flatcars for either Chatham Street or Forest Ave. The two PC geeps were laying over in Agincourt Yard after arriving earlier in the day from Buffalo.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	5/xx/1974
Location:	Burlington
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 13 Favourites

Feb 21/73 I caught train No. 11 with 4073-8574 on a dull cold afternoon leaving West Toronto. Even thought it's a cluttered image, it still provides an overview of what The Junction looked like at that time. CN's Weston Sub is on the far right, with the CP North Toronto Sub crossing east/west in the far background. And even further away is the still-standing CPR West Toronto " heritage " station. Either I took this through an open window from inside the CN waiting room, or, I walked outside and stood beneath the roof overhang. Just another day at CN West Toronto - tickets, telegrams, trains and what-have-you. (for a later-life photo of 4073, see my photo of MUCTC 1303) at <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=29750 target=_blank>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=29750</a>

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	02/21/1973
Location:	West Toronto
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 20 Favourites

CP train 955 headed up by an FA-1/FB-1 combo of 4015-4405 charges around the connecting track off the North Toronto Sub. and onto the Mactier Sub. In the left background is the small yard of Andrew Merrilees where red SW1 IREX 5 is resting. This was formerly Vermont Railway No. 5 and a former Erie Lackawanna unit before being sold to the equipment dealer. The CN crossing watchman’s tower is protecting traffic on Old Weston Road, and the watchman's little white dog seems to be inspecting the movement of 955 from the top step ! I was working 2nd trick at CN West Toronto and at the approach of each train, if possible, I would stand in the parking lot with my camera.

Name:	Bruce Mercer
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	04/07/1973
Location:	West Toronto
Province:	Ontario

7 Comments | 34 Favourites

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