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Caption: A month after catching CP at MANA I found myself out on my lunch break today to see if I could find CN anywhere in the north end. Didn't take long to come across them westbound on the N&NW Spur, and with two coils and a string of gons on the head end, I figured they were headed for MANA and Stelco. Sure enough, they worked both. MANA can be a tough place to shoot, with a lot of flag poles, concrete barriers, switch stands, and even security vehicles (such as the one in the CP shot) getting in the way. But luckily, they worked a track that afforded a clean view. This track was added in the summer, after MANA did extensive work (performed by Allied if I recall correctly) adding track in their property. Note this shot from 2019, where this track is not present. You will also note in this 2021 shot, they are resting on a switch for more new track running to the east.
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Very interesting to see the difference within a couple years. It’s always nice to see addition of tracks vs. removal.
Agreed Kevin.
Steve made an interesting point the other night. When looking at satellite view it appears they’ve actually replaced former tracks that were there once before and had been removed at some point. I’d love to know the timelines of when they were taken out.
As I see it, inside the plant it’s probably all concrete floors with rails embedded, so it would be much much cheaper to re-use those tracks than build new.. after all you’d have to tear down the building to build new most likely
or rip out those embedded rails.. it’s not cheap…!
so it appears all the new tracks are patterned off the old tracks – while the curvature/gemoetry of the leads may have changed from Stelco days you can see the old rails at each door into the plant in past years satellite images, and they are identical to what’s there now with the 5 tracks.
I remember dreaming of what Stelco looked like in the 2000′s with all the switching going on out front, at that time there was only one track into a Stelco building (and I’ve yet to see a train go in there, ever, the far east side door) which was added mid 2000′s, then the Z line door was added with rails in 2013.. saw first trains in there in 2014.. dreams can come true
Track was in place when Raillink assumed operations in 1997 but pulled within a year or two. Info courtesy of the Hamilton rail lore expert, Lance.
Gather ’round the fire children, Lance is telling stories
Thanks as usual Lance.
Sweet photo Jamie.