Caption: Canadian National's St. Clair Tunnel at Sarnia was too small to handle higher cars such as double stacks, so the decision was made to bore a new, larger tunnel. A special ceremony was held on September 16th 1993 to celebrate the start of the new bore. The old tunnel was built in 1891, 6025 feet long and had a bore diameter 19 feet 10 inches. The new tunnel would be opened in 1994, 6129 feet long and have a bore diameter of 27 feet 6 inches.

Here is a special passenger train that took special guests through the old tunnel to Port Huron, where there was an elaborate lunch before the return trip. There was also a ceremonial function in a large tent in Sarnia.

In the photo we see the passenger special, made up of two CN GP40-2W's bracketing 5 VIA passenger cars, starting through the old tunnel on the left. The green paint showing on the bell of CN 9674 gives off her former GO Transit heritage (one of 10 purchased from GO a few years back). On the right the Lovat TBM (tunnel boring machine) is ready to start the new bore.