Caption: Double stack container trains used to be a routine sight sight on CN in Niagara, unironically due to the lack of availability of a capable tunnel under the St. Clair River. The opening of the Tellier tunnel largely changed that. CN 154 and 155, the only stack trains that went through Niagara as an efficient route, weren't able to hold their own, typically extremely short in length, and often mixed with autoracks to make up for the lack of intermodal.

This likely was the first dedicated stack train to roll over the CN Grimsby Sub in about 15 years, and not a stubby one either. Running under the number 122, this is 148's typical train that otherwise would operate over the Dundas Sub. The wreck in the Sarnia tunnel meant for three options, go north and come down the already overcrowded Bala Sub, run all hicubes as singles through Windsor (tunnel is too short for hicube stacks), or take the CSX or NS Chicago Line to Buffalo, and come across in Fort Erie. Ultimately, the last option was chosen, much to the joy of Niagara railfans including myself.

For power is CN 8804 and 2454. Used to hearing container trains on smooth track, hearing the sound of empty containers thrashing about on a bumpy south track was fairly intimidating. It certainly has a much more intense feel than the sound of what is essentially sheet metal on autoracks. A car count was not kept, but the train was around 200 cars. It felt odd seeing a complete stack train at the bottom of the Niagara Escarpment on the south side of Lake Ontario. I decided to be up really early, anticipating this might be the only chance to see this reroute in early morning light or even with any light at all, given this was the first run and future runs likely would be smoother. Was I ever wrong, and I'm glad. The first reroute of this train ended up being the earliest, and a few others came in decent afternoon light. Afternoon light would've required a different location however, and this was the only 122 to come before nasty backlighting set in, so making sure I shot this 122 here was well worth it.