Caption: I had no plans to really spend my time following GEXR in the last weeks, with ample warning to 'get my shots' I had done so in the couple years leading up to the end, but then I started doing video in the waning days. It was sunny on Saturday November 11 when I woke up and I thought to myself, I may as well do a video at Mosborough.. and get back home in time to wake my girls for Pancakes. I enjoy trains at track speed and GEXR always put on a good show. I got out the door around 0800, went to Mosborough and noted the rails still covered in a light dusting of snow, block signals dark, zilch on the radio - usually the RTC gives 432 a work clearance to switch Kitchener or calls the RTC to denote they are done and heading east. I thought, I may as well go to Kitchener, maybe they are late. Upon arrival at Kitchener - radio silence, no train, rails snow covered, CTC dark for the mainline. That's odd, I suppose I'll just keep going - Breakfast can wait. What do I have to lose? Not like I'll have the opportunity to do this again.. Petersburg, Baden, New Hamburg.. nothing.. a friend mentioned they should still be in Stratford, ok, this is getting odd, it's nearly 0900 and the train should have been by Guelph by now - rails near HWY 7 still covered over. I'm in Shakespeare where trains do 60 MPH and it's getting dangerous to keep going - it's still sunny, a couple KM west of town I go to check the crossing to see if snow covered - as I drive down the road toward the track , I spot a headlight, and a train barrelling toward me in typical "Giver Exeter Railway" fashion at track speed - GEXR boys were not afraid of the throttle.

I was able to get back to the elevator, get in place for this quickie as these guys blasted by at track speed, not long after this shot they called "GEXR 432 clear on the approach Waterloo St" confirming to me this is an unusual move with the regular six axle motive power conspicuously absent, but with the autoracks in tow I thought maybe they'll just keep going. Nope, they stopped at Kitchener and reversed down the Huron Park Spur - then talked to 580 who was also switching the yard and confirmed they are turning back west once they return, to give 580 a turn at the interchange in the afternoon. Ultimately, I went from the prospect of a single photo/video to coming home with about 14 keepers and a few videos. I did NOT have enough time for a video here. Not even close :)

With the 10th being the first day we saw the SP 3054 - this was an ominous sign - everyone wanted that SP unit leading westbound - and with that my quiet week of observing , from a distance GEXR's operations became a mad scramble to get that "SP 3054 west" on camera - so much for my plans. But it was quite the week :) Thanks to the GEXR boys for the show.