Caption: In spring 1993, my good friend’s family invited me to Goderich, Ontario for a day trip. They were going to tour the old town jail and go for lunch. While on the way I had one request and that was to make a stop at the former CN station and yard. By that time, the RailTex-owned Goderich-Exeter Railway was just one year old having started operations on the Goderich and Exeter Subdivisions in April 1992. I had seen photos of the new shortline in magazines and on the news over the previous year, so I certainly wanted to pay them a visit while in town that afternoon.
Once we arrived at the station, I could see the three former Cartier Railway GP9’s gathered by the building. It was a Sunday, so they were not working, however I was able to get some photos. The yard was full of CN cylindrical hoppers for the salt mine in town and there were empty bulkhead cars waiting to be loaded with new road graders from the nearby Champion facility. One year in the books and all signs were positive for Canada’s newest shortline. Here, GEXR 179 and 180 bask in the spring sun in front of the Goderich station with their cream and green paint still looking quite sharp. GP9 177 was situated a little further up on the same track.