|
Caption: Stelco SW900 90 passes under the elevated portion of Burlington Street and crosses the street-level crossing just west of Wilcox Street, working outside Stelco's Hilton Works plant in the evening on the Hilton Works (J85) lead (that leads to the east side trackage). The track in the forground is the J80 lead that runs to the west side trackage in the plant. The unit is probably taking some outbound cars from Stelco to one of the nearby yards along the CN N&NW spur.
90 is one of a number of GMD SW8 and SW900 switchers built for Stelco in the 50's and 60's, featuring a special low-clearance cab and exhaust stacks for working in and around industrial areas. Originally built in January 1965 at GMD's London ON plant, at this point in time makeshift full handrails have been installed along the sides (chains and stanchions, also note the typical as-delivered hood-mounted handrails still present). As with other sister units, 90 has been ballasted heavier with large pieces of steel mounted to the end pilots, and a thin layer of steel added on top the frame walkways to bring total weight up to 137 tons (from around 115 tons a normal SW900 would weight). The unit sports the older pre-white safety stripes livery, and the old "dog bone" logo on the cab sides.
The number of Stelco's plant switchers has dwindled over time, as operations were decreased or rationalized some units were sold off or transfered to other operations, but a few remain at their Hamilton site for in-plant switching (including unit 90).
Original photographer unknown, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
|
A well timed upload. Last week 90 was transferred via CN 331 and CN 581 to Garnet, where it was interchanged to Southern Ontario Railway to forward to Nanticoke.
Great shot! Love this.
I last saw 90 working on March 20 2011. The main active units the last few years have been 89 and 84. Don’t know if 90 was seen much in last few years but it was in the shop. #51 an GE 80 ton critter is unaccounted for. That made for four known units at Stelco Hamilton – now three (possibly only 2 if 51 is scrapped).
I was hoping to get a nice photo of 90 working but I guess what I have from March 2011 will have to do for now.
What a gem!
Could this be a Reg Button shot?
No Steve, it came from a different source, and doesn’t have Reg’s writing. Likely a visiting US railfan as it was US-processed.
I try to find out who takes the slides I post, but many are unsigned, and some have been traded or changed hands multiple times making it difficult or impossible to find the original photographer.