Caption: Still standing guard at least for one more day at 7th Line just outside Harriston, the railway crossing sign is seen taking in the last rays of a late winter afternoon. After un-coupling from their empty rail salvage train in Harriston, GP9RM’s 4115 and 4140 made the trek to the quiet dirt road light power and were quickly tied down here by the Stratford crew. A CN vehicle had then arrived and picked them up with the festival city as their ultimate destination from where they had originated earlier in the day. Here, the units sat waiting for the next day, which would see the rail removal process officially begin between Harriston and Listowel.
As some final images were taken, there was actually now time to soak in the moment. No more foremen, no more chasing through towns or on bridges and by oddly placed benches - just the calm rhythmic sound of GP9RM’s. Now idling on rails that once regularly felt the passage of freight and people destined for stations on waybills and stamped on tickets along the route. Photographing what was and knowing what it was about to become are two different things; however in the end they both reach the same conclusion. Unfortunately they become a part of the ultimate history of a rail line.