|
Caption: There is a bitter chill in the air as light snow falls. All is quiet other than a faint hum coming from 333, most likely the system that stops it from freezing up in these cold temperatures. While the station is nicely lit, the yard is depressingly empty and dead weeds cover many of the rails. Just out of sight to the right the Clorox factory is in the process of converting their old railway unloading area into a new truck transfer area. The sad reality that the railway is leaving and it most likely is for good, even the old rail spur to the factory has already been ripped out, and north of town the old railway right of way is being converted into a trail. The 333 most likely only has a week left of time here in Orangeville before the contract is over and this may be the last snowfall it sees here as well. For now December 17, 2021 seems to be the day for the last run to Streetsville one last time, let's hope not.
|
Wow – a wonderful image with an excellent narrative. Nicely done, Sir!
This great shot has “End of the Line” written all over it. A Marcus Marvel.
Thanks guys ! This line has a bit of a family history, which makes its demise it bit harder to take, but what can we say, the writing has been on the wall for years. We were lucky it lasted this long. I can’t help to think how short sighted it would be to see the rails ripped up. I’m sure it will be a line that could definitely be used in the future, either by Metrolinx or a tourist railway.
I guess Orangeville politicians can’t use extending GO trains to Orangeville as a political promise in the near future…
Great idea!!! Even if it isn’t feasible a promise such as that should be good fodder for at least 2 elections.
Too bad Canada hasn’t adopted the “Rail-banking” several U.S. states have.
Don’t worry, the right of way is being purchased by the local municipality, with Brampton buying the station lands (6 acres) for a park for the nearby highrises. Brampton is confirmed as I found the documents approving it in Brampton city minutes. $30 million for just those station lands (from Diamond to station site) – with that Orangeville has made their money back on 20 years of operating the rail line with just that deal.
Orangeville still has to announce what they will do with their lands outside of Peel. They may develop it, or build a trail, who knows.
The Region of Peel will very likely develop a trail. Just hope they don’t sell off or offer the lands at the Diamond in Brampton for some other purpose in case transit use ever takes off again. (IE: GO, LRT, etc). GO to Orangeville will not work, but to Snelgrove…. it might have a future should continued intensification take root, and I’m saying in 15-30 years…
Ontario is not interested in rail banking it’s up to the municipalities to decide that.
@marcus a tourist railway would absolutely make money in conjunction with freight service, but alas, no one wanted to put up the money and the Town was no longer interested. The line would have to have been in private hands for that to work, because as we’ve seen, you elect a council that wants it gone and it’s gone. Just like that. No one stepped forward to buy the line off the town for operations, and even still, the town/council could just say.. no… Ontario Shortline Railway act does not require sale for operations. Nothing of that anymore exists. Only for Federal railways.
Very sad it is a lost cause. I’m honestly not surprised though considering how things are run in this country. I always figured even if the line survived the section between Streetsville and Brampton would be abandoned. The diamond is a big financial headache. Sadly years of not attracting new business has taken its toll. I wish they could move South Simcoe Railway over here. In the end I’m glad I spent the time I did along this line. I guess only time will tell where things go from here but certainly nothing too promising likely to happen. OBRY RIP! Thanks for the memories.