Caption: This was the first NS Heritage unit to enter Canada. And since I was the only one there to witness it......
The second locomotive is in Norfolk Southern paint; that is, the "first" Norfolk Southern. This was a road that operated between 1942 and 1982 in a region stretching from Norfolk, Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina. The line was merged with the Norfolk Southern (as we know it) in 1982.
Back in 1974 the Southern Railway bought the "first" Norfolk Southern and merged it into the Carolina and Northwestern Railway but kept the 'Norfolk Southern' name.
When the Southern and the Norfolk and Western merged in 1982; the little Norfolk Southern was changed in name back to the Carolina & Northwestern in order the name 'Norfolk Southern be freed up for the new Class 1 operation. Thats why we have a heritage road paint scheme totally unlike the current scheme yet all engines in this photo carry the same name.
So, anyway, NS 8391, 8114 and 9073 are shown just entering Canada as the H3R daily transfer at the International Bridge. I hung around for their return to the US, which was about an hour later.
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Nice leader too, all those Dash8′s now off NS’s roster.
An hour! They spend a LOT more time on the Canadian side now. Canadians still work the job too out of St. Thomas, and some American crews qualified for Canada.
It used to be they ran the train down to CN Duff and dropped their train; ran up adjacent track to where the pickup was sitting on the north side track as far as under the Central Av bridge; and then got ready to leave. Times have obviously changed. The transfer is a lot later in the day than the noonish it used to be.
Great shot! I was lucky enough to see the Lehigh one last year in the Fort.
Indeed they have, but last time I was there they ran to Duff (stretching well beyond Petitt road) to do the set off, and returned light power as I guess 562 did not run for them.
I have also noticed them coming over much later – often in darkness in the fall/winter!