Caption: "Trillium" wasn't a name I had heard of back in 1999 in regards to this railroad. It was started up in 1997 and in 1999 still referred to as the Port Colborne Harbour Railroad. Back in 1979 the town decided to come up with some sort of celebratory times and settled on "Canal Days" which was held over the Governor Simcoe holiday weekend (Civic holiday to many of you) in honour of 150 years of the first Welland Canal. The group behind this, the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum, promoted festivities for all ages and emphasized masted ships and boat rides. In time they decided to try a train ride as well. It was not much of a ride, and as a result a short lived experiment. Trains ran up and down the line a few miles using PCHR C-425 #6101 at the south end and S-1 #308 at the other, with 5 coaches brought in from NY State for the riders.
These days, the line is now GIO (Trillium), the 6101 went back to the USA in 2001 and the 308 departed stateside as well in 2003.
With covid fading away somewhat, I would expect Canal Days to be held once again first weekend in August 2022 with much fanfare and some great scenes for the Boatnerds, but only a miniature rubber tire train for the kiddies.
This scene is of the train crossing Elm St at the north end of town, the only place I could access to get a good curve showing both units.
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I rode it a couple of times. I think one year they rode as far as St.Kitts..I think the CHRA helped somewhat one the trip.
The NYLE era of Trillium.
Short lived but I did ride it and was on a trip that got close to St Kitts, maybe it was south of Thorold…tough gig to make a go of it, and years earlier I would take the little ones to Gowanda NY to ride the NYLE for the Peter Cottontail Express (you can guess the holiday)…it was pretty neat…same locos and cars