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Caption: Well, as Kent Brockman in the Simpsons TV Show once capitulated during an alien invasion: "I for one, welcome our new railway overlords" and I guess I feel the same way. The Goderich-Exeter may be gone in Guelph and along most of the Guelph subdivision but with motive power like this, who's complaining? - Photographically speaking anyway. From a railway point of view, viewers from afar may be surprised to learn that the former Goderich-Exeter Guelph subdivision and associated spurs are essentially a CN Internal Shortline and still referred to as the "GEXR" by many. Why? Well, it's all the same employees in the cab! Other than CN 431 which is manned primarily by Toronto South crews on CN, all other assignments and customers on former GEXR Guelph sub are essentially guaranteed to the former GEXR guys who came over to CN. And these guys actually end up crewing 431 or 432 on occasion. It's their work, as far as the Union is concerned. That's about the easiest way I can explain it. And to hammer my point, witness this photo - L540 is heading east to Canwel in Acton, Ontario with two loads. Canwel could easily be done by a job that works the Halton subdivision... but they send a job from Kitchener for it. Similarly, and more suprisingly HCL Logistics located in London, Ontario at the former EMD plant also regularly gets rail service - out of Kitchener, NOT London for these exact same reasons. The internal shortline applies to Running Trades only - all other employees - MOW, Signals, RTC, Car Control, Carmen, Trainmasters, Management are not part of this agreement and may or may not be former GEXR employees. DI handles the Guelph Sub dispatching out of Montreal west of Kitchener.
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Great shot Stephen. Nice to see those GMD-1′s in 2019.
As for the ex GEXR employees operating on their old track. Its not really a union thing as opposed to a paycheck thing. CN had no more employees in Stratford, Kitchener or Guelph ever since they leased the Guelph Sub years ago. Then when GO started running on the subdivision some CN employess went to GO> With CN’s crew shortage crisis the last couple years it made sense to offer the positions to the former GEXR employees. I am just happy to know that things are thriving on this line and 431/432 is in the capable hands of Mr. DaCosta
Great shot Steve! Any idea how they work the industry in Acton as I don’t think there is a run around track at it? Just curious how the power gets to the other end of the train when they arrive?
Thanks gang.
Marcus, the run-around is inside canwel property.
Ok
Great thanks Steve!
Will have to catch this run sometime.
I tend to agree with you, Steve, I’m really enjoying the power that CN has brought to the Guelph Sub. Seeing a GMD-1 leader speeding along between New Hamburg and Stratford (as opposed to a low speed local job or in yard service) is something special that I know not to take for granted!
1439 dragged 50 cars from mac yard yesterday… to Kitchener. Naturally, a few of us witnessed that event in the flesh.
Pictures to come
Pinch me!
Nice shot Steve. I like the height that you got on the train. The trailing unit in the photo is 4777.
1439 sent back to Toronto Monday. Never know if it may come back.
Funny enough, CN’s hiring a conductor in Kitchener right now , should be the first non former GEXR employee into the fold unless they already hired someone..
Mx added a fence on top of concrete barriers between road and rails…. this shot is now gone.