Caption: The GO excursion trains are in full swing to Niagara, and with their frequency, Grimsby Sub meets are pretty common. This is not how you would expect it to be, however. The Amtrak Maple Leaf from New York has notoriously been late for years, and when the GO excursion trains started back in 2009, the GO would regularly have to wait at Clifton for up to an hour so the Maple Leaf could clear the block from Niagara Falls station. By the time the GO would need to use the platform, Via 95 from Toronto would be sitting at Clifton too. GO eventually decided to extend the platform west, as it was clear the Maple Leaf wasn't going to start being on time. While Via 95 no longer runs, the extended platform sure comes in handy. On Canada Day, GO 787 pulled into Niagara Falls, and the Maple Leaf arrived about 15 minutes later, and the Amtrak crew made sure GO was aware of that. It would be a good 10 minutes before the GO and Amtrak crew, as well as the RTC sorted everything out and the Maple Leaf was allowed to enter GO 788's block. Judging by the radio communication, this was a mess for the crews and the RTC, and the GO crew was particularly concerned about having to get out of the way for the Maple Leaf once it departed. Thankfully the Maple Leaf was late enough, along with a good hour of customs inspections, that this didn't need to happen. However, just like last summer, and the summer before, this particular turf war will become the norm until Labour Day. As for the railfans, it was a good way to spend Canada Day.
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I photographed the GO at Winona and 98 at Grimsby last night – the GO was about 30 minutes ahead of the Maple Leaf. Nice shot BTW.
It’s always a mess when the “Go” crews are involved!
One great feeling is when you’re in a great spot to catch the Maple Leaf, and it’s on time for once.