Railpictures.ca - Stephen C. Host Photo: Deep in the north end of industrial Hamilton – at the end of Parkdale Ave N. lies a small yard called Strathearne by SOR. Rich in history and quite busy – sometimes you get lucky. This was the second time in four years I’ve found Columbian Carbon switching with their March 1957 built GE 45 Tonner. The crew is seen switching cars in the Strathearne yard and the engine is on the Strathearne yard mainline. Four train operators use this track – in recent weeks both SOR and CP can be found switching customers here – behind me is A&M Metals who also acquired a trackmobile for the sprawling metals recycler. Add in Columbian and that’s up to four operators in a very small section of track. How about the history? From what I can tell – this track is actually the last remaining segment of the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway which ran along the Beach Strip to Burlington and was abandoned in 1929. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

Deep in the north end of industrial Hamilton - at the end of Parkdale Ave N. lies a small yard called Strathearne by SOR. Rich in history and quite busy - sometimes you get lucky. This was the second time in four years I've found Columbian Carbon switching with their March 1957 built GE 45 Tonner. The crew is seen switching cars in the Strathearne yard and the engine is on the Strathearne yard mainline.
Four train operators use this track - in recent weeks both SOR and CP can be found switching customers here - behind me is A&M Metals who also acquired a trackmobile for the sprawling metals recycler. Add in Columbian and that's up to four operators in a very small section of track. How about the history? From what I can tell - this track is actually the last remaining segment of the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway which ran along the Beach Strip to Burlington and was abandoned in 1929.

Caption: Deep in the north end of industrial Hamilton - at the end of Parkdale Ave N. lies a small yard called Strathearne by SOR. Rich in history and quite busy - sometimes you get lucky. This was the second time in four years I've found Columbian Carbon switching with their March 1957 built GE 45 Tonner. The crew is seen switching cars in the Strathearne yard and the engine is on the Strathearne yard mainline.

Four train operators use this track - in recent weeks both SOR and CP can be found switching customers here - behind me is A&M Metals who also acquired a trackmobile for the sprawling metals recycler. Add in Columbian and that's up to four operators in a very small section of track. How about the history? From what I can tell - this track is actually the last remaining segment of the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway which ran along the Beach Strip to Burlington and was abandoned in 1929.

Photographer:	Stephen C. Host [1535] (more) (contact)
Date:	12/20/2014 (search)
Railway:	Industrial (search)
Reporting Marks:	GE 45T Serial 32853 (search)
Train Symbol:	Not Provided
Subdivision/SNS:	Stratherne Mainline, SOR "Far East" (search)
City/Town:	Hamilton (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=17437

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Photo ID: 16353

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

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5 Comments

awmooney

December 25, 2014 at 2:41 pm

Steve: I remember as a week kid the Radial Line trackage still intact up John St from Lakeshore (Water St back then) in Burlington. The Car Barns used to be where Lions Park is now, Martha/James/Maria Streets. They were before my time but I used to hear people talk of them. The Beach line should have never been taken up. I am convinced GO could have used it as a shortcut for NIA-T.O. express GO trains once the system is in place.
Stephen C. Host

December 25, 2014 at 6:58 pm

Here’s a link to an article from 1950 by Andrew Merrilees (Also reprinted in September 1991 UCRS newsletter) which goes into much detail about the Hamilton Radial Railway. What’s neat is the HSR operated to the Firestone plant at shift change over the HRER, and this trackage was in effect the “Steam plant spur” of the HRER. Notice in this paragraph:

“The Hydro continued operation of the Steam Plant. The spur was leased to the CNR and TH&B
railways, to operate jointly: a new western approach was built for this spur in 1947 by the new
owners and the remainder laid in heavier rail. ”

Which brings us to today’s joint SOR/CPR operation. I imagine this has been a very profitable railway spur given that it has about 20 customers linked to it

http://tinyurl.com/pf4rtu4
Stephen C. Host

May 19, 2015 at 10:10 pm

Word is – this engine has been scrapped due to engine failure and lack of wanting to repair it. RIP.
jknott86

October 22, 2018 at 4:31 pm

Do they still have their own power Steve?
Stephen C. Host

October 22, 2018 at 4:54 pm

No, scrapped and gone. Trackmobile now. It was scrapped sometime in early 2015 IMHO

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