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Caption: Ontario Southland Railway's latest in-service FP9u 1400 is now in the lead paired to sister unit 1401 as they are passing over what the locals call the Wabash Trestle. Crossing over Athletic Park in St. Thomas, Standing here 40+ years ago you would have seen copious amounts of London built F7's in Wabash (then Norfolk and Western) Service. It's a real treat to have London built F's on the bridge again - only due to the abandonment of the St. Thomas and Eastern Railway last year is this even possible. OSR now handles CN interchange traffic destined for its own customers and Future Transfer in Tillsonburg, and a result OSR runs to the yard in St. Thomas. Sometime soon CN should decide on the future of the Cayuga sub - rumour is a shortline, Railmark, is interested and working on the deal for early 2015 as reported in local newspapers.
Just a few minutes earlier CN 584 cleared the bridge so it was quite busy in St. Thomas this afternoon.
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I live 5min from here. I wish it got off the couch today haha. Why are the units so far across the bridge and facing that way. Normally the train only goes halfway out and the units are on the other end.
And I should ask: HOW did you get that sunshine?
Arnold – pure dumb luck. It was cloudy the entire way to St. Thomas – so much so I shot nothing from Putnam to St. Thomas.
Aleks, CN stuffed the yard full – OSR had to shove into the yard, ending up with cars on either end of the power – cut off the inbound cars, shove the outbound cut of cars clear across the bridge and then take the run-around using the southmost track closest to the old yard office. Now, since the sun had come out and one of OSR’s finest employees wanted a photo of the train on the bridge, what’s the harm shoving a couple extra cars to clear the trees? Hence this was slightly posed for the cameras.
I’m glad I took the chance to go – sometimes you get lucky.
Nice shot! I thought this line was abandon. Nice to see it still in use.
OSR is an interesting shortline. I like how they preserve old locomotives. It must be a bother to switch FP9u’s no? And the upkeep must cost them. Are they servicing the Ethanol plant in Aylmer as well?
The Payne sub is abandoned. A small stub exists for switching the yard only. Alex has the rest been lifted yet? What’s the story?
Brad – the Ethanol plant has no rail service at the moment. Like I stated OSR only services Future Transfer in Tillsonburg and maybe Growmark in Courtland under temporary contract with CN. None of the bridges are in service so Delhi and Aylmer have had no rail service for the last year and a bit – at least this is how I understand it. Corrections always welcome.
I’m not too sure about that way. I know some has been lifted but past Talbotville
Ultra rare to get an eastbound facing train over this bridge, great catch!
The elevator in Courtland has seen occasional service since the ST&E ceased in Dec 2013, there’s also a lumber yard that I believe is on the Cayuga in Tillsonburg that the OSR services.
Thanks Myles. Myles do you know where the stop block/sign is on the Payne these days?
The block sign is just past St. George Sreet