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Caption: GEXR Train 581-08 making a rare daylight appearance on the Waterloo spur (Kitchener to Elmira). Due to the construction of the Light Rail Transit line, called "ION" - using the Waterloo spur from this point northward (Town Square station to Northfield station) a Welded Rail Train was brought to town. The drop was managed by GrandLinq, the consortium overseeing construction and operation of the line. This sleepy railway will be transformed into LRT over the next two years. The train dropped rail all day on Saturday, finishing on Sunday by the early afternoon. In this scene, Waterloo Regional police, who were escorting the train across all crossings, is seen flagging traffic, the train is reversing and the power is about to duck between king st buildings.
Due to LRT construction, freight trains are restricted from 2300-0500 and daylight moves are by far and large very very rare. Once the LRT is open daylight freights will be history.
More interesting facts: Think of the LRT as a double track line with three one-way single track loops in downtown Waterloo and Kitchener (click here for map). The Waterloo single track section will use Caroline Street (yes - the same Caroline St in the famous CP/Grand River Railway street running - abandoned 1994 - it's coming back!) and King St (Also coming back - once used for Streetcars from the Kitchener Waterloo Railways - abandoned 1946) for the in-street portion of the LRT. To reach king st, a curve will be right where I am standing (approx) to join the Waterloo Spur to my left through the Town Square Mall trackage. The Waterloo spur from this point where the locomotive is and south (to right through the buildings) will remain a freight only line and used for new Flexity deliveries.
A new layover facility complete with loop tracks is presently being built at Northfield Drive in Waterloo to store and maintain the Bombardier Flexity LRT cars (exact same as TTC, just blue, and standard gauge). Rails for this yard are part of this drop. The LRT will run all the way to Fairway mall near Cambridge, from there change to BRT to Cambridge. The route is too complicated to type here, maps can be found on the ION website - this LRT project will transform Waterloo Region and will be a bellweather for other LRT projects in Canada. More details: http://rapidtransit.regionofwaterloo.ca
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There was a loaded rail train at CN London East on Friday with CWRX reporting marks – wonder if it was the same train?
Yes that was the same train
Freight times are actually 2300-0500 Monday to Thursday, extra times on weekends when the proper arrangements are made.
This sir is sweet…well done, Host
Very, very nice!
An update from the news: http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5468027-grandlinq-secures-ok-to-work-at-night-in-waterloo-until-2016/
Anyone know what WCR’s operating hours south of Northfield would be in the rare event is is needed? (if it’s even defined)
There will be more of these rail trains in the near future – the railway is going to be double track with multiple crossovers. so one more rail train required to finish off the double track section of the GEXR Waterloo spur.
I’m also informed some in-street trackage could be put in place as soon as end of this year, now I’m not sure how that will be installed, or if a rail train will be used considering you need rails to drop a welded rail train. I’m betting on welding jointed rail in place for the street sections.
But there are about 20 KM of in-street track yet to be installed.. double and single track at that. Should be interesting to see what happens.
Will GEXR give out the information about when daylight freights come because I would love to see them cross the intersection of Erb and Caroline st. Do you have any idea of when the next daylight freight goes by?
99: no, but I’d suggest you join the yahoo group brucerys (groups.yahoo.com) and introduce yourself. If it happens it will be posted there.
It will probably happen twice in the next year if you are lucky so be nimble
and listen to your scanner.
Where could I buy the scanners from and how much are they?
99: http://www.trainweb.org/railscan/
Great pic, and great description to go along with it, but just an FYI, it’s not “Fairway mall” as you mentioned, it’s called “Fairveiw Park Mall”.
When the LRT construction is finished and opening day for the LRT is being advertised. Do you think GEXR will operate during the daylight hrs in that 1-2 month period? I have 1 more question about the restrictions. Is there a certain hr that the train normally runs through Waterloo at or can it happin at anytime during the 7hr period?
No – the Region will start testing the LRT and training drivers immediately , the schedule will be permanent. The more time that passes, the less likely a daylight move will happen – the only way it will happen now is an ‘emergency’ switch is needed (with the Region giving permission) or rescuing a train that ‘died’ on the law. And then, you have to ‘be there’ to get it…
There might be another rail train, but i have no idea what’s planned.
You think they would have crossing signals ducking in and out of buildings on a busy street.
Great photo! (The Harmony Lunch restaurant is now a thing of the past too)
Just saw in the paper this morning that the Harmony Lunch will continue with new owners.