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Caption: Impressive former Canadian Pacific 6593, restored and operating by the Waterloo Central Railway, is being 'borrowed' by GEXR as 584 switches two cars out, and two cars in for Chemtura in Elmira. A very rare daylight move, and with interesting power to boot. Due to the Region of Waterloo LRT construction, I am informed the line was essentially closed for the week due to culvert installation. Customer needed an emergency switch, and the Waterloo Central helped out with assistance from GEXR crew. Very nice to hear the McIntosh & Seymour designed 539T engine working hard - McIntosh & Seymour was purchased by ALCO in 1939 and formed the basis for ALCO's famous four cylinder designs going forward.
At right is the sprawling and equally neat Chemtura facility in Elmira.
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Now that is a nifty catch, Host.
Thanks Mike. I wonder if the kids know the significance of this – most of these retired/scrapped by 1982 or 83.. along with many of the early 1st generation diesels, so few of which were preserved.. and this is operating? Worth a trip to WCR in St. Jacobs to see and hear.
With a fleet of 101, the S-3′s were certainly one of the more numerous units in CP’s 1st generation stable. I won’t say that lasting to the early 80′s was a short lifespan for any 539 powered class 1 fleet, but the emergence of 100 ton cars over-matched their 660hp hearts and many became surplus.
I can’t tread west of Yonge Street, so this little gem is off limits to me
I give you permission to come to the west side, Mike, and bag this little beauty.
Ok, so this is the engine I got a glimpse of doing field work in Elmira back at the end of June. Where does it reside normally? Again, this would have been nice to capture. Nice catch Steve.
Awesome shot!:D
You can find WCR 6593 at the two stall engine house WCR built in St. Jacobs, and when the passenger trains are running (which is three days a week!) the shops are open and tours are readily available for the asking. Steam engine #9 and a second steamer under restoration reside there, as well as their two diesels, and they can give cab tours as well.
Bring the family/wife/girlfriend/etc and go for a little ride – they have a station platform and you may find 6593 powering the train. They run between the Market and Elmira with stops in between.
One can also get off at either station and go for a wander, either at St Jacobs or the Market, where you can board the next train (they run three round trips per operating day, generally)
There is NO platform or station at Elmira just yet – the train simply turns there. I suspect that may come soon, as it stands now Chemtura owns the property above and is quite opposed to passengers on their property, so it would have to be elsewhere and outside of the main industrial area.
Good luck
http://waterloocentralrailway.com/
You can find some information here. They run Tues-Thurs-Sat, with some special events. Next special event is a steam excursion on Mon. Aug. 3.
I learned the fine art of railroading back in the early 1970s on sister units 6589 and 6590 which were regular power at Woodstock for the roadswitchers and wayfreights to Port Burwell.
Nice Shot Stephen! I have been to Waterloo Central many times. The train does stop in Elmira, where you have the option of taking a tractor ride (also run by Waterloo Central)into the town of Elmira