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Caption: Hanlon is the name of the new control point for the Guelph N Spur and CTC is turned on - effective 0001 November 15 the entire line from Silver to London is CTC Controlled.
What does this mean for railfans? First of all, signals are approach lit, which means you won't see a signal until the train is by the previous control point. However, control points are 10+ miles apart so they are lit far far in advance despite block signals every couple of miles. Also the old station name signs no longer apply, as far as I can tell the crews call approach signals and control points, but not block signals
Who paid for it? To end any confusion, this was 100% paid for by VIA Rail, a $25 million project which included signalling, bonding of rails, codeline, radio installations, switch heaters, power switches, some rail improvements and according to VIA , fencing (haven't seen any. have you?). $25 million really won't go too far on a 90 mile long railway... Railterm in Dorval continues to dispatch the line.
Why would VIA pay for it? Good question, but it probably had something to do with the fact this was the busiest dark territory, mixed freight and passenger railway in the country hosting no less than 20 to 24 movements a day (locals included). This was long in the works, before GO was in the picture. Watch for that fencing, it may still be yet to come, obliterating a photo location permanently.
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With CTC fully operational, it would be nice to see a few more VIA trains…I wonder if this line will be getting the Budds?
There is no more OCS on the Guelph Sub now Stephen.
Steve, corrected.
Nice Steve! I was on the bus to the tracks at this point
Nice shot Steve. I thought I saw a ‘mileboard’ sign at this control point. I see the bungalow already got tagged.
They are now Control Points, JP. Noble_trade, the word on the street is King St may become OCS again – up in the air, otherwise they have to maintain/install CTC on the shoo-fly, which also includes Huron Park spur switch re-alignment so it could happen, we will see.
Really nice picture and explanation Stephen. Wee slip with the date, 12/17 is a month in the future. Wish I could get my own caption and data errors fixed.
Thanks. That’s why we have a database editor. Requests for corrections are always completed.
Think of it this way, if we did offer editing to everyone, what if the edits are wrong or rogue? still need someone to approve the edits. It makes no difference doing it by means of a request.
It’s interesting you should mention that this was Via’s busiest dark territory , Steve. I recently skimmed a TSB report from 2006 about about a near cornfield meet between 87 and 518, where 87 called the wrong GEXR crew to get clearance through 518 work limits. Perhaps that incident had something to do with Via’s initiative?
Hmmm….gonna run the risk here of upsetting the cncpguy….but the entire Guelph Sub is CTC now, there’s no OCS island at the west end of Kitchener.
Only OCS on GEXR now is the Goderich Sub and the Exeter Sub.
Thanks RLK 2211. The record needs to be correct.