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Caption: While Trillium is waiting delivery of GMTX 223, I thought it was high time to see the Alco's in action while it's still a guarantee- this time getting lucky as I'd never shot 1859 before, not even on STER. In this photo the crew had just lifted 7 cars out of the yard by Riverland Agriculture (Robin Hood Flour) to deliver to Ingredion just up the line. With a bit of a grade and curve, 1859 is getting a good workout - a great spot for a bit of action on a mostly flat railway (except the Thorold grade, which will wait for another day!).
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Love the curve shot Steve. Unfortunately, Thorold is only a 1.6% grade and they normally only have 4 boxcars from WP, which I believe are only carrying paper products. It’s a subtle chug at best from my one shot there. I’m guessing in tow here is 7 loaded tankers, with a grade that reminds me of Goderich.
My only experience in PC was chasing CN 564 to the Vale plant with a single tanker on the Humberstone. Looks like I need to cross the canal.
Awh, yes, Steve: This is a great spot as my almost-identical smokey shot of the old PCHR 6101 (C-425) which graced the back cover (I think, if I ever find the magazine) of the Sept 1997 Railpace was also taken here.
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Daniel – Your Only experience? that’s like finding lightning! Does 564 have an approximate schedule to Port Colborne these days? It’s on my hitlist but I had heard it’s about once or twice monthly. I’ve also noticed TRRY #45 is now used as the INCO Port Colborne switcher. I suspect Trillium may have this contract for moving cars also.
Arnold I want to see this Railpace some day – if you still have a copy I’d like to borrow it
Also GMTX 223 is now (Finally) in Port Robinson CN yard – arrived today – I’d expect it to be interchanged at feeder pretty soon.
Besides the 1 tankcar per month, what else is moving via rail in/out of Vale/INCO?? They have their own GE centercab ( purchased new ) so perhaps TRRY 45 is only leased to them..?
Daniel I need to dig into my timetables and see if the grade is mentioned on the Port Colborne spur. I’m led to believe this spur was constructed to by pass the street-running along Elm St (former N&ST Track) around 1985 through town – about two miles or so. Much of this track is also Welded rail also.
sadly i have no newer timetables than 1985 and none stipulate grades.
Bruce, I think its the same. Just the tank car moves.
Trillium are not involved in rail service on the east side of the Canal (the Port) and no contract with VALE Canada or INCO. CN reportedly navigates the quaint Humberstone Spur instead. Residents quickly noted hearing the clanging of train bells during the night which may cut down on potential photo ops.
Glenn, I refer you to this document from the City of Port Colborne:
http://68.71.2.188/agendas/reports.nsf/642168211e2035ab85256a1e000f6889/e35e3ea6530c3e7b852575fb00668f78/$FILE/Inco%20Rail%20Extension%20Report%20%232009_12.docx
Also, why does it appear that Trillium #45 was/is used as a plant switcher at Inco Port Colborne? See google earth/google maps from mid 2016.
CN continues to provide above railhead service to Inco, the above document seems do indicate that Trillium once maintained the rail and track.
These kind of agreements are not unheard of, the Waterloo-St Jacobs Railway to Elmira is owned by the Region of Waterloo, maintained by CN using their maintainers (signals and track) but above-railhead service is provided by GEXR.
Trillium serving Inco is a new one on me. The bridge was taken out before Trillium (PCHR) came into being, and I have only heard of a sporadic CN switcher rumbling down the east side of the canal over the Humberstone.
Nay Arnold. CN still services Inco. But Someone has to switch in-plant as needed, I think Trillium may be doing this and/or leasing motive power for a shop switcher.
I’ll get to the bottom of it in the next few months, planning to go back.
Sorry for any confusion, as I only intended to submit clarification that might be of interest to a few as received yesterday (in response to my question posed directly to TRRY), and using the exact words contributed by the big guy wearing the white TRRY hard hat, etc.
Glenn: Not confusion, but rather discussion. This is interesting. I couldn’t figure out where that #45 switcher had disappeared to. If it no longer was useful on the west side, then why not lease it to the east side business? Heaven knows, Trillium can use the money.
Agreed on the discussion and I’m not trying to confuse, just laying down curiosities.
Trillium is under new ownership Arnold, and the new management (New President also) is investing in the infrastructure (track, bridges) as well as new motive power (Where is the new MP15 anyway?)
I think what we’re seeing is a new era for Trillium – and considering they seem to have branched out to contract industrial switching operations in Allanburg, perhaps the same at Inco? Interesting times ahead for sure.
CN actually sold the Humberstone Spur to INCO in approx 1997. What took place after that, I cannot say. But it would make sense that CN at first, followed by TRRY, performed delivery of the 1 (or 2?) cars per month, while INCO/Vale performed it’s own move within their property. And at the same time, having purchased the Spur, INCO would then need a contract for maintenance, be that from CN, TRRY or any other firm.
Agreed Mercer. The document I linked shows that the City of Port Colborne had since been gifted the line including all rights and title from INCO in the ensuing years.
The document was in effect a motion for the City of Port Colborne to consider extending the spur on the INCO side, to the east side canal lands (near the Ship Salvage yard area) to help attract new industrial customers, and goes into considerable detail on the matters that have arisen over the 10 or so year period since it was sold by CN to INCO. This was dated 2009 and was for a 100% funded grant from the CAF Fund of Ontario.
Obviously this has not yet come to pass as no extension has occurred.
And an update to google maps imagery has proven me wrong: If you go to suncalc.net and go to Port Colborne
http://www.suncalc.net/#/42.883,-79.2406,20/2018.02.06/14:11
the INCO GE switcher/critter seems to be painted a blue colour from the top..
If you migrate over to ADM Mills there’s a white GE switcher (Likely Trilliums) so I am in error about Trillium lending them a locomotive. I know Trillium painted their critter and now it’s in St. Thomas and this imagery would be a couple years old now..
I should look for a picture of Inco’s unit… to compare to.
I was in error to guess that Trillium’s unit was lent to INCO, this evidence clearly points otherwise.
Vale’s rail mover is neatly painted and part of a first class / safety conscious operation. Seemingly the same unit since 1953(yellow)albeit now in Vale’s standard corporate colours – cab / centre section and safety rails are greyish, front and back / hood sections a turquoise blue with yellow / lower stripes and side panel inscribed with VALE & logo – spotted 2017 Oct 16. Also on another visit, CP crews were busy working on / replacing the switch leading directly into the Vale compound.
Thanks Glenn – if you get good photo please share with us, I enjoy little critters in action. It must be tough to get it though!
Interesting CP was there – wouldn’t put it past Vale-Inco or the City to contract out to anyone who would bid on it.
I spoke to Trillium Management and clarified what happened:
At one time, Trillium DID have the contract to maintain the Humberstone, but they let that contract go and they no longer provide track maintenance for any third parties.
Also, Trillium DID do third party switching for other Niagara customers, namely Resolute Forest Products for about two years in Allanburg but gave that up in 2016, Martech took the contract over until the end of service.
As of 2018 Trillium does neither for any customers.
GMTX 223 – that’s the one on the OBRY correct? Similar convo…but anyone caught it working the line yet?
333 is assigned to Orangeville right now.
Operations have most definitely begun, same schedule as CANDO for now, Tuesday/Fridays at about the same time.
Following up on this discussion, Allied has had some MOW equipment kicking around Port Colborne this Spring on the Humberstone side of the Canal (parked on the one little spur at the north end of he Vale property). I also was told that 562 unexpectedly came across a red flag in late April not too far from Yager West, so likely when Allied was doing the work.
Coming back to this again with more solid info. Vale pays for all maintenance from Yager right down to their property. Allied does the work. In addition to hearing of maintenance work on the Humberstone itself between Yager and the urban boundary of Port Colborne in the Spring, Vale did significant work on the rail within their fences last year – nice to hear of recent investment.
Vale’s critter comes out to play about once a week is what I have been told by very credible sources. They get tanks of chlorine (which we all know) and also tanks of sulphur dioxide.