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Caption: With the news the Thorold South paper mill had been shut down, at least for the time being while Resolute Forest Products looks for a new owner, it seemed appropriate to dig out a few photos of the plant. This one I neglected to upload originally simply because of fairly obvious reasons. This is a drone photo in case anyone thinks I hopped a barbed wire fence with a ladder.
In this photo, a few portions of the plant are visible that otherwise can't be seen without obstruction due to a tall barbed wire fence along Niagara Falls Road. Directly behind the unit is the old engine shop. Believe it or not, there was a time this plant was so busy that a dedicated engine shop was built to service the switchers that worked there. I believe the shop closed sometime in the 1980s. Most of the buildings in this photo date back to the very early 1900s, and has changed owners many many times, however, the most notable has probably been Abitibi. As for this SW1200RS, 1324 evidently has CN heritage, and traces of original green can be seen on the roof, which most likely would be factory original paint from when it rolled out of GMDD London in September 1958. Unfortunately this unit suffered a prime mover failure sometime early in the winter of 2014, in which CN temporarily serviced the plant themselves, and then 1305 came in as the replacement. Judging the rust on the rails in front of the unit, it had probably sat in this location since then. However, just a month after this photo was taken, 1324 was moved into the former engine shop, most likely to deter vandals. Its fate is unknown, though if the frame is in decent enough shape, a prime mover swap may be possible since switchers are in high demand. Who knows though, it is also possible some crucial parts have already been removed off the unit for 1305 making that not feasible.
What will happen to all the equipment and infrastructure here is unknown since the plant is no longer in operation. Apparently Resolute Forest Products is in talks with another company to supposedly convert the plant to produce brown paper, for fast food and leaf bags mostly. Perhaps not all hope is lost in this case, however, the cost to produce in Ontario is very high particularly due to hydro rates and for sure will factor as a deterrent. Time will tell.
As for the story behind this photo, it was a mere one week earlier I was flying my drone over the interlocking at Port Robinson West to get a picture of CN 421, which had a DPU for possibly the first time ever. After landing my drone however, I heard another horn than sounded oddly similar to a vintage M3H horn, and I knew it had to be the paper mill switcher. I managed to see it, and followed it back to the plant, which is when I noticed 1324 was also sitting there. Unfortunately, I was never was able to get a shot of 1305 and 1324 side by side. Nonetheless, over the next few months I got several pictures around the plant, including this shot of 1324 one week after I first got photos of the operation. I'm glad I got photos when I did, because if future plans for this plant don't work out, the switchers will likely be quietly moved out without any chance to photograph them here again.
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Nice photo, interesting operation for sure. But there should be ( could be?) a 3rd engine still on the property. Former QOCP-2 an exCN SW900 was acquired in Oct1988. It and 1324 operated “tag team” with each. But I’m sure it hasn’t been seen in a number of years. Could be hiding inside that building.
Thanks! I wouldn’t doubt it. The last time someone filmed it running I believe was in 2009, and there’s a Youtube video of it still online. It simply bared the lettering “No. 2″ at the time. This plant definitely holds quite a few railroad treasures. Hopefully the plant and the artifacts here last a while longer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvLSLtw9PoI&t
Back in Feb ’14 I spied two units behind the fence, and this was before the 1305 arrived, so presumably the 1324, and “No. 2″.
Well gang, looks like we got a mystery on our hands. I’d imagine she’s hidden somewhere in the plant. Possible in that second door…
http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/12/04/2140022/0/en/New-multimodal-hub-on-the-Welland-Canal-a-major-step-forward-for-industry.html
I recieved comfirmation that #2 is indeed
Inside and been used as a parts source. No longer operable.
Interesting picture and information Daniel.. what is the status of the plant today ? Is some of it still in use, or is it torn down. Some of ex-CN 1300’s certainly have had an interesting life. Thanks for posting, John
John the plant was purchased by the Port of Hamilton-Oshawa and it seems destined to get back to rail service if you read into their releases, however it has not happened yet. there is much work to be done as the crossing signals north of the Hayes Dana plant are removed and the right of way grown in requiring some work cutting it all back to as it was in 2016. Perhaps we’ll see something later this year or into 2022, it’s most certainly promising. It won’t be a paper mill again though, that equipment I’m told has been removed or is in process.
According to a recent listing online, this unit (1324) and SW900 #2 are set to be put up for sale at an auction in the next week.
Anything on auction? Link?
Nothing. The units were actually pulled from the auction. I attended in person as I was nearby at the time. Stay tuned for further developments.
I should also correct my notes above – HOPA ports did not purchase the plant, they are merely contracted to manage the property. There is a small portion that HOPA seems to actually own though, maybe they did purchase the berths along the welland canal.
The owner is BioVeld Canada, owned by BMI Group
https://www.thebmigroup.ca/project/bioveld-canada
The auction was thousands of paper plant items mostly, I suspect once it’s all gone they’ll start the process of re-configuring the warehouses and getting tenants landed. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. I actually spoke to the owner for a bit too.
Also both units are hidden behind the door 1324 is in front of. 1324 and “#2″ are inside and there is no more room for another locomotive, behind the two locomotives is an ancient flatcar with a huge rolling thingy on it (60 feet long at least) so it would have to be removed/scrapped before they could fit a third loco in the building. There is only the one track too.
To my knowledge the flatcar and roller was not part of the auction, surprisingly.