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Caption: Back when GEXR was just a rag-tag fleet of secondhand and leased 4-motor EMDs, we find leased LLPX GP38 2210 teamed up with GEXR GP40's 4096 & 4019 handling the daily #431, with their train lifted from CN's MacMillan Yard, running the single-track gauntlet between Brampton East and Peel (seen at the dual James/John Street crossings) as they make their way back to home rails at Georgetown. Back when this segment was single track, the CN RTC always had an uphill battle juggling westbound and eastbound freights through here, while at the same time trying to keep the evening rush-hour Georgetown GO trains and VIA #87 from getting delayed.
Today the CN Halton Sub through here is double-tracked, "Brampton East" is no more (Peel interlocking moved to the west), the brush has been cleared back, James St. crossing has been closed to traffic and removed (John St. crossing remains), and most of the power usually on GEXR #431/432 are 6-motor SD's (the GEXR itself is on borrowed time, as CN plans to take back operations of the line in the near future).
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Cool! ‘A blast from the past’ is always a treat! I’d love to spend a week railfanning the Halton Downtown in 2005 lol but sadly that’s impossible. Oh well. Kind of funny you mentioned the Uphill Juggle for the RTC back then because it’s pretty much the same now on the Halton except not only rush hr, it’s a juggle for the RTC all day with the half hourly scheduled GO trains.
Rumour has it that the railway really hopes to triple track the Halton from where you were standing all the way to the west side of the diamond where the the 3rd track branches off but it’ll be a challenge to squeeze the 3rd track in at the GO Station.
It’ll be interesting to see what becomes of the 100+yo GO/VIA station over the next few years. Thanks for sharing Dan!
Thanks Railfan99. I don’t see them triple tracking that section anytime soon (if ever), as it’s just way too tight through downtown to get another track in.