Caption: Here's the only train to be found with CN paint on the first day of CN's operations on the Guelph sub in 20 years, seen passing the Rumpel Felt Company building just west of the Kitchener station.

The way I see it, last trains and first trains run whenever they do, despite the weather. And I heard there was a flurry of activity at Kitchener just before Lunch so off to Kitchener I went to capture some shots (anything!) of the first day of CN's return to the area. Ultimately, today was a day of learning for everyone, new rules, timetables, signal testing between MX and CN at Sturm (new control point mile 65.1) and all kinds of delays. I'll try to tell some of the stories as I heard over radio and saw with my own eyes.

L540 was sent down the Huron Park Spur to work the Interchange and was set to meet L568 in the yard at Kitchener so some of these cars can be taken to Stratford. Metrolinx sent their Geometry truck down the line and took the Kitchener siding out of service completely, and at the time of this photo the Truck (As a foreman) was in Guelph heading east. Due to the way MX CTC or the TOP was set up 540 could not get any light until the truck was clear Hanlon, delaying 540 so I was able to make it here for a shot. L568 was patiently waiting in the yard, and at the same time A432 was on duty at the east end of Kitchener yard with QGRY 2008 and SLR 3806 looking to depart with about 60 cars. 568 wanted to go first but the Trainmaster wanted nothing to do with that. With 540 having the main track (Kitchener to Hanlon, remember, MX CTC is primitive!) 432 was going nowhere until 540 cleared, 568 got a clearance and departed for Stratford, and by then I had already went back to Guelph with a couple shots of this train, the only train with CN painted power to be found in daylight. 432 would depart around 2:30 PM with only the GEXR assigned motive power! To top it off 85 was delayed about 45 minutes due to signal issues at STURM and even called the CN RTC to note errors in the timetable/DOB and confirm speed limits. It's certainly been an interesting week. Corrections welcome of course.