Caption: This was a frequent occurrence that helped us pass our mornings when hanging out at Bayview Junction. And it is something probably not seen in Canada any more. Between the passengers and the mainline freights up and down the "hill", the local yard switcher would come out to "wye the pigs". (piggybacking trailers)
This unit would push 'trailers on flatcars' (TOFC) out to Bayview as far as the signal that was near the walkbridge, then pull them up the Dundas to Ham W., then push them down the third leg of the wye back into Hamilton in order they face the correct way for the ramp at which they would be unloaded.
As road trailers lengthened, they outgrew the cars they rode on. CN & CP had longer flats ordered. Eventually, this means of shipping was phased out.
The CN 8166 shown, an old MLW S-4, was retired by 1985.
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Yes; both CN and CP stopped moving TOFC many years ago. They went to COFC. TOFC can still be seen on many American roads.