Caption: CN 5651 began its morning on the team track in Port Rob, and was soon joined by the arrival of 5714, 5772, and 2100 on 421. The crew of 562 did its usual business, switching out 421 to build the day's 531 (cars for NS and BPRR), 539 (cars for CSX) and cars for their own transfer run to CP and Trillium that afternoon as 562. 5714 and 5772 were assigned to 531, and 5651 was taken off the team track and then further into the yard to be the trailing unit behind 2100 (slightly visible above the switch stand) on the transfer run as 562.
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Being used to seeing the earlier units from behind, it takes some getting used to seeing the noodle so low. No butts about it. Nice shot Jamie.
Those are some tall signals above the nose. They must be up there for when the yard is full of cars, making the indications visible over the car tops. (Guessing there is some kind of yard behind the 5651).
Thanks Larry, and nicely done on the joke haha.
Yeah, this is CN’s major yard in Niagara, largely for sorting traffic to Buffalo, NY. I hadn’t thought about the signals much before, but your theory sounds reasonable. It is one of the standard designs for signals in the area, with the one at right being fairly standard too. Some examples here:
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=40843
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37536
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=40485
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37968
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37902
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37328
I think they may have all been replaced at once when the Welland Canal realignment project happened.
Thanks for making me homesick jknott88. Your picture brings back some much of my railroad life being spent between Mac Yrd and Buffalo. Sigh!
The signals are just normal searchlight type and are very standard for CN. The signal in front of 5714 is the switching signal for Pt Rob when trains are being switched at east end of the yard. The track goes all the way to Cambridge where single track begins. 5651 is crossing over between the north and south track at Pt.Robinson East Mile 21.9
FYI the yardmaster has cameras at Pt. Rob and Port Robinson
(Jct. with CN Thorold Spur) Mi 23.1 so he can “take the room” for crews shoving back without someone being on the “point” Ahh memories
Haha, I kinda had a feeling you’d like this one, Phil.
LOL..thanks Jamie…just a hunch ????
Yeah, just figured it was a scene you’d relate to given comments I’ve read over time.
Well Jamie, you were spot on. It really does make me miss my old job. Especially when there is a SD70/75 shot. They were my favourite locomotive to operate.
I went and checked this out from the Canby street road crossing on Google Earth. Those 2 signals are up on a gantry. Thus making them much taller than the one on the right. Plus the yard is to the east in this photo, not behind the 5651. Phil is right, your typical CN signals. My blunder for not checking it out initially. Regardless, keep up the good work Jamie, I really enjoy your photos and presentation thereof.
I’m still amazed at the use of 6 axels for switching power here. I wonder if this will be the new precedent ultimately phasing out the GP9m’s? I hope not but soon their time will be up.
@Brad. They have not used 4 axle power on the Stamford Sub for years now. 6 axles high hp are now used because the trains are bigger and heavier, plus the use of road power for switching allows CN to better utilize its motive power as the units are sent back to Mac Yrd and rotated on a reg basis.
I think you will find the GP9′s around for awhile, just not on the peninsula.