Caption: The scene here looks to be rather dull or gloomy but minus those characteristics, the railway part of this scene is rather interesting. Early afternoon after L540 (5790W) and L568 (4136W) both left Kitchener for Stratford, a crew was ordered (I’d assume under ID X568 or X540) to take 4125 solo down the Huron Park Spur with interchange traffic for CP. Just after 17:00, I got word that they were coming up to South Junction with about 20 cars for CP. Nice. 5 minute drive for a solo GP9Rm up the Huron Park was something I’ve never seen. Waiting at Madison Ave for the train to come into frame, it was taking a while so a quick drive towards it would answer my questions. Arriving at the interchange to see this.. 4125 with no cars, no crew and not even burning diesel. The point of this for me anyway is to prove how instantly operations can seize for the day no matter what the train is doing, and where it’s doing it. I’ve never seen CN power sit with no crew waiting for next assignment here so it was a change at least but I was obviously looking forward to the shots of it operating.
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Neat catch Liam. Yes, certainly a unique spot for them to leave a unit. And even better a GP9RM.
Was something different for sure but still not thrilled about missing out on the northbound run
Liam, a correction on what happened based on observations collected from others and some that I saw myself:
L540 took the three big units left behind by L533 the night before to Stratford and back in the AM. When they came back from Stratford, a quick stop in the yard at Kitchener, then L540 went to Shantz Terminals and back, returning light power.
568 snuck out west at some point – not sure when.
Apparently around 3 to 4 PM after returning from Shantz L540 parked the big power, grabbed the 4125 and ran down the Huron Park Spur, where the crew would have gone off duty where your photograph is as they would have ran out of time.
From here, I do believe 566 would have gone on duty and got a taxi to this location to use this power for 566 and make the northbound run then to Elmira.
fyi 568 today had a SD75i, two GP9′s and a GP38-2
Thanks Steve, I guess no extra crew was ordered after all and I’m surprised they quickly switched operations at Kitchener after Shantz. Daylight 533’s tend to screw a lot of things around that’s for sure
And another SD75 and SD70M-2 are in the yard in Kitchener (by the depot) as of this afternoon. Interesting last couple of days on the Guelph Sub. Maybe my jaunt to Kitchener today was worth it after all
@kevin flood, 568 apparently struggled all the way out of Kitchener even with the help of 5790 on the head end of the 3 geeps. High tonnage seems to be the deal now with Kitchener
Kevin it’s the same power….
Liam many trains struggle out of Kitchener – been an issue for decades. GEXR stalled there too.
@SCH: I know. Those two big engines were with 5790 the last few days. Heard they’re going out on 533 tonight; not sure about the 5790. From today’s 568, it seems they need at least one big unit based out of Kitchener permanently. Not sure if that’s something CN will entertain since larger power comes in on 533 and they can use it if needed.
5790 won’t make it back tonight. They are still at Shakespeare as I type this..
As a photographer, I wish they’d assign us a GTW painted unit. Please hahaha
Well there was on 533 that you got a couple weeks ago. And it’s possible. If it’s leading down the HPS, I’ll be up
@steve, no GMTX yet, who knows what the next blue could be