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Caption: Not just another pair of CN GE's on a dull winter day. Naturally, a noteworthy train runs in less than ideal weather conditions. This is the first Sarnia - Garnet train 402 to operate, which is a new opportunity to photograph a "main line" train on the Hagersville Sub. The train is photographed just east of Cainsville, ON, at the first of three crossings of Old Onondaga Road East. The timing of the train should work out perfectly to get early-afternoon photographs of the train crossing the Grand River bridge in Caledonia. Counterpart train 401, Garnet - Sarnia, will operate at night, based on the current schedule. CN 2153, built as ATSF 836, is a long way from the Santa Fe transcon! It's hard to believe these C40-8Ws have been on the CN roster for 10 years already. Hopefully 401/402 will stick around awhile and yield some interesting consists; I'm looking forward to photographing at locations along the Hagersville Sub. that I haven't before, as well as seeing other's photos taken along the Hagersville Sub.
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Very nice Rob. What is the route from Sarnia for 402? And how does it differ from prior runs from Brantford?
Brad, Sarnia to Brantford via the Strathroy and Dundas Subdivisions. Get on the Hagersville at Brantford (Simpson) and run down the Hagersville to Garnet.
It doesn’t differ much aside from being daylight and originating at Sarnia. This eliminates a lot of moves and car handling. It has also resulted in different trains being removed/having their work modified along the way.
Long story short, it is more efficient this way.
Also fewer crew (2 man crew versus 3)
Also the first A402 was on Sunday but it was light power ex Brantford and back, not from Sarnia (might have been a Sarnia crew with a pilot?).
Let’s see how long this lasts…
Correct Steve, Sarnia crew taxied to Brantford and used 580′s power as 402 to do a familiarization run with a pilot also.
Saturdays run was same deal, but called out as 580.
Fascinating. I’ll tell you guys a story of a Sarnia crew on the Guelph sub when I post my xmas eve 2020 photo some day.
Notwithstanding the cloudy weather, very nice picture Rob. Through train from Sarnia on to this remnant of the Dunnville Sub brings back memories of CNR Northern powered freights in 1950’s from Fort Erie to London and Sarnia. Was CN’s way of handling freight from Buffalo gateway to Chicago in competition to NYC. Any idea why 402 starting operation now, is there through traffic between Sarnia and Nanticoke ? Thanks for posting, John
@railwayguy – I think the majority of the Nanticoke traffic from Imperial Oil, and perhaps Stelco also, heads west, so running dedicated trains between Sarnia and Garnet reduces car handling and cycles the cars quicker.