Caption: It was a dark and stormy day.... fitting for a 'last train'. OSR's final cayuga sub train is posed beside the 1943, wartime built coaling tower, built by the CNR but for use by Wabash steam locomotives. Built during World War 2, you didn't get approval to build infrastructure unless it was considered important for the war effort. 8 years later, the Wabash would dieselize anyway.

On December 6 2019, OSR filed notice with CN that they will be discontinuing operations on the Cayuga Subdivision effective April 30 2020. Rumours were flying around that time that OSR had thrown in the towel and it quickly became fact, leading up to the last trains, what was usually a pair of pups (Knott) which is arguably the least exciting consists OSR can put together (which is saying something in 2023) became more interesting when F units were pulled out of the barn on April 23. This was like catnip for railfans, because anyone with a basic knowledge of the line knew that F units (Thomson) ran this line for decades(Page) and now you had a chance to do it yourself - On the Wabash and N&W, the F's ran from about 1951 to 1980 (81? 82?) and being mostly in captive service, you saw them often and frequently if you went down this way. OSR Ran them infrequently, you had to get lucky.

In OSR style, the final run was a pair of matching paint F units for the first and last time. A couple dozen folks gathered in Aylmer for the train's last movement westbound and in typical OSR fashion, a stop and show was put on for the fans. OSR President Brad Jolliffe was present, and while consideration was given to pose the F units under the coaling tower proper, there wasn't enough time to get the crew home so this was scuttled. It was actually quite difficult to get a people free shot given how many there were, how disorganized some folks were to not get in the way, and drone(s) flying about in a flurry if activity as if this was it, the last train had left Aylmer. Many waxed poetic that it was the last train ever. If OSR can't do it, who can?

It wasn't the last train, after all, GIO Rail stepped in and has been running strongly for almost 2 years now.

GIO Railway's Trillium subsidiary also used to operate the line.. which is kind of fitting. I imagine some of the current staff may have worked on the Cayuga.

While the OSR era was most certainly interesting, at least we still have rail service on the Cayuga after over 125 years for folks who want to head down for the twice a week runs (Tuesday/Thursday usually). Who knows what the future will bring. Feel free to share your memories below, as well, if photographers have any photos, see about posting yours sometime of Cayuga subdivision memories.