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Trailing units were 4704, 4558, 4570.
Wow, absolutely wow. So happy to see a shot from here back in the day after spending a big chunk of time trackside at the same spot in the modern era. Maybe a time machine is in order.
With the crossovers still in place. Awesome.
Another great “memory generating” shot John. The hoppers on the head end, possibly the entire train? were almost certainly loaded with slag from the Sudbury area. In 1979, the track ballast from Windsor to Toronto was being systematically replaced with slag, skimmings from the nickel making process. The advantages of slag were apparently it’s durability. I recall it was really hard on work boot soles. The cars in the yard track on the right were probably associated with the slag operation, perhaps empties to be lifted by a suitable MacTier bound train.
The slag operation was carried out by a work train dragging a “sled” under the rail & ties lifting the whole thing above all the existing ballast. Next, they then dumped the slag onto the now raised track. This project resulted in huge delays to operations. I recall on 2 week pay period, I didn’t have one tour of duty (trip London to Toronto or back) under 11 hours long.
David Brook mentioned the crossovers, I recall when they were removed. Shortly before that, one trip I was head end brakeman on a westbound, passing Leaside. When we were near the westward distant signal for the Mount Pleasant crossovers, the indication changed from “Clear to “Approach medium” just before we went by it. I called the signal out loud, the hogger had not seen it. He questioned my call but elected to apply the brake & sure enough when we rounded the corner and we were lined through the crossovers. These wee 30mph turnouts and it may have been a but dicey if we hit them at 50mph.