1728 results for 2004-10; refer to date index:

October 1st, 2004

OSR pulled out a 12-axle transformer, put in an 8-axle, and switched around a pair of regular flats with transformers inside ABB. The 12-axle went to the interchange. 580 brought it to CN Guelph Junction almost immediately. 432 and 580 arrived at CN Guelph Junction at the same time. 432 took the 12-axle depressed flat with the transformer to Toronto. Total time from ABB to Mac yard: 3 hours. Total trains it went on: 3. Now *that* is fast service.

Now, OSR has 646-506-180 as its power, though only 180 was on line. 646 was, however, leading, with all 4 ditch lights. GEXR 580 has RLK 4096-2210, the matched pair in RailAmerica colours. GEXR 432 has CSXT 4845-4846. 432 left with 6100 feet, 3 GM flats (2 with loco trucks, 1 with tanks), and a lot of cars.

October 2nd, 2004

OSR was ordered at 0430. They departed Guelph Junction at 0500 and pulled Schnabel car HEPX 200 out of ABB along with 2 smaller transformer loads, delivering it to the GEXR interchange a little bit before 0700. At 1000 GEXR finally pulled out of CN Guelph Junction with the loads, expected to arrive in Sarnia by evening where they will be interchanged with CSX and taken to Courtright, Ontario.

October 9th, 2004

I went to CN Guelph Junction hoping to catch GEXR 432 with CSX engines, but instead got regular power... in a way I guess I kind of missed the regular power anyway, so that's not so bad. Later in the day I went looking for OSR. They were working late and I caught them heading from the interchange back to PDI after 18:00.

October 10th, 2004

Having received word of foreign power coming out of the Sarnia tunnel I moseyed over to Scotch Block and waited. Unfortunately a truck stalled on the tracks in London tying up traffic for hours. 8 hours after the train went through the tunnel the light began to fail and I was getting hungry, so home I went, picking up two more trains on the way, without ever seeing the train I went to see.

October 14th, 2004

The CP TEC train, 8218 leading, ran the Guelph sub -- my first opportunity to catch a CP engine on the GEXR. 8218 met Via #84 at Guelph, holding up the passenger train for about 15 minutes. 8218, it appears, got back on the CP at London either through Kellog or GM's spur track, and returned through Guelph Junction about 4pm.

October 23rd, 2004

We went to the Junction first thing in the morning, hearing a full 7 eastbounds clearing before we got there. Once there, it was dead. Eventually we moved up to mile 30 and saw 3 trains before coming home.

October 27th, 2004

An ex-Rio-Grande tunnel motor was spotted heading East. Needless to say I couldn't pass that up...

October 28th, 2004

CN RTC said there would be a parade on the Halton sub from about 1pm to about 5pm because of border crossing issues in Buffalo and Sarnia.

October 30th, 2004

After a morning of intense rain and lousy weather, the sun came out and we went trackside. And boy was it worth it! EMD SD70ACe demonstrator unit GM 70 and two brand new CEFX AC4400s punctuated a short, productive trip.