July 16th, 2005
Laura and I went up to Sarnia to meet Steve, Brian, Christopher, and Shaun for a day of chasing CSX #725, the CP run-through on the Sarnia sub. We chased it to Chatham and then went on to Blenheim to see it and then caught CN #435 going through the wig-wag at Tilbury, where we met Ian. In the midst of it we caught a CP meet at Kent Bridge and CN #396 and VIA #78 at Creditville on the way home. The only disappointment of the day was not actually seeing any CSX power working, as #725 is a CP-powered train. It rained the entire day, but stopped just on time for just long enough to shoot every time we wanted to. Thanks, weather.
Sarnia, Ontario
(map) Sarnia has an absolutely massive CN freight yard. It also has the St. Clair tunnel across to Port Huron, CSX traffic, and a gaggle of running rights.
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VIA #84 gets a move on out of Sarnia with Telus unit VIA 6429 leading.
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CN #148 heads through the signal bridge at Sarnia station.
Corunna, Ontario
(map) Corunna is the first town South of Sarnia on the CSX Sarnia sub.
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CSX's CP-run through train heads South through the community of Corunna.
Mooretown, Ontario
(map) Mooretown is a smaller town between the small towns of Corunna and Courtright on the CSX Sarnia sub.
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CSX's CP run-through train passes just outside the small town of Mooretown.
Courtright, Ontario
(map) Courtright is opposite St. Clair on the St. Clair river and is just South of Corunna on the CSX Sarnia sub.
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CSX's CP run-through train passes through Courtright heading South.
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CSX's CP run-through train rushes through the country just outside of Courtright.
Sombra, Ontario
(map) Sombra is South of Courtright and North of Port Lambton and Wallaceburg on the CSX Sarnia sub.
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CSX's CP run-through train crosses a small body of dirty water on its way to Chatham.
Wallaceburg, Ontario
(map) Wallaceburg is the site of a still serviceable swing-bridge on the CSX Sarnia sub North-West of Chatham.
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CSX's CP run-through train passes an elevator on its approach to Wallaceburg.
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CSX's CP run-through train crosses the swing-bridge.
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CSX's CP run-through train heads South just outside of Wallaceburg.
Tupperville, Ontario
(map) Tupperville is a small town between Wallaceburg and Dresden on the CSX Sarnia sub.
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CSX's CP run-through passes through the elevator at Tupperville.
Dresden, Ontario
(map) Dresden is between Wallaceburg and Chatham on the CSX Sarnia sub, though not geographically. The track makes a sharp 90 degree turn here to head to both neighbouring communities.
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CSX' CP run-through train heads South through Dresden at track speed, which around here isn't very fast.
Chatham, Ontario
(map) Chatham hosts the CSX Sarnia sub's diamonds with the CP Windsor sub and the CN/VIA Chatham sub, and the CSX Sarnia sub's interchange with CP.
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CSX's CP run-through train crosses the CP Windsor sub at the Chatham diamond.
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CSX's CP run-through train backs from the CSX Sarnia sub into the CP Windsor sub's Chatham yard.
Kent Bridge, Ontario
(map) Kent Bridge is the site of a siding on the CP Windsor sub just to the East of Chatham. The town itself is not much larger than one intersection.
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CP #246 approaches Kent Bridge to meet CP #147 with CP 9000 leading.
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CP #147 is already at full speed, fresh out of the hole at Kent Bridge.
Blenheim, Ontario
(map) Blenheim is South-East of Chatham and just South of the Canada Southern (CASO) sub with only two remaining industries.
Tilbury, Ontario
(map) Tilbury is home to Canada's last serviceable wig-wags on the CN Canada Southern (CASO) sub and is not really close to very much between Windsor and Fargo.
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CN #435 crosses one of 2 remaining wig-wags in the country on a very wet afternoon.
Corunna, Ontario
(map) Corunna is the first town South of Sarnia on the CSX Sarnia sub.
Sarnia, Ontario
(map) Sarnia has an absolutely massive CN freight yard. It also has the St. Clair tunnel across to Port Huron, CSX traffic, and a gaggle of running rights.
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CN #393 speeds up on its way out of Canada.
Creditville, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas sub heads through this community locked between the 401 and the 403. The track is perfectly straight for several miles and with binoculars several signals can be seen at once far into the distance.
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CN #396 passes through with a GP40-2W leading.
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VIA #78 with 6420 leading passes through Creditville with its mysterious extra headlight not on in spite of the dark, rainy day.
