Adrian Wintle Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 On the weekend I stopped by to take a few pictures of a wooden trestle road bridge that crosses the CN main line just east of Bond Head, Ontario. The interesting thing is that the CP mainline also crosses the road here, at a level crossing (you can just see the crossbuck in the background) While I was there, this went past, with a couple of big SD70M-2s on the front (8824 and 8882) Just down the CP line, these ballast hoppers were sitting in a siding Just after I got back to the bridge, this appeared Here it is disappearing into the east, with the CP line visible to the left Just after it disappeared, this appeared All this happened in the space of about 20 minutes. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 Then yesterday, I had to go into downtown Toronto to visit a customer, so I took an early GO train and spent an hour and a half watching trains on the western approach to Union station. Sitting across the way was this lonely ballast car GO transit wraps a few of their cars for advertising revenue Here is a busy time This then trundled in (the Northlander) A little later, we had three different operators in view (GO, VIA, and Amtrak) Here is the Maple Leaf, on its way to New York with 5 Amfleet coaches Here is a bit of VIA activity, with the left-hand train awaiting its turn to trundle down to the Mimico yards and here it is, being pushed by a rather ratty F40PH I hope you enjoyed these. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Thanks, Adrian! Yes that F40PH is very rodent-like. They seem to have got rid of them off our local NJT line replaced by rather nice Alstom's.... Best, Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
158722 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Great shots Adrian....I feel the old Canadian itch growing and a scratch being necessary soon. Offered free accomm next to Canmore loops on the CP whenever we want.....sounds like a plan!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Craig Watson Posted October 13, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2010 Brilliant pictures, thanks for pointing me in this direction Adrian:) Can't wait to get over next year with the family for a few weeks, we'll be based in Ajax so using the GO regularly to get downtown:) Cheers Craig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 Brilliant pictures, thanks for pointing me in this direction Adrian:) Can't wait to get over next year with the family for a few weeks, we'll be based in Ajax so using the GO regularly to get downtown:) Cheers Craig If you have access to a car, it is worth a run out east to Port Hope (under an hour from Ajax). Not only is there a decent model railway store there (between the CN and CP main lines), but on the route there are various places to watch trains like the bridge in my first set of pics. You also might want to be aware that the main model railway stores in the Toronto area have moved so as to be effectively inaccessible from public transit. George's has moved to 14th Ave in Thornhill/Markham (with views of the passing trains on the CN main line while shopping) and Credit Valley has moved to the 401/Winston Churchill area in the west end of Mississauga. There is also a decent model railway store in Pickering (Crossbuck). BTW. I was shooting the Union Station pictures from a viewing area at the end of the Skywalk, immediately west of the convention centre (and east of the SkyDomeRogers Centre) on the south side of the tracks. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Craig Watson Posted October 13, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2010 If you have access to a car, it is worth a run out east to Port Hope (under an hour from Ajax). Not only is there a decent model railway store there (between the CN and CP main lines), but on the route there are various places to watch trains like the bridge in my first set of pics. You also might want to be aware that the main model railway stores in the Toronto area have moved so as to be effectively inaccessible from public transit. George's has moved to 14th Ave in Thornhill/Markham (with views of the passing trains on the CN main line while shopping) and Credit Valley has moved to the 401/Winston Churchill area in the west end of Mississauga. There is also a decent model railway store in Pickering (Crossbuck). BTW. I was shooting the Union Station pictures from a viewing area at the end of the Skywalk, immediately west of the convention centre (and east of the SkyDomeRogers Centre) on the south side of the tracks. Adrian Thanks for that Adrian, I was aware George's had moved, didn't get to Credit Valley the last time but visited Canadian Model Trains at Oakville (noticed it from the car on the way to Niagara and popped in on the way back a few days later. I was in a decent one in Pickering which may have been the one you mentioned, another good one was Horizon Hobbies in Whitby. Having spoken with my wife I'm being allowed some free time to chase trains so will be making the most of it:D Cheers Craig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Recently picked up three Walthers VIA passenger cars at the Kernow show and had to get an F40-PH to go with them. Once upon a time I wouldn't have given one house room, but now they're on their way out there's a certain attraction to them. I like those modern things too - not sure what they are - that Amtrak and VIA are using but they don't get out west yet - at least not the VIA ones. CHRIS LEIGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted October 29, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 29, 2010 Just to note, the new Credit Valley location is close to the Lisgar GO station, less of a walk than the old one was from Streetsville. There was a time when you might be able to see F40s from 3 roads lined up in Union Station. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted October 29, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 29, 2010 Adrian Having only just tuned into this thread - thanks for posting! I'm slightly intrigued by the Ontario Northland Geep, which appears to have paper air filters, yet a common stack suggesting a turbocharger. I had always thought of those two features as being mutually exclusive in Dash 2 designs, so must be missing something! GP38-2/39-2 or 40-2? I can't even count the fans on the rear! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor quinn Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I'm slightly intrigued by the Ontario Northland Geep It's a GP38-2, the exhausts appear to be flush to the top of the hood, there's a shot from a higher angle showing the exhausts here: http://www.rrpicture....aspx?id=267925 The thing sticking up on top of the hood appears to be the horns (less noisy for the engineer). Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted October 29, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 29, 2010 It's a GP38-2, the exhausts appear to be flush to the top of the hood, there's a shot from a higher angle showing the exhausts here: http://www.rrpicture....aspx?id=267925 The thing sticking up on top of the hood appears to be the horns (less noisy for the engineer). Yup, much clearer, thanks. That rules out the other two options, certainly! I assume the heater car is the prototype for Rapido's current production, too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Adrian Having only just tuned into this thread - thanks for posting! I'm slightly intrigued by the Ontario Northland Geep, which appears to have paper air filters, yet a common stack suggesting a turbocharger. I had always thought of those two features as being mutually exclusive in Dash 2 designs, so must be missing something! GP38-2/39-2 or 40-2? I can't even count the fans on the rear! As others have noted, it's a GP38-2...late production which has the flush exhaust stacks and the paper air filter box. The small square atop the raised hatch (known as the dustbin hatch) in front of the air filter is the 'exhaust' for the centrifugal dirt separation system. Looks to have a home-grown winterization hatch over the first fan, a square cab vent on the cab roof and something else on the cab I can't discern - perhaps a Sinclair or skate type antenna. Another spotting difference between the 38 and 40 can be the length of the radiator grills if the grills are corrugated. 38-2s will be shorter by about the length of one fan, more or less. Late 38-2s the length difference is pronounced and that's what I first spotted here. But remember, EMD = Every Model Different so there are exceptions! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 Recently picked up three Walthers VIA passenger cars at the Kernow show and had to get an F40-PH to go with them. Once upon a time I wouldn't have given one house room, but now they're on their way out there's a certain attraction to them. I like those modern things too - not sure what they are - that Amtrak and VIA are using but they don't get out west yet - at least not the VIA ones.CHRIS LEIGH Those are P42DC locos. I have once seen a (very similar looking) Amtrak P32DC in Toronto which is the dual-mode (diesel and 3rd rail electric) used to pull trains through the tunnels into NYC.Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Here are some photos from 1983/1984 that were posted before on the old RMWeb somewhere (I can't find them now). A couple of overviews of the CN roundhouse at Toronto (now under the SkyDomeRodgers Center). Note the variety of motive power. To the west were the coach yards (the site is now disappearing under high-rise condominium buildings). To the north of that is the GO Transit storage yard (still there). Note the variety of motive power. VIA used to use LRC (light rapid comfortable) sets (think boxy HSTs where the power cars could act as separate locomotives), but the power cars were not as successful as they hoped. The coaches are still in use. Note the steam generator car in the first picture (to allow the LRC power car to pull the old stainless coaches). They also used FPA-4 locos in this timeframe Ontario Northland used ex-TEE sets for its Northlander (repowered with F-units) And a final shot of the western approach to Toronto Union Station. It no longer looks like this due to the addition of the SkyDome and a number of bridges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Thanks, Adrian. I guess one can understand that all that real estate in downtown Toronto looks enticing to developers.............. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickinwestwales Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hi all.-Believe the 3 `F` units assigned to `Northlander` duty were retrofitted with Caterpiller prime movers & renumbered as 2000,2001&2002-all now withdrawn and either cut up or rotting at the back of North Bay-last I heard,attempts were being made to raise funds to preserve the last of the (heavily vandalised ) TEE cars . As I understand it,the TEE sets were never a great success-apparently they were as cold as charity (not designed for Canadian winters ) and the brakes worked at a different pressure. For more on this fine `frontier` Road,check out the Unofficial O.N.R website-nice people,fab pix (thanks Mike ) and lots of general interest ATB Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hi all.-Believe the 3 `F` units assigned to `Northlander` duty were retrofitted with Caterpiller prime movers & renumbered as 2000,2001&2002-all now withdrawn and either cut up or rotting at the back of North As far as I can tell, the CAT-equipped FP7s were never used on the ex-TEE sets as they were different locos (TEE locos were 1984-87, CAT locos started life as 1502, 1509, 1521) and weren't converted until after the sets were taken out of service. The FP7s on them would appear to have had conventional prime movers and HEP units in (part of?) the steam generator space. Some info: http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/rgodby/trains/northlander.htm Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickinwestwales Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Adrian-I stand corrected Sir-it`s a few years since I spent any study time on the O.N.R and as ever ,memory proves subjective-many thanks for accurate info.. ATB Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davknigh Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 There was a favourite ONR run for railfans we called the "Washago turn". Catch the northbound train at Toronto Union ride up to Washago while having a meal in the dining car, get off at Washago and get the southbound Northlander back to T.O. Great fun. The Northlander(s) TEE version in Gravenhurst in the mid to late '70s (I can't remember) Note also the outside braced boxcar in the siding. Cheers, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 I assume the heater car is the prototype for Rapido's current production, too! Very late reply. I'm pretty sure it is a HEP unit, and it is a conversion of a F-unit. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibber25 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 I travelled on the Northlander just once in the last summer of operation. The HEP car was in use then and, yes, it was a converted F-unit. It was to power the air-con in the ex-GO Transit passenger cars. Toronto Union trains are a lot less interesting since it has gone. ONR still has its remote northern service but without the Northlander its virtually impossible to get to (umpteen hours on a bus). CHRIS LEIGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 Here are a few more from the session in Post#1 The bridge CN freight Ballast car details VIA train CP freight Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 And from the Union Station session: Former GO cars in front of current ones I hadn't realized it, but the Maple Leaf consist was 3 Amfleet II coaches (left), an Amfleet I coach (right) and an Amfleet I cafe. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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