Western Canada

The Great Sandhills Railway (GSRY) will soon be operating with only a trio of GP38-2's:  LLPX 2267 (a new arrival from the Kelowna Pacific), as well as GMTX 2674 and 2683. The NREX B23-7's 4221, 4227, and 4253 have now left Swift Current, SK (as of November 13th) and on November 19th were on the ICE west of Nahant, IA, enroute to NRE at Silvis, IL..

In late November, Genset demonstrator NREX 3GS21B-DE #2020 was lifted from Swift Current, SK  to Sylvite, SK for Potash Corp of Saskatchewan.

On October 31st, Mark Perry shot Greater Winnipeg Water District RS-23 #200 on a work train just outside of Winnipeg, crossing the Red River Floodway Bridge.  Notice the two different trucks on the ex Devco unit?  One of them is off a retired lightweight ex CPR RS-23

On November 12th Mark Perry visited the old Simplot fertilizer plant in Brandon, MB (now owned by Koch Nitrogen), and clicked WRIX GP30 2253 (ex-WC 2253, nee-C&NW 820) as one of two yard engines switching around their plant, nice catch!

On September 1st, Mark Zulkoskey clicked HBRY GP30 2508 currently stored in Prince Albert, SK. It started out as D&RGW and was purchased by Omni-Trax. It spent it's time being hauled around from one shortline to another and got dumped on CTRW. It has an electrical problem and has caught fire on occasion. Carlton Trail has stored it at the Prince Albert Pulp Mill along with OMLX GP9 3372 (ex-SP GP9E).  No word on their future disposition.

Saskatchewan is finally getting its own tourist railroad.  Southern Prairie Railway has acquired a 1947 built GE44T for $17,000 from Conway Scenic Railroad, as well as a 1922 coach for $15,000, currently in North Conway, N.H. and Gettysburg Pennsylvania respectively.  The operation will be running on 115km of Red Coat Road & Rail trackage, located 90km south of Regina between Pangman and Assinboia. Plans are to have the train running by next summer. The start-up shortline currently needs money to move their acquisitions home.

One way to help is by visiting the Pepsi Refresh Project at    clicking on the $100,000 link and voting for the Southern Prairie Railway.

http://www.refresheverything.ca/index

www.southernprairierailway.com/Equipment.html

Engine No.15 is the one currently in the black and red scheme and will remain that way for the foreseeable future.   See “Letters to the Editor” for photos from the railway's CEO, and more info on this line). 

http://www.southernprairierailway.com/

Jeff Keddy went out to Selkirk, MB November 20th and took these shots of ex-CP SW900 6719 at the old Manitoba Rolling Mills plant, now owned by Gerdau Ameristeel.  The unit is now numbered 70208 and has been modified belt pack operation.  Jeff confirmed this unit is earmarked to be rebuilt in the near future, and an employee he spoke with said they have a second unit at the plant, an SW8. Bruce Mercer believes it is former HBRY SW8 2512, exx-Georgia Woodlands 45, nee-Chicago West Pullman 45 (EMD 16827, 11/52, order 6462-1).  It was forwarded to Selkirk, MB in Nov 2002.  ). It was forwarded to Selkirk, MB in Nov 2002 but  as no one has seen it, we cannot confirm if the SW8 is operational or simply a parts source.  The photos show their working SW900. 

Mark Zulkoskey submitted his photos showing a change-out of one of the traction motors on Carlton Trail Railway.  CTRW GP10 1064 is being lifted by the rear coupler on Nov 24th, at Prince Albert, SK.

Grant McVittie provided this updated (Hudson Bay Railway) HBRY and (Keewatin Railway) KRC roster and provided a recent shot of one of the KRC's two M42W's:

HBRY - KRC ROSTER:

BC RAIL Big M's Vignette:

BCR 730 in N Vancouver, BC in Aug 1989, BCR 706 in N Vancouver, in July 1989, BCR 710 in N Vancouver, BC in Mar 1990,  BCR 713 still in the green livery at Williams Lake, BC in July 1989 (All by Mark Forseille).

 Ontario

Steve Thomas (a Conductor on the Orangeville Brampton Railway, OBRY), sent these shots to CRO:

1st photo is taken South of Orangeville, Ont. at Cataract Falls {Owen Sound Sub.] mile 22.5. Fall tour train through the Folks of the credits October 14th.

The Credit Valley Explorer with CCGX 4009 sits at the Orangeville Station waiting for its guests for another dinner train excursion. Photo taken by Walter Pfefferle on Aug 28th, 2010 

Trillium Railways has completed the acquisition of six Algoma Central coaches, which are stored in Port Colborne, Ontario,  and will be placed in service eventually for shippers specials on the Port Colborne Harbour Railway.  The numbers are 3210, 3236, 5442, 5483, 5571, and 9301 all ex-ACR, ex-VIA nee-CN. 

Ontario Southland Railways latest acquisition, OSRX RS23 506 is in transit from North Bay , ON via CP.  OSR is using OSR 506 to transport it and it should become OSR 507.  Locomotive was former  Tembec RS23 109 (ex-Devco 201), and was built by MLW 8/60 and was moved from their plant in Kapuskasing. (Bob Merriam photos).  

ONR REPORT

Mike Robin

Dave Emmell sent Mike this shot of The Santa Claus Express lead unit (ONR GP38-2 1801) sitting in the drop pit track North Bay Yard, awaiting a trip to the North Pole in late November.  The train is configured with a unit on both ends and utilizes some of ONR's heavyweight coach fleet, The train goes on a 3 to 4 weekend schedule throughout late November and into early December running "Santa Claus Expresses" on Saturdays and Sundays from most of ONR's major terminals. Volunteers from local charities in each town served are provided to assist in boarding and entertaining the children. It's a busy time for the consist as it is deadheaded to almost 10 ONR terminals every Christmas season.

In Early November, the ONR had the following cars are for sale: 901 "Moonglow" Dome top Diner and 903 "Rainbow" Diner; (these cars were part of the former BC Rail dinner train consist purchased by ONR).

ONR shots by W.D, Shaw:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=343763

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=343789

Chris Wilson submitted this very personal Marathon, Ontario Vignette, off of Ray Kennedy's website.

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/industrial/ont/marathon.htm

Quebec

© CRO December 2010