Ontario Southland Railway

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I just learned about this railway this week. It's a short line operation that mainly runs between Ingersoll and Tillsonburg and another branch between Guelph and Campbellville.

Here is their website:
www.osrinc.ca

I think this is really neat -- I didn't know many short line operations still existed -- does anyone know if there are others?

I go to Ingersoll a fair bit, as well as the Campbellville area -- so the next time I'm there I'll have a look round.

I really like their livery/colour scheme!

Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
There are hundreds of shortlines in North America.

Yeah, I guess I kind of knew this -- I'm just suddenly noticing them or taking an interest in them!

So much (almost everything?) around Toronto seems to be CP or CN.

I know, however, that there is a freight line that runs from Goderich down to Exeter and London, and even to Kitchener & Georgetown. It's called the Goderich-Exeter Railway and it runs to the salt mines in Goderich and uses a very eclectic mix of stock, from what I know. I don't think it has a livery or colour scheme of any sort -- they just run whatever locos they can get so you see all sorts of paint schemes! At any rate, I've watched them in and around the harbour in Goderich but not elsewhere.

Cheers,
Rob
 

galt904

Member
You won't see much of them in Ingersoll itself, they only run there several days a week to pick up cars at the CPR interchange. If you take Highway 19 south to Salford, you can see their enginehouse just west of Salford. I can hear them from my office at work. :)

BTW, it's not "still existed"; most Canadian shortlines are a result of government policy changes that allowed their creation. Good thing about is, a lot of lines that might have been abandoned, are kept in service.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Rob,

In addition to GEXR and Ont Southland, there's also the Orangeville-Brampton Rwy in your area (OBRY). It runs on the former CPR/TGB/CVR line(s) from Brampton to O'ville. They also operate the Credit Valley Explorer excursion train.

There's a yahoo group dedicated to these current/former lines in and around Southern Ontario called something like BruceRys... If I find the link, I'll post it for you.

Andrew
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Rob,

In addition to GEXR and Ont Southland, there's also the Orangeville-Brampton Rwy in your area (OBRY). It runs on the former CPR/TGB/CVR line(s) from Brampton to O'ville. They also operate the Credit Valley Explorer excursion train.

There's a yahoo group dedicated to these current/former lines in and around Southern Ontario called something like BruceRys... If I find the link, I'll post it for you.

Andrew

Thanks, Andrew. I've heard about the OBRY/Credit Valley Explorer. Does the OBRY run freight as well? Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
You won't see much of them in Ingersoll itself, they only run there several days a week to pick up cars at the CPR interchange. If you take Highway 19 south to Salford, you can see their enginehouse just west of Salford. I can hear them from my office at work. :)

BTW, it's not "still existed"; most Canadian shortlines are a result of government policy changes that allowed their creation. Good thing about is, a lot of lines that might have been abandoned, are kept in service.

Hi Chad: Maybe I'll be able to see their engine shed some day, as Salford's not far away. It's great that the govt changed its policy to allow more short lines. Rob
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Rob,

As far as I know, the Credit Valley Explorer is a sideline of the OBRY. It was created since the owners (I understand that one partner is the Town of Orangeville) felt there was enough traffic to make it work (or traffic could be generated ;) ).

The operators also have some other shortlines, including one near Collingwood, ON. If you google OBRY, you should find more info.

Andrew
 

Triplex

Active Member
So much (almost everything?) around Toronto seems to be CP or CN.
For something a bit larger than "shortline" but smaller than CP or CN, Ontario Northland also runs into Toronto.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Rob: I just counted in the Trackside Guide and found 13 short lines in Ontario (excluding Algoma Central and Ontario Northland). I think almost all of them are operating on lines spun off by CP or CN.
And that doesn't count the little lines that are basically internal industrial lines.
I think OBRY is having a few political problems with the line's owners, but I haven't heard any recent details.
 

galt904

Member
David, according the Bruce Rails Yahoo group, which covers most of the SW Ontario shortlines, OBRY has figured everything out with Cando and are back to normal.

Also, found this on another website, seems there was a small motorcar excursion this past weekend on the OSR. Jeepkings Message Forum
 
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