Interesting train on Halton Sub?

RobertInOntario

Active Member
On Saturday, I was hiking in the Limehouse area with my son. When we reached the train bridge in the village of Limehouse, our timing couldn't have been better for viewing a freight train! As far as I know, it is the CN Halton Sub that passes through Limehouse -- please let me know if I'm wrong here!

We spotted the train's headlights in the distance. From our viewing point on the bridge, it was hard to figure out what the locos' colour schemes were. It looked like the first loco was a BC Rail engine. But what I found interesting was that there were 5 or 6 engines hauling this train -- I've hardly ever seen so many. They also seemed to be of various colour schemes (I don't think I saw any in the usual CN livery). Also, the freight train was fairly short. I've seen ones that are 2-3 times longer hauled by 2 or 3 locos.

At any rate, I found all this rather interesting and just wondering if anyone can comment on this.

Thanks!

Rob
 
It may have been the case that 4 - 5 of those engines were dead-heading back west (or east) as motive power usually pools at one end of the yard where its not needed. Surplus power is sent back to where its needed at the head-end of freights. You can tell which ones are hauling by the exhaust, particularly in our cold winter weather.

Unless there's something unusual going on?

Bob M.
 

nkp174

Active Member
Yep. The terminology is "balancing". I don't know about the local territory...but it happens when more tonnage is going one direction than the other, there is a nasty hill requiring helpers, or the arrival of new power. Additionally, they could have been on their way to the shops.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Thanks for this info! I suspect then that it was excess power going back to the yard. FYI, the train was westbound ... I'm not sure where the nearest yard is but might look this up. One of these days I'll break down and get a copy of the Canadian Trackside Guide! Cheers, Rob
 

RusticBob

New Member
Did a little investigation, The line at Limehouse belongs to Goderich - Exeter Railway. A CN short line. (Canadian National) Has a junction with the Halton Sub in Halton. Not sure how busy that line is these days but a lucky find you had.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Did a little investigation, The line at Limehouse belongs to Goderich - Exeter Railway. A CN short line. (Canadian National) Has a junction with the Halton Sub in Halton. Not sure how busy that line is these days but a lucky find you had.

Thanks, Bob -- that's interesting and makes sense! That accounts for the mixture of colour schemes as I know that the GEXR uses a variety of locos in all sorts of liveries.

We've occasionally seen trains on that line and I recall seeing one about 4-5 years ago that was gold and blue, or something similar.

Interesting that CN has a junction with that sub. I also did not know that the GEXR was a CN short line. You learn something new every day!

Thanks again,
Rob
 

cntown

New Member
When you go out this way again Robert you should pack a lunch and do some railfanning from the station platform here in Georgetown.We have lots of trains from CN,GEXR and also VIA. The station is only open for each VIA train 1/2 hour before and after ,so you can go inside and look around.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
When you go out this way again Robert you should pack a lunch and do some railfanning from the station platform here in Georgetown.We have lots of trains from CN,GEXR and also VIA. The station is only open for each VIA train 1/2 hour before and after ,so you can go inside and look around.

Thanks -- sounds like a great idea! Although I would expect that there would be fewer trains on weekends? I'll give this a try though. R.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
All those locos were working, they had a lot of tonnage, and they're all pretty long in the tooth.

Limehouse is actually on the (former) CN Guelph sub... the Halton sub runs from the Oakville sub at Burlington West to the York sub at Snider West. The Guelph sub joins the Halton at Silver, near Georgetown.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
All those locos were working, they had a lot of tonnage, and they're all pretty long in the tooth.
Limehouse is actually on the (former) CN Guelph sub... the Halton sub runs from the Oakville sub at Burlington West to the York sub at Snider West. The Guelph sub joins the Halton at Silver, near Georgetown.

Thanks again for this info! BTW, I looked at some of the other pics on that website & there are some great shots there -- did you take all of them? Just curious! It looks as if Georgetown is a good area for rail fanning ... Rob
 

60103

Pooh Bah
And you can railfan in Brampton as well. If the station is too dull, you can go across the street to the Train Shoppe, or visit a coffee shop.
When I see the GEXR train, it usually has 5 paint schemes on 6 Geeps.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
And you can railfan in Brampton as well. If the station is too dull, you can go across the street to the Train Shoppe, or visit a coffee shop.
When I see the GEXR train, it usually has 5 paint schemes on 6 Geeps.

Sounds good! Do you recommend the Train Shoppe ... do they sell British Hornby and Bachmann products? Thanks, Rob
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Robert,

I can't take credit for the pictures, I believe they belong to Dave Stowe.

If you're interested in the prototype going's on of South-western Ontario, along with GMDD loco deliveries, I suggest you contact ddmcqueen@rogers.com. Among his other talents (he's published several books about Canadian railroading) he publishes a daily railfan newsletter called "Froth". Along with news and pics, he occasionally includes oldie-but-goldie pics from people's collections.

It's an interesting read, if you're into that sort of thing. ;)
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Robert,
I can't take credit for the pictures, I believe they belong to Dave Stowe.
If you're interested in the prototype going's on of South-western Ontario, along with GMDD loco deliveries, I suggest you contact ddmcqueen@rogers.com. Among his other talents (he's published several books about Canadian railroading) he publishes a daily railfan newsletter called "Froth". Along with news and pics, he occasionally includes oldie-but-goldie pics from people's collections.
It's an interesting read, if you're into that sort of thing. ;)

Thanks -- that sounds interesting! Rob
 

cntown

New Member
The Little Train Shop doesn't carry much in the way of British stuff but does have some Bachmann . You should drive down to Credit Valley in Streetsville for a better selection and pricing.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Robert: The Train Shoppe doesn't really carry anything British. They do have a large Thomas section, and often have Thomas days on the weekend. I find the prices a bit high.

edit: didn't see other post. :nope::eek:ops:
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Robert: The Train Shoppe doesn't really carry anything British. They do have a large Thomas section, and often have Thomas days on the weekend. I find the prices a bit high.
edit: didn't see other post. :nope::eek:ops:

Thanks, David. I was just curious as there are 2-3 in the west end that I haven't been to yet. I'm actually well looked after by Hornet Hobbies and Model Railway Imports, and several others I see at shows. Rob
 
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