Canadian Railroads > Switcher Saturday - CN SW1200RS on CP's Ellwood Sub in Ottawa

Okay, it's really a road switcher, as the RS model designation tells you, also CN's class, GR-12, R for Road Switcher. I started shooting trains in 1975, in Ottawa, and never saw a true switcher on CN. It was all SW1200RS, the which model I happened to like. This is a southbound light move of CN 1357 on CP's Ellwood Sub, at 1406 on October 24, 1986, headed for Walkley Yard. The signals protect the Ellwood diamond crossing of CN's Beachburg Sub, which you can see in the distance. There are three figures there, but I can't recall what they were doing; maybe tightening bolts or something. CN used to access some industrial trackage at City Centre, on CP's line, and it seemed to happen in the Fall, for a few weeks to a month. It was some sort of arrangement as part of Ottawa Terminals or somesuch. Almost right at the signals, you can see the guard rails for the short trestle over Sawmill Creek. I'm on the Brookfield Pathway, a walking/biking path that was protected by crossing signals. Carleton U's Arts Tower (as it was then) is in the distant left.
Fred

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Excellent photo.  Thanks for your posting.
ALLEN

Interesting view contrasting the tall buildings in the background and the nature-filled space where 1357 is.
Bob

feclark Wrote:
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>CN used to access some industrial
> trackage at City Centre, on CP's line, and it
> seemed to happen in the Fall, for a few weeks to a
> month.

Judging by the time of year your photo was taken, my guess, CN is returning from delivering reefers of California grapes to the City Centre Terminal.  This was an big annual event every fall for many who loved to make their own wine from grapes, not  from concentrates which is common today.  

>It was some sort of arrangement as part of
> Ottawa Terminals or somesuch. 

This was the result of the construction of The Queensway (Highway 417)  CN's Renfrew sub was lifted from Island Park Drive (mile 3.8) to the newly created Nepean Jct. Up until 1961 CN could still access the Chaudiere area from Chaudiere Jct (mile 2.9) up the spur to their Chaudiere Yard.  This ended in 1961 when the 2.75 mile Carling Ave to Bronson Ave,Stage 3A of The Queensway was started.  From 1961 on CN used the CPR tracks to gain access to their Chaudiere Yard, later to the City Centre Complex. 

Gerry Gaugl
Ottawa ON



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/25 13:16 by moonliter.

moonliter Wrote:
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> feclark Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >CN used to access some industrial
> > trackage at City Centre, on CP's line, and it
> > seemed to happen in the Fall, for a few weeks to
> a
> > month.
>
> Judging by the time of year your photo was taken,
> my guess, CN is returning from delivering reefers
> of California grapes to the City Centre
> Terminal.  This was an big annual event every
> fall for many who loved to many their own wine
> from grapes, not  from concentrates which is
> common today.  
>
> >It was some sort of arrangement as part of
> > Ottawa Terminals or somesuch. 
>
> This was the result of the construction of The
> Queensway (Highway 417)  CN's Renfrew sub was
> lifted from Island Park Drive (mile 3.8) to the
> newly created Nepean Jct. Up until 1961 CN could
> still access the Chaudiere area from Chaudiere Jct
> (mile 2.9) up the spur to their Chaudiere Yard. 
> This ended in 1961 when the 2.75 mile Carling Ave
> to Bronson Ave,Stage 3A of The Queensway was
> started.  From 1961 on CN used the CPR tracks to
> gain access to their Chaudiere Yard, later to the
> City Centre Complex. 
>
> Gerry Gaugl
> Ottawa ON

Brilliant bit of history; thanks as always, Gerry!
Fred

Interesting comment about 'Switcher' vs road switcher, had not noticed that before. Curious what the operational diference was, whether it was how the cars were classified or an efficiency in the last mile to the customer's 'spot'. My travels had been to the scenic wonders of Canada and never really spent any time checking out a switching assignment.
t4p.

TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting comment about 'Switcher' vs road
> switcher, had not noticed that before. Curious
> what the operational diference was, whether it was
> how the cars were classified or an efficiency in
> the last mile to the customer's 'spot'. My travels
> had been to the scenic wonders of Canada and never
> really spent any time checking out a switching
> assignment.
> t4p.

I'm not sure if there's a distance-worked qualifier on this. In the case of these units, the Flexicoil trucks would have had a better ride quality than conventional switcher trucks. If you consider CP out of Smiths Falls, they ran a Brockville Turn, 27.5 miles, using MLW S-series switchers, for years.
Fred