Photo of the Week

[iCe]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39667

Seeing that I live reasonably close to Waterloo, I was wondering...

a) What is know about that railroad?
b) Do they regularly serve Waterloo?
c) How big a fleet do they have?

Thanks,

[Guilford350]

I found an online roster you might interested in: http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/rosters/GEXR1.htm
Some of their units have interesting history behind them. One of their GP38's for example:

[n] Baltimore & Ohio Railroad #3841
[2] CSX Transportation #2041
[3] Central Oregon & Pacific #5041
[4] Central Oregon & Pacific #3821
[5] Goderich-Exeter Railway #3821

[petertenthije]

I have a question regarding this picture. I see that this level crossing has no protection whatsoever. No lights, bells or barriers. Is this normal?

In the Netherlands EVERY level crossing in a city has lights, bells and barriers (except for some small industrial lines that will only see small trains, unlike this train which seems large and heavy). Every metre of track in a city has been sealed of with a fence. Often that fence is just low, but they still offer some protection to people. In many cities the trainlines are even elevated on a "dyke".

Outside the cities you won't find a single crossing that is not guarded. Every crossing in the Netherlands has AT LEAST lights and bells.

I reckon the old geezer with the high-vis jacket came of the train and stopped the traffic, but still. This seems rather risky. I have seen some pics on this website of a car just narrowly missing a train. Just a few days ago there was one again. Are car/train collisions common?

http://207.44.222.57/images/images2/c/CSX8207hiawathacrossingB05-29-03.jpg.44317.thumb
Darwin Award, anyone? (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=40516)

http://207.44.222.57/images/images2/2/28_11_22_03_shoving.jpg.28661.thumb
This CAN NOT happen in the Netherlands (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=40506)



PS
how can I post pictures straight from the database? That photoid=...] thingy?

[iCe]

Hmmm...In Ottawa the crossings seem to be guarded, don't know about Windsor. :(

It would be cool to see that beautiful train just slowly driving down the street, though.

[Gregory Wallace]

Hmmm...In Ottawa the crossings seem to be guarded, don't know about Windsor. :(

It would be cool to see that beautiful train just slowly driving down the street, though.

I was really taken by the composition of that photo.

In fact, I dropped a note to the photographer telling him that the colors, the buildings and vehicles, the pose of the roadguard, and the close quarters all look like the world's best model RR layout come to life.

[iCe]

In fact, I dropped a note to the photographer telling him that the colors, the buildings and vehicles, the pose of the roadguard, and the close quarters all look like the world's best model RR layout come to life.

That's exactly what I think! Except I can't express myself that well.

[F40PH-2D6429]

a) What is know about that railroad?
b) Do they regularly serve Waterloo?
c) How big a fleet do they have?

A) GEXR (Goderich & Exeter Railway), they are owned by Rail America and they lease Property from CN on a the 99 year lease deal that was started only a few years ago. There 4 major stops are Goderich, Stratford, Kitchener, & Guelph. They operate on the former CN Guelph Sub, CN FERGUS SPUR, GALT SPUR, Huron Park Spur, WATERLOO SPUR, Guelph North Spur, EXETER Spur, & GODERICH SUBDIVISION.
They have connections in Georgetown on the CN Halton Sub at CN Silver and go all the way to MacMillan Yard in North Toronto, and also at CN London on the other end of the line.

Here is all the trackage GEXR has.
GEXR ~ EXETER SUBDIVISION
http://www.niagararails.com/exetspur.shtml

GEXR ~ GODERICH SUBDIVISION
http://www.niagararails.com/godspur.shtml

GEXR ~ GUELPH SUBDIVISION
http://www.niagararails.com/guelph.shtml

GEXR ~ FERGUS SPUR & GEXR ~ GALT SPUR
http://www.niagararails.com/fergus.shtml

B) The Waterloo & St Jacobs Train used to travel on the Waterloo Spur, which ran throught the Downtown of Waterloo but has been since canceled and closed and the train sits in VIA Mimico Yard in Toronto. GEXR runs a few trains a week down the line if I hear correctly from my brother who lives up in Waterloo. They run tank cars up just past the University of Waterloo to a factory just off campus.

C) The fleet is ok size, mostly GP38s & GP40s. They also have a few GP9s but they dont use them really, and last time I was by the VIA station in Kitchener there was 2 GP9s there parked and drained, and from what I was told they were up for sale. They also have the F Units, but from what I last heard 1401 was back in Calgary for repairs and may come back, who knows.

Telus6429
Ian
Windsor, Ontario
http://www.trainweb.org/swontariotrain/index.html
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?name=Telus6429

[iCe]

Hey Ian,

Thanks for the detailed reply.

:)

[Guilford350]

Btw, I think the next photo of the week should be this one: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=41677 :)

[iCe]

I concur! :D

[dsktc]

Thanks, guys.

But this is my choice for the POTW:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=41529

Only the most dedicated photographers are out in
a blizzard.

Dave

[iCe]

That's a nice one, too! :)

[F40PH-2D6429]

I say something like this, to bring in the holidays.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=41745
or
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=41829
or
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=41830

Telus6429
Ian
Windsor, Ontario
http://www.trainweb.org/swontariotrain/index.html
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?name=Telus6429

[iCe]

Hmm....A Christmas train photo would be a good idea, too.

[petertenthije]

hmmmmmm, sounds like we need a pic of the day contest

[iCe]

Congratulations to Dave to his second POTW!!! :)

[dsktc]

Thanks, Ice. I was very surprised when I saw the POTW
this morning.

Dave