Before Trillium: The CN around Thorold

[@iusetano]

Loved it!!!!! So many memories I have of this area and the locomotives also. I used to operate one of these (ex CN) locomotives for the papermill in Thorold South. At that time it was Ontario Paper Co. Worked there for 39 years. You can see the mill at 1:28 of your video. I grew up in the St.Catharines Thorld area. All of changes since then. The railroad bridge crossing the main line in St. Catharines is gone. I can think of more but not enough room. Excellent video. Thank you so very much.

[@alanfox6901]

Thanks for this footage. You have perfectly captured what I remember of freight transfers on the highline and the townline in-street running. I especially like the detail of showing the brakeman setting the switches. Very authentic documentation.

[@coccopizzoproductions]

Love this... I remember growing up this train passing right in front of our house on Lynden Street in Thorold.

[@dwaynerjublome2339]

Both spurs are now officially abandoned however the yard at 1:44 was just rebuilt behind the beer store for Trillium Railway storage. The section to the left of the beer store is officially abandoned i noticed a few months back as all the railway crossing signs are taken down across thorold. At 5:09 I noticed a few years back that the tracks were lifted from the middle of the road. Not sure how long this line have been abandoned but im gonna guess a couple of years anyways from the looks of the rail. I know the 9:43 spur has been abandoned for a while as you can see the tracks getting ripped up years ago on google earth. I remember one time reading articles that the mayor wanted to rebuild that line, it obviously fell through with %0 chance today with the build up.

[@enr3870]

I switched with the 7304 quite a bit in North Vancouver as it was one of the regular yard goats in North Van shortly before the SW's were retired

[@GiantArtProductions]

oh man i still remember when i was a kid, seeing the trains go through front street for the last few times.

[@stinkyroadhog1347]

There's something about a Nathan M3H that sounds distinctly Canadian

[@fmnut]

Technically, it's not a Nathan horn. Nathan is the US licensee for Airchime Ltd. who makes the horns in Canada with Canadian tuning. Nathan horns are in the US.

[@Trains4Fun]

This is a very nice video. Thanks for sharing!

[@Bhil3]

Oh so cool! loved it

[@TheTVGuy45]

Thank you so much for uploading this!!1

[@daveyboy_]

Spur lines are so cool

[@admydragon]

0:52 why is that vehicle pixelated lmao!

[@fmnut]

It's pixellated because I don't want you to know why. If it wasn't, the reason would be obvious. And, like they say in the movies, "if I told you I'd have to kill you."

[@admydragon]

@@fmnut Dude....mysterious.

[@deloreanman14]

What was with the blurred out vehicle at around 0:55?

[@terrywilliams759]

Does anybody know what the CN line was that went from Lock one in Saint Catherines over to the GM plant I'm trying to figure it out I grew up in the north end of Saint Catherines and would always run to the end of my parents Street to see the train go by and are there any videos in St.catharines

[@Trainsbigandsmall]

Does anybody or you have footage of CN going down Pine street in Thorald or Louisa street in St. Catharines? CN once ran down Louisa street to get tot he GM plant on Ontario street.

[@fmnut]

Sorry. My one big regret in railfanning the area is never catching the run down Pine St. I have never seen other footage of it either.

[@SeanMurrellRTS]

Never seen Pine on KZbin but I thought I did see Louisa. Forget what video. Great video by the way. Got to ride PCHR a few years into their operation on that very section. Hard to believe how much industry let alone track is now gone.

[@mikebrabant4170]

Sure would be nice to still have all the paper mills still in operation and all the good paying jobs!! I used to work for Ontario Paper in Thorold South and remember the trains going steady bringing in the pulp wood about 30 cars a day just in wood cars.

[@alexanderpoirier3350]

Thank you for the wonderful footage. Absolutely beautiful. Just out of curiosity, but can anyone tell me what kind of horn that switcher engine has? Love the sound of it. Thanks!

[@fmnut]

Alexander Poirier GMD SW1200RS. Canadian built heavily modified EMD SW1200

[@fmnut]

Sorry, I didn't read the question thoroughly 2 years ago. The horn is an Airchime Limited model M3. Different sound from the US Nathan M3, as mandated by the CTC.

[@fmnut]

@RoadhogTime13 search for Canadian M3 horn.

[@nawrock]

Fantastic footage!

[@railfannerpinklaces]

This is spectacular. Do you have more Niagara footage? I love seeing this.

[@WAYNE1980AA]

sounds like a M3H or K3L

[@iusetano]

Very much so. When was it taken? Who knows, maybe it was me you caught.

[@WAYNE1980AA]

at 6:29, is that a tornado siren i hear?

[@fmnut]

WAYNE1980AA nope, just the wheels squealing

[@gingerrail7368]

And many times do they used this line in a week.?

[@fmnut]

back in the mid 2000's Trillium Rail was servicing St Catherines/Merriton/Thorold on weekdays 5 days a week. don't know what the frequency is now.

[@gingerrail7368]

Is all this track is gone or is there any left.

[@fmnut]

The street running in Thorold is done due to a fire on the approach trestle to the CN overpass at Merriton. Most of the rest is still used AFAIK.

[@niagararails]

Not a financial plug at all, but if you are interested in other still footage, I have some on my site at niagararails[dot]com of CN in Thorold. Great old video footage here. I remember the old Townline Spur. The Abbott St. bridge behind the old Domtar plant was burned by arson. That is why they don't use it any more. The line was handed back to CN to tear out what they wanted.

[@dixienormous3262]

Train conductors and engineers must wonder who the F are these weirdos filming us?

[@gingerrail7368]

Why did they not fix it, too much money.?

[@fmnut]

+Ginger Rail Yes, rebuilding the burned trestle or replacing it with a fill would have cost more than the revenue they made off the line in many years.