Old Time Trains

Ontario Southland Railway

by R.L.Kennedy

CNR Cayuga Subdivision

All photographs: Walter Pfefferle unless otherwise credited.

(Last updated June 30, 2020)

. .

Canadian National Railway's Cayuga Subdivision was once heavily used by Norfolk Southern predecessor Wabash
to connect between Detroit and Buffalo just as the nearby Canada Southern did for Michigan Central/New York Central
and eventually Penn Central/ Conrail before all lines were abandoned except for short segments here and there.

Effective November 9, 1998 leased its Cayuga Sub. from just east of St.Thomas 33 miles through Aylmer, Tillsonburg (connecting to OSR) to Courtland and Delhi a deadend as track was long abandoned beyond this point. It included running rights into CN's yard in St.Thomas. It was leased to Trillium Railway another independent Canadian shortline which created
the St.Thomas and Eastern Railway.

ST&E struggled on for years with minimal traffic and little growth providing service twice a week. Ironically, the biggest increase resulted from a new customer that was unable to find land with rail access to OSR in Tillsonburg. Future Transfer an independent trucking operation in Aylmer relocated to Tillsonburg in CN's yard after ST&E had taken over. Initially CN traffic going to OSR was handed over in Tillsonburg as was CPR traffic handled by OSR going to ST&E destinations including Future Transfer. Once OSR leased the CPR St.Thomas Sub. they were able to connect to CN in St.Thomas directly thereby cutting out Trillium.

Eventually, low traffic combined with minimal track maintenance and the need for major bridge repairs in Tillsonburg and between Courtland and Delhi did in St.Thomas & Eastern and parent Trillium abruptly ended operations December 20, 2013 with minimal notice (30 days?)

OSR stepped in to provide interim local service for CN customers in Tillsonburg (east of the bridge) and Courtland.
No service was provided to Alymer (new ethanol plant) and Delhi. Note: CN traffic destined to CPR customers has been interchanged directly to OSR in St.Thomas since OSR leased the St.Thomas Sub. Initially, cars were set-off and lifted
near the old Wabash Transfer. Following shut down of the ST&E interchange made in CN St. Thomas Flora Street yard.

Short term arrangements were renewed a number of times while CN sought another operator in the interim OSR continues to operate part of the line recently adding St.Thomas to Aylmer. Major repairs to the embargoed trestle Mile 94.6 just west of Tillsonburg yard undertaken by CN during 2016 in order to reopen line. The first train operated early in 2017 from CN St.Thomas to Tillsonburg over the trestle. This one trestle cost $640,000 dollars while extensive track work replacing 6,000 ties cost another $900,000 in addition to another 3800 ties put in by OSR mostly between St. Thomas and Aylmer all carried out earlier in 2016. This eliminated the long-existing 10 mph track speed bringing it up to varying speed up to 25 MPH. A stretch of excellent CWR previously laid also exists.

The line was reopened with the promise of a consider volume of long-haul freight from Tillsonburg to Western Canada. This traffic was intended to be windmill blades. However, the much larger size blades required were too big to be produced in the former auto parts leased plant by the same company (Siemens) that had built smaller blades for Samsung's Ontario windmill farms. The plant promptly closed in early 2018.

OSR continued providing service in spite of declining freight traffic with little or no possibility of reversing the trend. Finally, it was decided to end operations and the last train operated Thursday, April 30, 2020. CN will not resume operation.

St.Thomas

Running rights granted on the Cayuga spur Mile 114.55 to Mile 119.0 in St.Thomas to reach CN St.Thomas Flora Street yard for interchange with CN (Talbot Spur going 14.5 miles to London.) This is the former London and Port Stanley radial railway. The connection to CPR St.Thomas Subdivision remains.

Formet Industries

A division of Magna International Inc.
Automobile parts manufacturer.

1 Cosma Court.

Connections to both CNR and CPR in St.Thomas. The Formet plant is switched by CANDO Contracting.

Other industries on CN in St.Thomas include Agrico Canada 263 Edward St. and Triple M Metals 245 Edward Street.

Mile 115.2 Cayuga spur at the abandoned CASO diamond east of Yarmouth Centre Road.
182-1401 eastbound with train of empty tank cars being relocated for storage.
Two views: Larry Broadbent

Yarmouth Centre

Dowler-Karn caboose ex TH&B 63 acq. 8/2018. Tower Road.

Last run April 30th. 2020

1401_6508 eastbound crossing Otter Creek bridge with one tank car lifted at Aylmer westbound and 14 tank cars
lifted from Future Transfer in Tillsonburg yard. Three photos; Thursday, April 30, 2020 Larry Broadbent

Passing Elgin Feeds in Aylmer.

Passing Dowler-Karn's recently displayed van ex THB 63. Tower Road, Yarmouth Centre.

1245_1210 westbound near Corinth with a deceptive looking consist! Not much revenue here. In fact none!
One empty tank ex ethanol plant in Aylmer lifted on eastbound movement. Some empty covered hoppers
ex Courtland part of 40 car block received in seasonal movement and several empty storage tank cars.

Sarum

Mile 114.55 Cayuga Sub. Belmont Road begins OSR lease to Mile 87.22 end of track.

Trestle Mile 113.2 just east of New Sarum.

Note: This was NOT the bridge requiring major repairs that closed the line.

Aylmer
Mile 108.5 Cayuga Sub.

Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative Inc.
33 Talbot Street East

IGPC Ethanol Inc. wholly-owned subsidiary.
Fuel grade ethanol producer using local corn.
89 Progress Drive

ENLARGE

Began production October 2008 sourcing corn from Cargill.
A partnership effective October 1, 2015 with Thompsons Ltd. replaced Cargill.
A major $135 million expansion doubling capacity is currently (October 2016) under consideration.
It could include Canada's first fibre separation technology system.
Rail is expected to play a more important role.

Other ethanol plants in Ontario include: a 400-million-litre facility owned by Suncor St. Clair in Sarnia; a 200-million litre plant owned by Greenfield Specialty Alcohols 200-million product in Johnstown in Eastern Ontario; another similar-sized operation by Greenfield in Chatham; a smaller 27-million litre operation in Tiverton; and Kawartha Ethanols' 120-million litre plant at Havelock.

NOTE:
Air Liquide Canada opened October 2018 a $30M adjacent plant at 487 John Street North to recover carbon dioxide (CO2) from waste feed producing 300 tons a day of food and premium grade CO2. While unlikely to add to rail traffic it does however speak to the overall viability of the ethanol plant itself.

200 million litre plant. Progress Drive street view.

Not a tank car in sight! Most ethanol moves by truck due to short haul such as Hamilton.

378_383 eastbound just east of Aylmer crossing Glencolin Line (Springfield Rd. Elgin County 40 behind)
is the first train to operate on the restored Cayuga line over the long-embargoed
trestle to reach Future Transfer in CN Tillsonburg yard. January 5, 2017.

Tillsonburg

1400_1620 ran across the recently repaired trestle and back to settle new timbers securly as desired by the
maintenance people prior to final approval of the completed work. This drone still shot shows the long length
of the trestle. Highway 3 in right background has a similarly lengthy structure. There are a number of
long trestles throughout the St.Thomas-Tillsonburg area on multiple railway lines. Tillsonburg 11/17/2016.

Tillsonburg yard
Mile 94.4 Cayuga Sub.

Future Transfer Company Inc.

Tillsonburg Rail Transfer Facility
3 Rouse Street

Began operation in 2003

Clean Harbors (formerly Safety Clean) also located here.
Transload dirty/cleaned oil to/from plant in Breslau.

Note: In 2016 most of this traffic was redirected by Clean Harbors
to GJR in Guelph which is much closer to Breslau.

Aerial view inc.closeup Future Transfer on Cayuga Sub.

Looking east along the CN Cayuga Sub. formerly St.Thomas and Eastern.

Weed covered yard tracks to the right were built/expanded to handle Future's traffic as were tracks at left.
After opening of Future's new location on Tillson Avenue on OSR much traffic was diverted there.

Two views October 12, 2015 taken at our request as well as Tillson Avenue location.

One of two Future Transfer Trackmobile car movers.

ex LCLX 7614 with ex CN work service prefab container. May 3, 2020 Walter Pfefferle

International Beams Ontario
Engineered Wood Products
10 Rouse Street

Note: Siding built by OSR. Rail traffic arrives from Quebec via CPR.

Courtland
Mile 89.7 Cayuga Sub.

LA Co-op Federee
AGRI_business Div.

159 Talbot Street

Effective November 2018 most of the operations of Cargill in Ontario were acquired including the
two facilities in Courtland which included former Norfolk Co-Op acquired by Cargill Canada.

8235_503 switching the newly acquired facility. Courtland January 4, 2019

1401_182 make a rare trip to Courtland. Still nice weather! November 7, 2016

NOTE: Due to bridge condition line was closed beyond that point to end of track Delhi M. 87.22.
Growmark was the only rail customer.

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Old Time Trains © 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020

Ontario Southland Railway

by R.L.Kennedy

CNR Cayuga Subdivision

All photographs: Walter Pfefferle unless otherwise credited.

(Last updated June 30, 2020)

. .

Canadian National Railway's Cayuga Subdivision was once heavily used by Norfolk Southern predecessor Wabash
to connect between Detroit and Buffalo just as the nearby Canada Southern did for Michigan Central/New York Central
and eventually Penn Central/ Conrail before all lines were abandoned except for short segments here and there.

Effective November 9, 1998 leased its Cayuga Sub. from just east of St.Thomas 33 miles through Aylmer, Tillsonburg (connecting to OSR) to Courtland and Delhi a deadend as track was long abandoned beyond this point. It included running rights into CN's yard in St.Thomas. It was leased to Trillium Railway another independent Canadian shortline which created
the St.Thomas and Eastern Railway.

ST&E struggled on for years with minimal traffic and little growth providing service twice a week. Ironically, the biggest increase resulted from a new customer that was unable to find land with rail access to OSR in Tillsonburg. Future Transfer an independent trucking operation in Aylmer relocated to Tillsonburg in CN's yard after ST&E had taken over. Initially CN traffic going to OSR was handed over in Tillsonburg as was CPR traffic handled by OSR going to ST&E destinations including Future Transfer. Once OSR leased the CPR St.Thomas Sub. they were able to connect to CN in St.Thomas directly thereby cutting out Trillium.

Eventually, low traffic combined with minimal track maintenance and the need for major bridge repairs in Tillsonburg and between Courtland and Delhi did in St.Thomas & Eastern and parent Trillium abruptly ended operations December 20, 2013 with minimal notice (30 days?)

OSR stepped in to provide interim local service for CN customers in Tillsonburg (east of the bridge) and Courtland.
No service was provided to Alymer (new ethanol plant) and Delhi. Note: CN traffic destined to CPR customers has been interchanged directly to OSR in St.Thomas since OSR leased the St.Thomas Sub. Initially, cars were set-off and lifted
near the old Wabash Transfer. Following shut down of the ST&E interchange made in CN St. Thomas Flora Street yard.

Short term arrangements were renewed a number of times while CN sought another operator in the interim OSR continues to operate part of the line recently adding St.Thomas to Aylmer. Major repairs to the embargoed trestle Mile 94.6 just west of Tillsonburg yard undertaken by CN during 2016 in order to reopen line. The first train operated early in 2017 from CN St.Thomas to Tillsonburg over the trestle. This one trestle cost $640,000 dollars while extensive track work replacing 6,000 ties cost another $900,000 in addition to another 3800 ties put in by OSR mostly between St. Thomas and Aylmer all carried out earlier in 2016. This eliminated the long-existing 10 mph track speed bringing it up to varying speed up to 25 MPH. A stretch of excellent CWR previously laid also exists.

The line was reopened with the promise of a consider volume of long-haul freight from Tillsonburg to Western Canada. This traffic was intended to be windmill blades. However, the much larger size blades required were too big to be produced in the former auto parts leased plant by the same company (Siemens) that had built smaller blades for Samsung's Ontario windmill farms. The plant promptly closed in early 2018.

OSR continued providing service in spite of declining freight traffic with little or no possibility of reversing the trend. Finally, it was decided to end operations and the last train operated Thursday, April 30, 2020. CN will not resume operation.

St.Thomas

Running rights granted on the Cayuga spur Mile 114.55 to Mile 119.0 in St.Thomas to reach CN St.Thomas Flora Street yard for interchange with CN (Talbot Spur going 14.5 miles to London.) This is the former London and Port Stanley radial railway. The connection to CPR St.Thomas Subdivision remains.

Formet Industries

A division of Magna International Inc.
Automobile parts manufacturer.

1 Cosma Court.

Connections to both CNR and CPR in St.Thomas. The Formet plant is switched by CANDO Contracting.

Other industries on CN in St.Thomas include Agrico Canada 263 Edward St. and Triple M Metals 245 Edward Street.

Mile 115.2 Cayuga spur at the abandoned CASO diamond east of Yarmouth Centre Road.
182-1401 eastbound with train of empty tank cars being relocated for storage.
Two views: Larry Broadbent

Yarmouth Centre

Dowler-Karn caboose ex TH&B 63 acq. 8/2018. Tower Road.

Last run April 30th. 2020

1401_6508 eastbound crossing Otter Creek bridge with one tank car lifted at Aylmer westbound and 14 tank cars
lifted from Future Transfer in Tillsonburg yard. Three photos; Thursday, April 30, 2020 Larry Broadbent

Passing Elgin Feeds in Aylmer.

Passing Dowler-Karn's recently displayed van ex THB 63. Tower Road, Yarmouth Centre.

1245_1210 westbound near Corinth with a deceptive looking consist! Not much revenue here. In fact none!
One empty tank ex ethanol plant in Aylmer lifted on eastbound movement. Some empty covered hoppers
ex Courtland part of 40 car block received in seasonal movement and several empty storage tank cars.

Sarum

Mile 114.55 Cayuga Sub. Belmont Road begins OSR lease to Mile 87.22 end of track.

Trestle Mile 113.2 just east of New Sarum.

Note: This was NOT the bridge requiring major repairs that closed the line.

Aylmer
Mile 108.5 Cayuga Sub.

Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative Inc.
33 Talbot Street East

IGPC Ethanol Inc. wholly-owned subsidiary.
Fuel grade ethanol producer using local corn.
89 Progress Drive

ENLARGE

Began production October 2008 sourcing corn from Cargill.
A partnership effective October 1, 2015 with Thompsons Ltd. replaced Cargill.
A major $135 million expansion doubling capacity is currently (October 2016) under consideration.
It could include Canada's first fibre separation technology system.
Rail is expected to play a more important role.

Other ethanol plants in Ontario include: a 400-million-litre facility owned by Suncor St. Clair in Sarnia; a 200-million litre plant owned by Greenfield Specialty Alcohols 200-million product in Johnstown in Eastern Ontario; another similar-sized operation by Greenfield in Chatham; a smaller 27-million litre operation in Tiverton; and Kawartha Ethanols' 120-million litre plant at Havelock.

NOTE:
Air Liquide Canada opened October 2018 a $30M adjacent plant at 487 John Street North to recover carbon dioxide (CO2) from waste feed producing 300 tons a day of food and premium grade CO2. While unlikely to add to rail traffic it does however speak to the overall viability of the ethanol plant itself.

200 million litre plant. Progress Drive street view.

Not a tank car in sight! Most ethanol moves by truck due to short haul such as Hamilton.

378_383 eastbound just east of Aylmer crossing Glencolin Line (Springfield Rd. Elgin County 40 behind)
is the first train to operate on the restored Cayuga line over the long-embargoed
trestle to reach Future Transfer in CN Tillsonburg yard. January 5, 2017.

Tillsonburg

1400_1620 ran across the recently repaired trestle and back to settle new timbers securly as desired by the
maintenance people prior to final approval of the completed work. This drone still shot shows the long length
of the trestle. Highway 3 in right background has a similarly lengthy structure. There are a number of
long trestles throughout the St.Thomas-Tillsonburg area on multiple railway lines. Tillsonburg 11/17/2016.

Tillsonburg yard
Mile 94.4 Cayuga Sub.

Future Transfer Company Inc.

Tillsonburg Rail Transfer Facility
3 Rouse Street

Began operation in 2003

Clean Harbors (formerly Safety Clean) also located here.
Transload dirty/cleaned oil to/from plant in Breslau.

Note: In 2016 most of this traffic was redirected by Clean Harbors
to GJR in Guelph which is much closer to Breslau.

Aerial view inc.closeup Future Transfer on Cayuga Sub.

Looking east along the CN Cayuga Sub. formerly St.Thomas and Eastern.

Weed covered yard tracks to the right were built/expanded to handle Future's traffic as were tracks at left.
After opening of Future's new location on Tillson Avenue on OSR much traffic was diverted there.

Two views October 12, 2015 taken at our request as well as Tillson Avenue location.

One of two Future Transfer Trackmobile car movers.

ex LCLX 7614 with ex CN work service prefab container. May 3, 2020 Walter Pfefferle

International Beams Ontario
Engineered Wood Products
10 Rouse Street

Note: Siding built by OSR. Rail traffic arrives from Quebec via CPR.

Courtland
Mile 89.7 Cayuga Sub.

LA Co-op Federee
AGRI_business Div.

159 Talbot Street

Effective November 2018 most of the operations of Cargill in Ontario were acquired including the
two facilities in Courtland which included former Norfolk Co-Op acquired by Cargill Canada.

8235_503 switching the newly acquired facility. Courtland January 4, 2019

1401_182 make a rare trip to Courtland. Still nice weather! November 7, 2016

NOTE: Due to bridge condition line was closed beyond that point to end of track Delhi M. 87.22.
Growmark was the only rail customer.

Back to OSR main page