Ontario Northland

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Ontario Northland (often called ONR, however proper rail reporting marks are ONT) is a rail (passenger and freight) and coach service operator based in North Bay, Ontario. They provide service as far south as Toronto and as far north as Moosonee. Ontario Northland services the communities of Moosonee, Moose Factory, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane, Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Kirkland Lake, Engleheart, Armstrong, Temiskamming, Cobalt, Haileybury, Temagami, Sudbury, North Bay, Perry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Orillia, Barrie and Toronto (Yorkdale and Toronto Union terminal).

Contents

Recent history

In March 2012 the Ontario government announced the winding down of Ontario Northland in an effort to balance its budget. The government claims the agency is no longer viable with low passenger numbers and high subsidies.[1] Assets such as Ontera telecommunications and freight operations will be sold off. The first major stage of the shut-down was the discontinuation of The Northlander train, which will be replaced with bus service operated by private companies.[2] The government is committed to the continuation of the Polar Bear Express, but will tender operations of the bus routes to private companies.[3]

Routes

Rail
The Northlander - Operated between Toronto's Union train station and Cochrane, Ontario.
The Little Bear - Operated between Cochrane, Ontario and Moosonee, Ontario.
The Polar Bear Express - Operated between Cochrane, Ontario and Moosonee/Moose Factory, Ontario
The Dream Catcher Express - Operated between North Bay, Ontario and Temagami, Ontario. The Dream Catcher Express operates only six days per year and is operated to give riders a picturesque view of the natural beauty Ontario's Northern community of Temagami has to offer.

Motor Coach
Ontario Northland operates motor coach services from Hearst, Ontario to Toronto, Ontario which services the various northern communities along the way.

Bus roster

Active

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
5991-5993 Ontario Northland 5991-a.jpg 1999 MCI 102-DL3
  • Formerly 501-503
  • 5993 retired sometime before April 27, 2013.
5001 Ontario Northland 5001-a.jpg 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Formerly 504
5002 2000 MCI 102-DL3 Purchased used
5011-5012 Ontario Northland 5012-a.jpg 2001 MCI 102-DL3 Formerly 505-506
5013-5017 Ontario Northland 5015-a.jpg 2001 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500R Ex-GO Transit; acquired early 2012
5021-5022 Ontario Northland 5021-a.jpg 2002 Prevost LeMirage XL II Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500 Purchased second hand from Prevost in 2011
5031-5033 Ontario Northland 5033-a.jpg 2003 MCI J4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic Formerly 508-510
5041-5042 Ontario Northland 5041-b.jpg 2004 MCI J4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic Formerly 511-512
5051-5053 Ontario Northland 5052-a.jpg 2005 MCI D4500 Detroit Diesel Series 60 ZF AS Tronic
5071-5073 2007 MCI D4505
5091-5092 Ontario Northland 5091-a.jpg 2009 MCI D4505 Detroit Diesel Series 60 Allison B500R
5211-5215 Ontario Northland 5213-a.jpg 2011 Prevost X3-45 In new Chevron livery
5216-5218 Ontario Northland 5218-a.jpg 2011 Prevost X3-45 Volvo D13 Allison B500 In new Chevron livery

Retired

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
70-72 1946 CC&F IC-41
100 (1) 1953 CC&F CD-36A
100 (2) Renumbered 817
101 1950 CC&F C-36A Ex-Demo; bought in 1956
110-114 1975 MCI MC-5B 111-114 renumbered 751-754.
120 MCI MC-5A
122 5/1965 MCI MCC-5A To A.J. Bus Lines 122.
123 4/1966 MCI MC-5A To A.J. Bus Lines 127.
124 1967 Prevost
125 1967 MCI MC-5A
126-127 5/1967 MCI MC-5A
130 1968 MCI MC-5A To A.J. Bus Lines 178 in October 1976.
132-133 1971 MCI MC-7
134-135 1972 MCI MC-7
136 1973 MCI MC-7
137 1976 MCI MC-8
200-201 1972 MCI MC-7 200 was involved in a major accident on March 18, 1973.[4]
202-203 1/1973 MCI MC-8
204-205 10/1974 MCI MC-8 205 renumbered 741.
208-210 3/1978 MCI MC-8 209-210 renumbered 781-782.
211-216 Renumbered 811-816
217-219 Renumbered 821-823
501-503 Renumbered 5991-5993
504 Renumbered 5001
505-506 Renumbered 5011-5012
507 Renumbered 5021
508-510 Renumbered 5031-5033
511-512 Renumbered 5041-5042
741 1974 MCI MC-8
751-754 1975 MCI MC-5B Formerly numbered 111-114.
761-762 1/1976 MCI MC-8 Formerly numbered 206-207
781-782 3/1978 MCI MC-8 Formerly numbered 209-210
811-816 1981 MCI MC-9 Formerly numbered 211-216
817 1981 Dodge B-322 Formerly numbered 100 (2)
821-823 6/1982 MCI MC-9 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Formerly numbered 217-219
824-828 4/1982 MCI MC-9 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2352-2354, 2357-2358.
831-835 4/1983 MCI MC-9 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2360-2362, 2365.
843-845 1984 MCI MC-9 Detroit Diesel 8V71N Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2372-2373, 2376.
851-857 Ontario Northland 854-a.jpg 1985 MCI 102-A3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
861-862 1986 MCI 102-A3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2520-2521.
871-877 1987 MCI 102-A3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2532-2534, 2536-2539.
881-882 Ontario Northland 881-a.jpg 1988 MCI 102-A3
891-892 Ontario Northland 892-a.jpg 1989 MCI 102-A3
901-903 1990 MCI 102-A3
931-932 Ontario Northland 931-a.jpg 1992 MCI 102-C3
951-955 Wc15.JPG Ontario Northland 955-a.jpg 1995 MCI 102-D3
961-962 1996 MCI 102-D3 Detroit Diesel Series 60
981 1998 MCI 102-D3
1022 Wc15.JPG 1989 MCI 102-AW3
2340, 2344 1981 MCI MC-9 Ex-Gray Coach Lines 2340 & 2344.

Rail roster

Active locomotives

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Class Engine
horsepower 		Gearing
top speed 		Notes
202-205 Ontario Northland 203-a.jpg Acquired 1985,1996 EMD
Rebuilt by ONR shops in North Bay 		EGU None None
  • 202-204 are ex-MILW F7B's and F9B's converted to EGU's in 1989-1991 to provide HEP to passenger trains.
  • 205 is ex-GO Transit 801.
206 Acquired 2004 NSC EGU None None
  • Built as CN 15483, transferred to VIA in 1978.
  • Sold to BCR in 1997, converted to EGU there.
  • Sold to ONR as part of Starlight Dinner trainset purchased from BCR.
1600-1605 Ontario Northland 1603-a.jpg 1956-57 GMDD GP9 16V645C
1750hp 		62:15
65mph
  • 1602 sold to NRE in 2006.
  • 1603 equipped with a 2000hp 16V645E engine in 2001.
1730-1737 Ontario Northland 1731-a.jpg 1973-74 GMDD SD40-2 16V645E3C
3000hp 		62:15
65mph
  • 1732 wrecked July 1996, retired in 2001.
  • 1731 and 1736 retired and sold to Progress Rail in 2005.
1800-1803 Ontario Northland 1800-a.jpg 1974 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp 		62:15
65mph 		1803 wrecked and retired.
1804-1807 Ontario Northland Railway 1805a.jpg 1982 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp 		62:15
65mph 		1807 wrecked July 1996, retired in 2001.
1808-1809 Ontario Northland 1808-a.jpg 1984 GMDD GP38-2 16V645E3
2000hp 		62:15
65mph
2100-2105 1999 GMDD SD75I 16V710G3C
4300hp 		83:18
70mph 		Units built as options on CN GF-643c order for use on projected garbage trains from Toronto to Adams Mine near Kirkland Lake.
2200-2202 Acquired 2005 EMD GP40-2 16V645E3
3000hp 		62:15
65mph 		Units built for B&M in 1977, purchased from Helm Leasing to replace the 3 FP7Cat's.

Historical locomotives

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Class Engine
horsepower 		Gearing
top speed 		Notes
1500-1521 Ontario Northland 1502-a.jpg 1951-1953 GMDD FP7 1500 hp
  • 1503, 1505, 1507, 1512-1513 to GO Transit in 1973.
  • 1500, 1504, 1511 & 1514 to GO Transit in 1976.
  • 1505, 1516-1517 wrecked and retired.
  • 1501, 1510, 1518-1519 renumbered to work with TEE sets.
  • 1502, 1509 & 1521 rebuilt to FP7Cat 2000-2002.
  • 1506, 1508, 1515-1517 & 1520 retired.
2000-2002 Ontario Northland Railway 2002a.jpg Built 1954-1956
Rebuilt 1997 		GMDD FP7Cat Cat 16V3516
2075hp
  • Rebuilt in 1997 for passenger service with Caterpillar 3615 prime movers and desktop operating controls.
  • Units retired in 2005.

Active railcars

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Type Seats Notes
411-413 1953-54 NSC Lightweight baggage
  • 411 and 412 purchased by ONR.
  • 413 is ex-VIA 9604
  • Nee-CN 9232.
  • 411 retired.
600-615 Ontario Northland 601-a.jpg Acquired 1985, 1994 Hawker Siddeley Canada
rebuilt by ONR shops in North Bay 		RTC-85 54
  • Ex-GO Transit single-level cars in the 1000-series.
  • Cars rebuilt for long-distance service.
  • 611 damaged and retired in 1996.
  • 608 damaged and retired in 2001.
  • 605, 607 and 610 have never operated in service.
700-703 Ontario Northland 700-a.jpg Acquired 1985 Hawker Siddeley Canada RTC-85, RTC-85SPD
  • Ex-GO Transit single-level cars in the 1000-series, and the two dual-cab self-propelled cars.
  • Cars rebuilt for lunch-counter service.
830-842 Acquired 1971 Pullman-Standard 85 foot coach 56 seats
  • Nee-N&W coaches in the 1700-series and 500-series, built in 1949.
  • Only 841 and 842 remain in service.
850-857 Acquired 1990-1993 CC&F "Dayniter" 52 seats
  • Ex-VIA "Dayniter" coaches in the 5700-series
  • Exx-VIA EM-85 82-seat lightweight coaches and I-series 22 roomette sleepers
  • Nee-CN EM-85 82-seat lightweight coaches (1954-1956) and I-series 22 roomette sleepers (1950).
1408 Acquired 1990 CC&F Café-bar-lounge
  • Ex-VIA 2514
  • Exx-CN 2514
  • Exx-CN café-coach 3028
  • Nee-CN EM-85 82-seat lightweight coach 5613 built 1955.
1409 Acquired 1992 Pullman-Standard Diner
  • Ex-VIA 1358
  • Exx-CN 1358
  • Nee-CN buffet-sleeper 1012 built 1954.
1410 Acquired 1992 CC&F Entertainment car
  • Ex-VIA coach-café 3024
  • Exx-CN 3024
  • Nee-CN EM-85, 82-seat lightweight coach 5546 built 1954.

Contacts

  • Address: 555 Oak Street East, North Bay, ON
  • email: info@ontc.on.ca
  • Fax: 705-472-6535
  • Phone: 705-472-4500 or 1-800-363-7512

References

  1. ↑ Province winds down Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Ferguson, Rob (16 August 2012). Ontario Northlander train to make its last run Sept. 28. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (Press release). Government of Ontario. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Witnesses recall March ’73 bus crash near Barrie that left 12 dead, www.thebarrieexaminer.com, retrieved on 2013-05-18.

External links

Retrieved from "http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Ontario_Northland&oldid=183130"
Air / Rail / School Bus / Taxi