Allandale25 Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I was biking yesterday along the Toronto Waterfront and noticed that the tracks to the Redpath building had been ripped up. I also took a few pictures of the switches along Basin Street which I read somewhere are the only ones in Toronto which are in the same style as TTC streetcar switches - they are in the pavement. Sadly, this section of track is no longer in use as a new film studio has cut access to the mainline. I exepect to see more changes in the portlands as Waterfront Toronto begins to revitalize the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRT_BMT_IND Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 When did the last train operate on those tracks? I was down there at around 1am in 2006 once and I saw a locomotive with two cars parked on the tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted November 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 It must have been sometime in the summer of 2008 as I saw several hopper cars on the track. I guess it wasn't ecnomical for Redpath to ship by train anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallspy Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 As Andrew pointed out it had been used until fairly recently - I last rode down there at the end of August and there were covered hoppers on the siding at Redpatch. By the way Andrew, those switches are quite different than streetcar switches - for one, they are dual-point rather than single-point, and as well they are not fabricated using flange-running girder rail. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 As Andrew pointed out it had been used until fairly recently - I last rode down there at the end of August and there were covered hoppers on the siding at Redpatch.By the way Andrew, those switches are quite different than streetcar switches - for one, they are dual-point rather than single-point, and as well they are not fabricated using flange-running girder rail. Dan Are there still several industries that require service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallspy Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Are there still several industries that require service? The CPR intermodal facility at Cherry and Unwin is the only one south of the shipping channel that I know of, although the spur to the filtration plant is still active the last time I checked. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1122 Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Over 10 years ago, I seem to recall that some passenger cars were parked there for a time. They looked like former California Zephyr cars including a dome car; most likely Silver Solarium. I'm guessing they were filming a movie or something. Any further info would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Over 10 years ago, I seem to recall that some passenger cars were parked there for a time. They looked like former California Zephyr cars including a dome car; most likely Silver Solarium. I'm guessing they were filming a movie or something. Any further info would be appreciated. How did they transport those European Locomotives to the ship? Didnt they do it through the port at Toronto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1122 Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 No, they usually take them east to Halifax most likely How did they transport those European Locomotives to the ship? Didnt they do it through the port at Toronto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. DeLarge Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 How did they transport those European Locomotives to the ship? Didnt they do it through the port at Toronto? Some went down to the Toronto Port because the ship that was going to pick them up was already in town. Otherwise they go to Halifax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Promagstyle Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 This area seems like east scarborough when CP abandoned everything south of the 401 on Birchmount Rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyfirenet Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 I was biking yesterday along the Toronto Waterfront and noticed that the tracks to the Redpath building had been ripped up. I haven't had a chance to go down and look for myself, but I was wondering how much of the spur has been removed? I'm asking because the tracks might have been only temporarily removed (wishful thinking on my part) due to the condo construction in the area if they have been removed only as far as Small St. However, if it's been removed past Lake Shore, then it's fair to say that they are gone for good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 I haven't had a chance to go down and look for myself, but I was wondering how much of the spur has been removed?I'm asking because the tracks might have been only temporarily removed (wishful thinking on my part) due to the condo construction in the area if they have been removed only as far as Small St. However, if it's been removed past Lake Shore, then it's fair to say that they are gone for good. They still use the yard to exchange cars dont they? How about the spur to the west along the Lakeshore? Is that still used? And the concrete factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallspy Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 The yard is still in use, yes, although considerably smaller than it was even 7 years ago. The spur west of the yard is the one to the former Redpath facility, the one getting torn up earlier in this thread. Which concrete plant? There are at least two in the port lands with rail service (although to the best of my knowledge, only one regularly recieves anything by rail). Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 The yard is still in use, yes, although considerably smaller than it was even 7 years ago.The spur west of the yard is the one to the former Redpath facility, the one getting torn up earlier in this thread. Which concrete plant? There are at least two in the port lands with rail service (although to the best of my knowledge, only one regularly recieves anything by rail). Dan The one on cherry st, close to the DOCKS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallspy Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 The one on cherry st, close to the DOCKS? Far as I know, it still does. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nwalsh Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 The one on cherry st, close to the DOCKS? Both Essroc and Lafarge have facilities that are serviced by cement boats off of Cherry. I know lafarge is no longer serviced by rail, also I visited a friend who worked on a tugboat chartered to push the Essroc cement barge around and while they were unloading, there were no rail cars in sight on both occasions, so things may have dried up. They want to get more trucks off of the road, but yet all these spurs are being removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nwalsh Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 A vessel named "Jumbo Vision", was in port this week loading Locomotives for overseas. Did any body catch the operation to get them down that spur? Who would have done this, CP, or CN? The ship couldn't load all of the locomotives, so another ship should be on the way. Here's some photo's linked to the boatnerd.com site taken by Joe Zika, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion VIII Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Joe Zika, RTC JZ! :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Promagstyle Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Could be CN according to this video: http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=4237 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 A vessel named "Jumbo Vision", was in port this week loading Locomotives for overseas. Did any body catch the operation to get them down that spur? Who would have done this, CP, or CN? The ship couldn't load all of the locomotives, so another ship should be on the way. Here's some photo's linked to the boatnerd.com site taken by Joe Zika, I didnt know there is a location where the tracks come so close to the dock....where exactly is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 Could be CN according to this video:http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=4237 That looks like this is a different video A vessel named "Jumbo Vision", was in port this week loading Locomotives for overseas. Did any body catch the operation to get them down that spur? Who would have done this, CP, or CN? The ship couldn't load all of the locomotives, so another ship should be on the way. Here's some photo's linked to the boatnerd.com site taken by Joe Zika, It looks like a new order of SD70ACe's for BHP Billiton Iron Ore in Australia, but most of the recent EMD orders have been leaving via CN then CP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nwalsh Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 I didnt know there is a location where the tracks come so close to the dock....where exactly is that? I've linked the location through Microsoft live maps. As you can see when this image was taken, there were some locomotives awaiting shipment. I never would have thought those tracks were ever used this day and age till seeing this map. RTC JZ! Joe? If so, does RTC stand for Rail Traffic controller? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion VIII Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 I've linked the location through Microsoft live maps. As you can see when this image was taken, there were some locomotives awaiting shipment. I never would have thought those tracks were ever used this day and age till seeing this map.Joe? If so, does RTC stand for Rail Traffic controller? Yes, RTC is rail traffic controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 I've linked the location through Microsoft live maps. As you can see when this image was taken, there were some locomotives awaiting shipment. I never would have thought those tracks were ever used this day and age till seeing this map.Where is the link? Joe? If so, does RTC stand for Rail Traffic controller? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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