February 7th, 2009
We got an early start, leaving Guelph at 6:30, and chased a plow run from Stratford to Goderich on the GEXR. We then returned to Stratford to shoot some parked Class 66s (in tarps) and some KCS units in the yard, then headed to Zorra where we reported a defective crossing and shot CP 153, 138, T69, and 245. From there we went to Ingersoll and shot VIA 76 and CN X368, an army move that I did not know was coming. We chased that to Creditville and called it a (good) day.
Stratford, Ontario
(map) Stratford lies between Kitchener-Waterloo and London on the GEXR Guelph sub and is the home of Cowie junction, where the GEXR Goderich sub begins.
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A GEXR plow extra runs from Stratford to Goderich with us in hot pursuit.
Sebringville, Ontario
Sebringville is the first town north of Stratford on the GEXR Goderich sub.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra heads through the first community out of Stratford.
Mitchell, Ontario
(map) Mitchell is between Seaforth and Stratford on the GEXR Goderich sub.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra crosses two crossings in Mitchell.
Dublin, Ontario
Dublin is between Stratford and Goderich on the Goderich subdivision.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra heads through the community of Dublin, clearing its way northward.
Seaforth, Ontario
(map) Seaforth is the last town before Clinton and Clinton Junction on the GEXR Goderich sub.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra passes an elevator south of Seaforth and comes to a stop for a coffee break in town.
Clinton, Ontario
(map) Clinton is the junction of the GEXR Goderich and Exeter subdivisions, a few miles south of Goderich.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra passes through a snow-filled cut at low speed and then crosses the connection with the Exeter sub at Clinton.
Goderich, Ontario
(map) Goderich is the site of the shops for the GEXR and hosts a port and salt mine.
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GEXR 518 Plow extra enters Goderich yard ending our chase, and the crew set about removing the caked-on snow from the plow.
Stratford, Ontario
(map) Stratford lies between Kitchener-Waterloo and London on the GEXR Guelph sub and is the home of Cowie junction, where the GEXR Goderich sub begins.
Zorra, Ontario
(map) Just outside of Ingersoll is Zorra Station. It contains a large Lafarge plant and the CP Galt sub.
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CP #153 heads through Zorra at low speed.
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CP #138 heads east at restricted speed on a 509.
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CP T69 London Pickup follows a few minutes behind 138.
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CP #245 heads west.
Ingersoll, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas, the CP St. Thomas, and the OSR Port Burwell subs are very active through Ingersoll, with the CP Galt sub just to the North in Zorra.
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VIA #76 rushes through Ingersoll Via station with CBC unit 6403 leading.
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CN X368 with army equipment catches us by surprise at Ingersoll station.
Creditville, Ontario
(map) The CN Dundas sub heads through this community locked between the 401 and the 403. The track is perfectly straight for several miles and with binoculars several signals can be seen at once far into the distance.
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CN X368 army move meets a westbound just out of sight to the west.
