CNR Kinghorn Sub

In May 2005 the CNR closed its Kinghorn sub due t a lack of traffic, and the high cost to bring the line back to code. All of the traffic on CN goes on its northern line (Caperol-Hornepayne-Armstrong-Soiux Lookout-Winnipeg). The only times more trains would operate over the Kinghorn is when there were derailments on both the CN & CP. In the summer, the American Orient Express would make a few round trips across Canada passing over this subdivision.

The entire subdivision only serves one industry, Norampac in Red Rock. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific have came together and all of the traffic will be handled by Canadian Pacific from Thunder Bay to Franz, Ontario. This includes traffic from Thunder Bay and points west.

In March, 2005 I was able to chase the CN #M336 from Thunder Bay to just past Orient Bay (Nipigon). The date was March 14th, and the chase started around 11:30 and ended around 16:00. The train was 51 cars leaving Thunder Bay. At Red Rock, 6 empty boxcars were setoff, and 7 loaded boxcars were lifted along with a empty fly ash hopper. The power would be CN 5264 + CN 5267 both GMDD SD40-2W's.

Here is a timetable of what the CN Kinghorn sub looks like.

	CN Kinghorn Subdivision
West	Stations	Siding
0	Longlac jct with Caramat sub
1.9	Behun
20.3	Geraldton
40.7	Kinghorn
47	Zroback
49.7	Y
51.7	Jellico
70.3	Beardmore
91	Orient Bay
109.7	Hogarth	5990
127.6	Nipigon Xing/Connection to CP Nipigon sub
132.2	Red Rock Norampac, 4320'
149.6	Dorion

193.0

Kohut

195.5

Current jct

Connection with CP

The trip starts in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We went to the diamond to wait for CN #M336 to show up. CP #103 pulled up to the diamond to wait, and CP #106 waited on the other side. The foreman working on the diamond cleared as CN #M336 was coming across the city.

CN #M336 (Kashabowie sub) crosses over the CPR Nipigon sub

A railfan's dream comes true, three trains in the same scene! CP #103 with three AC4400CW's waits at MP 130 on the Nipigon sub, while a local waits for M336.

After shooting at the diamond we quickly drove to Port Arthur to get one last overhead shot. Unfortunately, without any work at the Port Arthur yards, I was the only one able to get up top for a picture.

CN #M336 rolls past a few large buildings. Look underneath the walkway for a light.

We then drove a little further down to catch a overtake of CP #106. Its not all the time that you get something like this around here. A hot CP intermodal passing a daily local.

CP #106 passes CN #M336 in Current River yard, the GP9u's are used for switching the local industries.

We then motored down the Trans Canada Highway and then went down the Sibley Park road to watch the freight train roll over the spectacular Pass Lake Trestle. The trestle was built to get over a valley and a small creek. Later on the road was built to access the Sleeping Giant.

A pair of CN SD40-2W's cross over the trestle high above the tree line.

Next we drove to Dorion, Ontario to catch CN #M336 kick up some fresh powder. While waiting CP #106 passed through the bushes.

The engineer gives another wave as he hauls the short 51 car freight through Dorion, Ontario.

Next we traveled to Red Rock to watch CN #M336 do some switching. While pulling into town, we caught the end of CP #106 speeding along. The sun went behind some clouds while we were in Red Rock so the pictures are a little dark. While we were in Red Rock, we were able to watch the Norampac GP9 switch boxcars around.

CN #M336 pulls into Red Rock for some switching.

Finally, we caught CN #M336 pass through Nipigon, and then again at Orient Bay. The light at Nipigon was backlit and on the other side so I am not going to bother posting this shot. It is a very neat angle looking down and across the snow covered bay, but it is dark. Arriving at Orient Bay we had to wait about 15 minutes for the arrival.

CN #M336 passes the curve at Orient Bay on Reflection Lake.

The day brought this

0800 to 1800 Monday, March 14th, 2005:

*Initial time of train sighting, does not include "double countings" of same train seen further down the line.

1. 0820 -- CP 106 -- CP 9728 + CP 8622 *Incoming power

-- CP 9678 solo *Outgoing power ~ 5,000 feet

2. 0820 -- CP 2-441 -- CP 9301 + CP 9104 *Light engines to get onto his train in Westfort

3. 0900 -- CP 120 -- CP 9100, 9574, 5763 *Work @ T.Bay, set-out 9 cars and lifted 3 cars, plus add CP 5763 to unit consist

4. 1000 -- CP 103 -- CP 8515, CP 9832, CEFX 1043 front // CP 9568* mid-train robot * ~6,000 feet w/ 5 H/E auto's

5. 1140 -- CN M336 -- CN 5264 + CN 5267 *51 cars ex-Neebing Yard, no work @ Port Arthur. Mostly grain loads (tail-end portion).

6. 1420 -- CP 108 -- CP 8527 + CP 9581 * ~7,000 feet, meet 105 @ Firehill

7. 1510 -- CP 105 -- CP 8636 + CP 9109 *372 axles, about 7,500 feet w/ 21 H/E auto's

8. 1750 -- CP 104 -- CP 9563 + SOO 6059 *316 axles, ~6,000 feet to meet 117 @ Nipigon (not seen)

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Photography &; *316 axles, ~6,000 feet to meet 117 @ Nipigon (not seen)

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