Bruce Division

Hamilton Subdivision

R.L.Kennedy

Extra 5368 West on Sixteen Mile Creek bridge Oakville. August 3,1957
Dick George/Paterson-George Collection

Extra 5375 West passing a small CNR commuter stop shelter at Dixie Road.
Note the orange Globe and Mail newspaper box. 1959 Robert J. Sandusky

Extra THB 102 West, Long Branch. 2/29/56 Al Paterson George-Paterson Col'n

TH&B 106 1948

5460 off Hamilton train, Lambton shop track, July 15,1959. Bob Shaw

Hamilton Subdivision trains operated over a Joint Section of Canadian National trackage (Oakville Subdivision) between Bathurst Street, Mileage 1.1 in Toronto and Hamilton Junction, Mileage 37.3 where a connecting track 1.48 miles long to reach TH&B's Garth Street yard was built. This construction took about a year with through passenger service to Buffalo commencing May 30, 1897.

These trackage rights were granted to the CPR May 13, 1896 by CNR predecessor Grand Trunk Railway following efforts by the CPR to establish its own track between Hamilton and Toronto. To ward off this competition GTR allowed CPR to not only run over their tracks between the two end points but also to solicit freight traffic along the line subject to certain conditions mostly to prohibit local traffic. Following construction in 1910 of the Canpa "Cut Off" freight trains to and from Hamilton only operated west of Canpa Mileage 8.4 where a connection was built to the Galt Sub. at Obico to get to Lambton Yard. Prior to that it was necessary to operate on a roundabout route via Parkdale and Bathurst Street involving backup moves.

Run through engines and crews came about later when additional agreements were signed. One on October 13,1905 provided for Michigan Central and Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo engines and crews (when qualified) to operate between Hamilton and Buffalo instead of changing at Welland. A further agreement effective November 1, 1912 included CPR engines and crews based out of Toronto to likewise run through to Buffalo.

Starlite with TH&B 72-401-73 westbound near Oakville, June 10,1977. Fred Clark

Three RS-18's and an SW1200RS heading towards the Hamilton Jct. switch leading to Aberdeen Yard.

Randy Masales Collection courtesy of Brian Switzer

Bruce Division (District 3) crews manned a pool to cover freight trains between Lambton (later Toronto Yard) and TH&B Aberdeen and Kinnear yards in Hamilton. They were entitled to two jobs working Obico and the cut off down to Canpa. These were road jobs, paid yard rates and were sought after assignments due to long hours and high pay. They were renamed Industrial Yards in later years. e.g. Obico Industrial Yard etc. Beyond Canpa was handled by the Ham Way Freight assignment.

CPR, TH&B and NYC/PC power operated on freight and passenger trains over the Hamilton Subdivision using CPR crews, between Toronto and Hamilton. Varying arrangements were used over the years.

Way Freight Gallery by Bob Shaw

Extra 851 West the Ham WF (Hamilton Way Freight) Port Credit 6/06/1958 A.B.Crompton

Burlington 9/19/1947 Addy Schwalm/Bruce Chapman Collection

D10 874 facing east with the Ham WF is sitting on the east leg of the CNR Beach Sub. wye having gone around the west leg and possibly switching Hercules Powder, now having lunch! The CNR Beach Sub. which ran along the strip of land separating Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario began life as the Hamilton & North Western heading north to Georgetown, Tottenham, Allandale, Collingwood and finally Meaford. Building is Tinnings general store one of three similar buildings with a railway-style bay window. The photographer is on Brant Street on the south side of the CNR Oakville Sub. Bruce Mercer

Hamilton Section
1909 Employee Time Table

Oakville Yard

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