Border Crossing

[chpthrls]

CV acr is correct.All customs inspections are done on the Canadian side of the Sarnia tunnel. I live on the opposite side of the river (Fort Gratiot, Mi.) and watch the CN freights exit the tunnel with no stops until they get to the Tappan Yard in Port Huron. The Amtrak "Blue Water" still runs daily between Port Huron and Chicago, but service to Sarnia and beyond ceased some years ago. Gerry S.

[cv_acr]

lone geep

In Sarnia, the US customs seem to check it on the States side of the tunnel because I have seen trains go through to tunnel without stopping. Or, customs could check the train at the yard before it leaves. I have been curious about that question myself. Try the Trains Magazine forums.

The Lone Geep

I live in Sarnia and I can tell you the X-ray scanners are located on the Canadian side, and manned by US Homeland Security.

Trains heading through the tunnel pull through the X-ray machines at a max. speed of 10MPH until clear. If you have a radio scanner you can hear the trains communicating with Customs before heading over to the US. All of this security is driven by the US - going into Canada is far less of an issue. I do not believe there are any scanners on the US side heading into Canada.

Passenger trains no longer cross the border at Sarnia/Port Huron.

[Flashwave]

Found a story a few days back of Border Patorl and Amtrak, don't recall which train, but supposedly they WILL (or used to) make Amtrak sit until they were done, screwing Amtrak's on-time and tieing up the railroad. Conductors who tried to do THEIR JOB and move the train would get threatened with arrest.

Then one night Amtrak's Brass told the crew to move the train, the Border PAtrol blustered, and he held out his wrists and said "Go ahead, arrest me." They didn't.

You might wanty to check the credentials on that before you go posting, but at the very least it makes a nice story.

[markpierce]

There weren't any border officials, leastwise the time I was there a couple of years ago, at the U.S./Canadian border at White Pass.

 

 

[lone geep]

In Sarnia, the US customs seem to check it on the States side of the tunnel because I have seen trains go through to tunnel without stopping. Or, customs could check the train at the yard before it leaves. I have been curious about that question myself. Try the Trains Magazine forums.

The Lone Geep

[wjstix]

Not sure how it's handled now, but in the past passenger trains would stop to pick up border agents who would check things out while the train was moving, like say a CN train going thru northern Minnesota (part of the CN mainline goes south of Lake of the Woods so is in Minnesota for a time) or a CV train going thru part of Canada. Once the train is rolling at a good clip no one is going to jump on or off so they can check things out without the train needing to sit.

Of course, pre-9/11 you didn't need a VISA or passport to go between the US and Canada....

[chatanuga]

Don't know about Canada, but COPS had an episode not too long ago where US border agents at the Mexican border were inspecting a freight train coming into the US.  Showed the train stopped just before the gate at the border, the gate being opened, and then the train slowly going past.  Two guys jumped off the train as the border agents drove alongside in their SUVs.

Kevin

[mh1]

Does anyone model an international crossing? I think it would be an easy thing to do. Have a bridge or a tunnle leading to staging. On the layout side of the bridge or tunnel, have a few yard tracks, US Customs building and a siding.

From what I've seen US Customs can inspect a train coming in and going out of the US. They will go along inspecting each car, and even check the locomotive for unauthorized passengers or "goods." 

It seems that rather than delay a whole train, if there is a car or container Customs thinks needs a closer, they will cut it from the train to their siding and complete the inspection.

It also looks like US Customs works with Border Patrol and the railroad police to ensure the train is secure.

In terms of modeling the operation, it could be interseting. some trains could sail through with now problem, others could be delayed for inspection, and even other trains would have set out or pick up cars that have been inspected.

[BATMAN]

I believe the train rolls through the same kind of sensors you see at the border crossings for cars, trucks and people. Through work I have seen this equipment in action picking up nasty stuff. A fly farting in the bottom of a coal hopper would get caught. The X-ray equipment that is used makes looking inside appear as if you are staring at the actual item only better.

Canadian and U.S. security work very closely, often as one unit. A train is the least of their worries judging by some briefings I've attended.

 

                                                                       Brent

[jrbernier]

  I have not watched the action since 9/11 - But I have watched SOO/CP at Noyes, MN & Portal, ND.  I have also watched and ridden a DW&P train moving to the CN at Ranier, MN.  The train stops short of the border, and customs checks each freight car for seals on the doors, and goes over the manifest.  In Ranier, they lower the Rainy River drawbridge and the train moves the couple miles to the CN yard,

  When I rode a railfan passenger excursion - the train stopped, Canadian Customs boarded and made sure each passenger was accounted for.  All liquor had to be locked up. The train was considered 'sealed' and it proceeded to the CN passenger station.  At that point, the passengers were released car by car and put on buses for the trip back across the border(and through US Customs) as there was not enough hotel rooms on the Canadian side!

  I suspect that they now check for people trying to enter via a 'free' train ride as well.  Back in the 70's/80's they really did not care if you drove over the border via a yard road - they knew it was just railfans with their cameras.  I drove into Portal, Canada and took pictures.  As I drove around the CP roundhouse, I found I had wound up back in the US.  I drove back over to the customs shack and they had been watching me as I tried to figure out how I got there - They said this happens with railfans all the time.  I am sure that does not happen any more(must be a 'fence' there now).

Jim

[Maico]

Greetings,

 What is the procedure  for prototype railroads crossing into Canada and the reverse?  Have a hard enough time clearing one truckload with customs. Can't imagine an entire train.

Thanks!