Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone has any idea what the status of Ontario Northland Railway currently is? Do they still operate their locomotives or have they been sold off/scrapped/stored? What trains...if any...still operate between Toronto/North Bay/Cochrane etc etc? I grew up watching the Northlander's FP7's, RAm/DE...those European locomotives that actually looked pretty cool, SD40-2's, Geeps, etc and had a family relative servicing those locomotives at the large ONR shops in North Bay. I live South of the border now and haven't heard anything since the last Northlander made it's run in late 2012 after the Ontario Government axed the Railway. Does anyone have any current photo's of ONR locomotives, perhaps remarked with another railways road numbers or something? I remember a pleasant surprise back in the early 2000's when I saw an ONR Locomotive down here in the U.S...I did a double take as it's just not/wasn't a road that you saw outside of the Toronto and northern Ontario region. I was just wondering what has happened to their locomotive and rolling stock fleet and what's happening up in North Bay? Thanks all.
Happy Modeling!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Don;
The ONR is still alive and well, so far. The government hasn't ruled out divestment for the Ontario Northland, nor has it promised to keep it either. There are plans involving ore extraction and refining in the new "Ring of Fire" area in Northern Ontario.
What were axed last fall was The Northlander which ran from Toronto's Union Station to Cochrane, and the Little Bear mixed train from Cochrane to Moosenee. The Polar Bear Express still runs to Moosenee and has taken over some of the responsibilities of the Little Bear.
The Northlander has been replaced by a bus service which takes as long or longer than the train. Apparently, no one in the Transportation Ministry or Northern Affairs has travelled on Highway 400 on the first or last day of a long weekend. Or in the middle of February during a blizzard.
Sorry about the rant.
Steve
Rant on Steve...I hear ya ! Thanks for the information. I am glad to hear that not all is lost. I am heading up to Canada and as far North as North Bay in a few weeks and hope to see and photograph some ONR locomotives and rolling stock. Man those old FP7 Northlander's were nice to see back in the 70's and 80's growing up up there. I may need to add an ONR Northlander FP7 to my roster...
Happy modeling!
As an FYI , Ontario Northland Railway SD 40-2 1736 is alive and well in Fairburn , Ga. it is now owned by Progress Rail .
I recently saw Ontario Northland Railway 1734 as the 2nd unit on an NS train leaving Inman yard .
carknocker1 As an FYI , Ontario Northland Railway SD 40-2 1736 is alive and well in Fairburn , Ga. it is now owned by Progress Rail . I recently saw Ontario Northland Railway 1734 as the 2nd unit on an NS train leaving Inman yard .
Were they still wearing ONR Colors?
Yes both are still wearing ONR colors . 1736 I see it everyday , it is faded but runs well
That would make an interesting project...! Thanks for the info.