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The last mixed trains in your area.

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  • Member since
    April 2012
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The last mixed trains in your area.
Posted by ChrisBIGDoer on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:08 PM

What were the last mixed trains in your area?

In Canada....

Ontario Northaland until recently operated one into Moosonee Ontario. There are no roads in the region. The train is a was a real oddity looking like something a model railroader would put together. mixing F units, TOFC and double stack cars, canoe cars, dome cars and such. And seemingly in no particular order with some freight cars trailing the passenger cars, in addition to being in front of them (I am not making this up). This train ended recently and now there are separate passenger and freight trains into town. Although the passenger trains still has a couple freight cars carrying canoes and skidoos and such.

Go to youtube to see the train called “Little Bear” (also known as ONR 421).

My understanding now is that one last mixed train operates in North America, a remote service in Northern Manitoba.

Chris “BIGDoer”

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Chris and Connie: Off the beaten path.

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Posted by renfarley on Saturday, December 8, 2012 8:23 AM

Are there any mixed trains operating in Mexico or Cuba?

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, December 9, 2012 4:37 AM

I think I rode the last mixed train in the New York Metropolitan area.   It was about 1973, and I was riding my regular reverse commute from GCT to North White Plains Station in the morning.  For some reason, the M1 mu train would not power after door closing at Fleetwood Station.   (or possibly Scarsdale)   One explanation was that the door-open interlock would not clear.  A Conrail local freight was supposed to follow us.  We were delayed while he pulled ahead on the southbound track to a crossover and backed down, with his steel caboose, coupled to our lead car with an adapter coupler.   We were about 20 minutes late into NWP, but we did make all station stops and completed the run.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, December 9, 2012 10:49 PM

The Soo Line used to accommodate passengers in the caboose on it's trains from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, thru Gladstone into Wisconsin up until about the 80s. 

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Posted by desertdog on Monday, December 10, 2012 1:13 PM

I don't have the exact date handy at the moment, but the Soo also offered caboose accommodations on the Neenah-Manitowoc run until late in the game. 

John Timm

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