tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post3857745250756811619..comments2024-03-29T00:38:49.531-04:00Comments on THE BEACHBURG SUB: CN's St. Clair Tunnel (Part II)Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-74746916528848206722016-07-30T22:44:38.019-04:002016-07-30T22:44:38.019-04:00Eric
I was the Conductor in Charge of the second t...Eric<br />I was the Conductor in Charge of the second train which handled the boring machine called Excalibor" I was at London and had to wait about 45 minutes for an eastbound train to arrive London so we could operate westward on the south and eastward track, While waiting I went back and had a sandwich and a coffee provided by the cook of the Sanford Fleming,I still have that cup they let me have labelled the CNR Sanford Fleming with the old maple leave LOGO. During that time someone took this photo and this is the first I saw of it on your blog, CN had a film crew follow us from Malport to Sarnia, We operated via the Guelph and Thorndale subs, There was no speed restriction on this train that day and the camera crew had a hard time hop skipping to stay ahead of us. We cleared the bridge on the south or eastward track that day with only 3 inches to spare. I remember the height of the loads was 31 feet, not 27 as stated.The main load was the cutting head of excallibore. I came in one piece in a specially designed car and carried it 3 inches above the rail head. Between toronto and Sarnia, we dragged it over a few high crossings and the officials reported to us after they saw the dust from the observation car .It cleared under the Bridge at MP 5.2 Strathroy Sub by 3 inches, We had orders to stop and proceed on hand signals as official watched. .The next day, I brought this equipment to the mouth of the new St Clair tunnel with special clearances for my GM<br />CN Retiree, Wallaceburg, ON <br />Bill Namink <br />bnamink@bell.netAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07196832558646404401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-7654100815920925522013-10-17T19:17:54.188-04:002013-10-17T19:17:54.188-04:00Correction - that car name should read Coureur des...Correction - that car name should read Coureur des Bois, and I meant to add that it was a VIP special operated by CN.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-29763219262645277022013-10-17T19:15:39.088-04:002013-10-17T19:15:39.088-04:00Nice post Michael, and glad those photos were of u...Nice post Michael, and glad those photos were of use.<br /><br />Interestingly, CN ran a six-car special with blue & yellow VIA cars behind engine 9674 to Sarnia to mark start of construction on September 16, 1993.<br /><br />On May 5, 1994 a six LRC-car special behind 6410 tailed by Courer des Bois and Sandford Fleming. On May 6, a CN employee special of 11 LRC cars bracketed by VIA engines 6404 and 6410. I included these consists in my second VIA Rail book, but may not have included the public special using GO equipment.<br /><br />Sometimes people ask about double-stack trains and when they began. Certainly, as you've noted, the new tunnel allowed the free flow of double-stack trains on CN, though earlier movements had been made. I hope to get a Trackside Treasure post together on the topic of double-stacks.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.com