Cayuga and CASO are sad reminders of living railroad dreams, that then just drop dead and forgotten about. Very long routes with a huge lifespan until they were just left forgotten. Nature as pretty much recaptured what and where the tracks were with bushes and tree's. The music was very eerie when looking at the Cayuga and CASO photos, especially the red marker sign at the last Cayuga picture, and the crossing on the first CASO picture with the just ending there.
The CN Oyen & Drumheller Subdivisions, are all 1 abandoned line to where Lyalta Alberta is, near Calgary Alberta. Now all that’s left is the CN Rosetown Subdivision, between Saskatoon & Kindersley Saskatchewan.
I believe the Railroad underpass at the 401 in Drumbo is being filled in! The first crossing North of the Underpass is now a drive way onto someone's property!
Alison Lee alot have been completely gone by now, possibly could be re opened, BUT usually they keep the lines there for say 3-5 years just in case new businesses build again. after that it's basically doomed unless another company buys it. I'd bet 80%of the lines in this video are completely ripped up
Thanks for your videos. I watched this one listening to "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." So many rail lines were abandoned in this country without any real foresight. We now have peak oil and global warming and trains are the most efficient form of land transportation. Several of the US states had enough foresight to preserve abandoned lines by keeping the rails in place. Too bad that didn't happen in Canada.
The CASO footage reminds me of a Trains article in about 1984, in which someone said: "They forget all about us until it snows - then they come looking for the CASO!"
At least Canada has the know how to provide entertainment for bikers with rails to trails, but unfortunately with Canada being a railway-loving nation, you'd have to be disappointed at the rate in which old railway lines are being torn up.
the haggersville sub from brantford to nanticoke is still in use by SOR and CN, however from stuart st yard in hamilton to calidonia, that section was taken up in 1986.
In my place i have some abandoned railroad tracks it goes to P.A. (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) they torn up the tracks that went to the road and all i see left on the right are oil tankers and the left rusty rails and bushes on the side, and i’ve seen the last train go thru it. It’s so sad they had to abandon it ;(
1:42 no point in having a Do Not Trespass sign posted if there's no tracks. I'd take the sign down and hang it up in my garage. I'm sure it's illegal, but not really illegal.
Another short line removed was the Wyoming to Petrolia spur around '95. The Forest subdivision was removed around '85 or '86 and left a short line of track from the Sarnia railyard to a hydro facility in Sarnia. The odd time, rail cars were stored there and the last of the line was abandonded in '94.
I think about when Illinois Central abandoned some of its rail lines it chose the line between Freeport and Centralia, and somehow it irks me why IC took out this route. It should have been preserved for future use. And what would have happened if CN took control of the line? This would have made a perfect bypass around Chicago while providing CN with an outlet from Freeport to the southern states, Memphis and New Orleans
There's a few more - IC's line from Mattoon to Evansville in Indiana; the former GM&O from Cairo to St. Louis; and a few others within the state of Illinois.
Thanks for posting these. Some of these abandoned lines look famaliar to me. Also, it is interesting that CN or whoever does not take up ALL of the equipment on that particular line and leaves things to rot away.
The CASO/Cayuga subdivision runs through my family farm, it always did since the late 1800s. It was such a thrill to watch up to 10 trains a-day go past. There was a passenger service in the 60s until the mid-70s which ran from Detroit to Buffalo. I finally got a chance to ride a local hobby train from Shedden to St. Thomas in the early 00s with my young children and it was wonderful. Shortly thereafter all of the remaining rail was removed, including privately owned fencing that bordered the tracks. Keep in-mind 'abandoned' does not mean 'sold'. The railroads were given a 999 year lease (I kid you not) by the British gov't prior to 1867 on those lands which were originally expropriated from landowners.
CN Dunnville sub ran from fort Erie along the lakeshore area into port colborne where the old train station still exist ,from there it went to wainfleet ,Dunnville ,Canfield junction crossing over the caso and continued all the way to Brantford
One line in the USA that Canadian National would love to have today is the former Illinois Central "Gruber" line that ran south from Freeport to Centralia, Illinois. It was THE bypass route south out of Freeport around Chicago and IC never thought of making gestures on making the line viable. Instead, the IC abandoned it in spots in the 80s.
That pic was taken at Lucan crossing where the Forest sub passed over the Exeter sub, there was an interchange station here once upon a time, I assume that thing was a walkway used to connect the two platforms
Cayuga and CASO are sad reminders of living railroad dreams, that then just drop dead and forgotten about. Very long routes with a huge lifespan until they were just left forgotten. Nature as pretty much recaptured what and where the tracks were with bushes and tree's. The music was very eerie when looking at the Cayuga and CASO photos, especially the red marker sign at the last Cayuga picture, and the crossing on the first CASO picture with the just ending there.
The CN Oyen & Drumheller Subdivisions, are all 1 abandoned line to where Lyalta Alberta is, near Calgary Alberta. Now all that’s left is the CN Rosetown Subdivision, between Saskatoon & Kindersley Saskatchewan.
So sad, hard to believe that these lines went from being thriving centers of activity with several trains a day, to being just a memory.
I believe the Railroad underpass at the 401 in Drumbo is being filled in! The first crossing North of the Underpass is now a drive way onto someone's property!
CN, through their subsidiary Terra Transport, got rid of the entire narrow-gauge railway line in Newfoundland back in 1989.
So sad to see the tracks this way
@crlaw75 Thanks they removed most of the equipment but I guess they didn't bother with some of it.
nice choice of music
There was a bunch of wig wag crossing's on the CASO Subdivison.
Matthew The Railfanner yeah only in 2010 I believe they were still working
you forgot the cn oak point !!! and um , something else
Greetings from the UK. A lot of those lines look as if they could re-open?
Alison Lee alot have been completely gone by now, possibly could be re opened, BUT usually they keep the lines there for say 3-5 years just in case new businesses build again. after that it's basically doomed unless another company buys it. I'd bet 80%of the lines in this video are completely ripped up
@TIMRRCLUB I do not know but its some strange lead or something of the Forest Sub
@downeastrailfan thanks.
Thanks for your videos. I watched this one listening to "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." So many rail lines were abandoned in this country without any real foresight. We now have peak oil and global warming and trains are the most efficient form of land transportation. Several of the US states had enough foresight to preserve abandoned lines by keeping the rails in place. Too bad that didn't happen in Canada.
Great photos !! Awful music!
A tragically sad situation, not only for train lovers, but for Society in general... 2017/09/08.
Make video and stop the slide show. Bad choice of music. Time moves on.
Such a shame to see CN abandoned those lines.
Great photos!! Horrible music spoiled the video!!!
I agree as well. Why?
I loved the music.
Mute it.
The CASO footage reminds me of a Trains article in about 1984, in which someone said: "They forget all about us until it snows - then they come looking for the CASO!"
Ah nothing like abandoned railways and fuckin black metal eh
Was the first song actually music or just the screams of the railroad equipment as it is torn apart in a junk yard by the scrappers?
Leave it to CN to screw good things up
At least Canada has the know how to provide entertainment for bikers with rails to trails, but unfortunately with Canada being a railway-loving nation, you'd have to be disappointed at the rate in which old railway lines are being torn up.
the haggersville sub from brantford to nanticoke is still in use by SOR and CN, however from stuart st yard in hamilton to calidonia, that section was taken up in 1986.
In my place i have some abandoned railroad tracks it goes to P.A. (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) they torn up the tracks that went to the road and all i see left on the right are oil tankers and the left rusty rails and bushes on the side, and i’ve seen the last train go thru it. It’s so sad they had to abandon it ;(
1:42 no point in having a Do Not Trespass sign posted if there's no tracks. I'd take the sign down and hang it up in my garage. I'm sure it's illegal, but not really illegal.
Another short line removed was the Wyoming to Petrolia spur around '95. The Forest subdivision was removed around '85 or '86 and left a short line of track from the Sarnia railyard to a hydro facility in Sarnia. The odd time, rail cars were stored there and the last of the line was abandonded in '94.
What about the Pembroke Sudbury/North Bay line?
I think about when Illinois Central abandoned some of its rail lines it chose the line between Freeport and Centralia, and somehow it irks me why IC took out this route. It should have been preserved for future use. And what would have happened if CN took control of the line? This would have made a perfect bypass around Chicago while providing CN with an outlet from Freeport to the southern states, Memphis and New Orleans
There's a few more - IC's line from Mattoon to Evansville in Indiana; the former GM&O from Cairo to St. Louis; and a few others within the state of Illinois.
Thanks for posting these. Some of these abandoned lines look famaliar to me. Also, it is interesting that CN or whoever does not take up ALL of the equipment on that particular line and leaves things to rot away.
Oh just so sad
The CASO/Cayuga subdivision runs through my family farm, it always did since the late 1800s. It was such a thrill to watch up to 10 trains a-day go past. There was a passenger service in the 60s until the mid-70s which ran from Detroit to Buffalo. I finally got a chance to ride a local hobby train from Shedden to St. Thomas in the early 00s with my young children and it was wonderful. Shortly thereafter all of the remaining rail was removed, including privately owned fencing that bordered the tracks. Keep in-mind 'abandoned' does not mean 'sold'. The railroads were given a 999 year lease (I kid you not) by the British gov't prior to 1867 on those lands which were originally expropriated from landowners.
Great video! But sad😭
CN Dunnville sub ran from fort Erie along the lakeshore area into port colborne where the old train station still exist ,from there it went to wainfleet ,Dunnville ,Canfield junction crossing over the caso and continued all the way to Brantford
I am sad to here that the track to saint Thomas to Glencoe is torn out
Great pics, I have many of the same ones. Leave it to CN and CP to ruin a great system. Interesting choice of music, who is it?
It sucks.
The music though, not sure who artists were but I can dig it. North New Jersey rail fan with probably same interests. Enjoyed your video, thank you.
We need more freight lines not less. BC's recent flood proves that. Can't have our mainlines bottlenecking in only one location with no backup.
More of the CN Cayuga sub may be abandonded, if a buyer isn't found after Apr. 30.
One line in the USA that Canadian National would love to have today is the former Illinois Central "Gruber" line that ran south from Freeport to Centralia, Illinois. It was THE bypass route south out of Freeport around Chicago and IC never thought of making gestures on making the line viable. Instead, the IC abandoned it in spots in the 80s.
The one at 1:03 seems to be in great shape, can definitely still see a Train, operating back and forth on it.
@downeastrailfan Yeah, we're idiots for trucking here. So inefficient. Now all we have is lots of hiking trails...
looking for video, maps or pics on the railway that used to cross van wagners and the lift bridge
What about the Newmarket Sub from Barrie - Washago?
shame those lines are out of service
True
CN SD60F 5530 Productions damn what's gonna happen now to them ?
Not sure
CN SD60F 5530 Productions well they better do something
What’s with the fucked up “music???”
Barrie - Collingwood Tracks?
What great railbiking and Rail with Trail potential!
Does any body have any info on CN's Grenville subdivision from Deux Montagnes (Two Mountains) to Grenville? The route and the stations.
You forgot the CN dunnville sub from Brantford to fort Erie .been abandoned since the 80's
firefighter5x Point it for me on the map please
Music is lousy
2:51 that pond on the right would make a good hockey rink in the winter time.
Very poor choice of music. Great pictures. But horrible choice of music.
Cool vid, but sad at the same time. What's with the God awful black metal music though!?
What's that at 7:38 ?
Most likely either a grain, coal or some other bottom dump material siding to some plant or factory that's long gone
That pic was taken at Lucan crossing where the Forest sub passed over the Exeter sub, there was an interchange station here once upon a time, I assume that thing was a walkway used to connect the two platforms
wheres that overpass at 3:50?
I thought CN bought abandoned lines
Most of these lines are probably still owned by CN, meaning they still own the ROW.
Great photography
What is the song's name?.