Visiting the JSSX

The CN rail detector car is heading along the CN Pt. Edward spur. This roadway used to be the access to the CN rail car ferry.

On Wednesday they called for sun (but the sun was only partially out) so a railfan trip to Sarnia and a visit with Jim Sloan and the JSSX was planned. It had been a year and one half since we last visited the JSSX and a lot had changed. The run to Sarnia followed the CN Strathroy sub were we saw 3 trains...we never seemed to be in position to take a photo though. Actually one train at Blackwell stopped at the signal but was so far back we did not even bother to stop.

After a nice visit with Jim we headed over to the Sarnia VIA station. Jim decided to meet us there. The CSX transfer arrived with three units instead of two and a very long cut of cars. Following the transfer movement was CN's rail detector car. We heard on Peter's scanner the detector car was heading over to the Point Edward spur once train no 397 passed. The spur has some neat park settings and waterfront photo ops. Jim suggested Mitton St. as a good location for a view of 397 and the rail detector car entering the Point Edward spur.

From Mitton St. we followed Jim to a few other locations along the spur that all worked out well. Well I guess one location did not actually work out. We decided to head over to the CNR steam engine display. The tracks runs right by on a broad curve and there is a nice hill we climbed which would make for a great shot. Unfortunately the unit stopped at the crossing just short of our photo op's location and headed back...guess they did not have the same program we did...George Dutka

Peter and I both really enjoyed this second hand JSSX unit. As usual Jim has done an awesome job weathering it up.

Peter Mumby and Jim Sloan pose for me.

Jim's gondolas have a really nice interior. These are removable with other options that can be added. I hope Jim covers these cars on his blog at some point.

One of my favorite boxcars on this visit was this D&H car that Jim painted and lettered. He used a coat of Proto Paint haze on this model for fading. The subtle rust marks are really  effective.

The CSX transfer heads past the VIA station heading to the main yard by the tower.

We are at the dead end of Mitton St. catching the action of CN 397 heading down the grade to the tunnel. They are going quite slow as US customs are doing their roll-by. The track to the right is the Point Edward Spur.

CN's track detector car heads toward downtown and the riverfront. The trackage to the right is the old ferry service yard. Most of the trackage is disconnected now.

Here is an overhead view of the steam engine on display on the Point Edward spur. The bit of track seen in the foreground is a broad curve towards the storage silos. The unit never made it this far. This would have made a great photo in a wider view.

A CN eastbound is tied down waiting a crew at Kingscourt Rd. mile 37.65 Strathroy Sub. When we arrived a second EB was coming alongside. Not very often do I get a photo of two trains at once on the Strathroy Sub.

All tied down. The crew was departing by crew bus when we arrived.

When a train is tied up like this I can get a few extra views from further back.