The most interesting thing to note at the CN Port Robinson Yard is that CN generally does not have any extra power located at Port Robinson yard and is fact completely reliant on the power brought in on the daily CN 421.
The CN A421 is generally a monster size train that runs between CN MacMillian Yard in Toronto to Port Robinson Yard in the Niagara Region.
When the CN A421 arrives in Port Robinson Yard it will release one or more of its locomotives to build a new train call the CN 562 whos primary duties will be to retrieve and dispatch goods and empty railcars to service several industries in the Niagara Area and as well exhange goods with 2 other railways located around the Welland Area usually in the afternoon or later in the evening.
When it comes to servicing local industries CN 562 is not at the same spot every day and sometimes can be very unpredicable to find on a day to day basis, but one thing is for certain is CN 562 can be frequently spotted headed towards the CN Southern Yard, CN Robbins Station or Feeder Road Yard.
These are the typical designated exchange area for CN and 2 other railways.
Feeder Road Yard is the primary exchange point between CN and a local a shortline operator that goes by name Gio Railways.
The other is long time rival formerly Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), but now commonly know these days as the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) at the CN Southern Yard.
When these duties are completed by the CN 562 it will return to Port Robinson Yard and help reassemble a new train for the next day morning train call CN A422.
The A422 is an opposite running train to the A421 and will run goods from Port Robinson Yard to Toronto CN MacMillian Yard and the cycle is completed.
But wait there is more.
CN 562, CN 421 and CN 422 are not the only trains to work out of Port Robinson. It does have other daily trains most notably the CN L530 and CNL531 that run daily from CN Port Robinson Yard to Buffalo.
While these are not all the trains that work out of Port Robinson they are most common. They're are other trains that can arrive at anytime, but very infrequently though out the year
In this video we capture the CN 562 being dispatch from the CN Port Robinson yard and eventually make it's way to CN Feed Yard to exchange goods with Gio Railways on this run.
Date: September 24, 2022
Location: Canby Street railroad crossing in Port Robinson(Thorold), Ontario
CN Stamford Milepost 21.80
Also we like to give special thanks to Matt The Railfan who kindly provided much of the details regarding the trains that work out of Port Robinson.
Check Matt channel link below:
/ @matttherailfan
Thanks for watching!!