Ok guys we got caught by surprise when we were rolling down Rusholme Road in Welland, Ontario.
We spotted the MPRX 101 switcher coming down the real portion of the Welland Tube Spur in Welland Ontario and therefore the railroad crossing actually activated this time unlike last time.
AND for a little history lesson:
So what so special about the Welland Tube Spur you might be wondering?
It's just a spur track only 2 miles long in 2024, but this trackage also has a huge historical significance for early southern Ontario railways.
You see The Welland Tube Spur was once part the OLD CASO Mainline segment that serve as a shortcut from Michigan State to New York State through Southern Ontario early railroad history.
This line in later years would be leased to Michigan Central Railway, NYC Penn Central Railway and eventually Conrail before being sold off in a partnership deal between Canadian National Railway (CNR)
and Canadian Pacific Railway(CPR) in 1985 according to wiki page
en.wikipedia.o...
Eventually some other events took place that would eventually leave the CPR as the 100% stake holder over former CASO trackages.
Err sorry we should say that as of Dec 14, 2021 the Canadian Pacific Kansas City(CPKC) Railway is current 100% stakeholder now.
Back in it's hayday the CASO was over 250 miles long, but what's now left of the former CASO has been reduce to just 3 active track segments in around the Welland area.
Our current estimate indicates that less than 20% or about 12.7 mile of the former CASO right of way remains active in 2024.
This is our breakdown of active mileage using Google Maps measurement tool
Welland Tube Spur about 0.68 miles - this could be very debatable
Welland Industrial Lead about 1 mile
Parts of Hamilton Sub between Philips Road and Hewitt Road about 2.6 miles
CASO (DRTP) 11 miles - between Hewitt Road to where CASO had a diamond with the CP Dunville Spur would have been.
Of course we have not study every inch of the CASO line in it's entirety. However we are aware of some dormant trackage in different locals that have former CASO trackage, but entirely out of service.
It maybe possible those lines in future could be reactivated, but that it is totally unlikely.
Anyway if you enjoy this video then we have some other video the other active remanent of the former CASO line.
The Welland Tube Spur switcher at Highway 140, Welland Ontario • The Welland Tube Spur ...
Local train unit #108 crossing Rusholme Road in Welland, Ontario • Local train unit #108 ...
CP Train takes the CASO Spur near Candian Pacific Welland Yard • CP Train takes the CAS...
CP Caso Train crossing at Vineland Townline Road in Wainfleet, Ontario • CP Caso Train crossing...
CP train crossing at Logan Road in Dunnville, Ontario • CP train crossing at L...
The CASO train crossing Broad Street in Dunnville, Ontario • The CASO train crossin...
Our last he CP CASO train chase • Our last CP train chas...
Lastly. This is probably not our best video, but this is the only time we have ever record this Rusholme Road crossing ever activating.
It seem like our camera equipment decide it was going to bugger up just when trying to turn on our cameras.
So it was quite the fight just getting one camera to to capture this momentous occassion.
Hopefully we will have another opportunity to do this better next time.
Thanks for watching.
Location:Rusholme Road Welland, Ontario
CP Welland Tube Spur Milepost 2.08
Date: May 24, 2024
Switcher unit: MPRX 101 OSH Rail Service
#CASO, Canada Southern Railway, #Welland Tube Spur, #Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway, #Canadian Pacific Railway