Nice video, very well done. It almost brought me to tears. Some of the railroads here in south Alabama have met the same fate. Once the rails are removed they almost never are return. Are there any active rail lines in St Thomas now?
Last Fall I took a trip down to Canfield Jct where 3 railroads used to converge.All empty roadbeds.One crossing gate silent on a neighbourhood lawn.I followed the route to St.Thomas seeing old telephone polls and signal towers and useless over and underpasses,just as you have documented.In St. Thomas I saw what I call The Avenue of Crossings with Crossing Gates now guarding a grassy strip of lawn as I call it....Sad!!! There is another active section of CASO east of Attercliffe as well as Essex!
That made me cry... We are going to get into alot of trouble here in N. America letting all our infrastructure, transportation systems and manufacturing go into the night... Abandoning a high speed, superbly engineered double tracked railroad like this... My God, something is seriously wrong here.
Surely the R.O.W. is going to be kept for future use... possible high speed passenger service? Wishful thinking, I know...
Awesome video...and "First Train Home" song fit it perfectly...as a fan of trains, I cried. I used 2 live in Ontario and as a kid witnessed railway tracks being ripped up in Lindsay & Peterborough. Now I live in Sicamous BC and in the next year or so and will sadly see the line from here to Armstrong vanish.
@duminion You live in Sicamous & used to live in Ontario? Me too! I recently wrote a song called "Abandoned Railway" about the line to Armstrong...it depicts what the rusting away line in wait for its fate would be currently thinking if it were a person. I hope to get a demo of it recorded soon...preferably before those tracks are gone.
@jerryhobbs I hope you do...if there is any musicians/producers in this area reading this right now I hope they contact you. Hey, I recognize your name...aren't you the guy who sings "Takin' Care Of Business" "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" & a few INXS songs amazingly at the karaoke at Brothers Pub on Saturdays?
@duminion Yes, and I do many other songs there too. I am also a songwriter/singer/guitarist with over 300 original songs under my belt...but without a band it is difficult to do them live or record any of them. I used to have a band...and I need one again. Thank you for your kind words...hope to see you at the karaoke soon!
Just have too say that the former CASO employees that we acquired as a result of the take over of the Penn Central are some of the best railroaders that I have ever worked with. It is nice to show up for work and know that the men you are working with are the consumate professionals...some of these men have nearly 30yrs service comapared to my 25yrs of railroad experience. They know what the hell they are doing...too bad the government at all levels did not!
ahh you guys are so luckey, I was just a few years old when alot of the rail lines in ontario where abandoned. Really wish I was around to see all this. It really upsets me to see a line with such potential being destroyed. I live in barrie and i fear that the same will happen to the dwindling spurs around our town. Very sad. And the ghostly pictures at the end, just amazing. thank you very much for putting this togeather. 5*
Just want you to know that every time I bring a train into London from Windsor/Detroit I spend much of the time looking to the south between Belle River and Chatham dreaming of the days when the CASO double track mainline handled all that crack fast freight between Chicago and New York and the CPR was just a cowpath...CASO's loss has been my gain but the victory is bittersweet.
@tprdfh51 do u think if CP owned this portion it would've gone this bad? My hope is ETR will buy it or some american RR...most likely wont happen...seeing as i was able to pull spikes out with one finger - (i stomped them back into the ties after for the reference - last thing i want to see is a derailment happen cuz the line for sure will b gone. ) How long do you think the line will remain?
Well i took another walk along the line today and noticed that they have been doing work in some areas - i assumed this cuz i was not able to lift spikes out of the ground with one finger like i was able to do a few weeks back. I cant imagine what other little surprises this line has along the way to chatham
I am almost cried watching this. It is to late to ever have railroading the way it elegantly was. Thanks so much for posting this video. This is a real treasure. I am lucky I was atleast fortunate to see some of the remaining trackage. 5/5 and fave.
Extremely well presented video 5*. I can't help but wonder if you realize just how rare it is to see A Cast iron Wheel, that you show at 5:06 secs. They have been forbidden in Interchange for many years. Wh I first began my railroad career I would occasionally still find one or two in service in some old car and immediately send it to the shop for wheel replacement.
It is a shame to see so many lines abandoned these days as the big railroads swallow up the entire industry. I enjoyed watching
@pwalpar Thanks for the Comment....... I started as a Carman in 1974. I never saw a Cast Wheel in Interchange use by then. They were of course banned and were pretty well weeded out by then. Quite a few of the ones I saw on OCS Cars were actually Cast in St Thomas at the Iron Foundry.
Too late. The former Niagara Branch of the CASO will be gone soon too as it's too much cost to server as an industrial branch to Welland for CP. As for the rest of the CASO has already been abandoned, ripped up, or sold.
Very sad but relevant video. At the age of 37 I didn't have the opportunity to see the CASO in action outside of Niagara Falls & Welland. But I do remember my times as a kid at Montrose Yard and Clifton Hill. This past decade also seen the abandonment of Chippawa Jct. to Niagara Falls, NY to make way for the tourists and a Casino. Great jobs that brought as they're going to close the 1st casino real soon. I'd love to see some pics from Niagara back then. Thanks for the memories.
Remember the crowds waiting at Clifton Hill level crossing during the summer? When running north from the border bridge we were limited to 10-15mph. Once we hit the crossing speed limit was 30mph. Loved opening the throttle at that point - much to the chagrin of the waiting public! (Especially if there was a smoky ALCO or poorly running EMD in the consist.)
I indeed remember those times. Strange I went through Welland today and could see a southbound coming into the siding. I thought it was a local, but to my surprise 20 cars was actually a mainline train. Wow have times changed there too.
"This past decade also seen the abandonment of Chippawa Jct. to Niagara Falls, NY to make way for the tourists and a Casino. Great jobs that brought as they're going to close the 1st casino."
I don't care what anyone thinks but this is really sad. I honestly cannot understand why any railway would be abandoned. I know they can be costly to run BUT the tracks have got to be useful to someone or something, especially this line. terrible thing to see it go.
@sicilian12345 we have already reached "peak oil" production - just wait until the cost and availability cheap oil goes through the roof. Then we will see the folly of rail abandonment in North America.
This video dedication to the CASO is absolutely brilliant, superb photography, wonderfully sequenced with heartfelt musical accompanyment. My Grandfather worked the CASO for 50 years and this brought a tear to my eye, so sad to see the destruction resulting from government medling, lies and broken promises from CN. This railway had so much potential if another group had of been granted rights to the purchase. Thank you for the memories CASO, you will live forever in my heart and others too!
the cn used to dicatate when they were a government outfit, I thought when they left the government ownership that they would change, they are exactly the same, they will spend millions even if they are wrong and none of the executives get fired, same old, same old, Jim
Let's be frank, CN & CP bought the CASO with the intention of gradually weaning US bound traffic onto their own Canada/US routes while paying lip service to the BOT's regulations governing the sale of the CASO Sub. Both R/R's have been successful in that business path/decision. The result has been the loss of a vital 3rd corridor through Ontario for the movement of rail traffic...what traffic CN & CP don't want or can't get goes on the 401-QEW-403-402 and the taxpayer foots the bill!
U got that right - they just want their Engineers to have to work another 500 miles per month so they can lay off more employees and not have to recall the ones that are currently on layoff...nice!
This video is the best yet of the Caso sub, again it is such a shame CN has ruined it! I still try to catch any train that runs on the little that remains from Fargo to Windsor. Instead of filling the 401 up with trucks, why would they not keep this on the back-burner at least?? Too much effort went in to let it just deteriorate and rip up. Thank-you for this amazing video and pictures!!! A rare find!
Amazing video..very sad though that his double track mainline is gone to shit...CN ruins anything they get their hands on...just wait the EJ&E line will be like this in 15 years....it sure didnt take CN long to ruin this amazing line
CN did what they do best, run it into the ground then tare it up. good job you &(!@in commies
jay600katana 1 day ago
CN and a couple of Shortlines (Trillium and Ontario Southland ) still have access to St Thomas
fzttwd 2 weeks ago
Nice video, very well done. It almost brought me to tears. Some of the railroads here in south Alabama have met the same fate. Once the rails are removed they almost never are return. Are there any active rail lines in St Thomas now?
cbt1960 2 weeks ago in playlist Favorite videos
i run a GE85 tonner in Welland on 3 miles of caso rail
scooby19784 5 months ago
Comment removed
tprdfh51 6 months ago
Last Fall I took a trip down to Canfield Jct where 3 railroads used to converge.All empty roadbeds.One crossing gate silent on a neighbourhood lawn.I followed the route to St.Thomas seeing old telephone polls and signal towers and useless over and underpasses,just as you have documented.In St. Thomas I saw what I call The Avenue of Crossings with Crossing Gates now guarding a grassy strip of lawn as I call it....Sad!!! There is another active section of CASO east of Attercliffe as well as Essex!
bmet47 6 months ago
CN has the official notice of abandonment posted in the Globe & Mail Fargo to Windsor...bastards!
tprdfh51 7 months ago
Comment removed
tprdfh51 7 months ago
Superb production, well done!
drum3433 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It's over Bud...CN stopped running on the CASO west of Chatham May 14, 2011 - she is gone!
tprdfh51 8 months ago
Comment removed
tprdfh51 8 months ago
Austrian economists are bastards buds...they got no soul.
tprdfh51 10 months ago
I like the crossing at 2:53 with the old black and white gates and railway crossing sign.
crlaw75 1 year ago
Comment removed
sicilian12345 1 year ago
When I am long gone and retired the rape of the CASO Sub will stick in my craw till the day I die.
tprdfh51 1 year ago
Comment removed
tprdfh51 1 year ago
Great pics of The Niagara Rainbow! puleeease post them somewhere.
hibypass 1 year ago
That made me cry... We are going to get into alot of trouble here in N. America letting all our infrastructure, transportation systems and manufacturing go into the night... Abandoning a high speed, superbly engineered double tracked railroad like this... My God, something is seriously wrong here.
Surely the R.O.W. is going to be kept for future use... possible high speed passenger service? Wishful thinking, I know...
islandboi321 1 year ago
Where is 2:27 and 2:32?
bradpville 1 year ago
great vid! sad how things are abandoned.
desertfoxx1823 1 year ago
Wonderful Video
TheJohndeereboi 1 year ago
better get ready to make a video on the remaining portion
nawrock 1 year ago
Awesome video...and "First Train Home" song fit it perfectly...as a fan of trains, I cried. I used 2 live in Ontario and as a kid witnessed railway tracks being ripped up in Lindsay & Peterborough. Now I live in Sicamous BC and in the next year or so and will sadly see the line from here to Armstrong vanish.
duminion 1 year ago
@duminion You live in Sicamous & used to live in Ontario? Me too! I recently wrote a song called "Abandoned Railway" about the line to Armstrong...it depicts what the rusting away line in wait for its fate would be currently thinking if it were a person. I hope to get a demo of it recorded soon...preferably before those tracks are gone.
jerryhobbs 1 year ago
@jerryhobbs I hope you do...if there is any musicians/producers in this area reading this right now I hope they contact you. Hey, I recognize your name...aren't you the guy who sings "Takin' Care Of Business" "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" & a few INXS songs amazingly at the karaoke at Brothers Pub on Saturdays?
duminion 1 year ago
@duminion Yes, and I do many other songs there too. I am also a songwriter/singer/guitarist with over 300 original songs under my belt...but without a band it is difficult to do them live or record any of them. I used to have a band...and I need one again. Thank you for your kind words...hope to see you at the karaoke soon!
jerryhobbs 1 year ago
Mellor! Is that your head bobbing at 2:13?
tprdfh51 1 year ago
where is this 1:52?
nawrock 1 year ago
@nawrock
1:52 was taken at the "Ball" in St Thomas. That is the Fairview Ave. Overpass
fzttwd 1 year ago
@fzttwd Oh ok, now is that the end of the yard in st.thomas? Or was that just an area where it went into 1 track?
nawrock 1 year ago
the last part will bring a tear to the eye, bye CASO we'll miss you
jay600katana 1 year ago
Just have too say that the former CASO employees that we acquired as a result of the take over of the Penn Central are some of the best railroaders that I have ever worked with. It is nice to show up for work and know that the men you are working with are the consumate professionals...some of these men have nearly 30yrs service comapared to my 25yrs of railroad experience. They know what the hell they are doing...too bad the government at all levels did not!
tprdfh51 1 year ago
ahh you guys are so luckey, I was just a few years old when alot of the rail lines in ontario where abandoned. Really wish I was around to see all this. It really upsets me to see a line with such potential being destroyed. I live in barrie and i fear that the same will happen to the dwindling spurs around our town. Very sad. And the ghostly pictures at the end, just amazing. thank you very much for putting this togeather. 5*
WetDirtProductions 1 year ago
Just want you to know that every time I bring a train into London from Windsor/Detroit I spend much of the time looking to the south between Belle River and Chatham dreaming of the days when the CASO double track mainline handled all that crack fast freight between Chicago and New York and the CPR was just a cowpath...CASO's loss has been my gain but the victory is bittersweet.
tprdfh51 1 year ago
@tprdfh51 do u think if CP owned this portion it would've gone this bad? My hope is ETR will buy it or some american RR...most likely wont happen...seeing as i was able to pull spikes out with one finger - (i stomped them back into the ties after for the reference - last thing i want to see is a derailment happen cuz the line for sure will b gone. ) How long do you think the line will remain?
nawrock 1 year ago
@nawrock
tprdfh51 1 year ago
Well i took another walk along the line today and noticed that they have been doing work in some areas - i assumed this cuz i was not able to lift spikes out of the ground with one finger like i was able to do a few weeks back. I cant imagine what other little surprises this line has along the way to chatham
nawrock 1 year ago
I am almost cried watching this. It is to late to ever have railroading the way it elegantly was. Thanks so much for posting this video. This is a real treasure. I am lucky I was atleast fortunate to see some of the remaining trackage. 5/5 and fave.
LocalRailfan 1 year ago
Amtrak's Niagara Rainbow was the last passenger train to cross the entire Canada Southern line in 1979. From Detroit to Niagara Falls/Buffalo.
Conrail continued to operate GP9's to handle the trickle of business until 1985 when they sold the route to CN/CP.
I believe this was one of the biggest mistakes Conrail management made in the entire existance of the company.
The CASO was a great route, to rival the lakeshore line through Cleveland.
ConrailSD70MAC 1 year ago
Excellant presentation 5* I enjoyed watching it, it is a shame the way so many lines have been abandoned
pwalpar 1 year ago
What a great, well made vid. How sad to see lines not in use anymore. Man I miss Conrail. Nice job!
pahogger 1 year ago
Extremely well presented video 5*. I can't help but wonder if you realize just how rare it is to see A Cast iron Wheel, that you show at 5:06 secs. They have been forbidden in Interchange for many years. Wh I first began my railroad career I would occasionally still find one or two in service in some old car and immediately send it to the shop for wheel replacement.
It is a shame to see so many lines abandoned these days as the big railroads swallow up the entire industry. I enjoyed watching
pwalpar 1 year ago
@pwalpar Thanks for the Comment....... I started as a Carman in 1974. I never saw a Cast Wheel in Interchange use by then. They were of course banned and were pretty well weeded out by then. Quite a few of the ones I saw on OCS Cars were actually Cast in St Thomas at the Iron Foundry.
fzttwd 1 year ago
Very nicely done.
pitrow66 1 year ago
A first rate production. Excellent video *****
iusetano 1 year ago
Too late. The former Niagara Branch of the CASO will be gone soon too as it's too much cost to server as an industrial branch to Welland for CP. As for the rest of the CASO has already been abandoned, ripped up, or sold.
murrellsean 1 year ago
For God sakes - someone else buy this line from CN!
nawrock 2 years ago
Very sad but relevant video. At the age of 37 I didn't have the opportunity to see the CASO in action outside of Niagara Falls & Welland. But I do remember my times as a kid at Montrose Yard and Clifton Hill. This past decade also seen the abandonment of Chippawa Jct. to Niagara Falls, NY to make way for the tourists and a Casino. Great jobs that brought as they're going to close the 1st casino real soon. I'd love to see some pics from Niagara back then. Thanks for the memories.
murrellsean 2 years ago
Remember the crowds waiting at Clifton Hill level crossing during the summer? When running north from the border bridge we were limited to 10-15mph. Once we hit the crossing speed limit was 30mph. Loved opening the throttle at that point - much to the chagrin of the waiting public! (Especially if there was a smoky ALCO or poorly running EMD in the consist.)
tprdfh51 2 years ago
I indeed remember those times. Strange I went through Welland today and could see a southbound coming into the siding. I thought it was a local, but to my surprise 20 cars was actually a mainline train. Wow have times changed there too.
murrellsean 2 years ago
"This past decade also seen the abandonment of Chippawa Jct. to Niagara Falls, NY to make way for the tourists and a Casino. Great jobs that brought as they're going to close the 1st casino."
Murrellsean: everyone loses on this one!
tprdfh51 1 year ago
Excellent video. As a relative newcomer to St. Thomas, I am only now exploring the railway history of the area. Thank-you for putting this together.
tysoncragg1 2 years ago
Also someone put their blood and sweat building these lines wayyyyyy back before most of us were born and this is what were doing to thank them???
sicilian12345 2 years ago 8
I don't care what anyone thinks but this is really sad. I honestly cannot understand why any railway would be abandoned. I know they can be costly to run BUT the tracks have got to be useful to someone or something, especially this line. terrible thing to see it go.
CN is the king of abandoning railways.
sicilian12345 2 years ago 4
@sicilian12345 we have already reached "peak oil" production - just wait until the cost and availability cheap oil goes through the roof. Then we will see the folly of rail abandonment in North America.
tprdfh51 2 years ago
Is the picture at 2:18 Welland Yard?
tprdfh51 2 years ago
Nope.... Montrose
fzttwd 2 years ago
This video dedication to the CASO is absolutely brilliant, superb photography, wonderfully sequenced with heartfelt musical accompanyment. My Grandfather worked the CASO for 50 years and this brought a tear to my eye, so sad to see the destruction resulting from government medling, lies and broken promises from CN. This railway had so much potential if another group had of been granted rights to the purchase. Thank you for the memories CASO, you will live forever in my heart and others too!
MrNorthernmike 2 years ago
Thanks for the Comment. Glad to see I'm not alone in my wish to preserve the Memories of a Great Railroad I'm proud to have been apart of.
fzttwd 2 years ago
the cn used to dicatate when they were a government outfit, I thought when they left the government ownership that they would change, they are exactly the same, they will spend millions even if they are wrong and none of the executives get fired, same old, same old, Jim
jimmy59ca 2 years ago
Let's be frank, CN & CP bought the CASO with the intention of gradually weaning US bound traffic onto their own Canada/US routes while paying lip service to the BOT's regulations governing the sale of the CASO Sub. Both R/R's have been successful in that business path/decision. The result has been the loss of a vital 3rd corridor through Ontario for the movement of rail traffic...what traffic CN & CP don't want or can't get goes on the 401-QEW-403-402 and the taxpayer foots the bill!
tprdfh51 2 years ago
This is great, the CN doesnt care about anything or anyone, Jim
jimmy59ca2001 2 years ago
U got that right - they just want their Engineers to have to work another 500 miles per month so they can lay off more employees and not have to recall the ones that are currently on layoff...nice!
tprdfh51 2 years ago
"What matters to you, doesn't matter to them, what matters to them doesn't change anything".
tprdfh51 2 years ago
This video is the best yet of the Caso sub, again it is such a shame CN has ruined it! I still try to catch any train that runs on the little that remains from Fargo to Windsor. Instead of filling the 401 up with trucks, why would they not keep this on the back-burner at least?? Too much effort went in to let it just deteriorate and rip up. Thank-you for this amazing video and pictures!!! A rare find!
bradpville 2 years ago
Amazing video..very sad though that his double track mainline is gone to shit...CN ruins anything they get their hands on...just wait the EJ&E line will be like this in 15 years....it sure didnt take CN long to ruin this amazing line
nawrock 2 years ago
Unbelievable video....sad but happy that you set up this compilation..A++
SkilledRailroader 2 years ago
Beautiful stuff.
shityname5 2 years ago
some very nice photos you have there.
ShaunCN 2 years ago