Tichborne Ontario - CP 140 & CP 233 Meet

Tichborne is a small village in Central Frontenac Township, located about one hour north of Kingston. Originally of significance as a stop on the Kingston and Pembroke Railway. Incorporated in 1871, the K&P was intended to run from Kingston to Pembroke. By 1884, approximately 180 kilometres of mainline and sidings had been laid, reaching Renfrew. By this time the Canada Central Railway had already built a line from Renfrew to Pembroke, shattering the dream of reaching Pembroke first. At that time, it no longer made financial sense to continue. Thus the K&P was terminated at Renfrew.

In 1912, The line was leased to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) for 999 years. Before 1912, The K&P used to connect and run paired track with the original CPR Toronto-Montreal mainline in Sharbot Lake. This was how interchange was first completed.

In 1913, the present Belleville Subdivision (Smiths Falls-Toronto main) was completed. With sidings on either side of Highway 38. (Including a big coal tower to the west of the crossing) Soon Tichborne became the new junction between the CPR and the old K&P. The railway crossing/interlocking to the right of where the white building is in the video.
The original CPR mainline was abandoned in 1970 with the new mainline being the lakeshore route seen in this video. The K&P line north of Tichborne disappeared in the 1960's and south of Tichborne in 1986. Today, one can see the cut the K&P had to do to head south through the community towards Kingston.

On my first visit to the area, the CP Belleville Subdivision dispatcher had a bit of a problem. CP 233 is running bigger than usual. 111 cars long. It wouldn't be bad if there was no eastbounds to encounter but, two eastbound are past Belleville and are headed to Smiths Falls. Somethings gotta give.

At Tichborne, CP 233 meets the first eastbound. CP 140. 233 with a lone AC4400CW takes to the siding while 140 with a AC4400CW and a SD40-2 still in multimark holds the main during the pass.

It's slow going. Vehicles on both sides of the Highway 38 crossing lining up, waiting for both trains to clear.

Once the tail end of 233 clears the east switch of the Tichborne siding, the dispatcher lines the route for 140 to highball and head to Smiths Falls.

It's not railroading in the rockies but witnessing CP freights charging up/around/through rock cuts, lakes, and fills within the Canadian Shield is a good substitute for this railfan.

Mile 40.62 CP Belleville Subdivision

February 26 2011

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CP
• CPR
• Canadian
• Pacific
• Railway
• Tichborne
• Belleville
• Subdivision
• Ontario
• AC4400CW
• SD40-2
• GE
• GMD
• EMD
• Engine
• locomotive
• freight
• container
• autorack
• intemodal
• crossing
• grade
• horn
• whistle
• CTC

[skierman64]

That's one of the roughest railroad crossings on a major highway in North America. How high are those double stacks at the end, what is the height limit?

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@skierman64 - height is 19'ft 2" max is 20ft 4" i believe.

[Railrodder]

Very Nice! This is my stomping grounds! Further east Bolingbrook Rd crosses over the line and just east of there is Mud Lake Trestle. On June 29, the trestle will be 97 years old!

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@Railrodder - I was just at Crow Lake on Tuesday. It's the first time i've been in that area....and I did get a quick glimpse of the Mud Lake trestle.

[jhoboken]

great action and sound ,wowww that head-on opening shot,

terrific

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@jhoboken - thanks! :D

[meadam04]

This is by far the best catch ever !!!! I used to cross these tracks alot and never even seen a train here !

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@TheCprailfan1 - :) 

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@GenesisSanctuary - neither did i! Thanks for the comment. :)

[ConrailSD70MAC]

@railfankasey - thanks Kasey!