Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia

MLW C630M's on the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway in 1996, including a flashy ending. All are now scrapped.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Cape
• Breton
• MLW
• Alco
• Locomotive
• Nova
• Scotia

[Ian74263]

They kinda look like the same locomotives that the WHRC had.

[fmnut]

@Ian74263 Not even close, other than from the same manufacturer. CBNS had C630M's, six-axle V-16 powered, 3000HP. WHRC had RS-23's, four-axle six cylinder inline engine, 1000 HP. It would take three WHRC RS's to equal one CBNS 630 in horsepower, although they would have much more tractive effort than a single C630M at low speeds. See my WHRC video for comparison.

[choirboyfromhell1]

What was really odd is that the ex-Clinchfield SD-45-2's of all things were running on shuttle trains between Canso and some power plant on Cape Breton about five years ago.

Nice footage. I'll bet the roundhouse forman was pissed as hell and probably found a cracked wheelset on that slipping lead unit.

[fmnut]

Those shuttle trains replaced the coal cars you see in my video. A few years after my visit, the DEVCO mines near Sydney flooded, killing the coal traffic. The shuttle trains handled imported coal brought in to Canso to the power plants.

[fmnut]

Well then, what traffic is there? With the steel mill and the mines closed, and the VIA trains gone, have there been any operations on this line in the past few years? The last I read about this line was that the provincial govt had put up money to keep the line open and forestall abandonment, but that no traffic has been secured to generate revenue to keep the line open. I would be glad to hear that some business has been found, as this is one of the most scenic lines I have visited.

[mdebass]

Fine footage of nearly extinct MLWs! CB&CNS is where now?

[fmnut]

It runs from Truro in central Nova Scotia (the mainline connection to CN)across the mainland portion through Stellarton to Port Hawkesbury on Cape Breton Island. The track continues on to Sydney, but this segment is currently out of service due to lack of traffic. Unfortunately it is also the most scenic portion of the line, especially the run along Bras d'or lake from Iona to North Sydney.

[adrianopinheiro79]

Congratulations on your video, very show. hugs

[RailWolf7306]

Nice video. I love this railroad for their unique paint scheme and those C630Ms are awesome all around.

[lennyos]

Looks like the wheelslip relay is malfunctioning in that one unit.

[keiichi902]

Another possible future source of traffic is coal from the soon to open Xstrata Donkin mine. Although NS Power said they wouldn't burn Donkin coal because of its high sulfur the provincial government raised the emissions allowed by NS Power. So Donkin coal might end up being used at NSP plants after all. This would help the CBNS and Sydney Coal Railway as coal from Donkin would have to travel over both lines to reach the various NSP generating plants (except Point Aconi which has no rail).

[keiichi902]

I agree with limpton, The line to Sydney is still in service and never was cut, although there are currently only 2 trains in and 2 trains out a week. The provincial government is still subsidizing the line from St.Peters junction to Sydney. The subsidy ends September of 2011. At which time the provincial government will look at the issue again. With Sydney harbor dredging set to begin this spring there is hope that a possible future container port will produce enough traffic to save the line.

[radionut63]

I see right in the beginning of the video,there are 3 maybe 4 TerraTransport containers in the consist..cool!!