Reporting mark HCRY Length 278,417 m Province Ontario Locale Northern Ontario | Dates of operation 1997 (1997)–Present Phone +1 705-254-4511 Founded 1997 Predecessor Canadian Pacific Railway | |
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Track gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Headquarters Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Website www.gwrr.com/operations/railroads/north_america/huron_central_railway Address 30 Oakland Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2T3, Canada Similar Agawa Canyon Tour Trai, Sault Community Career C, Employm Solutions | ||
Huron central railway train 912 eb moments after passing through algoma mills on aug 19 2016
Huron Central Railway (reporting mark HCRY) is a Canadian railway operating in northern Ontario, operated by Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
Contents
- Huron central railway train 912 eb moments after passing through algoma mills on aug 19 2016
- Huron central railway 912 eb with hcry 3010 3012 802 3802 blind river on aug 26 2016
- Locomotive Roster
- Discontinuing operations
- Derailment
- References
The Huron Central Railway was established in July 1997 to operate a 173-mile (278 km) route leased from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The lease agreements encompass all but 4.8-mile (8 km) of track at the Sudbury end of the 181.2-mile (292 km) line, known within the CPR as the Webbwood Subdivision, as well as the 3-mile (5 km) Domtar Spur, which branches southwest from the Webbwood Sub at McKerrow. The CPR retains running rights over about 22-mile (35 km) of track at the east end of the Webbwood Subdivision, and the HCRY has running rights all the way into Sudbury. The railway operates one train in each direction six days per week between its two endpoints (westbound from Sudbury in the evening; eastbound from Sault Ste. Marie in the afternoon) plus a train, leaving Sudbury most mornings, to Espanola and return. On weekends, movements are combined.
Coil steel manufactured by Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie and freight from the Domtar paper mill at Espanola account for 80% of freight traffic, although pulpwood, chemicals used by the steel industry, slab steel, paper, and miscellaneous goods are also carried. In 2008, the railway handled 16,000 carloads a year, though carloadings have decreased in subsequent years.
The route has variable topography and typically two to four locomotives are used to haul trains varying between 25 and 50 cars in length. The line parallels Ontario Highway 17 for much of its length.
Huron central railway 912 eb with hcry 3010 3012 802 3802 blind river on aug 26 2016
Locomotive Roster
Several locomotives lettered for affiliate Quebec-Gatineau Railway also populate the roster.
Discontinuing operations
The railroad had been asking the provincial government since 2006 for funding to improve track conditions, and in April 2009, Genesee & Wyoming warned that, due to the ever-deteriorating track - and the resulting increased operational costs - it would be forced to shut down the railway, unless the provincial government would provide money with which to undertake the necessary upgrades. On June 15, 2009, Genesee & Wyoming announced that the railroad's operations would be discontinued by October and that 45 people would be laid off. Due to the economic downturn, it suffered a significant reduction in carload volume - down by almost 50% from the previous year - which rendered the line insolvent.
This announcement however triggered a series of negotiations between HCRY, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Essar Steel Algoma, and Domtar in order to keep the rail line open. A temporary agreement was reached which provided $15.9 million to cover operating expenses and maintain service until August 15, 2010.
On September 24, 2010, $33 million in funding was announced for the rehabilitation of the railway, with the provincial and federal governments each contributing $15 million and Genesee & Wyoming making up the remaining $3 million. Work began on August 10, 2011, with contracts going to Swift Contractors for tie replacement and track surfacing; and M'Anishnabek Industries - a joint venture between B&M Metals of Sudbury and Serpent River First Nation - for ballast distribution. Work continues through summer 2012.
Derailment
On April 14, 2014, three locomotives and one flatcar were derailed likely due to collapsing infrastructure at mile 30 (about 3 km from Nairn Centre). There were no injuries however the spilled diesel from the locomotives required the issue of a drinking water advisory for the small community. The locomotives that derailed were QGRY 800, QGRY 3800, and HCRY 3011. QGRY 800 made it over the washout and sat upright with its rear truck off the tracks, QGRY 3800 ended up off the track and rolled onto its side, while HCRY 3011 remained upright, but sitting on its fuel tank at a 90° to the track with its rear truck hanging by the electrical cables.
In June 2015, 15 cars left the tracks near Worthington. November 1, 2015, 13 cars jumped the tracks near Spanish. There were no dangerous goods and no injuries.