Goderich Exeter Railway route in development

[GEXRailfan]

Hello

I would like to announce that I am developing a MSTS model of a route in Southwestern Ontario operated by the shortline company Goderich Exeter Railway (Rail America).

The portions of line modelled are: Guelph Sub from London - Kitchener, Goderich Sub from Stratford - Goderich and Exeter Sub from Clinton - Centralia. The Guelph Sub is the former CN line from London to Georgetown which was leased in the late 1990s by RA. It still sees six VIA trains, as well as frame trains and detoured CN trains off the Niagara Corridor route in case of a derailment.

The Goderich Sub sees mainly salt trains servicing the mine at the harbour in Goderich, as well as plow trains during the winter. I have access to topographic maps for the whole route, so all buildings and vegatation will be more or less placed true to life. I have never actuallty seen the Goderich or Exeter subs so any information on the operational ideosyncrasies, track speeds, etc would be greatly appreciated.

As for progress to date, Track: 99.9% (Hey you never know!) Buildings: 90%, Vegetation: 15%. I should have the route released by September or October, depending on how much third year engineering is able to swamp me!

[GrandTrunkFan]

Got any pics?

[wmalder]

Let me know if you need any rolling stock. I have a GP9 if you're interested.

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/108069.jpg


http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/108070.jpg

[ianw632]

Wow that looks really nice! Whos model of a GP9 is that?

Reid

[wmalder]

That would be one of mine. It's just a work in progress for the time being. If I get enought interest I'll probably finish it off with all the engine files and lighting and all that it doesn't have yet.

[cp5513]

Hey I'm from Kitchener... so my interest in the GEXR is obvious.
Are you posting the GEXR route here in the library when it's done?

PS - how is the progress going?

[jay611]

Wow! That blew me outta my seat!

Any chance it could be modded to better fit a Wester Maryland Chop Nose GP9?

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
WMRY303@hotmail.com

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/jay611/BCR_400_R.gif

[wmalder]

Depends on the specifics. I have several GP9s that I can modify depending on the configuration and my time. If you want a modified model it's not too hard to do but if you want the skinning and all the rest (physics, lighting etc.) it'll take much longer depending on the amount of your input. PM me and we can see what's what.

[padre destinaro]

If you want to know stuff about the Goderich Sub i'm the guy your looking for. I grew up in Sarnia only and hour and a half away from Goderich but starting my railfan career and intrest in trains in Goderich in early september 1990 when i was only 2. I would spend my summer vacations with both of my grandparents from both sides of my family as my mom and dad were both born in Goderich. I would ride my bike around town mostly as it was such a small town and still is, I would chase the original 4 GEXR GP9's up the 4.0 grade hill to the ex-CN station where they would spend the day shunting cars before heading out to stratford. They would service four plants two of which belonging to the Sifto Salt mine, one a grain elevator and the other Champion Gradiors. I have seen many engines run along the Goderich Sub and slowly work there way to the scrap line in Goderich. I have only started taking pictures of trains over the last 3 years or so, so my collection of the GEXR roster is limited but my memories reach back to the days of when the railway was just created. If you need any info i'll try to get it for you as i will be heading up there this weekend possibly for the ex-champion now volvo family picinic and will try to get some info from a close friend who works on the GEXR in Goderich.

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110316.jpg

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110317.jpg

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110318.jpg

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110320.jpg

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/110321.jpg

[Paul1953]

Jay, is Jon and the gang at GNR still working on the G&E diesel roster?

[jay611]

I have no Idea Paul. I've just learned in the past few days what the G&E is :P I just like the GP9 in the pics above... i'll have to search its heritage later on.

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
WMRY303@hotmail.com

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/jay611/BCR_400_R.gif

[FireDragonLightning]

>Jay, is Jon and the gang at GNR still working on the G&E
>diesel roster?

Paul, Our focus is on some other areas of MSTS right now, but the GEXR package has not been axed.

Time will tell! :)

[jac_murphy]

>I have no Idea Paul. I've just learned in the past few days
>what the G&E is :P I just like the GP9 in the pics above...
>i'll have to search its heritage later on.

ex-Lakeland & Waterways 4001, exx-Central Western 3708, exxx-SP 3708, nee SP 5872. Built 8/1959. Actual model designation is GP9-4.

The Canadian Trackside Guide is quite the useful book. :D

Jacques

[jay611]

Ah thanks for that information! Saved me a google search ;)

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
WMRY303@hotmail.com
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/jay611/WM_S6_152_L.gif

[Paul1953]

Thanks Jay!

[Noisemaker]

Sounds like a exciting route, and would be great to have 'dual activities' with say MLT's Niagara Corridor and yours. ;) I'm not much up on the route either, but there is a video out there called 'Branchlines In Transition' I believe - and it covers the history and actual movements of it all. (Plus lines by Barrie, Ont. and around St. Thomas, Ont. I think?) Got mine from the CP Store at the Royal York years ago, but sure a Google search for it must show it available somewhere still? Or, try Ebay.ca and maybe there's one there?

Not that I'm selling mine anytime soon. ;)

[Paul1953]

Yes that was done by Railinnovations ( www.railinnovations.com )some time ago. I dont see it in their catalogue today. It may have not made the transition to DVD. I still have my VHS cop, which I'll burn to DVD as soon as I can get a DVD burner. I got it same place as you!btw, that shop is also gone now too.

[cp5513]

Hey Noisemaker,

Not sure how dual activities would work with the MLT Niagara Corridor, as with the exception of train #433, the rest of the GEXR freights stay off the NC's tracks.

#433 is the frame train from Kitchener's Budd Automotive plant... it runs from Kit to London East, backs into the yard in London from the jct switch with the Guelph Sub, runs to the east end of the yard & ties onto its new cut from the CN, pushes it west thru the yard and the mainline crossovers, then heads back up the GEXR Guelph Sub to Kitchener.
I guess it would involve three separate parts, one going from Kit to London Jct on the GEXR route. Then the pushing your train in both directions switching manoeuvres in London on the NC route (obviously involves the front coupler). Then the 3rd would be the return back on the GEXR route to Kitchener yard.

Only other thing that ties the two is when CN goes up the GEXR using their trackage rights to get to the (ex)GM plant in London for new units. A cool activity if they were joined, real short & fragmented when split between the two.

PS - glad to hear you got Brantford back!

[GEXRailfan]

Hi

Really sorry about the long gap for the reply (third year civil eng gives me about 4 assignments per week so I don't have much time for MSTS or even railfanning!). The things I am missing for the Goderich and Exeter subs are track speeds and locations and names of industries / sidings served by the GEXR. I have track diagrams for all other segments of the route. All areas are physically sound, as I am using a combination of 1:50000 topographic maps, and Google Maps for the precise location of buildings and vegetation / forests. Is your quote of 4 percent for the grade of the hill precise (I made mine to be about 3.5 percent)? Thanks for the offer of assistance just where I need it most and it would be much appreciated if you were able to provide track speed and industries.

P.S. Was your second last picture of a train crossing Erie St. in Stratford or HWY 8 in Goderich?

[GEXRailfan]

Hello

That was one of the reasons I decided to start a GEXR project: the tie in with the CN mainline. Although the regular activities on the line are pretty finite in selection (VIA trains, and fairly homogeneous freight trains), there are opportunities for extras. For example when there is a derailment on the Dundas Sub the GEXR is used as a detour for CN freights. Also the railway museum in St. Thomas ran a steam train up the GEXR mainline to Guelph I think on an excursion a few years ago.

[cp5513]

Yes, that grade coming out from the Sifto mine up to Goderich yard is 4%... I think technically 4.1% actually. During CN days, the yard job assigned there would only pull 3 loaded salt cars at a time up the hill (with a lone GP9). Pretty much took most of their day just switching the mine out.

As for info about speeds & industry names, I live in Kitchener... I know the Guelph/Goderich/Exeter/Fergus subs well & have friends who work for them.
...pm me with whatever you need, I'd love to see my home-town done in MSTS!

[padre destinaro]

My second last and last picture is from highway 8 in Goderich, all my other shots are also taken in Goderich, as for the grade it is a 4.0 to a 4.1 in places, the steepest part is almost at the top, it goes from a 3.0 to 4.0 in places along it but what gives it away the most to where the steeper parts of the grade are and you will have to do this your self, will take more then one day to do is watch the train come up the hill from different spots listening to when he notches up his engines. At the bottom is an obvious spot as he needs the speed, also near the top he is pushing notch 7 to 8. I've seen the old timers master the hill very quickly while a new guy they were training took a very long 45minutes to get 20 cars to the top with the 4 units assigned to the run. Depending on power and railway cars at the mine they will run trains up the hill accordingly. 2 engine 1 to 10 cars, three engine 1 to 17 cars if they are all not the CN cylindrical hoppers, and four, four plus engines 1 to 20 cars if they are all cylindrical hoppers. Thats the just of it anyway. If you need anymore info just say and i'll try to get back to ya a.s.a.p.