I’m looking at triple tracking part of my HO scale layout but wonder if this would be prototypical…Right now it is mostly double track…
Depending on the era. I can’t place any photographic evidence right now but I would say yes out of Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver in the steam era. It either would have been pulled up or became yard trackage later. I would say yes out of Toronto in the diesel era what with the Go Transit trains. Vancouver terminal trackage seems to go east forever so is it yard trackage or three track mainline? I will check out a few of my books for some photo’s.
AgentKid
For up-to-date Canadian railway information, you can try www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca. If you cannot get the information directly from the site, you can order their Canadian Trackside Guide, which is published, I believe, annually.This may well contain more information than you really need, but it does describe the rail lines in Canada (and a few in the USA as well). I do not know if it distinguishes between two track and double track. It may not necessarily tell you if there are more than two tracks on a line, as, for instance, it tells you that from Coteau-Ouest (a little west of Montreal) to Toronto, there is a minimum of two tracks; whereas on the line from Toronto to Hamilton, it tells you exactly where there are two, three, and four tracks. (Perhaps there are too many changes between Montreal to Toronto for all the changes to be shown)
I just found a photo in Canadian Pacific in the Rockies (Volume Five) by D.M. Bain, which I referenced in another thread and hadn’t put back yet, taken in 1928 at what the caption describes as east of the Vancouver waterfront area. It shows either a three track mainline or double tracks with a siding maintained to mainline standards. It is difficult to tell in the photo if the one outside track is spaced slightly farther apart than the other two, but it is in a curve and closest to the photographer so the perspective makes it hard to tell.
AgentKid
Here in Chicago, I know that the CP’s mainline from Tower A5 to Tower B12 is triple tracked. It’s about 7 miles. The 3rd main helps witht the commuter traffic.
Yes, CN does have multi track. The oldest portion I know of is between Toronto Union Station and Mimico on the Oakville sub with 4 tracks. The two middle tracks were passenger and the two outer tracks slower freight tracks. Today all 4 equal mainline tracks. There was industries along the line, but not any more.
This track was\is owned by CN with CPR running rights, but few CPR trains have used it recently. The rest of the subdivision is being triple tracked today.
At one time both CN and CPR freights used this line fequently.
The three main tracks between A5 to and including B12 is owned by Metra. CP has rights on and dispatches it for Metra.
In the steam era there were very few segments of three main track in Canada, but in industrial areas you would often find service tracks on one or both sides of the main line so the switching jobs could service the various industries without interfering with the through trains. Another place would be at the approaches to a major yard, where the lead might extend a considerable distance before connecting into the actual main tracks.
Where there was double track it was mostly directional traffic rather than bi-directional running that CTC allowed, so you would also find passing tracks at regular intervals so slower freights could clear the main to enable priority trains to overtake.
Even today the only place you find three or more main tracks is in the major urban areas, such as the Toronto-Hamilton corridor that another respondent noted, or the Montreal area. The recent renaissance of the commuter train has often driven the need for additional main tracks.
John
There are 3 tracks going east from the C.P.R. station in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, but they only go for about 2 blocks, does that count??
Sure it counts…and thanks to all for your replies.