St. Clair Tunnel Company

Classic Trains General Discussion
1

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cnr_electric/St.CTunnel.htm

Sorry didnt work

Cut off pages

will post link

Link now

added

2

Thanks for the link.

In 1982, I rode from Chicago to Toronto, through the original tunnel. I do not remember my interaction with the Canadian customs.

In 1997, my wife and I rode from Toronto to Chicago, in Superliner equipment, through the new tunnel. We were asked one question by the customs officer: “You two hitched?”

3

Old tunnel just before replacement, note how the standard height boxcars just barely fit. Definately no room for Hi-cubes, autoracks or doublestacks:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=5432

Special train. 9674 was built for GO Transit, note green paint on bell:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=23890

“Excalibore” getting ready to start, with another special train of everything that won’t fit through the old tunnel:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24038

Completed tunnel as it appears today:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=3944

Additional information and photos. I especially like the comment from the Conductor who was in charge of the special train of oversized TBM machinery:

http://beachburg.blogspot.ca/2013/10/cns-st-clair-tunnel-part-i.html

http://beachburg.blogspot.ca/2013/10/cns-st-clair-tunnel-part-ii.html

4

The first camelback in the OP’s first link is a very odd looking one. Thanks for sharing!

5

https://archive.org/stream/1936TheSarniaCanadianObserverCentenaryEdition#page/n0/mode/2up

6

The camelback in question was originally built as a tank locomotive and was “The World’s Largest Locomotive” when built. They burned a low-gas coal briquette to lessen the smoke hazard in the tunnel.