CP MONTROSE SPUR

TRACKSIDE GUIDE & PHOTOS

EX-MC MAINLINE | EX-NYC MONTROSE BRANCH  | EX-PC MAIN LINE | EX-CR MAIN LINE
EX-TH&B WELLAND SUBDIVISION: MILE 26 to HAMILTON
EX-CP NIAGARA FALLS SUBDIVISION: MILE 3 TO 22.2 | EX-CP WELLAND SUBDIVISION: MILE 20.4 TO 60.1
EX-CP FORT ERIE SUBDIVISION: MILE 13.4 TO 55.4  | EX-CSX RUNNING RIGHTS: MILE 0.0 TO 22.2
EX-CP HAMILTON SUBDIVISION: MILE 2.83 TO 13.5

Present timetable listing for this line:

CP ~ MONTROSE SPUR
??? - PRESENT

MILE
End Of Steel2.83
Jct. with CP Chippawa Industrial Spur2.97
Montrose4.0
Jct. with former Welland Tube Lead13.2
Jct. with CP Stevensville Spur13.4
Jct. with CP Hamilton Subdivision13.5

Traffic movement on this line:

     Rule 105 Territory - Not to exceed 15 mph on entire trackage.


Points of interest along this line:

     Mile 2.83 (End Of Steel) : McLeod Road, Niagara Falls, ON : Mile 2.83 is the end of the line as of mid December 2001. The former CP Hamilton Subdivision was formerly this trackage to access Station Name Sign Niagara Falls at Mile 0.0.

Mile 4.0 (Montrose) : Dorchester Road, Niagara Falls : Montrose is located here. Montrose Yard was once located here up until the mid 1990's, when it was closed and the yard tracks were pulled up. There still remains a siding here at Montrose. Trains used to pass each other or the siding was used to store cars.

     Mile 13.5 (formerly Brookfield) : Stauth Road, Niagara Falls : At mile 13.5 is the location of where the CP Montrose Subdivision joins the CP Hamilton Subdivision. This location is about a 1/4 mile west of South Brookfield Road in the outskirts of Niagara Falls. Where the Jct. to the CP Hamilton Subdivision is, this is where the former CP Welland Tube Lead lead off of the CP Montrose Subdivision. This is also where the CP Stevensville Spur connects to the CP Montrose Subdivision. You can take pictures of the trains here, from the Netherby Road overpass at mile 12.8 or Miller Road at mile 14.


Operations on this line:

     The CP Montrose Subdivision is the trackage of the former CP Hamilton Subdivision between mile 2.83 in Niagara Falls and former mile 13.4 CP Brookfield, east of Welland.
     The CP Montrose Subdivision in late 2001 became an East-West trackage, as what this track used to be when it was the CP Hamilton Subdivision was a North South ROW.
     I'm not exactly sure when the CP Montrose Subdivision was reclassified at the CP Montrose Spur.
     This trackage once being the The CP Hamilton Subdivision was realigned over to the former CN Cayuga Subdivision at former Brookfield to Brookfield East, where the CP ownership changes to CN ownership.
     In regards to this trackage of Niagara Falls, trackage between mile 0.0 and 2.83 of the former CP Hamilton Subdivision was abandoned because Casino Niagara / Casino Niagara was interested in the property of which the CP Hamilton Subdivision ran on through mile 2.6. I mention Casino Niagara because when the casino opened, all I ever heard was the term Casino Niagara. This may pertain to the old Maple Leaf Village area location, but suddenly the casino was being promoted as Casino Niagara. Anyway, back to the CP Montrose Subdivision.
     Trains no longer go through to Station Name Sign Niagara Falls. All of CP's mainline trains now go via the CN Stamford Subdivision from CN Robbins to Black Rock. There is only on CP Welland yard job that uses this line to service 3 industries in Niagara Falls. One being on the north side of where the old CN Montrose yard used to be located until 1994, when CP Montrose yard was closed and the old CP OCS yard in Wainfleet (aka CP Welland yard) was. CP Montrose yard closed down completely and moved operations over to CP Welland yard.
     Something I've never mentioned before as I have always overlooked it. CP Montrose yard used to have 2 sections. One section was a small area by the Washington Mills plant lead, at the west end of the yard, but on the south side of the main line. The other track was on the north side of Main line, most of the length of the CP Montrose grounds. I think it was about 3/4 of a mile in length. I learned of CP Montrose yard in 1992 or 1993, about 3 months before the yard was closed. I used to see mixed freight and an odd caboose.
     The Montrose area actually served 2 railroads. On the south side of the main line was CP. I want to possibly think before i got into trains back then there might have been a portion of a rail yard also on the south side of the tracks, that was part of the rail yard to the west that ran eastward from that Washington Mills area of the yard. But on the north side of the mainline and siding was another rail yard. I now the C&O rwy had a rail yard office on the north side of grounds. I kind of remember knowing there was a building there. On the south side of the main, but east of the former yard was the CP yard office. It existed till at least after the Fall of 1998. By 2000, the rail grounds on both the north and south side of the main line was sold off and became a golf course.
     Only CP Welland yard's Job 1 at one time used to service this line on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Now the present CP Welland yard job services this trackage when needed. It's been known that the present operations have worked during the day and during the middle of the night, here in Niagara Falls.      The only reason this line is still here is to service the few industries in Niagara Falls. Over this lines history, Michigan Central, New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail and CP have operated this line. But the C&O has had operating rights through here, as to why they had an office here until the early 1990's, when they terminated use of the line.
     When the CP Montrose Subdivision was first rename to that name in 2001, OCS WORK clearances were given between Junction Switch Brookfield and Mile 2.83. But at some point in time in the mid 2000s, they were given clearances from 'South siding switch Welland to Jct. Switch Brookfield, Clear Main track', which just let them leave OCS onto dark territory. South Siding Switch is never to be left in reverse position.
     The former abandoned CP Hamilton Subdivision trackage south of mile 2.83 (north really) was dismantled during the month of April 2002. First, the crossing protection was removed, then the trackage on the streets was removed, then the rest of the rail between the crossings from just south of Clifton Hill to Eastwood Street was lifted. Rail northward to Queen Street was still in place in May along with the entire CP Niagara Industrial Lead between crossings.
     By the end of the summer of 2002, the CP Hamilton Subdivision and CP Niagara Industrial Lead in Niagara Falls was totally removed.
     These days activity on the Montrose Road happens a few times a week as CP Welland yard Job TE21 (formerly Job 1), heads to Niagara Falls via Jct. Switch Brookfield.
     As stated above, mentioning there were 3 industries, it was the Spring of 2008 that there were now three industries via the CP Montrose Subdivision. One being CIL off of the siding at Montrose and Sohio and Saint Gobain on the CP Chippawa Industrial Lead. There used to be 2 others at Montrose yard. One being on the south side of the yard as you enter from the west end... that was the other Washington Mills plant. I think they made grit for sand paper. The other industry was the first switch from the same end of th yard as you entered. It was on the north side of the track. It was Marcilux (spelling?). CP was servicing both industries... this one just mentioned and CIL in the late 1990's.
     In early 2014, I learned that the old bridge across the Niagara River was built in 1925.
     Something that I've never put on this page here in the comments was the comment as to why there is only one track across the bridge into the U.S.A. and it's absence up to mile south siding switch Montrose, which is at mile 3.0ish. Back when Conrail had possession of this line, there was a train derailment at SNS Niagara Falls. It took out one of the switches I'm told that gained access to the one track that allowed trains to cross into Canada from the U.S.A. side. Conrail chose to take the 3 miles of line out, heading into Canada, then to replace the switch. I guess it was a fiscal decision.


Pictorial view of this line:

     These photos are of the CP Montrose Subdivision, which is former track of the CP Hamilton Subdivision into Niagara Falls.

243 photos in gallery

Select a mileage to display
| 2 - 3 | 3 - 4 | 4 - 5 | 5 - 6 | 6 - 7 | 7 - 8 | 8 - 9 | 9 - 10 | 10 - 11 | 11 - 12 | 12 - 13 | 13 - 14 |


Mile 11.00
Looking Southeast
(2013)

Mile 11.00
Looking Southeast
(2013)

Mile 11.00
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 11.00
Looking South
(2013)

Mile 11.61
Looking North
(1998)

Mile 11.61
Looking North
(2013)

Mile 11.61
Looking East
(2013)

Mile 11.61
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 11.61
Looking South
(2013)

Mile 11.61
Looking West
(2013)

Mile 11.90
Looking South
(2013)

Select a mileage to display
| 2 - 3 | 3 - 4 | 4 - 5 | 5 - 6 | 6 - 7 | 7 - 8 | 8 - 9 | 9 - 10 | 10 - 11 | 11 - 12 | 12 - 13 | 13 - 14 |


     These photos are of the former Hamilton Subdivision leading up to mile 2.83.

98 photos in gallery


Mile 0.00
Looking Northeast
(1999)

Mile 0.00
Looking Northeast
(2003)

Mile 0.00
Looking West
(1998)

Mile 0.00
Looking West
(2003)

Mile 0.20
Looking Northeast
(1999)

Mile 0.20
Looking East
(2009)

Mile 0.20
Looking South
(1993)

Mile 0.22
Looking Northeast
(1997)

Mile 0.22
Looking Northeast
(1997)

Mile 0.22
Looking Northeast
(1999)

Mile 0.22
Looking Southeast
(2002)

Mile 0.22
Looking South
(2005)

Mile 0.22
Looking Southwest
(1999)

Mile 0.24
Looking Northeast
(1997)

Mile 0.30
Looking East
(2005)

Mile 0.30
Looking Southwest
(1997)

Mile 0.30
Looking West
(2005)

Mile 0.34
Looking Northeast
(2005)

Mile 0.36
Looking North
(2005)

Mile 0.36
Looking South
(2005)

Mile 0.38
Looking Northeast
(1997)

Mile 0.38
Looking Northeast
(2005)

Mile 0.51
Looking Northeast
(1997)

Mile 0.51
Looking Northeast
(2002)

Mile 0.51
Looking Northeast
(2005)

Mile 0.51
Looking South
(1997)

Mile 0.51
Looking Southwest
(2002)

Mile 0.51
Looking Southwest
(2005)

Mile 0.57
Looking North
(2000)

Mile 0.57
Looking North
(2001)

Mile 0.57
Looking Northeast
(2002)

Mile 0.57
Looking South
(2000)

Mile 0.57
Looking South
(2001)

Mile 0.57
Looking Southwest
(2002)

Mile 0.79
Looking North
(1997)

Mile 0.79
Looking North
(2001)

Mile 0.79
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 0.79
Looking South
(2001)

Mile 0.79
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 0.90
Looking Southwest
(1998)

Mile 1.00
Looking Northeast
(2002)

Mile 1.00
Looking Northeast
(2005)

Mile 1.00
Looking Southwest
(1998)

Mile 1.00
Looking Southwest
(2005)

Mile 1.13
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.13
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.13
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.13
Looking South
(1997)

Mile 1.13
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.13
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.13
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.20
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.20
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.30
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.35
Looking North
(2005)

Mile 1.35
Looking South
(2005)

Mile 1.40
Looking North
(2000)

Mile 1.40
Looking North
(2001)

Mile 1.40
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.40
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.40
Looking South
(2000)

Mile 1.40
Looking South
(2001)

Mile 1.40
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.50
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.50
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.67
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 1.67
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.67
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.67
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 1.70
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.70
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.90
Looking North
(1998)

Mile 1.90
Looking North
(1999)

Mile 1.90
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.90
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 1.95
Looking North
(2005)

Mile 1.95
Looking North
(2005)

Mile 1.95
Looking South
(2005)

Mile 1.95
Looking South
(2005)

Mile 2.00
Looking North
(2002)

Mile 2.00
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 2.20
Looking North
(1998)

Mile 2.20
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.20
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.40
Looking South
(1993)

Mile 2.50
Looking North
(1993)

Mile 2.50
Looking South
(1993)

Mile 2.50
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.50
Looking South
(2002)

Mile 2.60
Looking North
(1993)

Mile 2.60
Looking North
(1998)

Mile 2.60
Looking North
(1999)

Mile 2.60
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.60
Looking South
(2000)

Mile 2.70
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.70
Looking South
(2003)

Mile 2.85
Looking South
(1998)

Mile 2.90
Looking North
(1998)


     These photos are of the former NYC/PC Main line that use to connect to Welland Diamond, via Montrose yard.

21 photos in gallery


Looking Northeast
(2012)

Looking Southeast
(2012)

Looking Northeast
(2006)

Looking South
(2006)

Looking Southwest
(2006)

Looking Northeast
(1997)

Looking Southwest
(1997)

Looking Northeast
(2013)

Looking Southwest
(2013)

Looking Northeast
(1997)

Looking Southwest
(1997)

Looking Northeast
(1998)

Looking Southwest
(1998)

Looking Northeast
(1999)

Looking Southwest
(1999)

Looking Northeast
(1999)

Looking Southwest
(1999)

Looking Northeast
(2013)

Looking Southwest
(2013)

Looking Southwest
(1999)

Looking Southwest
(2013)


     This photo is from Montrose yard.

1 photos in gallery


Looking Southwest
(1998)


     These photos are of the former Nabisco ROW that ran off of the old CP Hamilton Subdivision prior to approximately 1994, just south of where Mr. Sub is at mile 1.7. The line left the CP Hamilton Subidivison, heading west a few blocks. Photos don't start right at the CP Hamilton Subdivision, but rather a block or so west. Switch popints off of the old CP Hamilton Suvdivision I believe faced south... earth direction.

4 photos in gallery


(2003)

(2003)

(2003)

(2003)