Designated Purpose of Specified Symbol Trains Handling Transcontinental Traffic

Designated Purpose of Specified Symbol Trains Handling Transcontinental Traffic

901 Required to handle high rated truck competitive traffic between major
cities on the main line from Toronto to Vancouver
921 Required to handle high rated truck competitive traffic from Toronto to
Winnipeg, and Piggyback traffic from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg.
965 Required to handle through traffic from Toronto, Southern Ontario and
connections to Western Canada. At Winnipeg traffic off 949 consolidated with
this train and from Winnipeg handles Regina and Vancouver traffic.
953 Required to handle overflow traffic from Southern Ontario to Western Canada.
Terminate Winnipeg and traffic consolidated with 951.
949 Required to handle through freight from Saint John, NB, Montreal and Smiths
Falls to Western Canada.
From Winnipeg handles traffic for Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Calgary.
Vancouver traffic goes over to 965.
951 Required to handle overflow traffic between main line cities from Montreal
to Vancouver. Handles 953’s traffic west of Winnipeg.
902 Required to handle Pacific import traffic and high rated truck competitive
traffic between major cities, Vancouver to Toronto. Montreal traffic is handled
to Winnipeg for connection with 952. Room permitting also handles selected empty
equipment to Eastern Canada.
952 Required to handle traffic from Western Canada points to stations east of
Sudbury as far as Saint John, NB.

Recent Posts

In Memorial: Jim ‘Skid’ Robinson

It is with heavy hearts that all of us at the WRMRC wish to honour and say farewell to James ‘Jim’ Robinson, a cherished member of our club who passed away peacefully on 14 November 2025. Jim, who also affectionately went by the nickname ‘Skid’, was our club treasurer and also served in that capacity on the board with the Waterloo Railway Expo.

Skid aboard a caboose on the Waterloo Central Railway

Before moving in retirement to Waterloo, Jim was a longtime Sudbury resident and a former accountant with INCO, and he applied the same commitment and accuracy to our club as he gave on the job. A self-described ‘numbers nerd’, Skid was drawn to operations on our Sudbury Division layout, and studied the real-life CP Rail freight procedures manuals to apply them in miniature form. From this Jim helped to set up paperwork and stage trains before WRMRC operating sessions, and successfully learned the Sudbury Yardmaster position (no small feat).

Jim was also a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, and loved to share his adventures on the road which, when coupled to his zest for life, gave us stories that both entertained and lifted us all. But above all, Skid was a genuine people person—quick with a word of encouragement, endlessly patient, and always ready to lend a hand. He welcomed every member, or potential members at train shows, and made our club feel more like a family. We will miss his dedication, his generous spirit, and the spark in his eye when he spoke about his many experiences and tall tales.

We wish to extend our sympathy and commiseration to his family, and his many close friends. We honour Skid’s memory by supporting one another, and by keeping his stories and adventures alive.

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