December, 2007 V3N12

NB GOVERNMENT

LOOKING AT IMPROVING FREIGHT RAIL

SERVICE

As momentum builds to fast track an Atlantic Gateway initiative and a Southern New Brunswick Gateway around Saint John, the time is right to look at how rail transportation can be improved, says Doug Johnson, an assistant deputy minister for the New Brunswick Department of Transportation. It's the right idea at the right Photo courtesy OCR time, says Johnson, who sees railway Getting set for the journey ahead, Canadian military vehicles are loaded and transportation as a means to combat ready to roll from Pembroke, ON. Central Railway commenced rising oil prices and climate change. loading on January 10th with completion January 18th. "We only see the opportunity as being more important on rail over time for our people in New Brunswick," he said. "There are New Power for Inside The Spareboard some types of commodities that GO Transit Vol 3 No 12

move best in a railcar." • “Backtrack” 2 An added benefit of rail is the GO trains will soon carry more • Fern’s Rule of the Month 2 significant reductions in greenhouse passengers thanks to a fleet of • From the ‘Dining Car’ 3 gas emissions versus truck traffic. A powerful new locomotives. • Incidents & Accidents 4 locomotive can carry the capacity of Premier Dalton McGuinty and GO • Performance Indicators 5 & 10 • “Steele Rail” by Don Steele 6 20 transport trucks, emitting 50% Transit officials unveiled the new • Birthdays/Anniversaries 8 less carbon dioxide per kilometre. locomotive January 14th at Toronto’s • From “The Corner Office” 9 Johnson said the Liberal Union Station. government hopes to encourage CN It can pull longer trains carrying an 3141 Albion Road South to work more closely with smaller additional 300 passengers each. Ottawa, Canada short-line railways in the province. 613-260-9669 See Go Transit, Page 8 See Improvements, Page 3

Page 2

NEW MICROSITE FROM EAP This is the eleventh in a PROVIDER TO BENEFIT OCR series on classic North EMPLOYEES

American passenger trains By Laurent Caron

“The Dominion” 104.5. DERAILS As part of our ongoing commitment

(a) The location of each derail to providing health solutions to One of the most popular employees, I’d like to share with will be marked by a sign, you details around our Employee transcontinental passenger trains unless otherwise directed by in the early twentieth century was Assistance Program (EAP) special instructions. provider’s latest ‘Microsite’. It’s ’s “The Employees must be familiar called ‘Channeling Change: Healthy Dominion”. with the location of each Hints at Every Life Stage’ and it is With travel by rail the fastest derail. intended to support employees as and most efficient means of they go through inevitable life transportation, “The Dominion” (b) A train, engine or track unit changes. As many people look began service between Toronto must stop short of a derail set forward to the New Year as a new and Vancouver in 1931. in the derailing position. beginning or a fresh start, Channeling Change can provide Initially running during the important information on how summer months, the train (c) Each derail must be left in the employees can manage change replaced “The Imperial” as the derailing position. When so effectively. railway’s main cross-country authorized by special service. The expanded train made instructions, a derail on a Some of the features of Channeling stops in Sudbury, Montreal and main track, siding or spur, Change include: City. may be left in the non- When Canadian Pacific derailing position only when 9 Tools to navigate the new introduced its stainless steel stored equipment is not rules and responsibilities of adult present. “Canadian” in 1955, The life with a pit stop at From Dominion, with its familiar Graduate to Grown Up. maroon coaches continued in SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 9 Ways to plan for the service, alongside “The Canadian” emotional, scheduling and financial (1) These exemption derails for another eleven years. realities of parenthood by landing will be switch stand operated However, by February, 1966, on Plan-It Parent. and be identified in the field service had wound down. A year with a reflective red letter 'D' 9 How to re-evaluate and later, and for much of Canada’s on a reflective yellow target, revamp mid life relationships by centennial year, the train served visible when in the derailing tapping into some Middle Age Aid. Expo 67 in Montreal. position. 9 Strategies and plans for

life’s later years via a range of

d) Derails must be left secured sensible Senior Solutions.

Backtrack appears regularly in with a locking device. There will be an interactive element The Spareboard Fern to this site with a selection of self- directed health screening tools to help employees assess their overall health and wellness when it comes Make Every Day to dealing with change. A Safe Day! See EAP on Page 3

Page 3

Improvements from Page 1

New Brunswick is serviced by CN's 390 route-miles of track and two smaller short-line railways - New Brunswick Southern Railway and New Brunswick East Coast Railroad. The three companies already work together on freight service for the province's resource and industrial sectors by providing connections in Quebec and Maine to major North American markets. The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has direct links through Maine to the CP system. Ian Simpson, gm of New Brunswick Southern Railway, which is part of the Irving

Transportation Group, said his

Photo courtesy OC Transpo company has a good working relationship with CN and wants The 696 Streetcar restoration projects includes work on the “large and heavy steel frame to do whatever it takes to move pieces.” OC Transpo’s Barry Thomas says the volunteers are becoming “very skilled at more cargo through Saint John. riveting again!” See 696 Update, on Page 4 See New Brunswick, Page 8

EAP from Page 2

The site also features a “coming soon” page should you wish to Chicken Quesadillas with Smoked Mozzarella create an internal link to the microsite: Makes: 16 pieces Preparation time, about 20 minutes English: http://www.shepellfgi.com/chann 1 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken or turnkey (about 4 ounces) eling-change/ 2 cups grated smoked mozzarella 1 tomato, seeded and diced Français : 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped http://www.shepellfgi.com/mieux 1 clove garlic, minced -vivre/ ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon salt 4 (10 Inch) flour tortillas Call

1.800.387.4765 Preparation for service in English, 1) In a large bowl, combine chicken or turkey, cheese, tomato, jalapeno, garlic, 1.800.361.5676 cilantro and salt. for service in 2) Spread one-quarter of mixture over half of each tortilla. Fold unfilled side over and press gently. French CFQ’s 3) Cook quesadillas on a barbecue or grill pan or in a large ungreased skillet for Laurent Caron. about 3 minutes per side, or until lightly browned and cheese has melted. Cool for 2 minutes. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.

Page 4

FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Main Track Accidents* 3 0 4 0 2 0 1 TOT TOT TOT TOT TOT TOT TOT

2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Non-Main Track Accidents* 11 13 10 9 11 6 8 Human Factor 4 2 4 3 5 3 4

Ice & Snow 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Track Crossing Accidents 4 1 1 2 2 4 2 Conditions 3 4 1 1 0 1 1 Vandalism 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Trespassing Incidents 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd Party 2 5 5 5 6 1 1 Employee Injuries* 2 1 3 2 5 8 0 Other 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 13 10 9 11 6 8 Cardinal Rule Violations 0 0 1 0 0 0 2

Hyrail Accidents 1 0 0 1 0 0 0

Vehicule Accidents 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

TOTAL 22 16 20 15 21 19 19

RESTORATION CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE

Major restoration work is continuing on OC Transpo (former Ottawa Electric Railway and Ottawa Transportation Commission) streetcar 696. OC Transpo’s Barry Thomas reports that “The boosters are done and the rear floor assembly is next.” Once that is in place, the volunteer s will be working a full Saturday to rivet the parts together and we can move on to lighter work and progress will jump ahead. It has been hard but steady progress working on the large and heavy steel frame pieces, many of which were rebuilt completely with the support of Loucon Metal and its shop staff.” In the meantime, Thomas says the 696 volunteers have become very skilled at riveting again, a lost art! There has been a steady group of volunteers that have been faithful each and every Wednesday night in coming out and drilling, bending, painting and riveting steel. See Volunteers on Page 6

Page 5

Our Mission: Grow profitably while becoming our Basis of the Mission: To make a significant contribution to our customer's preferred supplier of customer’s commercial success by providing transportation logistics services to help them meet the needs of their own safe, efficient and cost-effective customers. transportation logistics services.

Total revenues/employee ( 000 $ ) Attendance

100.0% 300 $ 250 $ 200 $ 90.0% 150 $ 100 $ 50 $ 80.0% 0 $ OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC COGE SCR CFQ 70.0% OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC COGE SCR CFQ

Cum 2007 249 $ 232 $ 285 $ 81 $ 258 $ 207 $ 177 $ 240 $ Cum 2007 96.3% 96.2% 92.2% 80.2% 91.1% 96.7% 95.5% 93.3% Obj 2007 230 $ 260 $ 300 $ 80 $ 315 $ 213 $ 185 $ 259 $ Obj 2007 97.0% 97.0% 91.5% 90.0% 95.0% 97.0% 95.0% 95.0% 2006 229 $ 262 $ 306 $ 128 $ 279 $ 228 $ 178 $ 229 $ 2006 97.4% 95.4% 89.5% 73.7% 93.8% 96.0% 93.9% 92.8%

Weekly Car Placements Car cycle

( % Placed / Garanteed ) ( Days ( empty-load))

100.00% 15.00 90.00% 12.00 80.00% 9.00 70.00% 6.00 60.00% 3.00 OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC CFQ OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC CFQ Cum 2007 99.10% 96.40% 93.10% 97.20% 96.80% 94.80% Cum 2007 4.42 4.51 8.45 11.82 7.37 6.81

Obj 2007 98.00% 98.00% 94.00% 95.00% 96.00% 95.00% Obj 2007 4.50 4.00 8.00 8.00 7.70 6.80

2006 99.00% 97.00% 92.00% 87.50% 94.50% 93.50% 4.46 4.12 9.35 11.07 7.98 7.40 2006

Fuel Consumption ( GTM/litre )

Ratio - Train Accidents ( # Accidents / Train mile ) X 1M 140.00 115.00 90.00 170.0 65.00 120.0 40.00 70.0 15.00 OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC SCR CFQ 20.0 OCR CFC CFMG CBC NBEC SCR CFQ Cum 2007 92.67 118.87 128.90 25.91 99.49 75.11 112.00 Cum 2007 64.5 30.2 35.3 0.0 26.6 0.0 36.7 Obj 2007 102.37 122.00 141.00 37.50 111.00 80.00 122.00 Obj 2007 27.5 65.0 40.0 100.0 28.0 35.0 40.0

96.18 122.42 133.21 55.51 106.75 76.81 117.55 2006 2006 37.4 124.0 46.8 135.5 29.7 36.0 46.4

Page 6

loss of $8.8 million. 696 Volunteers from Page 4

CROR Rule 34. Thomas says the team has replaced “most of the wood panels FIXED SIGNAL RECOGNITION covering the side windows with Professionalism AND COMPLIANCE glass, painted the exterior and three in the Cab weeks ago rewired the streetcar's Rule 34 requires crew members to ceiling lights!” verbally communicate fixed signals as I recently received an article that The project is supervised by soon as the signals are positively chronicled an accident in which a Kevin and Gilles Lafreniere. As the identified. freight train travelling at over 50 miles project takes shape, Barry says the per hour rear ended another standing It begins with: interior lights “will allow the freight. It appears that the crew volunteers more freedom to work a) The crew on an engine… ignored an advance clear to stop and a on the interior during the year.” clear to stop signal protecting the must know the indication of each The front headlight should be stopped train. fixed signal (including switches operational soon. The collision also struck and where practicable) before passing it. Volunteers are always welcome derailed a freight passing on an adjacent main track. In all 2 Two new volunteers have been locomotives and 40 cars on the 3 (b) Crew members within welcomed in the past two months. trains were derailed, many of them physical hearing range must “One is a retired CP rail employee destroyed. communicate to each other, in a keen on helping out on the streetcar Incredibly, no one was killed in clear and audible manner, the motors and trucks. Another indication by name, of each fixed the collision with the train crew volunteer has a electrical escaping with cuts and bruises. signal they are required to identify. background and is working on the Although the final costs are to be streetcar motors as well.” determined, initial estimates show a See CROR Rule 34 on page 8 Their hard work is evidence if you have been in the streetcar shed lately as the streetcar has grown higher, longer and much heavier.” In addition to 696, restoration continues on car 905 .

Calendars available

Some 500 copies of the calendar are available as a fundraising initiative. “We need everyone's help in getting the Streetcar 696 back on track, and all funds generated go Photo courtesy Don Steele directly into the restoration project”, says Thomas. “The 2008 calendars are only $10.00 each and can be obtained by contacting Barry Thomas at 842-3636 ext 2222 or email: [email protected] . Cheques are to made out to the "Streetcar 696 Project".

See 696 on Page 9

Page 7

complicated because the gauge of the However, gauge change cars did was the wider not become available until 1871, some “Provincial Gauge” which was 5 feet 6 16 years after the opening of the inches. Thus all through freight had Bytown and Prescott. to be transhipped by hand between Just two years later, in October standard gauge and broad gauge 1873, the GTR altered its main line to freight cars while all passengers with standard gauge and resolved some of their baggage had to change trains. the problems at Prescott. It was now Prescott station must have been a possible to run through cars between pretty busy (chaotic) place with Ottawa and Montreal and also everybody having to change trains or Toronto. Traveling was now easier transfer to the ferry. The situation although the two companies did not was alleviated to some extent by the always see eye to eye and there were The item in a recent issue of The introduction of gauge change cars. still some difficulties. Spareboard talked about the Bytown These cars had telescoping axles and We very often forget that Ottawa’s and Prescott, Railway (B&PR), the the gauge could be changed by first railway ties were not to Montreal first railway in Ottawa, with its running the cars through a special or Toronto but to Ogdensburg. connections at Prescott in 1855. apparatus. Indeed the first excursion over the However, the connections at Prescott I have written about this in more B&PR was from Ogdensburg on 10th were not as direct as it may have detail in an article for Branchline in January 1855. You can find an seemed. July 2003. You can see it on line at: account of this on my web site at: The B&PR was built to provide http://www.railways.incanada.net/Art http://www.railways.incanada.net/cir access to the United States through icles/Article2003_1.html cle/excursions.htm#B&P3 Ogdensburg and, for this reason, was built to the standard railway gauge of 4 feet 8½ inches. Railcars were ferried across the St. Lawrence River to provide direct freight service to and from the United States. Passengers and their baggage were also transferred across the river although they did not have the benefit of through cars. For the first few months the transfer to Ogdensburg was the only travel option available at Prescott because the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) was not opened to Montreal until November 1855 while the GTR did not open its line between Montreal and Toronto until October 1856. Trains to Montreal and Toronto were not available until 11 months and one year and ten months after the opening of the B&PR. However, even after the opening Photo: Library and Archives Canada C5288, courtesy Colin Churcher of the GTR at Prescott, travel from The old “Ottawa” from a photo taken in August, 1861; possibly at the Sussex Station. By the time the photo was taken, the railway name had changed from the “Bytown and Prescott to Montreal or Toronto was Prescott Railway” to the “Ottawa and Prescott Railway.”

Page 8

CROR 34 and “Steele Rail” from Professionalism is an attitude we page 6 should take to work each and every GO Transit from page 1

(c) If prompt action is not day. This attitude is expected of us First of New Locomotives in taken to comply with the by Transport Canada, our company service in two months requirements of each signal and our co-workers not to mention indication affecting their train or the pride we feel when we do things Ontario invested $143 million in engine, crew members must to the best of our ability. 27 new fuel-efficient MP40 remind one another of such Don locomotives. requirements. Sixteen of the new locomotives will replace existing engines, while If no action is then taken, 11 will be added to expand the GO or if the locomotive engineer is fleet. observed to be incapacitated, The longer trains will gradually other crew members must take be put into service on GO's immediate action to ensure the Lakeshore and Milton lines. safety of the train or engine, The first of the new locomotives including stopping it in Happy Birthday will be in service in about two emergency if required. Luc Larose months, with all 27 expected to be Malcolm Dobie hauling commuters in two years. All crew members should share Ben Beauchamp the responsibility to ensure the train Jason Laing (Canada NewsWire, Canadian Press 080115)(RAC) is being controlled in response to Rebecca Maskevich signal indications. Professionalism Lavern Brohart is essential for the safe operation of Diane Carrier the train. Crews should discontinue Happy An niversary non-essential communication and Malcolm Dobie - 8 Years activities when operating under a signal displaying other than a clear Congratulations signal. We should also remember this from all your friends at other special instruction found in OCR! the CROR.

NB Improvements from Page 3 (4) Non Railway Activities- through the ports Halifax and Saint John. Employees in any service "Whether it's business through connected with the movement of Halifax could capture new the Port of Halifax or through the container cargo traffic from Asia trains and engines are prohibited Port of Saint John, if business from engaging in non-railway bound for the US and Central increases at those ports or any Canada, leading Saint John to attract activity which may in any way other ports in the region and it distract their attention from the more international shipping lines. flows through to Saint John and (Canadian Sailings 080128)(RAC) full performance of their duties. down our railroad, then obviously Printed material not connected we see it as an exciting growth with the movement of trains and opportunity," Simpson said. engines or not required in the With Ottawa's support for the Make Every Day performance of their duties, is Atlantic Gateway project, A Safe Day! not permitted to be openly increased traffic is expected displayed.

Page 9

FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS IMPERATIVE

696 from Page 6

The Credit Union located at Ottawa Central Railway 1500 St Laurent Blvd - OC Transpo is a proud sponsor of the is also selling calendars for the streetcar 696 Project project. Barry Thomas says financial support is imperative to keep the 696 streetcar restoration project on track. “Pick up a calendar for your office or to give to friends or relatives as gifts". He adds, “if we sold them all, the streetcar motors can be Photo courtesy OC Transpo professionally shopped out for Streetcar 696 as seen in the early 1950s. repair and be ready for the body Built by the Ottawa Car Company in 1917, need to focus on in 2008. I know the car was retired in 1957, two years we can do better however we all when we have it done shortly.” before the entire fleet and service. have to be more careful, keep alert and think SAFETY from the The moment we commence work until we finish our day. LAWS OF LIFE! While the final numbers are still (Part 1) being worked on I am pleased to report that for 2007, both revenues Law of Mechanical Repair and operating income are better After your hands become than Budget and the prior year! coated with grease, your nose will REVENUES UP BUT SO Congratulations on a job well begin to itch or you'll have to use ARE COSTS / EXPENSES done...... and speaking of congrats I the washroom. want to thank the following for

their efforts on the recent move of Law of the Workshop “For 2007, both revenues and operating income are better than Budget” military vehicles better known as Any tool, when dropped, will - James Allen, GM, OCR Operation Southern Bear: roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of Probability Preliminary Revenues for the month Malcolm Dobie, Dennis Church, Jerry Kelly, Devon Moore and The probability of being of December of slightly more than 1 watched is directly proportional to Million dollars were 140K higher than Mike Downey. Great job guys! the stupidity of your act. Budget. Higher fuel costs and consumption What does 2008 hold for us...... Law of the Telephone (68K), locomotive repairs (59K), well stay tuned. Nothing is easy but If you dial a wrong number, program expenses and snow removal if we continue to provide a superior you never get a busy signal. (109K) and derailment costs (18K) all service to our clients, keep our combined to knock our Operating locomotive fleet in the best Income below Plan by 92K. condition possible, keep putting

Visit Once again December was a terrible monies into improving our month for a rash of incidents/accidents infrastructure, keep our eye on the www.octranspo.com ball and look for ways to reduce for more on Streetcar 696 - which could all have been avoided. This is the one area everyone of us See Corner Office on Page 10

Page 10

From the Corner Office A Great job with “Operation Southern Bear!” From Page 9 Thank you for a successful move: expenses, eliminate unnecessary and costly derailments, work safely and continue to develop new sources of revenues TEAM OCR will be successful. Dennis Devon Malcolm Jerry Mike Bill Jon I thank each and everyone of Church Moore Dobie Kelly Downey Campbell McNeil you for your contributions in 2007 and look forward to bigger and better things in 2008. Finally, remember to make every day a safe one. Bernie Roy Serge Cyril George Vincent Seguin Murray Beauchamp Wolfe Brohart Mayhew

“IN BOX” Top Pick Marc-Andre Luc Larose Mike Gagnon Ritarose Subject: What’s This?

…and, special thanks to Lavern Brohart and Charles Anderson. Their Revenues in $ pictures are not available for inclusion Mathieu at this time. Houle

9,500,000 9,000,000 COPS CATCH 8,500,000 COPPER CLIPPER 8,000,000 An arrest was made in the Revenues in $ 2007A 2007B 2006A recent Florida copper caper. “why, it’s a Hill-Billy!” In mid January, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported No. of Cars deputies arrested David Weber, The Spareboard isi published by 46, saying he and an accomplice Ottawa Central Railway, 16,000 stole 8,000 feet of copper signal 3141 Albion Road South, Ottawa, ON 15,500 wire valued at US $53,000 from K1V 8Y3 15,000 CSX railroad property in Tampa, Phone: 613-260-9669 14,500 Florida. James Allen, General Manager 14,000 This is another in a recent 613-298-9391 13,500 string of copper thefts triggered Email: [email protected] 2007A No.2007B of Cars 2006A by the metal’s demand. Railroad Story ideas and/or general operators use copper wire to comments, transmit signals. Please contact: Dave Watts (St. Petersburg Times 080116)(RAC) Via email: [email protected]