Bayview Junction
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Bayview Junction is a major railway junction in southern Canada. It is located at the intersection of three of the nation's busiest rail lines and is a popular location for railfanning.
Located in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario, this wye junction draws its name from the view of Burlington Bay (Hamilton Harbour) to the east. Bayview Junction is located on the boundary of the cities of Burlington and Hamilton. The railway lines bisect the property of the Royal Botanical Gardens, providing a picturesque setting.
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[edit] Rail Lines
Bayview Junction was determined by geography, with railway lines running along the level ground parallel to the northern shore of Lake Ontario increasingly constrained by the Niagara Escarpment as they approach the western end of the lake.
There are three major railway lines operated by the Canadian National Railway which intersect at Bayview:
[edit] CN Oakville Subdivision
The double-track Oakville Subdivision runs from Bayview east to Union Station in downtown Toronto, passing through the town of Oakville. It runs parallel to the lakeshore and is currently being expanded to three tracks, effective 2007.
[edit] CN Dundas Subdivision
The double-track Dundas Subdivision runs from Bayview west to London, passing through the town of Dundas, immediately west of Bayview, as it climbs up the Niagara Escarpment.
[edit] CN Grimsby Subdivision
The double-track Grimsby Subdivision runs from Bayview south to Fort Erie, passing through Hamilton.
In addition to the CN lines intersecting at Bayview Junction, the Canadian Pacific Railway has a line which crosses over the CN lines on a grade-separated overpass. The CP Hamilton Subdivision, running from Hamilton to Guelph intersects with the CN Grimsby Subdivision immediately east of Bayview at Hamilton Junction.
[edit] Train Operations
The CN Dundas Subdivision and CN Oakville Subdivision constitute CN's main line running from Chicago, Illinois to Toronto, wheras the CN Grimsby Subdivision provides CN with access to United States railways in Buffalo, New York, thus making it a busy junction for freight traffic.
The population growth in the Greater Toronto Area has resulted since 1967 in the establishment of GO Transit commuter rail service on the Grimsby and Oakville Subdivisions. Additionally, VIA Rail Canada provides intercity passenger rail services on all three CN lines.
The CP Hamilton Subdivision links the important industrial city of Hamilton and U.S. railway interchange traffic further south in Buffalo with the railway's mainline from Detroit, Michigan to Toronto at Guelph Junction. This line carries exclusively freight traffic and is not as heavily used as the CN lines.
Daily traffic density can vary, however upward of 45 freight trains and 30-40 passenger trains per day can pass through Bayview Junction on both the CN and CP tracks.
[edit] Train Numbers
Direction: CN Dundas Subdivision to CN Oakville Subdivision (West leg to East leg):
- 144 (Triple Crown)
- 148 (Intermodal)
- 276 (Occasional Empty Autoracks)
- 382 (Mixed and Intermodal)
- 384 (Mixed and Intermodal)
- 390, 392, 394, 396, 398 (Mixed)
- 410 (Mixed from Sarnia)
- 434 (Mixed from Windsor)
- VIA 70, 72, 76, 78, 82 (Passenger)
Direction: CN Dundas Subdivision to CN Grimsby Subdivision (West leg to South leg):
- 330 (Mixed Freight for Sarnia)
- NS 328 (Autopart empties from Talbotville Ford)
- SOR 598 (Steel coil empties from Nanticoke)
Direction: CN Grimsby Subdivision to CN Oakville Subdivision (South leg to East leg):
- 332 (Empty Autoracks)
- 338 (Empty Autoracks and Mixed)
- 422 (Mixed from Part Robinson)
- VIA 94, 96 (Passenger)
- VIA 98 (Passenger - Amtrak equipment)
Direction: CN Oakville Subdivision to CN Dundas Subdivision (East leg to West leg):
- 145 (Triple Crown) (Called 147 on Fridays)
- 149 (Intermodal)
- 271, 275 (Autoracks)
- 383 (Mixed and Intermodal)
- 385, 387 (Mixed)
- 391, 393, 397, 399 (Mixed)
- 411 (Mixed for Sarnia)
- 435 (Mixed for Windsor)
- VIA 71, 73, 75, 79, 83 (Passenger)
Direction: CN Grimsby Subdivision to CN Dundas Subdivision (South leg to West leg):
- 331 (Mixed)
- NS 327 (Autopart loads for Talbotville Ford)
- SOR 599 (Steel coil loads for Nanticoke)
Direction: CN Oakville Subdivision to CN Grimsby Subdivision (East leg to South leg):
- 333 (Autoracks) (return trip on the same number)
- 339 (Mixed)
- 421 (Mixed)
- VIA 93, 95 (Passenger)
- VIA 97 (Passenger - Amtrak equipment)
Some daily local jobs, several GO commuter trains, and some CP freight trains frequent the Oakville to Grimsby sub side of Bayview Junction as well.
NS trains are Norfolk Southern Railway trains operated under historic running rights agreements stemming from the CaSo Subdivision.
SOR trains indicate Southern Ontario Railway, a shortline that operates in Hamilton and out of Brantford, using running rights on CN Dundas Subdivision and CN Grimsby Subdivision to travel between the two locations.
Source: Canadian Trackside Guide 2005
[edit] Railfanning
Several locations in and around the Royal Botanical Gardens provide viewing of the railway lines.
- A pedestrian bridge crosses the CN Oakville Subdivision immediately east of the junction. It is located in the Laking Gardens section of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
- A location near a parking lot adjacent to the gardens allows one to view CP Hamilton West, provides a view of the CP Hamilton Subdivision.
- A location partway down the pedestrian staircase on the Hamilton side of the York St. high level bridge permits viewing of GO Transit commuter trains and CP yard trains crossing the Desjardins Canal, as well as a daily Amtrak train to New York City, as well as NS, SOR, and CN trains.
