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Sarnia and Goderich Railroad

UPDATE 5/11/2021: I managed to update broken shapes and missing details, removed the history stands so it can be a conventional layout. Nothing more! Enjoy the patched update.


UPDATE 5/15/2021: Added crossing detectors, fixed some small terrain bugs, all that.




The Sarnia and Goderich Railroad is a Class III railroad based in Sarnia, Ontario that was formed in 1912, and later re-opening in 1993. The railroad is well-known for its passenger services to bring people to the Lambton Shores and the famous “Grand Bend”. Aside from the passenger service, the line does see freight traffic in light numbers, specifically goods, foods, plastic, plastic, and some oil. It interchanges with 3 railroads, those being the Canadian National Railway, the Chicago Indiana and Southern Ontario, and the Goderich and Exeter Railway.



HISTORY:


In 1908, the town of Sarnia proposed a railroad line that would run alongside Lake Ontario to the town of Goderich, where it would connect with the GTR branch, which could also supply passengers and freight to the trackside towns. In 1909, the line began construction from Sarnia’s GTW yard, and continuing thru, and finishing in 1912, when the new line was finished, but instead of the GTR running the line, it was decided to form a new railroad to work the line (Although it would result in worries of CNR taking the line in the future in 1955).

The first train left Highland Glen Station to Goderich, then to Sarnia the other way with the sole locomotive taking charge. However, with passenger traffic exceeding expectations, it was decided to purchase 2 more locomotives to ease with the traffic. A small branch was built towards Corbett for possible industry expansion, which sparked some customers being based on the branch.

By the 1930’s, North America was in the Great Depression, and freight traffic slowly dropped, with some customers leaving the branch, and to make things worse, a new highway was being built alongside, which would plague the railroad in later years. Freight traffic still dwindled until the start of World War II, where wartime freight traffic was beginning. The S&G was in-charge of hauling troop trains of more then 12 coaches, often times handing to lease coaches and 2 locomotives of CNR. By the end of the war, things were winding down, with the railroad returning to normal and a small rise in passenger traffic.

Even with the small rise of passenger traffic after the war, it wasn’t long until traffic declined drastically due to the automobile’s existence being more prominent in North America. Because of this, passenger traffic dropped, with passenger trains going from 4 coaches to 1-2 coaches, usually consisting of air. Freight traffic wasn’t any better, with customers leaving, and freight trains being shorter with trucks taking the loads. The S&G was struggling financially, with the lack of traffic and slowly going in debt. In 1952, they began liquidating assets, by selling there first locomotive, closing the Corbett Branch, abandoning the portion from Grand Bend to Goderich, and selling a few of there coaches. They kept there 4-6-0 incase of a rise of passenger traffic that would never come. In 1964, it was decided to close the railroad for good, with the last train leaving Highland Glen on October 5th 1965, and 2 weeks later, beginning of the line being torn up, with the aid of a CN SW1200 taking the Track Removal Train on the line. By the Winter of 1965, the Sarnia and Goderich was abandoned, with the only reminants of the line being the Highland Yard’s turntable with the lines neglected 4-6-0 and station platform being the only signs of a railroad present.

In 1989, the Government of Sarnia proposed to revive the line for a possible tourist railroad and future freight service at a cost for 110 million dollars, and a locomotive from CN on the line. Reconstruction began in 1990, and finally completed in 1993, with SW1200 8, taking the first train from Sarnia to Goderich, which was re-established with a interchange with the Goderich and Exeter Railroad. In 1995, the S&G was offered 4 locomotives from the Fox River Valley Railroad for a bargain price of 85 million dollars. All were acquired, and soon refurbrished 3 months later.

In 1998, it was decided to rebuild its lost locomotive 4-6-0 3, where it would be used for passenger excursions in the Summer Season, and for photo charters. By 2004, with the passenger traffic exceeding again, it was decided to do a “mega-move” and acquire a Chinese Railways SY Class that was recently retired from service. The reason was because the railroad’s CEO was on vacation to China in 2003, when he stumbled upon a SY Class Mikado at a steelworks, and he expressed interest on acquiring the locomotive, and thus in 2006, the Mikado was purchased and rebuilt by the Fort Wayne Historical Society, entering in service in 2009. Freight traffic maintained well when the line was revitalized with a handful of industries keeping the railroad afloat, and passenger traffic would rise again, specifically during the summer season when the beaches were open.

In recent times, passenger traffic began dropping for reasons we all know in 2020, and freight traffic being affected from the various recessions over the years. In January 2021, discussion rised with the threat of the S&G possibly being closed by 2023, but this is yet to be confirmed. At the time of this writing, the S&G has an uncertain future, but still manages to keep itself above the water, despite the struggles.



LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER:


#1, Baldwin 2-6-2: Built 1912, Retired 1952, currently owned by Mid-Continent Railroad Museum
#2, Baldwin 2-8-0: Built 1918, Retired 1965, on static display in Grand Rapids, MI
#3, MLW 4-6-0: Built 1918, Retired 1956, nicknamed “M. Taylor”, currently under overhaul
#4, Chinese Railway SY: Built 1995, arrived 2005, undergoing steam tests for Summer Season 2021
#5, EMD GP7: “K. Shibuya” (Ex FRVR 4514), received name in 2008
#6, EMD GP30: “K. Tang” (Ex FRVR 814), currently stored after crossing accident
#7, EMD GP35: “S. Heanna” (Ex FRVR 846),
#8, GMD SW1200RM: “C. Arashi” (Ex CN 7025), first diesel to arrive
#9, EMD SD24: “R. Hazuki” (Ex FRVR 2401)


They also own a MT14 Speeder, a dead RDC, a CN GP9RM, and a former CP GP38-2 for spare parts.