THE OBRY DIAMOND IS GONE

One of the Halton subs iconic spots is now in the history books
Credit for all photos used go to their respective photographers.
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[@tomasjakovac7950]

The fact that the province could have bought the OBRY and preserved the line for future passenger service but instead chose to let it rot away is criminal

[@GamingRailfanner]

The province is unironically focused on building highways *AHEM* Highway 413

[@stephenjones8928]

I agree whole heartedly. I also thought that would be the future of the line from Streetsville. I thought that I had read that the CPR had sold the rail line but not the right-of-way so that one day they could sell it to GO Transit originally and now its master Metrolinx.

[@TheWinnipegRailfan]

Sad to see this iconic line go. I remember that one vid of a train breaking a knuckle right over the diamond.
Fun fact: OBRY 1000, one of their GP9s was in storage here, haven't seen it since 2019, so it was most likely scrapped sadly.

[@NscalefromOntario]

@@TheWinnipegRailfan reported scrapped late in 2021

[@stevebalmer1672]

I remember before the OWLS diamond was installed and was there for the first Orangeville train to cross. A true sad time. Thanks for posting.

[@Rickybnsf]

This always seemed to be a good spot for if I ever went railfanning in Toronto (Although we do have a lot of diamonds in Chicago). This hurts just as much as when CSX tore up the diamonds in Baldwin, FL.

[@NscalefromOntario]

Awesome video man, absolutely perfect narration and summary of the history of this historic location and the historic OBRY branch line! Been meaning to do a film myself of the Diamond now gone but ya beat me too it 😆. Think I’ll still post a lil something tho, did a film of the entire line through Brampton in May which I’m still meaning to get my lazy arse around to editing up & posting

[@HeyItsMeGoku785]

R.I.P to the OBRY Diamond. Also average CN moment

[@DiamondMaster20]

I'll sure miss the sounds of trains pounding the diamond. Sucks to see it go.

[@trainsofmichiganproduction5418]

Most likely a cost saving move even if a third track or track maintenance it all happens but who knows it could come back if a big business comes onto the area

[@Debz.W]

That’s sad 😔. I remember taking the GO train from Bramalea to downtown way back and that diamond always fascinated me.

[@TheGs4_4449]

"Oh my God! They killed the O.B.R.Y. Diamond!" "YOU BASTARDS!!!"

[@dragondancer1814]

“Shenanigans! SHENANIGANS!!!!”

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Sucks to see that diamond go. Though it does give me a better appreciation for the diamond in Fort Collins. Still, it sucks that the Brampton diamond is gone, and it's a good thing you got the sound of the diamond while you could, you never know when one day, it could all be gone.

[@EricArmstrong-vo6dp]

Diamonds require a lot of time and money to maintain.

[@thomasklimchuk441]

@EricArmstrong-vo6dp At one point the diamond went from 50 mph down to 35 mph then the diamond was rebuilt and the speed for freight was 50 mph back in 2013 when I retired

[@hanssamson5436]

Wow that was quick how they remove it but pretty sad

[@True_NOON]

-It wasnt used from the shortline
-it was a speed restriction
-a 3rd track wouldve needed a costly replacement and reengineering of the diamond to a 3/1 aswell as use up Railjoints
I think it just went under as it wasnt needed , drew negative and was in the way of an expansion(atleast in 1:1)

[@GamingRailfanner]

The speed restriction was only in palce due to the VIA incident. As for the expansion, still nothing has happened and the plan has been out for years (I should've mentioned the plan was a thing for years but no action has taken place).
Notably this spot (and another iconic spot) being altered pretty much removes a good spot and thus many probably wont venture to this part of the subdivision.

[@mattjones366]

@@GamingRailfanner at most any VIA thing would have accelerated the removal of the diamond, as soon as OBRY shut down the diamond was going to be removed as it was an unnecessary maintenance expense (and ground water issues in the area made it more expensive than average)
The City of Brampton is/was currently having a bidding process for the evaluation and design to turn the former OBRY railbed into a railtrail (tender could be found on the cities website)
Metrolinx just acquired land west of Mount Pleasant to put in a flyover to remove the conflicts of CN freights crossing over north/south. Thus progress continues on upgrading the line for better more frequent passenger service and at some point that will include Metrolinx paying CN to add a 3rd track through that small section of double track.

[@taveshdeonandan9079]

How many times does the local cn trains ride through Brampton

[@Aviation494]

NOOOooooooooooo😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@SalmanMentos]

They removed it crazy fast

[@drewpatterson8261]

What's the situation with the Doncaster diamond? That's pretty much the only diamond left on CN's mainline within the GTA. Would CN be willing to work with Metrolinx to remove that diamond? Tunnel the RH line underneath the York sub. Would it lead to any service improvements on the Richmond Hill line? I know the Bala sub is also part of CN's mainline.

[@GamingRailfanner]

Likely not as detours and other stuff happens, besides as of now the Richmond Hill line doesn't have enough service to justify a grade separation.
Im not saying its a 0% chance of change, its just very unlikely.

[@drewpatterson8261]

@@GamingRailfanner The diamond is part of the reason why service on the RH line is so bad.

[@johnsmart964]

Silence is golden, but not in this case!

[@theyeeter95]

class 1's ruining historic landmarks not surprising at all.

[@the_toronto_vehicle_fan]

NOOOOOOOO

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

so sad 😥

[@the_atsf_railfan2926]

CN just sure hates everything. Gets more and more boring every year, they don't even want to update there decades old paint scheme either

[@Joe-d7m6k]

@@the_atsf_railfan2926 The CN paint scheme is the LEAST of their problems.