VIA detectors around Ottawa?

[sen]

I've noticed when traveling between Toronto and Ottawa that you only hear detectors on the CN road frequency from Toronto up until somewhere between Kingston and Brockville (Kingston 137 is the last one).
Looking at the signs on the signal boxes past this point it looks like the track may be owned by VIA themselves, but it seems like there must still be at least one detector along that stretch of track though. Anyone know where the detectors might be broadcasting or if there even are any?

 

[troubleshooter1]

Brockville to Smiths Falls is the CP Brockville Subdivision, no detectors, but comms are on 161.535 MHz. Smiths Falls to Ottawa is the VIA Smiths Falls Subdivision, with VIA Detector 30 at Mile 30.14, Rosedale Rd. N. crossing, on 160.185 MHz. Ottawa to Coteau Junction (Les Coteaux) is mostly the VIA Alexandria Subdivision, also on 160.185 MHz., with VIA Detector 61 at Mile 61.68, Frank Kenny Rd. crossing, Vars, VIA Detector 41 at Mile 41.47, 8th Rd. crossing, Moose Creek, and VIA Detector 15 at Mile 15.51 in Glen Robertson. Then it's back onto the CN Kingstion Subdivision from Coteau to Montréal, with CN detectors on 161.415 MHz., the same as from Toronto to Brockville.

 

[sen]

That's awesome, thanks so much for the detailed information!

 

[troubleshooter1]

Forgot to mention, they also talk to their own "cabin crew" (if that's what they're called) on 160.200 MHz.

 

[troubleshooter1]

Update - VIA Detector 15 Relocated

The VIA Alexandria Sub Detector 15 formerly just East of Glen Robertson has been relocated 2.66 miles (4.28 Km.) West to 400 feet West of Rolland Massie Rd., at Mile 18.17 on the South side of the track, and is now referred to as Detector 18. Still on 160.185 MHz.

I notice that along with new signals, VIA has changed antennas on all three detectors on the Alexandria Sub from unity gain omnidirectional Sinclair SRL-201 ground planes to SRL-210C single folded dipoles, to provide 2.0 dBd of gain with a bidirectional pattern aligned with the track right-of-way.

 

[gary123]

VIA routes - Western Ontario

Anyone happen to have info for the VIA routes to the west like from Toronto to London/Sarnia?

 

[mikewazowski]

troubleshooter1 thanks for the very detailed info. Would you happen to have the same VIA info for the VIA routes to the west like from toronto to London/Sarnia?

Since VIA mainly uses CN trackage in those areas, you will probably find them on 161.415MHz.

 

[ve3tej]

Chatham to Windsor is not CN tracks, that would be the VIA line

 

[gary123]

I know they go through GEXR in the Guelph, New Hamburg, Stratford, Thorndale. I did hear a detector once out by Kitchener but was not really monitoring rail freqs at the time.

 

[troubleshooter1]

According to my 2017 edition of The Canadian Trackside Guide, p. 14-137, the VIA Rail Chatham Subdivision has one hot box detector, it's at Mile 69.8 on 160.965 MHz., AAR Channel 57. With the help of Google Maps satellite view and street view, I can see it is 350 ft. (0.1 Km.) east of County Road 7 (Merlin Rd.) on the south side of the track. This is at Prairie Siding, about 8 miles (13 Km.) west of Chatham.

Looks like London to Komoka is the CN Strathroy Subdivision, with a detector at Mile 7.2, Pulham Rd., Lobo Siding, then the CN Chatham Subdivision with a detector at Mile 35.1, Dogwood Rd., Newbury. As Mike suggested above, using CN trackage, they are on 161.415 MHz.