London (CN/CP Junction) – London, Ontario, Canada | Train Spotting Location

Wedged just east of downtown London, Ontario, the diamond where Canadian National’s Dundas Subdivision intersects Canadian Pacific’s Windsor Subdivision—known colloquially as “London CN/CP Junction”—offers railfans a front-row seat to two transcontinental main lines sharing a single slice of trackside real estate. The result is a steady parade of freight consists, intercity passenger trains, and the unmistakable clang of wheels over the diamond, all within easy walking distance of public sidewalks and city streets.

🛤️ The Trainspotting Experience

A typical visit delivers the sensory rush most railfans crave. From the public sidewalk along Adelaide Street North or the quieter verge of Florence Street, you are no more than 25 m from the diamond. The crossing bells warn of approaching movements long before the locomotives appear, giving photographers time to set up. Trains on the CN Dundas Sub arrive on a gentle east–west curve, throttling up as they leave London Yard to the west or descend toward the Thames River bridge to the east. CP’s Windsor Sub sneaks in from the southwest, often sounding its horn as it clears nearby road crossings, then pounds straight across the diamond. Expect ground-shaking rumble, metallic screech, and a short but impressive shower of sparks after dark as flanges bite the frogs.

🌄 Landscape, Setting and Local Atmosphere

The site sits on level urban terrain roughly 260 m above sea level. Vegetation is a mix of mowed grass easements, trackside shrubs, and a scatter of mature maples lining adjacent residential streets. Behind the tracks, light-industrial brick warehouses and the historic Kellogg’s cereal plant form a gritty yet photogenic backdrop. Skies are often open, giving clear sight lines, though prevailing south-westerlies can kick up diesel exhaust plumes on humid summer afternoons. Autumn delivers colourful foliage along the Thames valley just a few blocks away, while winter brings dramatic shots of snow swirling around locomotives at the crossing.

🚂 Type and Frequency of Train Activity

• Canadian National: approximately 18–22 movements per 24 hours, a mix of intermodal, autorack, manifest freight, and up to 10 daily VIA Rail Corridor passenger trains running between Toronto, London, and Windsor.
• Canadian Pacific: generally 8–12 daily freights, dominated by mixed manifests and ethanol/energy service headed for the Detroit River tunnel.
Train lengths routinely top 9,000 ft on CN and 7,000 ft on CP, with motive power ranging from GE ES44ACs and ET44ACs to EMD SD70 variants. VIA sets usually appear as sleek Siemens Charger-powered trainsets or classic F40PH-2 locomotives hauling stainless-steel LRC coaches. Typical track speed through the junction is limited to 30 mph, slow enough for detailed observation yet brisk enough to keep meets exciting.

📸 Best Angles for Photos and What Railfans Enjoy Most

1. West Sidewalk, Adelaide Street: Slight elevation from the curb gives an unobstructed ¾ roster angle of CN eastbounds with industrial buildings in the background.
2. Southeast Corner, Florence Street: Ideal for head-on CP westbounds; late-afternoon sun backlights the nose and throws long shadows across the rail.
3. Dawn and Blue Hour: Early light from the east silhouettes VIA sets gliding over the diamond, while evening twilight highlights spark showers under heavy freights.
4. Safe Telephoto: A 200 mm lens from the legal setback lines captures dramatic compression of opposing trains when CN and CP movements meet on the frog.
   Railfans praise the location for the audible “bang-clank” each axle makes on the diamond—distinctly different from a standard jointed rail sound and a coveted audio clip for videographers.

🕰️ Historical or Cultural Relevance

The crossing dates back to the late 19th century when the Great Western Railway (later absorbed by Grand Trunk, now CN) intersected the Credit Valley Railway (now CP). The diamond facilitated interchange traffic that helped London become a regional manufacturing hub. Remnants of semaphore base plates and a retired interchange track bed on the northwest quadrant testify to the junction’s heritage. Nearby Kellogg’s factory whistles, once synchronized to shift changes, provided a secondary soundtrack for generations of local train watchers.

🧭 What Makes This Spot Different from Others

While many Ontario diamonds sit in rural isolation, London CN/CP Junction combines urban accessibility with two high-capacity mains. The rare ability to witness passenger and heavy freight traffic from competing Class I railways in the same frame—minus the need for private property access—sets it apart. Add the dramatic acoustics of steel on steel at the frog and the juxtaposition of heritage brick industry against modern wide-cab power, and the junction earns a must-visit status on any Southwestern Ontario railfan itinerary.

📚 Additional Resources

Canadian National Railway – Network Map
Canadian Pacific Kansas City – Rail Operations
London & Middlesex Heritage Museum – Railway Collection