CN's Symington Yard, Part 1

CN's Symington yard in Winnipeg receives trains from Rivers Sub to the west, Sprague Sub to the east, and Redditt Sub to the south-east. A modern gravity classification (hump) yard completed in 1962, this major yard was named for the Honourable H.J. Symington, a former director of CNR for over 20 years. Symington's formidable size and modern layout replaced three older, smaller classification yards: Transcona, Fort Rouge and East Yards, as CN's centre of operations in Winnipeg.
Comprising 156 tracks, of which 62 were classification tracks, with a total length of 108 miles and standing capacity of 7,000 cars, Symington could handle 6,000 cars per day over 337 switches beneath 900 flood lights illuminationg 275 acres, the equivalent of 220 football fields. Employees numbered 700, some of whom worked in the 22-track diesel shop and the 24-car indoor car shop. In 1984, SD40's 5194-5051 frame 'C' Tower (top) and more than 14 units, including a VIA F-unit congregate at the west end of the diesel shop (below):
A 1978 visit to Symington revealed lots of 40-foot boxcars heading up the hump, pushed by yard switchers before descending the hump and being sent to the appropriate track while being slowed by the retarders. "CN SYMINGTON YARD SPEEDS YOUR FREIGHT", exhorts a large billboard visible from the Trans-Canada Highway:
Hump power sets were the workhorses of Symington, readily visible near the highway overpass. CN converted 200-series GP38-2m from 5536-5551, and 260-282 series HBU-4 hump units were built new by GMDL in 1978-1980. A hump set with 211-263-262-212 work an evening shift on August 28/79. Spot the photographer using his trusty Kodak Hawkeye, courtesy of the setting prairie sun:

On June 12, 1982 the same set trundles by as light engines, and 209-261-260-214 head up the hump lead:

Wearing stripes, 212 heads into the east receiving yard as a cut of freshly-painted woodchip cars, covered hoppers, and a caboose, likely from Transcona Shops nears the hump crest:

A visit to Symington always revealed interesting cars being humped. Shiny mechanical reefer CN 235242 and one-of-a-kind billboard car CN 283032 in 1979:

In 1984, lumber, poles and covered hoppers are a-humpin' as CN grain boxcars 428752-428762-424774-427271-427058-425345 wait in the foreground:

In June 1984, SD40's 5189-5193 lead a grain train east out of Symington. While CP was still doubling long trains over onto two tracks at their Winnipeg Yard, CN's much newer Symington allowed greater fluidity and efficiency that was a pleasure for a visiting eastern railfan to watch.

In Part 2 - read more about Symington operations.