Interesting tidbit from the interweb -

"Many do not know the Quarry here is natural and was once a working limestone mining Quarry. In 1917 the Quarry ceased operations (Empire Limestone Co.) during World War 1 and it quickly filled up with water due to the natural springs at the bottom. Majority of the original equipment, 3 miles of rails, 20+ rail cars, the original pumphouse, etc still sit at the almost 50' bottom. Divers from far and wide come to discover its beauty. Best time to dive is in the spring or late fall because visibility is clearest at these times."

I'm thinking that you could run some interesting excursions down there. What type of locomotives can operate underwater?

Off hand, I'd say a GE "U boat."

Or a Septic tank locomotive.

Come on people, it's a quarry, It's gotta be with that NYC Hudson that's lurking down there.

The Island of Sodor after the polar ice caps melted.

Many features can be seen from Google Maps:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sherkston,+Port+Colborne,+ON+L0S+1R0,+Canada/@42.8708317,-79.134386,578m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89d3384c78782e83:0x5b9844755c164921!8m2!3d42.887737!4d-79.134514

Include the pump house, train cars and many trucks. Looks to me that many things would be easy to see on a clear day just snorkeling on the surface.

Bob

That's cool! But where are the old automobiles? I never saw a saw a quarry without a bunch of rusted old cars that had been dumped.

I'm surprised that you arent aware that PRR 0-6-0's were all apparently designed with underwater quarry operations in mind when drawn up by the engineers. That's why you can find one in PA all set to be brought up and made operational.

Perhaps this should be presented to "The Shark Tank" as an investment that'll reap in millions of dollars! After all, they could "pool" their resources.

Empire Limestone had 3 Vulcan locos.

514 10/1903 0-4-0T 42” 8x14 30” 27100#
Piedmont Mining Co #1, Lonaconing,Md
Seneca Coal & Coke
Empire Limestone

536 8/1904 0-4-0T 36” 10x14 30” 28000#
Empire Limestone Co #5, Sherkston, Ontario, Canada
International Nickle, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
Stan Gorman, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Rebuilt as a 2-4-2 by S Gorman
Minnie Thompson Museum
L Foreman, St Marys, Ontario, Canada

806 3/1906 0-4-0T 36” 10x14 30” 28000#
Empire Limestone Co #6, Sherkston, Ontario, Canada

You can see the known roster here: http://churcher.crcml.org/industrials/Ontario.pdf

The fish must hate it when the whistle accidentally blows!

Someone should produce a documentary about that. It's unique.

I just looked at a couple of YouTube videos from dives on the locomotives. It's interesting to see that they are covered in zebra mussels, a non-native species that has infested the Great Lakes after being carried in via the ballast water of ocean-going ships. The quarry is quite close to the shore of Lake Erie, but it doesn't seem to be connected. Of course, limestone being quite porous, I imagine there are underground passages that allowed the lake water - and the mussels - to get into the quarry.

Yes, almost certainly. And that would be the springs they described.