2001 was another busy year for ONR.  Some highlights included Politicians and Unions preparing to battle the Ontario Government's plans of selling the ONTC to the private sector which included a special train running from Hearst to Queen's Park called the "Survival Express". Ontario Northland paints up their first 1600 series GP9 in the new 'futuristic' O.N. Rail paint with the honors being given to a newly rebuilt 1603. 414 derails at Cochrane Shops resulting in the relocation of the Shops' "Runaround" further away from the main building. And everyone in Cochrane pulls together to give a newly founded group of Railfans called the Ontario Northland Railway Historical & Technical Society a great day long itinerary for the society's first ever Convention.