Geez it was 58 years ago this month. My my, time is relentless in it’s march.
Just after the scheduled 10:45 a.m. departure time, the Special is leaving Union Station with the Royal York Hotel in the background. Photo by Jim Walder, John Riddell Collection
John Street Tower controls all movements through the “Plant” of the Toronto Terminal Railway. Note the red dwarf or pot signals. Photo by Jim Walder, John Riddell Collection
(This trip was to be 815’s last fling as her boiler was condemned on her return). 2nd engine in a D-10 4-6-0. It was scrapped shortly after. 136 a 4-4-0 and 1057 another D-10 are still with us.
There is an official Canadian Government film (in black and white) of this trip, which includes an interview with Omer Lavallee and other passengers. It gives a pretty good idea of the trip.
I thought the pictures of the Triple Header just getting under way from Union Station were unique and gave a different perspective on things. The old get up and go, those 3 had to be working pretty good to 14 heavyweights and 1,100 on board through the maze at John St. And out onto the mainline. CPR of course had them all shine and polish, even fresh paint of white outlining the tyres, new cab curtains, the works.
Such a shame the 815, built 1908, was on her last hurrah. As previously mentioned her boiler was condemned upon the trips completion and she was very soon scrapped once her fire went out. Would have been 110 years old this year had she been saved. For many many years 815 was the yard engine in Peterborough and many came down from there to see her last performance.
136, even older, and 1057 still active at the South Simcoe Railway.
Man, I really miss steam in regular service, it was so exciting, powerful, alive and even comforting. Good good memories.
Lead engine of the triple header #136. Built 1883 and unbelievably still in regular service 1959. Here are some pics when it was just another engine and not yet famous.
136 long before it became famous. Ottawa 12/15/1936 Floyd Yates
136 in its last year of regular service. Norton, NB July 16, 1959 Joseph Testagrose Collection two photos.
Engineer Charlie Waters resting a while after coaling up for return train from Orangeville.
136_815 doubleheading the day before tripleheader on short trip within terminal. Union Station to Cooksville, ON
Saturday, April 30, 1960. Bud Laws Collection
Note engineer Jack Eaton watching for wheel slip something light engines are prone to do when starting. R.L.Kennedy standing in gangway. ENLARGE
Fixed the build date to 1883, not 1886 which was sister 144.
That makes it 136 years old now, same as its number!
Has retained #136 since 1912. Previous 115 and 140.
It was used and served in building the Transcontinetal railroad.
In regular everyday service 1883-1960.
How many boiler washes? How many tire changes? How many headlight bulb changes? How many warm washes ( more than me!). Well cared for by the CPR… high standards and pride. How much did she earn for the CPR all those years? How much freight, how many people did it move?
One can estimate I suppose but only the universe really knows.
The train has stopped ’ For Lunch ’ @ Decarie Blvd and the passengers have disembarked and walked to one of the local eateries ( Ruby Foos?? ) once at that location.
The bridge above was for Montreal Tramways so their cars could cross CPR without risk or delay.
In this photo on the two poles to left, the short ’ Crossarms ’ parallel to wires above and below are to protect Cable immediately beneath from Climbing Spurs of Linesmen climbing and descending pole.
The two wood strips athwart the rails beneath the Anticlimber are a trigger which, when tripped by an object or person on track allows a hinged curved wood lath scoop beneath front platform to drop to rails and catch object before injury or derailment.
The scoop would be triggered by deep snow and the Motorman had a pedal he stepped on to return it to normal position.
Thanks again NDG. Great history and explanations about equipment and operations. It’s important for younger and future generations. We all need to know how it was, how it worked and how we got to were we are today. The best way is first hand on the ground observations from someone like yourself that was part of it, was there and knows. Invaluable.
