Sunday, March 8, 2009

FULL STEAM AHEAD ... THE "GOOD 'OL DAYS"

It was circa 1980 and the Ottawa - Wakefield steam train excursion was a tourist attraction. The train: 1201 A Canadian Pacific Railway, "Pacific" type steam engine 4-6-2 hauled its coal tender, baggage car and several vintage passenger cars from the Ottawa Science & Technology Museum in Ottawa through the capital city north to Wakefield, QC and return. The first photo is the 1201 train crossing the trestle over the Rideau River at Carleton University. (Notice the RED spot top rear engine boiler...the 1201's bell signalling an approach to a cross walk at Carleton). The scenic route travelled north via Hull and Chelsea, QC about an hour to its destination, the quaint village of Wakefield on the edge of the Gatineau River. The second photo at Wakefield shows No. 1201 clearing a switch and ready for a turn around and return trip to Ottawa.
The third and fourth photos are of Canadian National Railway's steam locomotive 6060. Built in 1944 it was one in a UI-F series of lighter and faster passenger locomotives that could reach 75 miles per hour. The 4-6-2 locomotive was painted in green, black and gold and was characterized by its side valances. It was nick named "Bullet-Nosed Betty" because of the shape of its boiler. These photos were taken circa 1972 during a time when it performed steam train excursions and were captured heading out of Montreal just west of Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC. Locomotive 6060 is now retired and on display in Jasper, Alta.














Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A FAVORITE HOBBY "TRAINS a la CHOO CHOO"




I recall at the age of Four I became intrigued with trains... My family (Mum, Dad, 2 sisters and me) lived close by to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Trans- Continental main line between Montreal and Vancouver. It also served as the local commuter run between Montreal and Rigaud. This would be in 1951, the year that "steam" locomotives were on their way out and the beginning of the new era of "Diesel". I would ride my tricycle across the road to a spot where I could watch the local trains pass by and it would be two years later when I could actually go down the escarpment (we called it "The Gully") to watch and wave track side as the trains chugged by. The second photo above was taken in 1966 and was "The Canadian" heading West from Montreal. At this point it was passing through Hudson, QC down in The Gully. The lead Diesel Number 1418 was a Unit A engine aided by a Unit B. Although diesel No. 1418 was retired in 1983, it is still in service in its restored state and on display in Medicine Hat, AB. I recall before Diesel "The Royal Hudson" picture Number one above, was the locomotive used for the cross Canada trips and the "Pacific" class for the local commuter runs. The first diesel engine I saw in 1954 was in the 1400 Series. The Locomotives in following photos are British and Canadian. The All Black Locomotive was the last freight engine built by Canadian National Railways (CNR). It was a Brute and configured 2-10-2. The green livery locomotive was the last Steam engine built in Britain (Class 9F) configured 2-10-0 and was named "Evening Star". It was a Freight locomotive but painted Green instead of Black. Green was reserved for passenger locos, but in honour of being the "Last Steamer", it got the "green livery" paint job. The name Evening Star was given as a result of a competition amongst staff at the Swindon Works where the loco was built. The maroon locomotive is a British Tank LMS (Class 4P) configured 2-6-4. The London, Midland & Scottish RR used this loco for suburban passenger service. It was fast and efficient. It did not have a "tender unit" because the Coal fuel and Water storage is an integral part of the locomotive itself.

















Sunday, March 1, 2009

MY PETS

To Kick Off March I thought pictures of my pets would offer a colourful and playfull beginning to Spring only 20 days away.