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.

















9 comments:

Jo said...

I would love to see that "famous" photo of Grandpa (your Dad) waiting for the arriving train in Hudson...
that is a classic!

SCOTTGUV said...

I am trying to locate it

french*wallpaper by Kate LaRue said...

Great story. You should take the train from Hudson to wherever one day and do a photo series along the way... it would be great for the blog!

SCOTTGUV said...

I have crossed Canada return 8 times, 6 by train, must find pics.

french*wallpaper by Kate LaRue said...

YES! You could edit it down to about 10 or so, and make it a "Canadian Railways through the eyes of a train enthusiast"

french*wallpaper by Kate LaRue said...

Oooo... love the second image from the top... so vintage looking!

Lin said...

Gack! You missed the steam locomotive passing through Hudson on the way to some Mickey Rooney movie set! I stood down by the tracks behind the Chateau and took tons of photos that day ... and later found out that the film had not engaged with the sprocket. That one incident alone determined love's final with the old Canon.

SCOTTGUV said...

That would be enuff to piss the good humor man off. i do have other pics of steam locos which i'll post.

Unknown said...

I admire your love of trains I did the same in Liverpool
as young boy too.
I remember my first overnight ride in Canada was Montreal to Toronto arriving in TO on a Sunday
could not get a beer for dinner.