Great stuff, like always. Insights into the past are always appreciated!
Glad to see you made it through the operation. Get lots of rest, you deserve it.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
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.
The first train I rode on in the Forties was behind CNR Electrics which then changed to Steam @ Val Royal. ( And the steam heat came on. )
NDG-- What a beauty. Outstanding! Thanks
Stops en route for WATER and or Coal would cause much delay, stopping and spotting.
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.
Miningman 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
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 is really cool.
Definitely not something that any other transportation vehicle could mimic; such stunning visual impact! Thank you for posting, Vince!
Jones 3D Modeling Club https://www.youtube.com/Jones3DModelingClub
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
136 likely taken at Angus when outshopped in 1914 with new superheated boiler and piston cylinders.
Steve Morris Collection
A2q 144 on the shop track at Norton all painted up. 29 behind being worked on and 136 at left in steam. 6/14/1958 Ken MacDonald/Joseph Testagrose Collection
A2q 144 CPR New Street Shops 1030 March 1886Mixed train near Chipman, NB October 2, 1957 Joseph Testagrose Collection
I really like this picture of sister engine 144 ( now preserved at Exporail)
Something like this would still work as a service between mid size rural towns today!
Very nice Dude...thanks.
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.
More photos:
http://railpictures.ca/author/R.L.Kennedy
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28312
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=29186
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.
Peter
(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.
For the complete picture layout click here.
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