These photos come from long time reader, and local film maker & railfan Tim Swaddling, who sent along these photos shot by his father Bob in 1984.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
The first couple of shots show a view east along the waterfront rail yards. Note the four story red brick warehouse at McDougall & Riverside. That was the Ferry Seed Warehouse, it was demolished for the Casino project. More on that building at a later date…
Photo © Bob Swaddling
Goyeau & Riverside.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
A nice view showing a ferry in the old slip. The Spirit of Windsor is kind of hidden in the shadows to the right of the end of the parking lot along the river.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
The note Tim sent along date these photos to June 4, 1984, as part of a special excursion that started at the old Michigan Central Station at Tecumseh & Crawford and ran through to St. Thomas. As Tim points out, especially following this post, this might have been the last time passengers were picked up at that station.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
Bob Swaddling started the trip in the C & O Oak Yard in Michigan, and rode through the rail tunnel to the Windsor starting point. Here’s a view of the Detroit Michigan Central Station when it was still in operation. All of these platforms are no longer in existence.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
The tour passed the old Kingsville Station, which was then in its unrestored state.
Photo © Bob Swaddling
Our tour ends in Leamington, where our photographer had to disembark due to prior commitments, a glimpse of the former Leamington station can be seen on the left. Tim points out this is the site of the new Town Hall, which sits on top of the old rail Right of Way.
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What?!?!? Action hobbies has the SPV atlas?!?! Eff! I woulda bought that in a heartbeat instead of my "how to" model railway books!
Another shamelss promotion, for anyone interested......the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, to which I am a part of, is always looking for volenteers to help out on projects! We are the ones who maintain ol' 5588, and we're also restoring ex-Essex Terminal Railway 101(1941 Alco S1)not running, 103(1952 Alco S3)running, and another S3 from the 50's...unknown road history, running. They're all owned by Don Hearn out at the ol Lasalle Packing place in Amherstburg. We also have a streamlined, 1953 Canadian Pacific baggage/express car #4769, that was donated by CPR to our group. She's in great shape but needs some TLC after being converted into a tool car for the work gangs. Came down from Montreal in January.
Here she is:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2369357
If anyone is interested....mechanical know-how not required.....let me know!
Tim - do these atlas' contain even things like sidings/spurs/companies served etc...for the ETR?
Yes - SPV Atlas books are in stock, although the Ontario one sold this morning (InternationalMetropolis reader? perhaps!) and is now on re-order. Yes, the SPV Atlases do contain sidings/spurs - some list on the companies served. And yes, that includes the ETR and the Hearns siding is listed. Windsor/Detroit is covered in the Great Lakes East book as well, though there is only a detailed view of the Detroit River area (Windsor - Amherstburg region) and not so much the County in that book.
Make that 2 ordered. :) I had to order one, I've always been a rail fan since I can remember! Would be very interesting to know which tracks went where, and which companies at the time were being served by rail. Thanks!
Aaron, I'm very interested in joining SOLRS. Please contact me at xjr9lm@hotmail.com. And Tim thanks for bringing back great memories, I spent alot of time at the CN riverfront yard as a youngster and enjoyed every minute. Of the two tugs that pushed and pulled those barges, the R.G. Cassidy now sails under the name French River and works in Turks & Caicos Islands. The F.A. Johnson sits engineless beached on the banks of the Kam River in Thunder Bay, its engine was used in one of the Detroit fireboats.
old skool there is a ton of railroad history in this part of the country but the city doesn't give a dam about it ...thats the problem
the city dosen't give a dam about it, WHO DO YOU MEAN? The mayor, council the population?
richard the mayor and council don't care about itthey keep talking about this mueseum they want to build someday but theirs never any mention of railroad history it's too dam bad we don;t have one train station from long ago left in the city that would make a perfect veniue for it
The Mayor and council where all elected by good margins last fall, (except Ron Jones) sew the voters must like what they elected.
If you look at the two restored, and one planned for restoration in the county you will find people got together to do it, no elected officials did it.If you feel strongly about a railway mueseum get some people to present a plan to the city, they have over a million dollars left to them a few years ago.
Some time if you want something you have to go after it.
about 5 years ago i was working at green giant in Tecumseh every morning about 300am a CP container train raneastbound thru Tecumseh for about 2 weeks i wonder if they had track problems on the cp farther east and Cn gave them running rights for that time
The second picture down, looks like it was taken from the CIBC Building looking down at the Papa Chene's building. Is that right? But next to it is not the apartment building that is there today. When was that built?