While today’s photo isn’t either Windsor or Detroit, I thought that many of this Blog’s readers might find it interesting. The first two photos came my way from regular reader Douglasm, who sent along the following information:
A friend of mine sent this to me. In the 1960’s, the Michigan Railroad Club ran excursions all over southeastern Ontario using CN 6167 and CN 6218, and on the GTW in southeastern Michigan using Dick Jensen’s ex-GTW 4-6-2 #5629, the aforementioned 6218 and ex Reading 4-8-4 2124. Alas, in my many moves over the past 40 years most of my pictures have been lost, but this brings back memories. I was on this 1963 trip.
The photos are from Watford, which if you’re unfamiliar with the area is about 15-20 minutes east of Sarnia along the 402 Highway.
This was the view of the Watford Station in May of 1963. This photo was taken by Jackson, MI resident Doug Leffler.
A follow up shot was taken by Lapeer, MI resident Charlie Whipp in 1982.
So the question came down the pipe, does anyone have a current view? Above is a recent shot from the same vantage point. Sadly everything from the station to the Grain Elevator has been lost since 1982. Interesting snapshots in time, none the less.
Thanks to Doug, Charlie and DouglasM for the photos, and permission to post them.
We now return to your regular scheduled photos…
Very cool.
Shows how old I am. The Michigan Railroad Club, under the leadership of Art Weber at the time, and with the help of the Canadian National, which kept a couple of steamers active for excursion service, ran trips all over southeastern Ontario in the early and mid ’60’s. CNR 4-8-4 6167 is currently on display at Guelph, which is going to spend $250,000 CN on a cosmetic restoration. When she retired, she was replaced with 4-8-4 6218, which was the last engine rebuilt at CN’s massive Stratford, Ont. shops, and is on display at the Fort Erie Railroad Museum at Fort Erie, Ont.
One of the saddest sights I think I’ve ever seen was on an excursion that stopped at Stratford, and there in a forlorn corner of the yard were some engines that the Canadian National had held out from the scrappers for donation and display. They looked like ghosts…….
Knew I forgot something. Those trips originated in Walkerville, and the locos were serviced and turned at the old CN/Wabash roundhouse just east of downtown Windsor. Last time I was in the area, the turntable pit was still there filled with water, with a duck swimming in it….