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Caption: Grand River Railway interurban electric car 626 (combination passenger and baggage-express car) leads a NRHS fantrip run that was to be the one of the last runs of "streetcars" on GRR & LE&N, on April 24th 1955. The train is shown here crossing the Speed River bridge at Preston, approaching the GRR shops.
According to the late W.E. Miller's Grand River Railway website, the full consist for the day was GRR 626, 846, LE&N 939 & 937, with GRR 862 added at Brantford. Regular passenger service had ended the day before on April 23rd. This day was the NRHA Syracuse Chapter's fantrip, the Buffalo Chapter held theirs a week later on May 1st.
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Exact same bridge today, only additions are handrails and the fibre pipe along the girder.
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22315
Preston Furniture factory also razed and condos built next door.
Great shot Bill.
Oh boy…….It doesn’t get much better than this.
Wow. Those were the days.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing this wonderful Gem Bill. It’s great this bridge and this track is still here, now used by freight trains a few times a day.
Bill, thank you so much for sharing this picture. Brings back many memories. I was riding in GRR 862. Had my Kodak Brownie 127 film camera, and was riding the last car northbound in order to take pictures of the train on curves. After crossing the Speed River, the 5-car special proceeded up Preston Hill to Kitchener Queen St Station and then back to Preston where we were greeted by a local pipe band. Took a last picture of the crew posed for the local press at the front of 626, and then it was over. Headed home, a sad end to the day.
Hey Bill, did you know that a young George Roth was playing in the Preston Pipe Band as the Special arrived in town from Kitchener. Didn’t know him then, but well remember the band music and large public turnout as we stepped off the train. Thanks again for posting this historical picture, in colour no less ! John