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About dleffler

All photos taken by Doug Leffler, with some by the late W. C. Hommerding of Jackson, MI where noted (copyright, collection of Doug Leffler).

dleffler's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 33
Total gold: 293
Number of comments recieved : 12
Number of comments posted : 0
Total views: 140216

dleffler has won Editors Choice 1 time

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dleffler's 33 photos on Railpictures.ca:

A rare look inside the cab of Bombardier's LRC demonstrator locomotive JV1, while at CN's station in Sarnia ON in May of 1975. Posed inside is my railfan friend Ken Borg, trying out the right-hand seat and then-modern engineer's controls. <br><br> Taken while the BBD demo LRC JV1 and coach JV2 were test-running on CN Tempo trains in the Toronto-Sarnia corridor, a view of the sleek modern exterior can be found here: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19855"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19855</b></a>.

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Builder/Manufactur…
Date:	05/00/1976
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 8 Favourites

Bombardier's sleek LRC demonstrator locomotive JV1 and demonstrator coach JV2 lead a train of CN Tempo cars, sitting at the platform of CN's station in Sarnia, Ontario during May 1975. My friend Ken Borg had found out about it being there, and he and I drove to Sarnia to see and photograph it.<br><br><i>Brief historical tidbit:</i> The LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) was a new lightweight, streamlined train developed by joint venture between Alcan, CN, Dofasco and MLW, and intended for faster, more efficient operation over existing corridor trackage. The coach was completed in 1971 and the locomotive in 1973, and the equipment went through various tests and improvements, most occurring between 1973 and 1975 prior to regular production being started in the late 70's. Phase three of the prototype testing was running over the Toronto-Sarnia corridor in Southern Ontario as seen here, running on the Tempo's schedule. During its testing the train had also run in western Canada (at least as far west as Alberta), Montreal, in the US, as well as in corridor service in Southern Ontario.<br><br>While the uniquely-styled demonstrator locomotive and coach were scrapped at a later date, and all of the VIA LRC locomotives retired over time, today the LRC passenger car fleet lives on as the backbone of VIA's Windsor-Toronto-Montreal corridor fleet.<br><br>A view of the interior cab can be found here: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19928><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19928</b></a>

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Builder/Manufactur…
Date:	05/00/1975
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 16 Favourites

Lake Erie and Northern car 933 is shown coupled to two other cars at Port Dover station. The gentleman posed by 933 is a good friend of Mr. Hommerding, Jim Findlay of Hudson, Michigan, who attended the fantrip with Cecil and is seen snacking on an ice cream bar. <br><br>Car 933 would be a “protect service” car that was kept at the Port Dover Station to cover any needs of service. Port Dover was the south end of the LE&N line that started at the GRR-LE&N Galt Main Street station and ran 51 miles south to Port Dover. The station was built in 1947 to a CPR Station Plan, at Chapman and Main Street, Milepost 51.0 of the LE&N. It was sold in 1965 to CN, who later sold it to the local town. Today it is leased to a private firm, owned by the Norfolk Region and still exists today (though not like it looks in this 1950 photo!). <br><br> This series of photos were taken by a now-deceased friend, William Cecil Hommerding (who passed away in 1983). Another mutual (deceased) friend, Jim Findlay of Hudson, Michigan (pictured) accompanied Cecil on the trip. The Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse chapters of the NHRS did each run several one day trips over the entire near 69 mile GRR-LE&N line around when these photos were taken, always on a Sunday. This particular trip was by a group from Michigan who held a one day, full length of the line trip on April 30th 1950 using GRR car 842, as pictured in many of Cecil's images. Although both Cecil and Jim are now deceased, their photos live on! <br><br> (<i>* Editors note: we would like to thank Doug Leffler for sharing these excellent historical photographs of Cecil's with us, and George Roth for helping interpret much of the historical and contextual information depicted in these photos.</i>) <br><br> <i><u>Other photos from the fantrip:</u></i><br> Car 842 crossing the bridge at Waterford: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357</b></a><br> The fantrip at Kitchener: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681</b></a><br> The GRR's Preston Shops: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413</b></a><br> <br> <i>For more details on Cecil, see <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297"><b>here</b></a>.</i>

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Port Dover
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 15 Favourites

Visible here is a broadside image of Grand River Railway car 842, the fantrip's car, taken at the GRR - LE&N Galt Main St Station. <br><br> As mentioned in a previous photo, the brick and stone station was built during the summer of 1922 and opened for passenger service on December 23rd, 1923. The location was on east Main Street, opposite the then standing CPR Freight shed. The location, thus allowed both railways to operate their passenger rail equipment interchangeably as electrical voltage was made consistent between both railways on December 4th 1921. The location became Mile Post Zero for both railways. The GRR to the north, the LE&N to the south. Later it became a loading point also for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport that served Preston, Blair and Kitchener. The building was demolished in the summer of 1956. <br><br> Car 842 was part of eight steel passenger cars built by the Preston Car & Coach Company in 1921 when the GRR upgraded from 1500 to 600 volts. In the years following the end of passenger service in 1955, most were eventually scrapped. <br><br> Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks. Some car details from the late W.E. Miller's <a href=http://www.trainweb.org/elso/grr.htm><b>Grand River Railway site</b></a> <br><br> <i><u>Other photos from that day:</u></i><br> The GRR-LE&N Galt Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502</b></a><br> Car 864 at Galt Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412</b></a><br> Fantrip car 842 at Kitchener: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681</b></a><br> <br> For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 6 Favourites

The Grand River Railway's Preston Junction Station. <br><br> This station was built in the late 1890's as a passenger loading point between the then three directions of the Galt, Preston & Hespeler passenger cars, and the new direction to Berlin of the Preston & Berlin Railway. Later it became a loading point also for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport. The canopy was removed after rail passenger service ended in 1955. Freight crews used the waiting room for lockers and storage, and the back room for signing in and off of assignments until all electrical rail services ceased on October 1st, 1961. The building was demolished in September 1962. <br><br> Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks. <br><br> <i><u>Other photos at Preston:</u></i><br> Passenger car passing through Preston: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10942"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10942</b></a><br> GRR's Preston Shops: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413</b></a><br> Car 848 at Preston: <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298"><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298</b></a><br> <br> For more details on Cecil, see <a href="http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297"><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 7 Favourites

A Grand River Railway passenger motor car is heading north behind the Preston Shops on Kitchener-bound train 5, (seen earlier at Galt Main St Station), passing on double track below a silo bearing the town's name. This is the on the start of the 2.5% grade up to flag stop Hagey, enroute to Kitchener.<br><br>Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.<br><br><i><u>Other photos at Preston:</u></i><br>GRR's Preston Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10943><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10943</b></a><br>Car 864 at Galt Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474</b></a><br>Car 848 at Preston: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298</b></a><br><br>For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 4 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 8 Favourites

A pair of SD40 sisters, CP 5527 and 5526, pull their train through the east siding switch at Lobo just west out of London.

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 7 Favourites

With a lone white flag flapping away, CN 4585 leads a nice four-pack of GMD GP9's hauling an extra freight through Hyde Park. The trailing 3 units are still in the CN noodle scheme (red ends, black carbody, white frame, big CN on hood sides), compared to the 4585 in the newer "zebra" livery featuring red ends, nose and cab, yellow reflective frame striping, CN noodles at the ends and white carbody striping along the hood sides.

<i>* Exact location unknown, possibly westbound at Hyde Park Road grade crossing.</i>

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 10 Favourites

An end view of Grand River Railway car 842 sitting at the GRR - LE&N Galt Main Street station (Mile zero for both GRR and LE&N), during a stopover on a fantrip. Fantrip members can be seen getting their photos of the car from the station platform. The Galt Main Street Station was mile zero for both the LE&N and the GRR. The rails on the far right are the CN Fergus Sub, with a boxcar visible spotted in the Newlands factory building.
<br><br>
Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.
<br><br>
<u><i>Other GRR passenger operation photos:</i></u><br>
The GRR-LE&N Galt Station itself: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502</b></a><br>
A view of car 864 stopped at the station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474</b></a><br>
The fantrip stopping for photos at Kitchener Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681</b></a>
<br><br>
For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 5 Favourites

Zipping eastbound with a 4-car passenger train, VIA/CN 6526 approaches Hyde Park on the outskirts of London on CN's Strathroy Subdivision. In the background, a manifest freight can be seen on CP's Windsor Subdivision at Lobo siding.

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 13 Favourites

Lake Erie and Northern motor 333 is seen resting on the storage tracks on the north side of the Grand River Railway's Preston Shops. It is a Baldwin/Westinghouse electric freight motor, builder number 42474, built in September 1915. Wooden LE&N combine car 795 can be seen on the left, with what looks like either 953 or 955 beyond. On the right is the storage building for the Line Gang motor car M6. The back of that building housed the storage shed for the sand used on all the cars and motors. Motor 333 was one of two, originally numbered LE&N 60, built for the LE&N in 1915. It was sold to Cornwall, numbered 15, and scrapped in Longvevil QC in 1973.
<br><br>
Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.
<br><br>
<u><i>Other photos of Preston:</i></u><br>
Freight and Passenger equipment at GRR's Preston Shops: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413</b></a><br>
Car 848 in service at Preston: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298</b></a><br>
GRR motor 230 at Preston Shops: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297</b></a>
<br><br>
For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Lake Erie and Nort…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 4 Favourites

Grand River Railway cars 848 & 842 sit MU'ed at GRR's Hespeler Station for the trip back. 848 is on one of the every 15 minute train runs of that period, and 842 is on a fantrip special with a group of Michigan area railfans.<br><br>The original Hespeler Station building is believed to have been built just after the service began by the then Galt, Preston & Hespeler Street Railway Company in January 1896. In later years, an express car was left in place in the early afternoon for loading where GRR car 842 is sitting. The building lasted into the late 1960s after electrical service had ended, before being demolished.<br><br>Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.<br><br><i><u>More interesting views:</u></i><br>A view of 848 at Preston Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298</b></a><br>An end photo of 848 at Hespeler Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10316><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10316</b></a><br>The fantrip special stopping at Paris: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356</b></a><br><br>For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Hespeler
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 7 Favourites

On a full-length trip of the line by a group visiting for Michigan, their car for the fantrip, GRR 842, sits at the Kitchener Queen Street Station (Milepost 12.6 of the GRR line). Likely at the end of the northern run for the day, this end view has 842 facing south as various fan trip members with their cameras in-hand walk around the station and platform. Note the white Special sign in the window, that would otherwise display regular destinations along the line for regular service trains.<br><br>The station design appears to be an abridgment of a standard CPR No. 16 Station plan finished in brick veneer. The GRR Kitchener Station was built in 1943, opened in Nov 1943, and demolished in the late 1970's. Passenger service on the line ended in 1955.<br><br>Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.<br><br><i><u>Other photos of the fantrip with 842:</u></i><br>842 crossing the bridge at Waterford: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357</b></a><br>The fantrip stopping at Paris: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356</b></a><br><br>For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Kitchener
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 7 Favourites

Motoring eastbound for its next stop at London, CN "VIA" train 84 with 6524 on point rolls through Hyde Park at Denfield Rd. The lead FP9 is in the early VIA paint with the CN noodle on the nose and the angled yellow partition under the cab, while the trailing 4 passenger cars are in the standard CN passenger fare of white and black. The baggage car appears to be the one specially painted black and silver to match the ex-Reading Crusader cars CN acquired (a photo of which can be seen <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10463><b>here</b>)</a>.

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 21 Favourites

The Grand River Railway (GRR) and Lake Erie & Northern (LE&N) Galt Main Street Station, taken from Main Street looking south at its north elevation. itself taken from Main Street looking south at the north elevation. Today Galt is part of the city of Cambridge, and a public street runs through this site! <br><br> Some history about this station: it was built as a brick and stone building during the summer of 1922, and opened for passenger service on December 23rd, 1923. Its location was on east Main Street, opposite the then standing CPR Freight shed. The location thus allowed both railways to operate their passenger rail equipment interchangeably, as electrical voltage was made consistent between both railways on December 4th, 1921. This location became Mile Post Zero for both railways: the GRR to the north, and the LE&N to the south. Later it also became a loading point for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport that served Preston, Blair and Kitchener. Passenger service ended on the line in 1955, and the building was demolished in the summer of 1956. <br><br> Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks. <br><br> <i><u>Other photos at the Galt Station:</u></i><br> GRR car 864 stopped at the station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412</b></a><br> Better view of car 864: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474</b></a><br> Side view of fantrip car 842 at the station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10987><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10987</b></a><br><br> For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 8 Favourites

A westbound freight, with CP 5516 and 4503 as power, takes the siding at Lobo for a meet. The crossing in the foreground is probably near the west end of the siding, at either Vanneck Road or Lobo Township Road (can any locals confirm?).

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	Lobo
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

CN GP9's 4519 and 4575 haul a short freight westbound, about to go under the Denfield Road bridge on the outskirts of London, Ontario.

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 10 Favourites

Grand River Railway car 864 sitting at the GRR - LE&N Galt Main Street station (facing north on the southbound track, likely a late morning shot due to the light angle). 864 is likely off a LE&N Train north from Port Dover, the #5 to Kitchener. The rails on the right (and spur with boxcar into the Newlands factory) is the CN Fergus Sub. The Galt Main Street Station was mile zero for both the LE&N and the GRR, not to be confused with the CPR Galt Station on the Galt Sub to the north. <br><br> Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks. <br><br> <i><u>Other GRR passenger operation photos:</u></i><br> The GRR-LE&N Station itself: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502</b></a><br> Another view of car 864 stopped at the station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412</b></a><br> GRR cars 848 and 842 at Hespeler Station: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10746><b>http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10746</b></a> <br><br> For more details on Cecil, see <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297><b>here</b></a>.

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 10 Favourites

CP is well known for operating their stainless steel passenger cars across Canada, but CN also had a few of their own as well: in 1962 CN purchased a set of stainless steel Budd passenger cars from the Reading Railroad, previously used on their "Crusader" train. The cars consisting of the full 5 car consist of two coaches, a diner, and two observation cars (the idea was to have an observation at either end to be able to run around the train, rather than wye or turn it). Once refurbished and branded under the "Champlain" name, the set was initially used in service between Montreal and Quebec City, but later appeared on some of the southern Ontario corridor trains. There was also a regular CN baggage car painted black and silver to match this consist (not shown here). The five cars (300-304) survived into the VIA era until retired in 1982, although they never did wear VIA blue. Three of the cars were sold for scrap, but the observations were resold and survive in the US: one at a museum and another on a dinner train. <br><br> Here we see CN "VIA" 74 with GP9 4103 leading an F9B, 4 of the 5 Crusader cars (including an observation), and some regular steel CN & VIA cars at Hyde Park, just east of Denfield Road near London Ontario. Instead of wying the train at the end of its run, CN often just wyed or ran the power around and pulled the train back from the other end, hence the observation car right behind the B-unit and the baggage car trailing. <br><br> Not factoring in the hoard of self-propelled CN RDC units, the former Crusader passenger cars made for an interesting glimmer in the sea of CN white and red (and later VIA blue and yellow).

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 11 Favourites

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dleffler's Map:

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