Caption: A cold and damp Thanksgiving weekend 1974 finds a trio of freshly painted MLW RS18s lugging a 15 car passenger extra along the rails of the Meaford subdivision bound for the line's namesake town about 20 miles away. The extra, organized by Eric Winkler, M.P.P. for Grey South, was run from Toronto's Union Station to the annual Meaford Applefest. Bringing up the rear of the consist was the Upper Canada Railway Society's observation car #13, and CN business car #94, assigned to the Vice-President of the Great Lakes Region of Canadian National, Mr. K. Hunt.
According to the UCRS November/December, 1974 newsletter, the train would be followed from Allandale to Meaford by a pair of GP9s; 4511, 4503, to switch out the consist for the return trip, as well as to help the heavy train up the hill out of town. The plan was to cut off the geeps at Allandale, but as no RS18s were facing south, the geeps were kept on the lead; five first generation units hauling 15 cars back to Toronto. Consist is noted as the following: Power 3101, 3103, 3118, steam generator 15478, coaches 5413, 5285, 5228, 5423, cafe lounge 752, coaches 5203, 5185, 5214, cafe lounge 753, coaches 5285, 5183, 5210, U.C.R.S. 13, CN 94.
This would be the second large passenger consist to pass through Collingwood in 1974, as on June 15, the 17-car "Journey to History" excursion was run to celebrate the christening of the new ferry, "Chi-Cheemaun", and Meaford's centenary.
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A good ol saying, “All Rails Lead To Collingwood”
Great photo Bruce, thank you very much for posting this!
A fantastic and great historical image.