Caption: As this is posted to Railpics it was thirty years ago this week when I shot this early afternoon eastbound at the Guelph VIA station. For some odd reason, I thought it unlikely VIA would use the devil's symbol, #666, as a train number, but they did. Budd numbers are 6127, 6004 and 6121. I've forgotten when the Budds came off this line, and would appreciate some input. Thanks!
|
Cool shot! I know the train order semaphores lasted into 1991, maybe ’92. Interesting that there’s no baggage section in any of these RDC’s
I lived in Stratford from August of 85 to May 88…I remember seeing those Budds for the first time at the Stratford station when I had difficulty adjusting to ‘city life’…I think those Budds came off shortly after we moved away in May 88…and if it wasn’t then, it sure wasn’t long after that.
Like your photo Arnold…note how you can see where the platform used to end as there was two tracks that used to be in front of the station. Obviously gone by this point too was the Express building that was attached by a long roof line to the station.
Todd, there is still 2 tracks at the station, although there is only one platform currently. The main track, where the RDC’s are, was moved about 2 feet away from the station. The south track was then moved closer to the main track. I’ve heard GO Transit wants to add a south platform on the south side, right where the city engineers put CNR 6167 in 2010.
According to the timetable, one train each way daily accepted baggage.(At Guelph 1120 eb) There were 5 trains weekdays, 4 on weekends.
I worked these trains; maybe even this one until my career change in 1987. I had 6 Budds on a 665; 670 combo one Friday. When they were done………not long after that I expect.
Dave, I sincerely hope a few of these pictures on RP bring back some pleasant memories …after all, this is what it is all about for many of us. For me, the memories of the experiences of taking the photos is vivid, the actual factual part, well, not so much. )
That’s one way to encourage people to ride trains. Frequent service! 5 trains on a weekday? The Budds were and still are a good way to move passengers over short distances. It’s too bad GO is wedded to long trains on their lines. Many off peak are mostly empty.
For a long time, GO used their shorter trains to run the Lakeshore line mid-day before they went back to Barrie, Stouffville etc. GO’s big challenge is 20 years of lack of expansion on a timely basis, and there is now no many to catch up.