Caption: CNR 1368 sits on the Beeton siding with mixed train M391 for Collingwood, while train 661 from Hamilton pulls up to the 1888 Northern & North Western station en route to Allandale. Once a significant point on the H&NW/N&NW Railway as the junction between the mainline to Allandale and the branch to Collingwood via Alliston, Beeton once hosted a roundhouse, turntable, coal tower (still visible above train 661 in this shot), and water facilities. The roundhouse and turntable were replaced with a wye towards the end of the Grand Trunk era used for turning locomotives off the branchline train.

Shortly, train 661 will be underway, with M391 following about five minutes behind up to Allimil, roughly 1.5 miles north of Beeton. Originally called Beeton Junction, the name Allimil (junction between the CN's Milton and Alliston Subs) appeared during the CNR era, likely in 1936 after the stretch between Beeton and the junction was reduced from double track to a single main.

CN's Milton Sub was reorganized in 1965 as part of the Toronto bypass project, with the Georgetown - Burlington section becoming part of the new Halton Subdivision. North of Georgetown the line became known as the Beeton Sub. The Alliston Sub would be split in two with the Alliston - Creemore section abandoned in 1955. The northern section between Lake Junction at Collingwood and Creemore would be abandoned in 1960, with the southern portion near Alliston allocated to the Beeton Sub as the Alliston Spur. Abandonment of the Beeton Sub would commence in 1975 starting with Georgetown - Cheltenham, followed by Cheltenham - Beeton in 1984. Rails were removed from Cheltenham - Tottenham by 1986, and all remaining trackage north was considered part of the Beeton/Alliston Spurs until final abandonment in 1989. Today, this scene is now a housing subdivision, but the South Simcoe Railway still operates a handful of times each year between Tottenham and the south end of Beeton (Main Street).

Further information can be found in two books by the late Charles Cooper; Rails to the Lakes, and Hamilton's Other Railway. Both very informative.

On October 24, 1965, Doug Page captured a Toronto - Allandale UCRS excursion at Beeton running north on the Beeton Sub, and returning south to Toronto on the Newmarket.

Original Photographer Unknown, Jacob Patterson Collection Slide.