|
Caption: Here is another one of those 'out in the boonies' stations I hunted down many years ago. Unfortunately, I was so busy running around I kept poor notes. The CN line thru here, Guelph to Fergus over to Palmerston to Kincardine, began life in 1870 as the Wellington, Grey & Bruce. CP also ran thru Fergus, a branch line over from Cataract on the Credit Valley Rwy in 1879 reached Elora. (CP took over the CVR in 1883). All that is needed is someone with the knowledge of Fergus (are you out there, D.A.Y.??)to explain this scene. Today all track has been removed, as well as the "Grimsby-lookalike" station. CP had a station nearby as well, but it was demolished in the early 1970s. An interesting view this is, of old Ontario branchline railroad.
|
We have got together soon to show and talk about stations and the photos we have taken! I was too young to have started photographing most stations, and by the time I took interest in it most had gone.
Currently keeping eyes and tabs on the Jarvis train station…about to be moved to Historical Society. Former station site to become a Tim Hortons.
Going by Google maps, and the mileages of the Fergus Sub (http://www.cnr-in-ontario.com/Subdivisions/Fergus.html) this looks to be near the intersection of Maple St. and Kitchener Ave.
Interesting that the semaphore remained into the ’80s. Thanks for sharing this!
Also, did the right corner of the station roof fall off?
Todd: The weather has to get better first.
) The latest I have on the Jarvis station is that it should be up on blocks/wheels by the weekend (Apr 5) weather permitting, and is going to be moved across fields to Walpoles THIS FALL as there was not enough frost and the ground is far too soft. (I have to check this out!) Apparently the trek down Hwy 6 is not doable on account wires and poles, etc. So it may sit there all summer for photos. No matter how old we are, we were born too late when it comes to stations. In the late 70s the railroads went on a frenzy tearing them down and I couldn’t get everywhere either.
Sorry..previous message should have read “weekend Apr. 9th”. Goes to show how organized I am when I am still working with the March calendar.
i am stil suprised ingersoll station still stands.
go visit guys, the critters are pulling out old paperwork and it litters the place from 50′s……
nice capture arnold, fergus was a cool railroad town and suprised it lasted as long s it did.
Great capture Mr. Mooney. By the time I came I to existence this line had less than a year to live, but from what I know the track to the right headed along side St. Patrick St, across town to the old Wilson’s Mill. A section of this track lasted into the mid 2000s west 9f Hwy 6, until the section of St Patrick St was resurfaced. The semaphore in the background was the approach for the diamond with the CP at Garafraxa St. Track the the left serviced the freight sheds and whatever else they turned into by this date. My guess is empty….
When I left town in 2007, the station platform still existed exactly as shown. The timbers alongside the pavement were rotted but still there. The station, long gone, had been turned into a dump site for someone… Oh, and that platform…. you could still make out the exact outline of the old foundation. Bay windows and all!
Jacob: I realize now the GPS reading is slightly off; memory had failed me. Thanks for being ‘on the ball’.As far as the corner of the station, I have no idea. Checking thru photos, I noted a 1977 version of this photo I took showed the same odd corner. And a damaged evestrough. So something happened.
The semaphore is the approach signal to the home signal at the diamond with CP. We had one applicable to northward trains on the Port Burwell Sub approaching the diamond with CN Cayuga Sub at Tillsonburg, until abandonment south of the Loop Line in late 1980s.
Ours and likely the one in your photo, were fixed indication at 45 degrees..and at one time may have had a light for night indication.
Those ones did not move, and always conveyed the same indication, prepare to stop at the next signal. That was the case despite fact that the home signal itself was automatic and may clear before it was reached.
This setupsaved the cost & effort of having a distant signal that need any maintenance beyond light bulb replacement, and any wired connection to the home signal.
Thanks, Ronald!!! Do you recall in which year the CP line was lifted?
Fantastic image! Such a shame so many scenes like this are now gone forever
Arnold, somehow I missed your question (for 6 years !) If I recall, the St Mary’s Sub from Zorra to Ingersoll North, the Goderich Sub from Guelph to Goderich & the Port Burwell from Loop line transfer to Port Burwell..were all abandoned in 1988. I made my last trip on the two latter lines in 1986.
There’s a related story on the “Plat-forum” podcasts about my fist trip on the Port Burwell (with Brad Jolliffe) after abandonment. If you haven’t heard it, you may find it amusing.