Caption: I know to the locals of the St. Catharines area this image does not look anything like a "city setting". But it is. A number of years ago there was a rather rickety bridge on Queenston St over the CN Grantham Spur. A number of times I noted this equipment decaying on a siding as I went by. Finally, before it was gone, I figured I had better get a shot of it. (at the time I was mostly looking for old RR stations). The wide open area in the background is actually part of Mountain Locks Park.
Not long after I shot this, the bridge was removed, replaced by a level crossing and the "scrap" collection was cleared out.
It is a shame we are not able to make out the exact number on the former First Class Coach. (we know there is not a "4") Anyway, CN equipment dept #630?3 and old CN flanger 56323 are seen in the twilight of the day in the twilight of their lives. The "D" by the number is for "Destroy" (Form 453: clear for destroying) and it is assumed the flanger met the same fate.
Thanks for Paul O'Shell for supplying some background on these two pieces! It is asked that anyone with further information to please leave a comment !!
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Arnold, what a great capture of some classic Engineering Dept. ‘red fleet’.
A former first class coach converted to a BK&D (Bunk, Kitchen, Diner).
During my very early years at CN I spent countless days and nights living in cars identical to this one.
Most eventually wore the ‘D Form-453 Submitted’ stencil that spelled doom for them at the London Reclaim Yard, or, Paris Pit.
Your photo brings back lots of memories from the late 60′s and early 1970′s.
Thanks for posting.
Flanger CN 56323 is now at the Niagara Railway Museum over in Fort Erie