Caption: On the weekend of August 30-31, 1958 the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS) annual convention, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Society operated two fan trips on both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway, starting both from Toronto, covering many subdivisions of both railways in south-western Ontario. The lens of Edward P. Haines captured the CPR trip at Guelph Junction, and the following day, D. R. McCulloch captured the CNR trip at CNR Guelph Junction.

George Roth, a railfan and sometimes rail historian, was on board of both trips, and has generously recounted some of his memories of the CN operated excursion:

"This trip was a long ride. Toronto to Stratford, double-headed with Pacific 5303 & Northern 6247. After a water stop at Guelph Jct, arrival in Stratford, where we stopped for a good hour or more, while 6247 was serviced, coaled & turned. We fans wandered over to the shops for a look around before returning to re-board the train of 22 cars. 5303 stayed at Stratford and later in the evening would have likely returned to Spadina roundhouse in Toronto, perhaps on 34 or 36."

"Facing east, the train then proceeded down the CN Drumbo sub to Paris Jct, onto the Dundas sub to Bayview, then the Grimsby sub, with no stops until St. Catharines. There, some fans who had previous tickets, boarded the three cars of the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway (NS&T) one of them being car 83. The ticket for this side trip on the NS&T was available as an extra expense. These riders had to be back at the CN St. Catharines to get back on the train a couple of hours later."

"I stayed on the train and rode to Niagara Falls, where 6247 was serviced and put in the roundhouse. Northern 6163 was then assigned to the return trip, late day, to Toronto, stopping at St. Catharines to gather the fan riders from the NS&T side trip. The ride back to Toronto included another side trip across the Beach Strip to Burlington, then, fast on the Oakville sub into Union Station in Toronto. It was dark by then, but the train was on-time to the NRHS published schedule. I recall riding in the one open window, first coach behind the baggage cars, and not being able to walk or stand because of how fast we were going."

CNR 5303, a J-7-c Pacific built by MLW in August 1920, would be scrapped in February 1959. CNR 6247, U-2-h Northern type, built by MLW in September 1943, was scrapped July 1961. CNR 6163, U-2-d Northern type built by MLW in April 1936, was scrapped May 1961.

D. R. McCulloch Photo, Jacob Patterson Collection Slide.