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Caption:
Welcome Aboard Terra Transport train number 208
Passenger traffic today is moderate south of Placentia Junction with hunters, berry pickers....and fans...
Today's #208 consist: baggage, coach, caboose, powered by GMD G-8's # 805 – 800.
At extreme left, the T T Conductor is re-boarding after assisting a passenger to detrain.
Contrary to the Company's and Government opinion, the Newfoundland branch line Mixed Trains were patronized, especially well, during the hunting, fishing, berry picking seasons as well as providing essential transportation into otherwise inaccessible country.
Perhaps someone may be able to confirm the location ? ( perhaps Ken ? )
August 9, 1982 Kodachrome by S.Danko
What's interesting,
The C N / T T services were part of the VIA network and published in the national CN / VIA Timetables up to 1988: “ ….mixed train services are operated by TerraTransport Ltd. ”
St.John's to Argentia Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday ( #207); and return ( #208)
The Company / Government attitude regarding (passenger) train(s) evidenced by the trains' frequency: C N / T T #207 & #208 operated Mo. Wed. Fri. to an empty Argentia Ferry Terminal . The CN Marine ferry M V Ambrose Shea (1967 to 1989) arrived / departed Argentia on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Arriving / Departing the North Sydney, Nova Scotia dock on Mo. Wed. Fri. !
See the interior of CN coach #757 : page 4, September 2014 issue (volume 53 #8 ) of Bytown Railway Society's Branchline magazine
Anyone willing to tackle the vehicles' Year Make Model ?
More Newfoundland branch lines:
Kenneth Pieroway has compiled an excellent series of historic photographs capturing the Spirit of Newfoundland's branch lines in a fine publication:
'RAILS AROUND THE ROCK - A Then & Now Celebration of the Newfoundland Branchlines' by Kenneth G. Pieroway, published by Creative Book Publishing of St. John's, Newfoundland.
More Terra Transport:
#232
#206
#204
passenger traffic for #232
sdfourty.
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Those vehicles…..gawd…the heap in the foreground dates about 1975, the customized van looks like a ’76 Ford….nice machine, but a real gas sucker……….
Steve, that is a wonderful photo and you have truly captured the essence of branchline railroading in Newfoundland! As I have said before, it is a credit to you and the others to have captured what you did when you did for we will never see the likes of it again here on The Rock. The location is at tiny community called Placentia Junction (established in 1893 and I have been there many times) and is now one of the most sought after areas for cabins and cottages on the Avalon Peninsula. In the far background, you can see the trainman (probably Job Blackmore) waiting to set the switch for the mainline back to St. John’s. As for the car, I believe that Mr. Mooney is correct about the year and that it is a Pontiac Ventura, that divisions answer to the Chevy Nova! The red truck with the cap is a Datsun/Nissan King cab. Again Steve, that you for posting this great image and looking forward to seeing more Newfoundland shots in the future! Sincerely, Ken
Steve, further to the car question; the brown Chrysler is a 74-76 Dodge Dart or Plymouth Valiant, the silver 4 door GM product is a 75-77 Chevy Malibu and just barely visible behind it is a 2 door silver 77-79 Plymouth Volare or Dodge Aspen! Without seeing the front or rear clearly, I can’t be more specific. Again, thanks for posting such an iconic scene!- Ken
For the few of us that experienced the pure joy of riding the Rock Railway….even in 1982 there was a sense of pending doom….and Keith Pieroway’s book(s) are a worthwhile piece of what is now history.