Railpictures.ca - Bruce Mercer Photo: Winter of 1975-1976 just hung around like a bad apple. The powers that be finally decided it was time to dig out the plow and keep the railroad fluid. I was told this was the first time in 15 or 17 years that the plow had been activated. I had just been laid off as my position in the Brantford office on Eagle Avenue was abolished (Operator/Clerk). That is why the 2-position train order signal has a bag over it. Call time this day was around 1500 so the light is beginning to die by the time Plow Extra 74 West comes into town. I made an attempt to catch him again near Mt Pleasant but the roads were not conducive to a chase. A couple of weeks later I had secured my new job with C&O, and it would be 8 years before I set foot near TH&B property again. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

Winter of 1975-1976 just hung around like a bad apple. The powers that be finally decided it was time to dig out the plow and keep the railroad fluid. I was told this was the first time in 15 or 17 years that the plow had been activated. I had just been laid off as my position in the Brantford office on Eagle Avenue was abolished (Operator/Clerk). That is why the 2-position train order signal has a bag over it. Call time this day was around 1500 so the light is beginning to die by the time Plow Extra 74 West comes into town. I made an attempt to catch him again near Mt Pleasant but the roads were not conducive to a chase. A couple of weeks later I had secured my new job with C&O, and it would be 8 years before I set foot near TH&B property again.

Caption: Winter of 1975-1976 just hung around like a bad apple. The powers that be finally decided it was time to dig out the plow and keep the railroad fluid. I was told this was the first time in 15 or 17 years that the plow had been activated. I had just been laid off as my position in the Brantford office on Eagle Avenue was abolished (Operator/Clerk). That is why the 2-position train order signal has a bag over it. Call time this day was around 1500 so the light is beginning to die by the time Plow Extra 74 West comes into town. I made an attempt to catch him again near Mt Pleasant but the roads were not conducive to a chase. A couple of weeks later I had secured my new job with C&O, and it would be 8 years before I set foot near TH&B property again.

Photographer:	Bruce Mercer [100] (more) (contact)
Date:	03/10/1976 (search)
Railway:	Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo (search)
Reporting Marks:	TH&B 74 with plow (search)
Train Symbol:	Plow Extra (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	Waterford Sub (search)
City/Town:	Brantford (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22779

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Photo ID: 21637

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12 Comments

Jacob Patterson

January 18, 2016 at 11:49 am

Great shot Bruce. Is this now the SOR Ingenia spur?
BradKetchen

January 18, 2016 at 1:05 pm

@jacobPatterson Yes, ex TH&B Waterford sub/CN Burford spur.
Stephen C. Host

January 18, 2016 at 8:59 pm

Very nice work Bruce. Rare indeed.
Stephen C. Host

January 18, 2016 at 9:01 pm

Curious: If that’s the train order signal on the pole – where was the office located?
mercer

January 18, 2016 at 9:20 pm

The office [ in a 2 1/2 storey house ] was behind me and slightly to the right; I’m standing where the 3-car driveway ended. Its no longer there, but then hardly anything in this photo is still there, except the track to Ingenia. On the extreme left of the image you see the tip of the 7 UP sign on the back of the corner variety; they had a small kitchen and made the BEST grilled cheese !
Joseph Bishop

January 18, 2016 at 9:32 pm

This was cool the first time I saw it! Just as cool now, glad to see you posting here also!
MarcD

January 18, 2016 at 11:14 pm

Was your new job with C & O in Sarnia?
mercer

January 19, 2016 at 8:33 am

Marc, no my first stint of employment was in the C&O Merchandise Sales office at 69 Yonge Street, Toronto ( CPR-owned building at King & Yonge, 10th floor). My job was Steno-Clerk, handling the phones, tracing cars, obtaining prospective freight rates and generally putting out ” fires” related to customer service. I was also classed in weekly liquid lunches in the nearby King Edward hotel. After a 4 month layoff in the winter of 1978 owing to a coal miner’s strike, I transferred in May to the Transportation Department. After writing the Operating Rules, passing a physical, taking the Safety course, I booked on the Trainman’s spareboard in St Thomas in early June.
MarcD

January 19, 2016 at 2:11 pm

Bruce, did you ever have a passing interest in lake freighters?
mercer

January 19, 2016 at 8:07 pm

Marc, I sure did. As you recall, I lived in Brights Grove for nearly 10 years. Plus working on the railroad down at Clifford Street, one could not help but pay attention to the ships. I was a short-lived member of the Detroit Marine HS
MarcD

January 19, 2016 at 8:10 pm

I was pretty sure it was the same Bruce Mercer. Nice talking to you.
Marcus Stevens

January 20, 2016 at 10:33 pm

Great shot Bruce! Keep them coming

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