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Caption:
CPR had a Roadswitcher based at Chatham in the 1980s and as required, 3 or 4 days per week, it would make the trek westward to switch customers at Tilbury ( Hunt-Wesson Foods) and perhaps as far as Saint Joachim ( although I have no first-hand knowledge of that). The engineer on this job, a nice man named Maurice (---) lived beside the C&O Sarnia Sub. in Wallaceburg. He would always give us a hi-ball when we went through that town. Anyway, here's his job returning east at the diamond of the CN Chatham Sub. just west of CP Ringold siding near Dillon Sideroad. This is pretty much the normal operating procedure when heading home to tie down, having the caboose (van) next to the engine. The last car is definitely from Hunt-Wesson, one of those SOLID COLD reefers probably with frozen peas or french fries. The pole lines are still in place, the Chatham Sub. is still 2 tracks and 1268 has yet to receive ditchlights. This engine still exists today, living a sheltered life at Unimin Corporation in Hephzibah GA.
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Great read Bruce. SOLID COLD reefer products are now all truck delivered now. And the detail that the pole lines still exist.. there’s an article on such in this month’s Railroad Model Craftsment. Very informative.. but the writer didn’t touch on indeed the poles are still there, but no lines. I’m thinking of the Newmarket sub up to North Bay where some of them lean like trees that surround them!
Great shot Bruce. Thinking those 2 CP boxes might have been glass for Ducana Windows in Tilbury as they used to get in cars like those fairly often.