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Caption: As the year 2020 opens, I thought it would be interesting to see if I had an image of a Canadian National locomotive with the same number. Sure enough, I found this shot of the C-630M at Spadina engine house that I took in June 1968. That summer I was working with the Ontario Government as a summer student based in Toronto. I boarded with my grandparents, Robert and Ruby Yates at 113 Benson Avenue. I recall that it was a great summer as I travelled for work in a new '68 Rambler during the week and with friends on weekends. We visited Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Vermont and many locations in between that summer. In September my friend Doug Campbell and I drove to Victoria in his '68 Volvo 142 photographing all along the way. From Calgary west, we were in the capable hands of Bob Loat. In October, Terry Thompson drove Ted Wickson and me to St. John's in his new 'VW. It was the first year that I would photograph trains in all ten provinces.
Thanks to Pierre Fournier for the fun idea.
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Great idea! Also sounds like you guys were up to great adventures.
Every week or so our group would alternate between one of two houses for an evening of slide shows. We would all bring our most up to date work but, Bob Loat and a few others that had some previous experience hauled out lots of their best stuff from years gone by. One of his more famous lines: “No drooling now Ok?” Some of Bobs work can be seen in a book by J.F. Garden. “British Columbia Railway”, published in 1995 by Footprint in Revelstoke. I remember Bob as a very humble, kind and more than accomplished Railway photographer, and I hope he still is.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Bob in Ottawa back in February 1967 when he was touring Canada on the [CP]Tatoo Train and performing in the Armed Forces band. I had swapped negatives with him for some time before that and I confess that later that year I loaned him what we’d now call a point and shoot camera. This Konica got him started on colour slides and he’s taken a back seat to no one ever since. He’s an inspired and patient photographer who has been a friend over many decades.
Thanks for that interesting info Bill. I lost track of Bob and the rest of the guys in the late ’90s. I sure miss those times and often wonder how they’re doing and if the chase continues for them.
I last saw Bob in 2012. We cruised from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to Vancouver with our significant others. We’ve corresponded a bit back and for since then. I believe that he’s still in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
Are you in Calgary, Vancouver of Colorado Springs, Joe.
Hi Bill – I’m in the 100 Mile, B.C. area. Moved this way a few years ago. Would sure like to see some of Bobs work here on the site. Could you have any influence in that direction? Glad to hear he’s still in the picture somewhere.