Caption: In the late winter of 1976 CP Rail's McAdam to Edmundston line was severed in downtown Woodstock when the bridge over the Meduxnekeag River was dislodged by ice. Repairs took almost a year. During this time, freight trains over the route were detoured via Fredericton, Southampton and Newburg Junction. At Newburg Junction alongside the Saint John River, the train had to reverse direction as there was no direct connection from East to North.
On Saturday, October 23, 1976, I followed the detouring train from my home in South Devon taking photographs at various locations. One of my favourites was this image approaching Becaguimec Stream just north of Hartland. The Hartland covered bridge - the longest in the world - appears in the background. The orange car in the centre of the picture shows one of a large number of insulated San Luis Central cars that would be set off for potato loading at many locations between Florenceville and Grand Falls.
|