Caption: CNR Northern 6167 is southbound at Garnet on an Upper Canada Railway Society railfan excursion trip from Hamilton to St. Thomas via Jarvis on Sunday, September 30, 1962.
For several years, I searched in vain hoping to locate a historic photo of Garnet (formerly Hullsville) with a train crossing the wooden bridge atop the Sandusk Creek thinking it might have been a focal point for railfans of the day. I was advised, at a UCRS photo sharing session January 2020, that if anyone had such a photo it would be Bob Sandusky. When approached Bob smiled as he recalled a UCRS steam excursion at the hamlet and the curious church goers in the background attracted by the appearance and noise of such a large steam locomotive.
The Sandusk Creek and wooden, pilar trestle are not visible albeit the 3rd car (2nd passenger car) is just crossing the meandering stream with the shadow being the creek's incline. The landmark circular, stain glass window and upper exterior of the Garnet United Church is clearly visible between the passenger cars and smoke produced by CNR 6167. The red barns to the north, in front of the train, is the Cherry century homestead no less. My father Gordon’s herd prefix 'Elmcrest Holsteins' is visible in white letters on the front of the main dairy barn. Also, Garnet's ole Grand Trunk flag stop is in the picture as well - the small, red frame building with green roof just in front of the CNR 6167 to the right of the barn albeit partially hidden by trees. A white Holstein cow is seen standing to the immediate right of the flag stop. The flag stop was moved the short distance to the farm shortly after passenger service on the line ceased.
I could not have imagined receiving, within a few weeks of our conversation, a digital photograph of a steam run-by at this exact location and to be so inclusive. Even the rods on CNR 6167 are down. Kudos to Mr. Robert ‘Bob’ Sandusky.
The scene is quite different today as the trackage, Garnet to Jarvis, was abandoned in 1978 and now completely overgrown. The farm buildings have since been demolished and the flag stop relocated to a neighbouring property. (Pages 75 & 76 of Hamilton’s Other Railway and 46 & 47 Rails to The Lakes by Charles Cooper). A photo on page 334 by Elmer Treloar captures CNR 6167 on the same September 1962 excursion crossing the Grand River bridge at Caledonia. CNR 6167 still exists as many know and recently relocated to John Galt Park, Guelph.
|
What a great action photo of the 6167 heading south toward Jarvis, the Engineman would be starting to pull hard on the whistle cord for the long angled crossing of Hwy 6. That’s a great looking barn and buildings.
What a great photo! Used to live in the area, and boy do I wish I was alive then to have witnessed this. Sadly this portion was reconfigured I assume mid 70s, to what we now know as the ‘Garnet’ yard that stores tankers for Imperial Oil.
What a stunning piece of history !!!!