Caption:
This image is made possible by the Port Stanley Terminal Rail’s ‘Rare Mileage Excursion’ of June 24, 2017 through the Kettle Creek Valley over the historic tracks of the London and Port Stanley Railway operating from Port Stanley to St. Thomas and the new Talbot Street Station. Numerous run-byes and an extended lunch / viewing time at St Thomas added to the enjoyment of the day.
Regular PSTR tourist rides pull north and push south and, as such, do not normally provide for leading power southbound as viewed from Sparta Line. PSTR Winnie L3 (44 ton - 1947), affixed with white flags, paused briefly at Union Station for fan viewing and photos. I don’t recall how I happened to capture this image without any fellow enthusiasts being in the photograph.
This image bodes well for the Time Machine and the Upper Canada Railway Society’s excursion, Toronto to Port Stanley, of June 14, 1975 (42 years hence) as captured by Greg Roach’s rpc photo ID: 21596. Northbound images depicting the rear of the train at Union are the norm these days on all trips excepting perhaps full line and rare mileage.
Incidentally, Winnie suddenly decided not to load for a second run-bye on the historic steel girder bridge just north of Roberts Line. After a short (rain) delay, PSTR Stanley L1 (25 ton - 1952) trundled to the rescue providing a double header opportunity per se with southbound leading power over the rustic bridge as Stanley the little engine that could lugged L3, passenger cars 68 & 62, and red caboose back to our starting point in Port Stanley. Double heading photo opportunities are undoubtedly rare involving PSTR regardless of running direction, etc.
Interesting day and great fun!
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