Caption: CP C424 4235 and a sister unit prowl the weed-grown Prescott Subdivision at the end of the line in the small hamlet of Oxford Station, working a local wayfreight that likely originating at Ottawa's Walkley Yard. This is the southernmost end of the line, and they're presumably here to work the local agricultural customer hidden by the weeds. CP's C424 fleet, rebuilt in the early 80's as "DRS" roadswitcher power with the addition of rear pilots, numberboards and dual headlights (previously "DRF" mainline freight units) were common branchline power on CP's eastern lines in the 80's and 90's.

The CP Prescott Sub was initially opened as the Bytown and Prescott Railway (B&PR) from Ottawa to the harbour in Prescott in 1855. It crossed the CP Winchester Sub (old Ottawa & Quebec line) at the diamond in Bedell. The southern section from Oxford Station to Prescott was abandoned 1995, and the last run from Walkley Yard to Bedell was made later in November 1997 before most of the north end was abandoned (much became a walking trail).

At the north end of the line in Ottawa, part of the line is still in use by the O-Train and to access the National Research Council's facility. Remaining sections became spurs around Bedell to serve the few remaining customers: the North Prescott Spur from Bedell to Kemptville (abandoned in the mid-2010's, now too a walking trail) and the South Prescott Spur from Bedell to Oxford Station (today still serving a lone agricultural customer near the end of the line, Harvex Agromart).

Keith Hansen photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.