Caption: THE LEGACY OF JAMES A. BROWN - Exactly 55 years ago today, while travelling with four University of Toronto friends - including John Freyseng - to celebrate Canada's Centennial, the late James A. Brown boarded Newfoundland's endangered passenger train 'Caribou' and was able to capture some amazing narrow gauge images. Before resuming his 22-hour, 547 mile journey to the provincial capital of St. John's he photographs CN Train No. 102, the eastbound Caribou with NF210's 919 and 911 waiting on the mainline at Cooke for its scheduled meet with the westbound 101. Besides the two units, this train had a steam generator unit, express boxcar, baggage car, cafe car, four coaches, diner and four sleepers and his meticulous note taking included the numbers and names of each. I chose this particular image to honor the memory and the legacy of the wonderful work of a man who became a dear friend and mentor while assisting me with several of my publications including RAILS ACROSS THE ROCK which featured this as the cover image. More of his breathtaking images can be seen in my upcoming TRAINS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, to be released by Flanker Press in both hard and softcover editions on September 9, 2022.
|
I had the pleasure of riding the Via Budd Cars to White River with Jim a way back. Very nice and interesting fellow. He made the trip even more enjoyable!
Seems like yesterday ! Ian & Marney MacDonald, Jim and Ann Brown, Tom Henry & myself had arrived on the S.S. Wm. Carson, the overnight ferry from North Sydney NS and this was day one of our 4 day whirlwind tour/Caribou train ride to St. John’s and back. It was a wonderful and memorable trip. Thanks for posting Ken and look forward to release of your new book “Trains of Newfoundland “ in Sept, 2022
Thank you John, and also Jim’s Family, for giving me permission and blessings to showcase your work. I will forever be grateful to men like you two who took the time and effort to travel to Newfoundland and record our railway’s glorious past for posterity. – Ken