Caption: BOARDING AT BRIGUS JUNCTION - Travelling with four University of Toronto friends - including the late James A. Brown - to celebrate Canada's Centennial by riding Newfoundland's endangered passenger train 'Caribou', John Freyseng of Ontario was able to capture some amazing narrow gauge images. Just before boarding, he photographs the rear of CN Train No. 212, the Carbonear Mixed before entering the mainline on the St. John's Subdivision on June 22, 1967. As evidenced by the rear end car 6009, John's keen eye captured the unique railroading found only in Canada's tenth province and perhaps in all of North America. Caboose/Cabin Car 6009 was originally built as second Class Coach 114 in November 1902 by the Reid-Newfoundland Company in St. John's and its spartan interior of wooden benches and bunks for the crews remained until the very end. By the early 1970's all such cabin cars on the three operating branchlines were replaced by the steel coaches from the now cancelled 'Caribou'. Having chased and photographed this train up and down the Carbonear Branch, John would board and experience the ride for himself as far as Holyrood where he would detrain to join his friends in pursuing it to St. John's. More of 1967 John Freyseng beautiful photos can be seen in my TRAINS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, released by Flanker Press in both hard and softcover editions.
|
Yes Ken, the seats were wood, hard on the “hind” end ! Fortunately. I was not riding very far. Can’t imagine 2nd class coach passengers in the early 1900′s riding for hours on end on these hard seats, from one end of the Island to the other. Was completely taken away with the truss rods, the roof walkway, the classic CNR “SERVES ALL CANADA” maple leaf emblem and kerosene marker lamps, along with the paint colour (compare it to the much newer black and white scheme on the car ahead) . This was such a “travel back in time ” of 65 years, just couldn’t resist a ride in this car. Never saw one like it before, and haven’t seen one since. For me, it was a historical and memorable time. Thank you for the car history, John
It is myself and the rest of the railfans that must extend our gratitude to folks like you John and Jim. For not only taking the time and effort to come here and record our railway for posterity, but for so graciously and selflessly sharing it with others. That is the true spirit of railfanning.
Beautiful!!