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Caption: In my opinion, this oddball shot overlooking Bayview Junction is a classic example of what most weekend railfanning was all about. Note it is cold (engines running) and it is miserable (warm coats) and it is damp fog, the worse kind of spring day; but several fans still congregate at the favourite train-watching spot. The Hamilton police officer just drops by from time to time to shoot the breeze and pick up tidbits of information he might find use for. Very cordial. Although this image is only 26 yrs old at this time of posting, it shows how the guys would get together in order to exchange information. No computers, no cell phones. Often most of the day would be spent here, as the CN 9510, 9513 & 9503 is Niagara-bound and the track to the left is the main line out to London/Sarnia, etc. This was the place to be for action, even though it didn't take long to run thru all the "photo angles" there might be. Of course this is all changed now, fenced, off-limits, and good times here but a memory. Fans who still show at Bayview use the walkbridge over the tracks, just barely visible in the fog, extreme upper left. My car? The station wagon up by the shack. The usual blue heap was not on the road that day, having died for about the 50th time. It needed crutches, not tires.
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Nice shot!
And who is in the pic?
I will ask here that if anyone viewing this image is in the photo, let us know. I have no names whatsoever from this group, and just vaguely recognize a couple of the automobiles.
Hmm, I wonder if any of those guys are on here. Maybe we’ll see one of their shots in the near future!
Damm…..As soon as I saw this…I went looking for the “….mobile” Tell the truth…you photo-shopped it out…didn’t you..
HA!! Funny, Mr.Snake. Nope. It really was left at home. By this time it was 13 years old and ailing. Another 4 years, after trying to drive around with a local mechanic working on it almost daily, it went to the scrap.
Very interesting Arnold. There seems to a strong sense of community in this photo. Even the police are chillin with the group!
Wasn’t it great before lawyers created the liability paranoia, and common sense was a little more common? Those were good days…..
Funny you would mention this Dave, after I have just finished reading about how the September Steam excusions over the Tunkhannock (PA) Viaduct have been cancelled because CP insist organizers double their liability insurance from $50M to $100M. So instead of a gala event bringing badly needed income to Nicholson, PA., the whole thing is shelved.
Albert, your station wagon is parked up front too close to the tracks, interfering with camera view ! Used to gnash my teeth at someone who would roar in at the last minute, park right in front of my set up camera after I had staked out my picture position 30 minutes earlier. Bayview Jct was a great social networking point, but it was a place often avoided by me – too many people in the way.. But still a great picture though, of a railway enthusiast hot spot before internet, cell phone, texting, and rapid shooting digital cameras, fencing and today’s “no trespass” enforcement – a different world today. John
It was a fair gang when I got there. You’ll see in most other shots I am parked down at the base of the hill I shoot from, or where the cop is. I certainly agree with your assessment.