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Caption: About halfway between Stirling and Hoards; maybe better posted as about 3 miles west of Stirling, lies this former diamond. At this location the CN Campbellford Sub crosses the CN Marmora Sub, which is in this photo the line running Top to Bottom. The location was but a crossing of the two routes, with a connector and siding on the northwest side; as one can see a gon on the connector and some MoW farther along. And a tool shed sort of building up by the road crossing, distant, on the right.
The location was referred to as Anson Jct by the railroaders from the old Central Ontario Railway that first put down the line thru here in 1883.
On the lower right where the sign is situated I believe is where a small frame building once stood, it was used by the crews during train operations when no one was on duty there. Too small to be a station so it was not much more than a railway operations point. I'm wondering if the building in the distance is the same one that once stood on this spot.
Both lines were taken up in the mid 1980s. Not much to look at, but this location was once busy and significant to railroading in eastern Ontario.
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A very historic photo Arnold.
Thanks, Jason. No trains, no station, but the overall view takes you back to those old days when rails were all over. You can just “feel” what used to be…………
Very nice Arnold, brings back good memories . There doesn’t have to be a train to make a good railway photograph – and how I wish we could see a diamond crossing governed by semaphore blade signals today ! If I am not mistaken (but could be) there was a connection from eb on the Campbellford Sub to nb on the Marmora Sub. In May, 1959 it was used by a CRHA-UCRS double headed steam excursion which ran from Belleville to Bancroft and return, with CN E10a Mogul no. 90 leading. A number of years later on, in CNR’s “Farewell to 6218” celebrations held in Belleville, 6218 ran a number of short excursions to Anson Jct and back for local population and enthusiasts – trying to remember if they wyed the train at Anson Jct; or whether they ran the 6218 around for return trips. Thanks for posting, John
Rode over this diamond several times, summer 1970. The Farewell 6218 mini tour featured the Northern on several trips Belleville station to Anson Junction & return. The wye got lots of use that weekend. The other leg of the wye would be over AWM’s left shoulder. Well done: caption & photo!
sdfourty
John: I get to wondering if you are thinking of Bonarlaw in your comment about an east to north connection. But what do I know? I wasn’t up there for a train ride.
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Thank you, Mr. SD !! I have forgotten about the layout of the land. It has been too long.
Very nice scene, really does capture that essence of time.
@John, funny you should mention that excursion. I just got a slide from that trip. I’ll post that in the near future.
A great piece of history Arnold. An Automatic Interlocking with operating Semaphore Signals.
Looks like lots of iron ore pellets have been shaken off the cars going over the diamond. We rode an excursion from Bellville to Marmora with a couple of coaches on the tail end of the ore train. Boy did we learn about slack action!
Arnold, I believe this is the CN Maynooth Sub crossing the CN Campbellford Sub. The CN Marmora Sub was only 3.3 Miles long branching off the Maynooth sub at Belmar (Mi 27.2 ish).
The Maynooth Sub ran North from Trenton to Wallace with the Campbellford Sub crossing it at Mile 15.39 (Anson)
Unless all of this was renamed as my information is coming from a TT in the later 1950s
I hope this information helps clarify.
Reviewing some old highway crossing signal plans for the Marmora Subdivision, the Maynooth Sub. and Picton Sub. were consolidated and renamed Marmora Subdivision, Mile 0.00 Picton and Mile 132..2 Maynooth in or around 1972.
For the “New” Marmora Sub. the Interlocked Railway Crossing at Grade at Anson was mileage 45.9.
I would draw your attention to our “Tour of the Central Ontario Railway” on our website, which includes a little history of Anson Junction and a photo of the original station – Yes there was a station! See https://www.marmorahistory.ca/central-ontario-railway-stations
and scroll down.
(If you see any need for corrections, let us know) info@marmorahistory.ca