Images by dleffler

dleffler — Sat, 09 May 2026 01:12:55 +0000

Taken while the BBD demo LRC JV1 and coach JV2 were test-running on CN Tempo trains in the Toronto-Sarnia corridor, a view of the sleek modern exterior can be found here: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19855.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Builder/Manufactur…
Date:	05/00/1976
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 9 Favourites

Brief historical tidbit: The LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) was a new lightweight, streamlined train developed by joint venture between Alcan, CN, Dofasco and MLW, and intended for faster, more efficient operation over existing corridor trackage. The coach was completed in 1971 and the locomotive in 1973, and the equipment went through various tests and improvements, most occurring between 1973 and 1975 prior to regular production being started in the late 70's. Phase three of the prototype testing was running over the Toronto-Sarnia corridor in Southern Ontario as seen here, running on the Tempo's schedule. During its testing the train had also run in western Canada (at least as far west as Alberta), Montreal, in the US, as well as in corridor service in Southern Ontario.

While the uniquely-styled demonstrator locomotive and coach were scrapped at a later date, and all of the VIA LRC locomotives retired over time, today the LRC passenger car fleet lives on as the backbone of VIA's Windsor-Toronto-Montreal corridor fleet.

A view of the interior cab can be found here: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=19928' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Builder/Manufactur…
Date:	05/00/1975
Location:	Sarnia
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 18 Favourites

Car 933 would be a “protect service” car that was kept at the Port Dover Station to cover any needs of service. Port Dover was the south end of the LE&N line that started at the GRR-LE&N Galt Main Street station and ran 51 miles south to Port Dover. The station was built in 1947 to a CPR Station Plan, at Chapman and Main Street, Milepost 51.0 of the LE&N. It was sold in 1965 to CN, who later sold it to the local town. Today it is leased to a private firm, owned by the Norfolk Region and still exists today (though not like it looks in this 1950 photo!).

This series of photos were taken by a now-deceased friend, William Cecil Hommerding (who passed away in 1983). Another mutual (deceased) friend, Jim Findlay of Hudson, Michigan (pictured) accompanied Cecil on the trip. The Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse chapters of the NHRS did each run several one day trips over the entire near 69 mile GRR-LE&N line around when these photos were taken, always on a Sunday. This particular trip was by a group from Michigan who held a one day, full length of the line trip on April 30th 1950 using GRR car 842, as pictured in many of Cecil's images. Although both Cecil and Jim are now deceased, their photos live on!

(* Editors note: we would like to thank Doug Leffler for sharing these excellent historical photographs of Cecil's with us, and George Roth for helping interpret much of the historical and contextual information depicted in these photos.)

Other photos from the fantrip:
Car 842 crossing the bridge at Waterford: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357
The fantrip at Kitchener: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681
The GRR's Preston Shops: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Port Dover
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 15 Favourites

As mentioned in a previous photo, the brick and stone station was built during the summer of 1922 and opened for passenger service on December 23rd, 1923. The location was on east Main Street, opposite the then standing CPR Freight shed. The location, thus allowed both railways to operate their passenger rail equipment interchangeably as electrical voltage was made consistent between both railways on December 4th 1921. The location became Mile Post Zero for both railways. The GRR to the north, the LE&N to the south. Later it became a loading point also for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport that served Preston, Blair and Kitchener. The building was demolished in the summer of 1956.

Car 842 was part of eight steel passenger cars built by the Preston Car & Coach Company in 1921 when the GRR upgraded from 1500 to 600 volts. In the years following the end of passenger service in 1955, most were eventually scrapped.

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks. Some car details from the late W.E. Miller's Grand River Railway site

Other photos from that day:
The GRR-LE&N Galt Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502
Car 864 at Galt Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412
Fantrip car 842 at Kitchener: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 6 Favourites

This station was built in the late 1890's as a passenger loading point between the then three directions of the Galt, Preston & Hespeler passenger cars, and the new direction to Berlin of the Preston & Berlin Railway. Later it became a loading point also for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport. The canopy was removed after rail passenger service ended in 1955. Freight crews used the waiting room for lockers and storage, and the back room for signing in and off of assignments until all electrical rail services ceased on October 1st, 1961. The building was demolished in September 1962.

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other photos at Preston:
Passenger car passing through Preston: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10942
GRR's Preston Shops: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413
Car 848 at Preston: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 8 Favourites

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other photos at Preston:
GRR's Preston Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10943
Car 864 at Galt Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474
Car 848 at Preston: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 4 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 7 Favourites

* Exact location unknown, possibly westbound at Hyde Park Road grade crossing.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 10 Favourites

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other GRR passenger operation photos:
The GRR-LE&N Galt Station itself: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502
A view of car 864 stopped at the station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474
The fantrip stopping for photos at Kitchener Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10681

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 5 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 13 Favourites

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other photos of Preston:
Freight and Passenger equipment at GRR's Preston Shops: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10413
Car 848 in service at Preston: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298
GRR motor 230 at Preston Shops: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10297

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Lake Erie and Nort…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Preston
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 4 Favourites

The original Hespeler Station building is believed to have been built just after the service began by the then Galt, Preston & Hespeler Street Railway Company in January 1896. In later years, an express car was left in place in the early afternoon for loading where GRR car 842 is sitting. The building lasted into the late 1960s after electrical service had ended, before being demolished.

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

More interesting views:
A view of 848 at Preston Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10298
An end photo of 848 at Hespeler Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10316
The fantrip special stopping at Paris: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Hespeler
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 7 Favourites

The station design appears to be an abridgment of a standard CPR No. 16 Station plan finished in brick veneer. The GRR Kitchener Station was built in 1943, opened in Nov 1943, and demolished in the late 1970's. Passenger service on the line ended in 1955.

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other photos of the fantrip with 842:
842 crossing the bridge at Waterford: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10357
The fantrip stopping at Paris: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10356

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Kitchener
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 8 Favourites

here).' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	VIA Rail
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 21 Favourites

Some history about this station: it was built as a brick and stone building during the summer of 1922, and opened for passenger service on December 23rd, 1923. Its location was on east Main Street, opposite the then standing CPR Freight shed. The location thus allowed both railways to operate their passenger rail equipment interchangeably, as electrical voltage was made consistent between both railways on December 4th, 1921. This location became Mile Post Zero for both railways: the GRR to the north, and the LE&N to the south. Later it also became a loading point for the bus service of Canadian Pacific Transport that served Preston, Blair and Kitchener. Passenger service ended on the line in 1955, and the building was demolished in the summer of 1956.

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other photos at the Galt Station:
GRR car 864 stopped at the station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412
Better view of car 864: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10474
Side view of fantrip car 842 at the station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10987

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 8 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	Lobo
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 9 Favourites

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 10 Favourites

Photo taken by Cecil Hommerding, from the collection (Copyright) of Doug Leffler. Substantial caption information provided by George Roth et al with much thanks.

Other GRR passenger operation photos:
The GRR-LE&N Station itself: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10502
Another view of car 864 stopped at the station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10412
GRR cars 848 and 842 at Hespeler Station: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10746

For more details on Cecil, see here.' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Cecil Hommerding, c…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	04/30/1950
Location:	Galt
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 10 Favourites

Here we see CN "VIA" 74 with GP9 4103 leading an F9B, 4 of the 5 Crusader cars (including an observation), and some regular steel CN & VIA cars at Hyde Park, just east of Denfield Road near London Ontario. Instead of wying the train at the end of its run, CN often just wyed or ran the power around and pulled the train back from the other end, hence the observation car right behind the B-unit and the baggage car trailing.

Not factoring in the hoard of self-propelled CN RDC units, the former Crusader passenger cars made for an interesting glimmer in the sea of CN white and red (and later VIA blue and yellow).' height='150' width='200' />

Name:	Doug Leffler
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	06/25/1977
Location:	London
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 11 Favourites

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Images by dleffler