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About rbutton

Born in Hamilton, Ontario on March 20, 1928, Reg Button was an avid railfan and photographer focusing on the Hamilton area. Reg worked at Proctor & Gamble for many years, his shift work allowing him to go places during times when others could not. He and his wife Millie (nee-Youngman) raised four children, David, Bruce, Linda, and Paul. From 1952 – 1973 Reg was a member of HO Model Engineers Society – HOMES – Club Model Railway & Museum. When not trackside Reg played bass with few local bands, performing at weddings and many other functions, and spending time with the family in their camper around Niagara Falls. Reg passed away on December 18, 2001. This collection is a series of prints from a photo album in the collection of Hamilton railfan, Bob Bratina, who has generously allowed the images to be posted on railpictures.ca. The album contains an assortment of Reg’s images, and others in his collection. The group of volunteers assisting with this project include; Jacob Patterson, Drew Goff, Mark MacCauley, Bruce Mercer, and Arnold Mooney. Copyright for all images is held by the Button family, who have given their blessing on the publishing of the collection. Requests for book, magazine, or other publishing may be sent through Railpictures.ca to be passed on to the family.

rbutton's Railpictures.ca photo upload statistics

Number of images: 22
Total gold: 393
Number of comments recieved : 31
Number of comments posted : 0
Total views: 27443

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rbutton's 22 photos on Railpictures.ca:

One of Canadian Pacific's five semi-streamlined 4-4-4 Jubilee types rests at Chatham Street roundhouse in Hamilton waiting to return to Toronto.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian Pacific
Date:	Circa 1950s
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 13 Favourites

CNR P-5-f, 0-8-0 switcher 8361 works traffic around Hamilton yard while a passenger train makes a stop at CNR’s James Street station with a GTW business car brining up the rear. Perhaps this train will back out to Bayview and proceed west to Sarnia and into the states. Built by MLW in May, 1929, 8367 will be scrapped in February 1959.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	Mid 1950s
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 15 Favourites

GO Transit GP40TC 602 sits beneath James Street at Hamilton’s CN station during the early years of GO Transit operations which commenced May 23, 1967. Delivered in late 1966, 602 would be renumbered GO 9802 in 1970, and GO 502 in 1975 before being sold to Amtrak in 1988 as Amtrak 194, and later rebuilt as GP38H-3 Amtrak 522.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	GO Transit
Date:	Late 1960s
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 18 Favourites

Mid day on May 27, 1953 found downtown Hamilton with quite a spectacle as CNR E-10-a 2-6-0 Mogul 88, the lead locomotive on a double headed freight up the mountain, <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=43925>was tossed on her side</a> at the intersection of Ferguson Avenue and Rebecca Streets. This derailment was caused by the lead wheels of 88's tender picking the switch of the Rebecca Street spur, jackknifing the engine causing it to flip. The three crew members onboard; Engineer Charles Penfold (jumped clear), Fireman Richard Day, and head end Brakeman Murray Calder, all escaped with minor injuries. The trailing engine 3506 followed 88 down the spur stopping short of the yard engine working nearby industries. After 3506 and the rest of the train returned to Hamilton Yard after the derailment while the hook works to get 88 back on the rails.<br><br>CNR 88, built as Grand Trunk 1008 by CLC in 1910, renumbered GTR 910 in 1919, CNR 910 in 1923, and CNR 88 in 1951. After this wreck, which cracked the crown sheet atop the firebox, 88 would be sent to Stratford for repairs. Retired in 1957, she would be placed on display <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24212>as GTR 1008 just east of Morrisburg, Ontario</a> along Highway 2 near the Upper Canada Pioneer Village. Along with it sits the historic Aultsville train station and two GTR coaches. CNR S-1-g Mikado 3506, built by CLC as GTR 486 in 1917, would be scrapped just over 4 years later in July, 1957.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	05/27/1953
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 18 Favourites

A pair of C&O GP30s hustle their westbound freight over the CN Hagersville Sub at Hagersville.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Chesapeake and Ohi…
Date:	1960s
Location:	Hagersville
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 24 Favourites

An eastbound freight descends the grade from Copetown behind a CNR Northern, swinging east towards Bayview Junction and onto the Oakville Sub. Note the double track cowpath at left, single tracked by the time <a href=https://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A73671>this 1953 aerial shot was taken.</a> Compare this view to <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44864>that of today.</a> MoW siding gone, as are section sheds. Track materials still dot the area though. Though unidentifiable, the Northern in question is a U-2-h class engine, numbered 6235 - 6264, and identifiable with the single large dome atop the centre of the boiler.<br><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=46407>Click HERE</a> for a 1959 view of a freight taking the cowpath to Hamilton.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	04/04/1947
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 20 Favourites

Looking west from Plains road, an eastbound passenger train, led by one of the CNR's U-1-f bullet-nosed Mountain types, passes under Spring Gardens Road bridge, now the Royal Botanical Gardens footbridge.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1950s
Location:	Burlington
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 16 Favourites

CNR U-3-a 6304 leads an eastbound freight out of Hamilton about to duck under the Emerald Street footbridge. In the background above the second boxcar, the former Cataract Power Company building can be seen on Victoria Avenue North. Founded in 1896, the building (built in sections from 1896 – 1907) originally housed a steam boiler, later becoming a hydro substation in 1898 from the Decew Falls Generating Station near St. Catharines. It would become part of the publicly owned Hamilton Hydro in 1930. The building has continued to house a number of businesses in recent years, including Hobo Hardware, and Krown Rust Control. As of August 2020, the building is on it’s way to becoming Evil Empire Studios, a film studio for various artistic works and production companies.<br><br>Originally built by ALCO for the Grand Trunk Western in 1927, 6304, and all twelve U-3-a Northerns (6300 – 6311) would be transferred to the CNR circa 1941-1942. It would be scrapped in May 1961.<br><br>More from the Emerald Street footbridge:<br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=32624>May 1967 by Doug Page</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=30908>April 1997 by Arnold Mooney</a><br><a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37397>April 2019 by Jamie Knott</a>

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	Circa 1955
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 17 Favourites

Snapped just east of Lottridge Street, CNR northern 6262 brings a freight into Hamilton from the Niagara region, passing alongside Frost Steel & Wire Company Limited. 6262 was the third last Northern built for the CNR, being one of thirty U-2-h class locomotives built by MLW in February 1944. It would be scrapped just sixteen years later in February 1960.<br><br>Frost Steel & Wire, founded by Henry L. Frost, began their operations in Welland in 1898. The company moved to Hamilton in 1904, with their site at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Princess Street. They would expand over the coming decades, eventually giving them the entire block on Princess from Sherman to Lottridge Street. In 1926-27 the company would expand across Lottridge Street, purchasing the R. A Lister & Company Limited property on the north side of the CNR Grimsby Sub for their head office (250 Lottridge) and further manufacturing. An old loading dock remains today <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=43779>alongside the railway</a> and can be seen in a 50th anniversary promotional image <a href=https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-8/14524557_1276076015744022_38169071197502980_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=4HDxhDQPgxQAX8Nge8I&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&oh=00_AT9aJHLSzkNqyVFc2012r_Q9V71UKPqpjh_E4dd1LOHvmQ&oe=628030AC>found here.</a> Frost would shut it's doors in 2002, but it's former head office building still retains the Frost Steel & Wire Products Limited sign on the south side facing the railway.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	Circa 1955
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 17 Favourites

6062 approaches Bayview Junction departing Hamilton with an eastbound passenger train.

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	Circa 1955
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 19 Favourites

A scene at Hagersville finds CNR 2-6-0 Mogul 83 working the CNR/NYC interchange to the north west side of the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=29044>Hagersville diamond</a> while a New York Central Mikado makes it's way westbound towards St. Thomas and beyond. Note the CASO lettered boxcar behind 83.<br><br>CNR E-10-a 83, built by CLC in 1910 as Grand Trunk E12 class mogul 1003, renumbered to CNR 905 in 1923, and to CNR 83 in 1951. It would be scrapped in January 1959. NYC H7c, 2-8-2 Mikado 2016, built as Michigan Central 7916 by ALCO in 1913, would receive it's current identity in 1936. It would be retired in February 1956, disposition unknown. It was one of 28 H7s assigned to the Canadian Division. More info on the H7s, including images at St. Thomas and Welland, can be found <a href=https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/h-7mikados.pdf>in this article by the New York Central System Historical Society.</a>

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1954
Location:	Hagersville
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 18 Favourites

CNR S-1-f Mikado, 3466, waits on the helper track at Bayview Junction ready to assist the next heavy train upgrade through Dundas. Note the marker lanterns on the front walkway, and at far right, the semaphore at the junction with the Oakville Subdivision, and the old Spring Gardens Road bridge. Built by MLW 1913 as GTR 561 it was renumbered CNR 3466 1923, and finally scrapped in 1959.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1954
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

5 Comments | 21 Favourites

Grand River Railway 842, and another interurban car, are seen at the 1947 Port Dover station, the southern end of the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines. GRR 842 was one of eight steel passenger cars built by the Preston Car & Coach Company in 1921.<br><br><i>Reg Button Photo, Bob Bratina Collection.</i>

Name:	Reg Button Photo; C…
Railway:	Grand River Railwa…
Date:	Circa 1949
Location:	Port Dover
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 14 Favourites

The fireman of CNR U-2-a 6105, one of the earliest Confederation type locomotives built for the Canadian National Railways by the Canadian Locomotive Company in July of 1927, is busy atop the tender at Hamilton yard taking on water from the standpipe. 6105 was the first Confederation on CNR to be built with a booster engine, the prior 6100 – 6104 were built without, though 6100 briefly had one installed for display at Baltimore’s <i>Fair of the Iron Horse</i> in October 1927. These boosters, mounted on the rear axle of the trailing truck beneath the cab, were used to start a heavy train or operate at low speed under certain conditions using the excess steam that is created though not used at low speeds. 6105 would be scrapped in February 1960. Note the building at upper right on Bay Street, today the home of Hutch’s Harbour Front fish & chip restaurant (2nd location), built circa 1940.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1950s
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 15 Favourites

Mid day on May 27, 1953 finds CNR E-10-a 2-6-0 Mogul 88, the lead locomotive on a double headed freight up the mountain, tossed on her side at the intersection of Ferguson Avenue and Rebecca Streets in Hamilton. This derailment was caused by the lead wheels of 88's tender picking the switch of the Rebecca Street spur, jackknifing the engine causing it to flip. The three crew members onboard; Engineer Charles Penfold (jumped clear), Fireman Richard Day, and head end Brakeman Murray Calder, all escaped with minor injuries. The tender has been partially righted in this image, and is supported by timbers after having made contact with the Alexanian Oriental Rug Cleaning Company building. The trailing 3506 <a href=https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/10273403_787377977947164_3356333114880696233_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&cb=846ca55b-ee17756f&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=sUAd0WwO6bsAX8Y0mRW&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&oh=0dcee9a4794054948ccd19d5de4d704f&oe=601D781F>followed 88 down the spur</a> stopping short of the yard engine working nearby industries. After 3506 and the rest of the train returned to Hamilton Yard, a steam wrecking crane was brought in to clear the mess.<br><br>CNR 88, built as Grand Trunk 1008 by CLC in 1910, renumbered GTR 910 in 1919, CNR 910 in 1923, and CNR 88 in 1951. After this wreck, which cracked the crown sheet atop the firebox, 88 would be sent to Stratford for repairs. Retired in 1957, she would be placed on display <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24212>as GTR 1008 just east of Morrisburg, Ontario</a> along Highway 2 near the Upper Canada Pioneer Village. Along with it sits the historic Aultsville train station and two GTR coaches. CNR S-1-g Mikado 3506, built by CLC as GTR 486 in 1917, would be scrapped just over 4 years later in July, 1957.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	05/27/1953
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

1 Comments | 21 Favourites

Extra flags flying high, DM&IR SD9 155 leads CN GP35 4001 eastbound through Merriton on Saturday, January 15, 1966. From the winter of 1963/64 through winter 1973/74 DM&IR SD9 and SD18 units were often leased by CN, CP and a few other lines. The winter of 1965/66 saw CN leasing 20 units, 155 being one of them (the only time it was leased), and the CP leasing 16.<br><br>DMIR 155 was one of 73 SD9s built by EMD and delivered in March, 1958. The unit would later be sold to Independent Locomotive Service in 1993 and rebuilt/renumbered as <a href=https://www.railpictures.net/showimage.php?id=282978&key=5296127>ILSX 1374.</a> It's <a href=https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4286118252_fb4884a4b4_o.jpg>last known operation</a> was the Dakota Quality Grain Cooperative in Ross, North Dakota about 2009. Trailing unit, CN 4001, was the second of two GP35s built for CN (the other being CN 4000). Both units would be renumbered 9300/9301 respectively in 1981, and retired from CN's roster in 1984. 9301 would be stripped of usable parts and scrapped at Mandak Metals, while 9300 would be sold to the Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western (DMVW) in 1989 <a href=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3273877>as their 323,</a> eventually being scrapped in 2002.<br><br>More DMIR on CN:<br>Roger Lalonde: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=26619>Jan. 18, 1965 at Montreal.</a><br>Bill Thomson: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=25143>March, 1966 at Halwest.</a><br>Doug Hately: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=24236>Dec. 27, 1965 at Bowmanville.</a><br><br>CN GP35s:<br>CN 4000 by Bill Thomson: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=27396>Mimico, Oct. 1964</a><br>CN 4001 by Bill Thomson: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=26650>Mimico, Oct. 1964</a><br>CN 9300 by Doug Lawson: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=35749>Dead and drained at Edmonton, Feb. 1984</a><br>CN 9301 by Doug Lawson: <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=35750>Dead and drained at Edmonton, Feb. 1984</a><br><br>Thanks to Bruce Mercer and Doug Wingfield for further information.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	01/15/1966
Location:	Merriton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 13 Favourites

Tree covered mountains stand tall over Lake Okanagan and the town of Kelowna where we find CNR oil burner 4302 sitting in the yard. 4302 is T-4-a 2-10-2 built in 1929 by CLC as part of 15 locomotive order. The CNR yard is long gone today, with the site now being occupied by condos, apartments, and Sunset Drive.<br><br>Rails first reached Kelowna about 1909 on the Canadian Pacific Railway Okanagan line, running south from the transcontinental mainline at Sicamous to Vernon, then heading west to the lake at Okanagan Landing. Cars were then barged to Kelowna, and offloaded by teams of horses into the small yard at the south end of town at the corner of Water Street and Smith Avenue. Records show this operation continued into the 1950's <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/chapman.jpg>using a truck</a> and is detailed in <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/chapman2.jpg>this article</a> from the Kelowna Daily Courier.<br><br>The Canadian National Railway would complete it's line to Kelowna in September, 1925, completing a line which was begun in 1912 by the Canadian Northern Railway. With this line built, CP would operate over it via trackage rights from Vernon in addition to the car ferry. Passenger service was initially provided by <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/feb18,1926CN-oil-car.jpg>an oil-electric car</a> but was later replaced by standard equipment within a few months. <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/station.jpg>The CNR station,</a> built in 1926, and opening January 4, 1927, served the passenger trains <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/ts_archive1968.jpg>until 1967,</a> when service was cancelled, and the station converted to a freight and express shed. Designated a heritage structure in 1991, the station still stands today as <a href=https://www.teamconstruction.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Capture-1.jpg>The Train Station Pub.</a><br><br>As traffic dwindled both CN and CP wanted to dispose of their Okanagan lines. The Omnitrax shortline, <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=9687>Okanagan Valley Railway,</a> took over the CPR operations in 1998 and operated through 2009 when their largest customer, the Owen-Illinois glass plant, shut down. The <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=1158>Kelowna Pacific Railway</a> would take over the CN operations in February, 2000. The railway would go into receivership on <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/okanagan-rail-connection-severed-7813.pdf>Friday, July 5, 2013,</a> with the rails being removed during 2015. Passenger service briefly returned to Kelowna in 1999 as the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10769>Okanagan Valley Wine Train,</a> operated by FunTrain Canada Inc., part of Nagel Tours of Edmonton. The train, operating from Kelowna to Vernon, ran until 2003 when the operation was <a href=http://www.okanagan.net/ocarc/wtcancl.gif>suspended due to lack of funding.</a><br><br>Thanks to Steve Host and Dan Dell'Unto for editing assistance.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1953
Location:	Kelowna
Province:	British Columbia

1 Comments | 23 Favourites

A busy scene at Hamilton's <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=38517>James Street North Station</a> as CNR U-2-h 6263; the second last 4-8-4 Confederation type constructed for the CNR by MLW in 1944, hauls a good size passenger train westbound under MacNab Street North. At left a freight passes eastbound, while at right in the station a CNR U-1-f "Bullet Nosed Betty" (CNR 6060-6079; MLW, 1944) sits waiting to depart.<br><br>Opening in 1931, the James Street North Station served as the third station on what once was "Hamilton's Railway." <a href=http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CNR/gwr/Hamiltom_yard.jpg>The original, built circa 1854</a> by the Great Western Railway (headquartered in Hamilton) served the railway until 1875, when the <a href=https://www.canada-rail.com/galleries/ontario/hamilton11.jpg>second station was built</a> to accommodate the growth of the railway. GWR would only use the new station for 7 years however, as the GTR would take control of the company on August 12, 1882. Ground was broken on James Street North by the Canadian National Railways in 1929 for the new station, which would serve the company as well as VIA Rail, GO Transit and Amtrak trains over the years before closing officially on February 26, 1993. VIA and Amtrak had moved to the new Aldershot station effective May 25, 1992, leaving only GO Transit serving the station until moving to the TH&B Hunter Street Station in early 1993. In 2000, LIUNA; the Laborers' International Union of North America, would reopen the station as the <a href=https://dynamicmedia.zuza.com/zz/m/original_/6/e/6e35bbfd-0c3e-4b7b-8c23-5fbbfc11cad8/B822618989Z.1_20160920180618_000_GAD1NA3O7.2_Gallery.jpg>LIUNA Station Banquet Hall.</a> In recent years this area has seen passenger trains stopping again with the opening of GO Transit's <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=20100>West Harbour GO Station</a> in 2015.<br><br>*Note the dual gauge tracks in the 'original' GWR station photo. Beginning in 1870, GWR began rebuilding their line from Provincial gauge (5' - 6") to standard gauge for increased traffic from American rails.<br><br>More James Street North Station:<br>GO Transit in 1991 by <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=6617>John Eull.</a><br>Amtrak's "<i>The Maple Leaf</i>" in 1992 by <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=36825>Bill MacArthur.</a><br>A CNR 6167 excursion in 1963 by <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=39091>Harold E. Brouse.</a><br>
Eastbound Amtrak in 1986 by <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=4846>John Eull.</a><br>RARE COLOUR PHOTO; General Motor's "<i>Train of Tomorrow</i>" or Aerotrain in 1957 by <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=28477>Doug Page.</a>

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	08/1951
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

Comments | 18 Favourites

Newly built CNR 6400, one of <a href=https://ingeniumcanada.org/sites/default/files/styles/large_1/public/2019-04/artifact-1967-0001-steam-locomotive-canadian-national-cstmc-garth-wilson-gallery3.jpg?itok=mloBwA68>five</a> U-4-a 4-8-4 locomotives built by MLW in 1936, is seen on public display at the Ferguson Avenue freight shed in Hamilton. The streamlined Confederations were used in Ontario/Quebec passenger service until their retirements in 1960/1961. CN 6400 is the sole survivor of the fleet, currently <a href=https://ingeniumcanada.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/artifact-1967-0001-steam-locomotive-canadian-national-cstmc-garth-wilson.jpg>on display</a> at the Canada Science & Technology Museum along with various other pieces of railway equipment. Shortly after construction it was used as an excursion locomotive out of Laprairie, Quebec in 1936 for the <a href=https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37379697_10156178577470081_7816192308025491456_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=lgDdPf5yMigAX9d-HOG&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&oh=b797c68ea7bd78b02e14a72e9a34a05a&oe=5F65AAF3>centennial celebrations</a> of Canada's first railway; the Champlain & St. Lawrence, having commenced operation on July 21, 1836 with locomotive <a href=https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/the-dorchester-canadas-first-locomotive-pictured-alongside-the-worlds-picture-id530797626?s=2048x2048>Dorchester</a> built in England at Newcastle upon Tyne. 6400 would shed it's olive green paint for <a href=https://www.steamlocomotive.com/whyte/4-8-4/Canada/photos/6400.jpg>Royal Blue</a> as it and <a href=https://www.themetrains.com/royal-train-main.htm>six other Canadian locomotives</a> would pull the Royal Train carrying <a href=https://ingeniumcanada.org/sites/default/files/styles/large_1/public/2019-05/6400-locomotive-with-king-george-vi-and-queen-elizabeth.jpg?itok=GHz_d93e>King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II,</a> throughout Canada in May and June, 1939 in what would be the first visit to Canada by reigning Monarchs. 1939 would also see 6400 still in royal blue make a trip to New York as an exhibit in the <a href=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Brnm0YIIUAAfpk_?format=jpg&name=medium>"World of Tomorrow"</a> display at the New York World's Fair. After just over two decades in service, 6400 would be retired in 1960, ending up in a scrap line at the <a href=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=595333>London Reclamation Yard</a> before being set aside by CNR for preservation as part of the Museum Train; also known as the <a href=http://bp1.blogger.com/_IPZX1n_gnIM/SEdWP4gl4PI/AAAAAAAABYY/fEfpBFZcQ_U/s1600-h/Journey-into-yesterday.jpg>"Journey into Yesterday".</a> It would continue in museum train service as well as appearing at other event displays until Canada's centennial celebrations in 1967, when the Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa would open. 6400 and a number of other locomotives were <a href=https://churcher.crcml.org/Circle_Articles/Article_Meldrum04.html>pushed inside</a> for permanent display.<br><br>The CNR <a href=http://www.oil-electric.com/2008/06/museum-train-part-1.html>Museum Train</a> began in 1953 with CN 40, a 4-4-0 built for the Grand Trunk in 1872, CN 247, a saddle tank 0-6-0 built in 1894 for Grand Trunk, and CN 713, a 2-6-0 built for Grand Trunk in 1900 and a selection of vintage wooden equipment dating as far back as 1859. The train toured Canada highlighting railway heritage and the railway's contributions to the country until 1967, Canada's Centennial, when the National museum of Science and Technology opened in Ottawa. The Museum train was retired and put on display.<br><br>CNR's Ferguson Avenue <a href=https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-0/p280x280/95878341_644542212762572_3479923214937751552_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=b96e70&_nc_ohc=u08wjgp-oJsAX_a0L8T&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&_nc_tp=6&oh=aac29706746730fc76e53a8b17edac59&oe=5F67C41E>freight sheds,</a> the sixth largest in Canada, stretched north-south from Barton Street south to Canon Street. One of the customers using the shed was <a href=https://www.ontariolantern.ca/tubular-lanterns/e-t-wright-co/>E.T. Wright & Co.,</a> a tinware company eventually manufacturing many types of lanterns, including for use by <a href=https://www.ontariolantern.ca/railway-other/railway-lanterns/>Canadian railways.</a> From the small yard beside the shed, switchers could run over to the N&NW spur without crossing the Grimsby Sub by using an underpass of Barton Street and the Grimsby, reconnecting to the N&NW spur around the intersection of Wellington Street North and Simcoe Street East.<br><br>Through the trees at upper left the addition to the <a href=https://www.thesil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/royal.jpg>Royal Connaught Hotel</a> can be seen at the corner of King Street East and John Street South. The Royal Connaught, built in 1914-1916 by Pigott Construction, and named after then Governer General of Canada, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (and Strathearn,) has stood for over 100 years, now serving as the Residences of the Royal Connaught Condominiums after the hotel closed in 2008. This hotel would not be the only structure named after the Governer General, as the Canadian Pacific Railway's 5.02 mile long Selkirk Tunnel on the Roger's Pass line in British Columbia, opened by the Duke of Connaught in 1916, would be renamed the <a href=http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/CPR/Connaught_Tunnel.jpg>Connaught Tunnel</a> a few weeks later after opening.

Name:	Geo Winchester; Reg…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	1936
Location:	Hamilton
Province:	Ontario

2 Comments | 17 Favourites

On detour due to the <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37625>Nash Road Wreck</a> which occurred on <a href=http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=37624>July 5, 1968</a>, CN 466 traverses the Beach Sub crossing Lakeshore Road in Burlington with CN 4479, 4487, 3239 for power. The train is seen passing the <a href=https://www.dancescape.com/brantinnhistory>Brant Inn</a>, fondly remembered by many for the famous bands and dances hosted there.<br><br>The original Brant Hotel and Country Club, built in 1900 where the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital now stands, served as a hotel and club until 1917, when the hotel was expropriated by the Canadian government for use as a military hospital. The Country Club was renovated into the Brant Inn, continuing as such until a fire on the roof (possibly started by cinders from a passing train) in 1925 burnt the place to the ground. This second Brant Inn was constructed between 1925-1926 and opened as pictured above, and would be managed by John Murray Anderson through it's peak years with many famous headliners. Performers included Bert Niosi & Orchestra, Frankie Laine, Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Mathis, and Liberace. As the 'Big Band Dances' died out with the times, so too did the Brant Inn. With health deteriorating, Anderson sold the inn to International Atlas Development and Exploration Ltd. in 1964. Attempts to keep the place popular continued until 1968, when the company decided to close and demolish the Brant Inn. The final event would be held on New Years Eve, 1968; demolition began early 1969. Today this site is home to Spencer Smith Park, named after the former Burlington Horticultural Society president. The park includes various memorials; to Terry Fox, the Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval Memorial, and a plaque dedicated to the Brant Inn.<br><br>Locomotive-wise, both GP9's came out of GMD London in 1956. Leader 4479 would be rebuilt in 1985 to CN 7002 and retired in 2000, finally being sold in 2003 to Pioneer RailCorp retaining it's number. Trailing geep 4487 would be rebuilt in 1992 to 7048 and continued in CN service until retirement in 2007. It would be sold in 2014 to the Carolina Costal Railway in North Carolina as their 7048. MLW C-424 3239, built 1967, would be retired, along with the rest of the fleet, in the mid 1980's.

Name:	Reg Button Collecti…
Railway:	Canadian National
Date:	07/05/1968
Location:	Burlington
Province:	Ontario

4 Comments | 25 Favourites

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