Comments on: An overall view of Chessie,s engine facilities in St Thomas before every thing was demolished. The yard office is directly behind me and the actual yard ( Buffalo yard ) to the west across the hi level bridge. Named Buffalo yard because there was a farm with buffalo next to the yard. Three homely looking units in one spot. GP38,s soon replaced these wore out engines.

By: mercer

mercer — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:24:31 +0000

The Morning Sun publication is being undertaken by Tim Swaddling of Kingsville. I am uncertain of the present status.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 03:08:40 +0000

I want this book and will buy it. Waiting. Patiently

The LE&DRR is still the operating subsidiary that owns the CSX in Ontario. The company remained on the books, like GJR, with annual meetings in Windsor until 2013 or so, after which the company was consolidated into the Canada Corporations act.

Still exists, but not as the act of parliment it once was.

GJR has effectively performed the exact same corporate manoeuvre.

By: baldeagle

baldeagle — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 03:02:51 +0000

The Talbot yard ( still buffalo to me ) was built in 1903 by the Lake Erie and Detroit railway. There is a book in the works on the C&O in Canada and details of the St Thomas area are included.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:53:33 +0000

Interesting…. has anyone an idea when the Talbot yard was built? Was it a later addition or was it simply a necessity to build it out of town due to lack of land in town? Must have seemed awfully remote back in the day all things considered, when transportation was mostly by foot or stagecoach, unless of course it was in the 20th century sometime.

By: mercer

mercer — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 20:02:23 +0000

C&O predecessor’s Pere Marquette and Lake Erie & Detroit River had a share of the L&PS; so the running rights agreement on that short distance within the city goes back a long way.

The ‘yard office’ on Wilson Ave was actually the Canadian DIVISION head office for decades. It housed the Senior staff such as Division Superintendent, Road Foreman of Engines, Trainmaster, Crew Callers and Train Dispatcher (complete with CTC panel).
You can view my b&w images of this location at Flickr -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29268670@N04/albums/72157606600973006

The official name for the C&O’s yard was Talbot, ” Buffalo ” was merely a nickname. And I think that only came about during the final couple of years.

By: snake

snake — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:53:50 +0000

in this photo – you’re looking north/ northeast, the LP&S track is north /south directly behind the shop/roundhouse

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:50:33 +0000

Yes Snake, it appears so, but it’s not noted as ‘joint track’ in the timetables i’ve seen.

I added the GPS to this (and Darrell’s other) great photo. For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar (young kids especially) I’ll share what I know from research:

Looking behind you would be the C&O mainline that ran directly west to Windsor(Walkerville) and would lead past the yard office, then to the large steel tresle, which just beyond it was the C&O Talbot Yard.

The mainline , shown at bottom left (furthest track I believe) curved as shown to the north joining the L&PS at mile 16.8 (Pinafore), where C&O trains used the L&PS to mile 15.6 (P.C Interchange).

This from the October 26 1975 Timetable #55

“Main track is east track of two through tracks extending from PC interchange to South Pinafore (Mileage 16.8). C&O Rlwy trains utilize yard track, first west of main track; for movements in either direction between C&O and P.C. Interchanges, this track must be clear of cars for these movements.

Normal position for crossover and junction switches to main track of P.C Interchange is when set for through movements between C&O and PC Interchanges”

Furthermore, one track tracks for the car department (car shop) crossed the L&PS at a diamond on the others side of the roundhouse, with a semaphore signal..

All of this of course was abandoned in 1985 and ripped up by 86 or so.. even the bridge was torn down.

the only things that survive today is the L&PS (both tracks too!), the pit, and the yard office, which is boarded up and derelict.

By: snake

snake — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:21:44 +0000

where the C&O turned down of the NYC….was it shared track with the old L&PS until the C&O line turned westward? can’t remember….

By: Jacob Patterson

Jacob Patterson — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:10:45 +0000

Great shot Darrell.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:05:58 +0000

Yard office is still there – (can see it on Street View in the map on this page)

Thanks for sharing – amazing. I spent some time here in 2007.. the pit is still there!