Comments on: AVALON ON THE AVALON – Having travelled eastward with four University of Toronto friends – including the late James A. Brown – to celebrate Canada’s Centennial by riding Newfoundland’s endangered passenger train ‘Caribou’, John Freyseng of Ontario continued to shoot some amazing narrow gauge images. On the third day of his four day whirlwind trip while enroute to the Carbonear branchline, they stop at the Donovan’s TCH overpass to capture eastbound ‘Caribou’ No. 102 just seven miles from the capital city’s station on the Avalon Peninsula. Bringing up the rear and carrying the markers is business car No. 2 ‘Avalon’. Built in 1918 by the CC&F it was originally called ‘Quidi Vidi’, the private rail car of Sir William Reid, son of railway builder Sir Robert G. Reid. It survived at nearby Bowring Park after the closure in 1988 but eventually deteriorated beyond saving. That day’s ‘Caribou’ had a colorful smattering of not only two different paint schemes but also applied to semi-streamlined and riveted, as well as clerestory and round roof equipment. The remaining cars in the black and green would not see them repainted to the grey and black before cancellation in 1969. More of John Freyseng’s 1967 photos can be seen in my upcoming TRAINS OF NEWFOUNDLAND, to be released by Flanker Press in both hard and softcover editions on September 9, 2022.

By: JoeDurocher

JoeDurocher — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 12:52:32 +0000

Love shots from NFLD.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 19:33:34 +0000

Another fine RailwayGuy (TM) image!

By: CN NF210

CN NF210 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:01:14 +0000

Of note the car “Avalon’ was later repainted into the black and lite gray livery with the red CN “noodle” logo. This was done in the early 70′s and she wore this until retirement in 1982/83 and had this livery while at Bowering Park until Avalon was removed and sent to the city dump in 1998.

By: harricottbay

harricottbay — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 22:13:40 +0000

Thank you Steve! It’s so wonderful that men like John travelled here to capture these amazing scenes. Railroading on the Rock…anything but dull!

By: sdfourty

sdfourty — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:45:04 +0000

Fantastic!
The Avalon: complete with awning, traditional marker lights and roof mounted search / inspection lights.
sdfourty