Comments on: For the history buffs I dug this one up. I don’t even know what town it was shot at because I did not mark the old square slide. But it MIGHT be St. Thomas. These neat looking signals were on the way out by the time I got to shooting this. I remember one at Biggar Rd in Niagara that hung on for a long time, plus a couple of others along the way. They’re all gone now, just like wayside shanties and phone boxes. So this RP offering is for those have never seen and old “Stop, Look & Listen” wig-wag.

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:51:29 +0000

Todd’s note reminded me of something. In 1980, I used to “brake” for an old Conductor in the Windsor Pool. His brother’s house was next to the track on one of the streets through Chatham. It couldn’t have been more than 50 feet from the rails. In the “banjo” signal era there was a set of speed restrictions through town until the crossings were fully occupied. I think it might have been 15mph, not sure. Once all crossings were ‘gated’, the limit was raised to 35. By the time the van went by his brother’s house we were going much faster. His brother mentioned his concerns to my Conductor often. Sometimes his brother would be out in the driveway between the CP right of way & the house to “perform train inspection” & wave. He wasn’t a railway employee by the way….lol

By: RonaldB

RonaldB — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 16:45:39 +0000

Signals like these were in place in London on the CP Galt Sub double track crossings at William, Maitland & Colborne streets too, until the mid 1970s. Those few crossings in Chatham that had “banjo” signals (as noted above), were so equipped until sometime in the mid to late 1970s. Once gates were installed on those crossings, speed limits were raised through the city of Chatham.

By: Todd Steinman

Todd Steinman — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 05:30:00 +0000

Wow! 1974 Chatham never looked so good! To emphasize further on Hunters ID….if you look between the two cars theres a recognizable landmark of downtown Chatham…the First Presbyterian Church. Otherwise, everything surrounding this scene is gone. Buildings to the right of the street have mostly disappeared….replaced by a parking garage and the “Downtown Chatham Centre” (mall). Still, the Windsor Sub. is one of the ‘tightest’ rail corridors I have ever seen, splitting through neighbourhoods with both houses and businesses encroaching the line!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:33:25 +0000

Bet you have no idea how glad I am you told me this. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

By: HunterBHolmes

HunterBHolmes — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 00:12:45 +0000

This is the CP Windsor sub in Chatham looking north west on Wellington St W.

By: Larry Parks

Larry Parks — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 00:05:42 +0000

This is very neat Arnold.

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 18:39:30 +0000

Love it, the Biggar Road Niagara Falls sign survived up to the late 90′s if I am not mistaken, it was definitely one of the last to go…