Comments on: How it was done. “Custodian” Jimmy Bell hands up the orders to southbound CP 4509,4218′s tail end on a warm but rainy Wednesday in June 1986. Every time I visited him at the CP station in town it was like being welcomed back home. Jimmy is gone now, but to this day he remains the nicest agent I even had the pleasure of chatting out an afternoon with. He had quite a bit of memorabilia out at his cottage on Georgian Bay; and when I expressed great interest in it; he got a ladder, went out, and tore the namesign off the north end of the station and told me to take it home as a souvenir of our good times. Needless to say I still have it.

By: shamal

shamal — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:36:59 +0000

A.W. says: I wasn’t going to bother posting this ,,
my reaction ,
are you feaking kidding me ??
What a shot , love everything ,, the warm June rain, the well dressed center piece ,,
Thank You for posting !!

By: Noe

Noe — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:09:01 +0000

Awesome photo and story.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 13:32:51 +0000

Ah yes, I had heard of it but had forgotten where; as we stop at Durand en route to the West most every year………..but this one.
THANKS

By: cprtom

cprtom — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 13:23:27 +0000

Arnold, over the border for me is Haslett, Michigan, mp. 229 on the GTW Flint sub to be exact. ~100 Mi to Sarnia,

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 01:44:43 +0000

Thanks, Marcus.
I wasn’t going to bother posting this shot but then I got to thinking the only time we see anyone on the railroads now is when they are in the cab or maybe throwing switches. Or worse, a cop telling us to “buzz off”.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 01:37:59 +0000

Classic Canadian image!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 13:03:22 +0000

Kind Words, ‘cprtom’.
The border had better open in 2021 within reason or most of us will be going a bit stir-crazy. It would be nice to meet and chat; as perhaps the lack of trains would not be such a disappointment.
Curious……..”over the border” could mean you might be a CP/D&H fan? )

By: Alexander Medora

Alexander Medora — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 03:28:14 +0000

As it should be.

By: cprtom

cprtom — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 02:40:35 +0000

Arnold, every one of your photos and the stories that accompany them are fantastic. You put a smile on my face every time I see/read them!

Hopefully, some day Americans quit acting stupid long enough to get rid of this virus and we can travel to Ontario again, and hopefully we can meet. I’d love to spend an hour, or three, trackside with you. I’m not counting on us figuring this out though, unfortunately…

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 01:14:44 +0000

Two DAYS??? Thanks for making me feel old, Kevin. I can accomplish that much on my own, thank you.
And yes, Ryan…you guys are lucky. With digital you can shoot to your hearts content. Just make sure you live long enough to enjoy looking back at all the memories.