Welcome Visitor. First time here? Like what you see? Bookmark us for when you are bored, and check out 'top shots' and 'fantastic (editors choice)' in the menu above, you won't be dissapointed. Join our community! click here to sign up for an account today. Sick of this message? Get rid of it by logging-in here.



Winter of 1975-1976 just hung around like a bad apple. The powers that be finally decided it was time to dig out the plow and keep the railroad fluid. I was told this was the first time in 15 or 17 years that the plow had been activated. I had just been laid off as my position in the Brantford office on Eagle Avenue was abolished (Operator/Clerk). That is why the 2-position train order signal has a bag over it. Call time this day was around 1500 so the light is beginning to die by the time Plow Extra 74 West comes into town. I made an attempt to catch him again near Mt Pleasant but the roads were not conducive to a chase. A couple of weeks later I had secured my new job with C&O, and it would be 8 years before I set foot near TH&B property again.
Copyright Notice: This image ©Bruce Mercer all rights reserved.



Caption: Winter of 1975-1976 just hung around like a bad apple. The powers that be finally decided it was time to dig out the plow and keep the railroad fluid. I was told this was the first time in 15 or 17 years that the plow had been activated. I had just been laid off as my position in the Brantford office on Eagle Avenue was abolished (Operator/Clerk). That is why the 2-position train order signal has a bag over it. Call time this day was around 1500 so the light is beginning to die by the time Plow Extra 74 West comes into town. I made an attempt to catch him again near Mt Pleasant but the roads were not conducive to a chase. A couple of weeks later I had secured my new job with C&O, and it would be 8 years before I set foot near TH&B property again.

Photographer:
Bruce Mercer [100] (more) (contact)
Date: 03/10/1976 (search)
Railway: Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo (search)
Reporting Marks: TH&B 74 with plow (search)
Train Symbol: Plow Extra (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Waterford Sub (search)
City/Town: Brantford (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
Share Link: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=22779
Click here to Log-in or Register and add your vote.

42 Favourites
Photographers like Gold.Log-in or Register to show appreciation
View count: 4295 Views

Share this image on Facebook, Twitter or email using the icons below
Photo ID: 21637

Sorry, there is no map for this photo. Photographer did not add GPS co-ordinates. Please add next time or ask for a correction to this photo.

All comments must be positive in nature and abide by site rules. Anything else may be removed without warning.

12 Comments
  1. Great shot Bruce. Is this now the SOR Ingenia spur?

  2. @jacobPatterson Yes, ex TH&B Waterford sub/CN Burford spur.

  3. Very nice work Bruce. Rare indeed.

  4. Curious: If that’s the train order signal on the pole – where was the office located?

  5. The office [ in a 2 1/2 storey house ] was behind me and slightly to the right; I’m standing where the 3-car driveway ended. Its no longer there, but then hardly anything in this photo is still there, except the track to Ingenia. On the extreme left of the image you see the tip of the 7 UP sign on the back of the corner variety; they had a small kitchen and made the BEST grilled cheese !

  6. This was cool the first time I saw it! Just as cool now, glad to see you posting here also!

  7. Was your new job with C & O in Sarnia?

  8. Marc, no my first stint of employment was in the C&O Merchandise Sales office at 69 Yonge Street, Toronto ( CPR-owned building at King & Yonge, 10th floor). My job was Steno-Clerk, handling the phones, tracing cars, obtaining prospective freight rates and generally putting out ” fires” related to customer service. I was also classed in weekly liquid lunches in the nearby King Edward hotel. After a 4 month layoff in the winter of 1978 owing to a coal miner’s strike, I transferred in May to the Transportation Department. After writing the Operating Rules, passing a physical, taking the Safety course, I booked on the Trainman’s spareboard in St Thomas in early June.

  9. Bruce, did you ever have a passing interest in lake freighters?

  10. Marc, I sure did. As you recall, I lived in Brights Grove for nearly 10 years. Plus working on the railroad down at Clifford Street, one could not help but pay attention to the ships. I was a short-lived member of the Detroit Marine HS

  11. I was pretty sure it was the same Bruce Mercer. Nice talking to you.

  12. Great shot Bruce! Keep them coming :)

Railpictures.ca © 2006-2023 all rights reserved. Photographs are copyright of the photographer and used with permission
Terms and conditions | About us