Comments on: 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.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:33:12 +0000

Great shot Bruce! Keep them coming

By: MarcD

MarcD — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:10:53 +0000

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

By: mercer

mercer — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 01:07:06 +0000

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

By: MarcD

MarcD — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 19:11:20 +0000

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

By: mercer

mercer — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:33:51 +0000

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.

By: MarcD

MarcD — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 04:14:44 +0000

Was your new job with C & O in Sarnia?

By: Joseph Bishop

Joseph Bishop — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 02:32:14 +0000

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

By: mercer

mercer — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 02:20:20 +0000

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 !

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 02:01:08 +0000

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

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 01:59:35 +0000

Very nice work Bruce. Rare indeed.