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A Canadian National auxiliary train heads north on the Fergus Sub south of Branchton (just north of Highway 5). In consist trailing the steam engine is CN "Hook" 50012, a 200-ton steam powered wrecking crane built by Industrial Brownhoist in 1928. Where this train came from I could not find out - possibly Hamilton (did they base an auxiliary there?) Toronto or London? This is my only photo of a steam powered auxiliary. While they saw infrequent use, most of the large old steam wrecking cranes on CN & CP ended up being converted to diesel power in the years following the end of steam (and some built new as diesel cranes).
Copyright Notice: This image ©Bill Thomson all rights reserved.



Caption: A Canadian National auxiliary train heads north on the Fergus Sub south of Branchton (just north of Highway 5). In consist trailing the steam engine is CN "Hook" 50012, a 200-ton steam powered wrecking crane built by Industrial Brownhoist in 1928. Where this train came from I could not find out - possibly Hamilton (did they base an auxiliary there?) Toronto or London? This is my only photo of a steam powered auxiliary. While they saw infrequent use, most of the large old steam wrecking cranes on CN & CP ended up being converted to diesel power in the years following the end of steam (and some built new as diesel cranes).

Photographer:
Bill Thomson [452] (more) (contact)
Date: 1958 (search)
Railway: Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks: CN 50012 (search)
Train Symbol: CN Auxiliary (search)
Subdivision/SNS: Branchton (south of) - CN Fergus Sub (search)
City/Town: Branchton (south of) (search)
Province: Ontario (search)
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Photo ID: 25332
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4 Comments
  1. Stephen C. Host
    October 20, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    This is why I love this hobby. Great find Paul!

  2. poshell
    October 19, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    Bill, my records indicate that CN 50012 was assigned to the Hamilton auxiliary in the 1950′s. The stencil on the mid section of the main boom in your photo reads HAMILTON. The last printed record I have shows it assigned to CN’s Atlantic Region Moncton auxiliary in July of 1960. Not sure where it ended up after that.

  3. Stephen C. Host
    October 17, 2016 at 11:45 am

    Very nice.

  4. Mike Lockwood
    October 16, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    Now that is a great shot, Bill! Even if edited, very difficult to get that exposure correct what with the snow and backlit sun… not to mention the not so common subject matter.
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