|
Caption: What a sad state of affairs. Very few other towns, in the sense of the railroad, went from so much to so little. In the steam era, Palmerston was a busy hub, with branch lines spreading out in all directions. Palmerston was a division hub. There were shops, roundhouse, car repair shops and a large yard and turntable. By 1977 the Owen Sound sub branched off to only the Newton sub to Stratford and the Fergus sub to Lynden, where it joined the CN Dundas Sub. By the mid-90s there was nothing. Forward thinkers saved the old station. It is now the home of the Pslmerston Heritage Railroad Museum. The old steel walkway over the yard, which spanned the original 8 tracks, still stands and is considered a town landmark. The yard is gone, and in this photo one can see evidence of it being dismantled, but newly laid track is now in place below the walkbridge. There is 300 yards of it. Handcar Races are held here each year, and the winning team is crowned Canadian Handcar Champions. Modern handcars, built for these races are used, and the event is witnessed by large crowds of cheering spectators. Palmerston owes its existence to the railroads,and although they are now long gone, they are not forgotten. 'Railroad Days' see to that.
|
Palmerston lasted another 20 years like this…!
Rather than leaving that dead looking yard, new track was set up for Handcar Races, which began in 1992. This image would make a nice Time Machine copy for someone in the area to do for us.
My grandfather worked as a carman out of here in the 50s before transferring to the Ontario Northland. I’m not sure if it was around the time they were abolishing those jobs or prior to it. I tried getting him to visit the museum in the early 2000s before his passing and I had the thought it would be nice for him to share his stories from that time period but he was reluctant and never went. I recall him saying it would be to depressing to go back and this image is just that. By the time I came around the bridge still spanned the yard, but the yard was a large green space with the two tracks remaining out front for the said handcar races.
It is a shame he did not share his stories. But you can be sure he had his share of smoke and cinders!!!