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Caption: Mid day on May 27, 1953 found downtown Hamilton with quite a spectacle as CNR E-10-a 2-6-0 Mogul 88, the lead locomotive on a double headed freight up the mountain, was tossed on her side at the intersection of Ferguson Avenue and Rebecca Streets. This derailment was caused by the lead wheels of 88's tender picking the switch of the Rebecca Street spur, jackknifing the engine causing it to flip. The three crew members onboard; Engineer Charles Penfold (jumped clear), Fireman Richard Day, and head end Brakeman Murray Calder, all escaped with minor injuries. The trailing engine 3506 followed 88 down the spur stopping short of the yard engine working nearby industries. After 3506 and the rest of the train returned to Hamilton Yard after the derailment while the hook works to get 88 back on the rails.
CNR 88, built as Grand Trunk 1008 by CLC in 1910, renumbered GTR 910 in 1919, CNR 910 in 1923, and CNR 88 in 1951. After this wreck, which cracked the crown sheet atop the firebox, 88 would be sent to Stratford for repairs. Retired in 1957, she would be placed on display as GTR 1008 just east of Morrisburg, Ontario along Highway 2 near the Upper Canada Pioneer Village. Along with it sits the historic Aultsville train station and two GTR coaches. CNR S-1-g Mikado 3506, built by CLC as GTR 486 in 1917, would be scrapped just over 4 years later in July, 1957.
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Nice.. alexanian factory. I’d love to see a map of the spur.
The spur was used to service two customers, just running the length of the block from Ferguson to Wellington Street. One customer was Wood, Alexander & James Limited, on the short stub, and the other was F. W. Fearman Company Limited, a pork packaging plant running the length of the block to Wellington Street.
The switch points sit just to the right of 88′s cab in this shot, the switch stand just poking out from behind the crossbuck.
View from on top of Wood, Alexander & James showing the switch and the tender of the switcher trapped on the spur, which looks to have been switching Fearman’s: https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/152318910_839499396599674_4953443766324421735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=xohqwQ1sERMAX8uHmRP&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.xx&oh=00_AT8h9mBHsOWulLADx84vweqGQgeBtYyKKYlcxzj6zOLzow&oe=62C300BF
1911 fire insurance map showing the spurs: http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A33334/-/collection
Some history on F. W. Fearman and his pork business: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/fearman_frederick_william_13E.html
Great info. I had no idea how many businesses were served off these tracks. BTW, there’s an interesting mural at the intersection of King & Ferguson depicting this accident.
Wow….never knew the history of ’1008′ outside of Morrisburg when I photographed it back then! Thanks for referencing my photo….great history here!
My grandfather worked at Wood Alexander and James.The building is now Amity’s headquarters.