tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post2136115014867279590..comments2024-03-26T22:06:26.337-04:00Comments on Trackside Treasure: Trackside with My DadErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-35532252668986326972014-02-05T18:30:44.230-05:002014-02-05T18:30:44.230-05:00Thanks for your kind comments, Andrew. Perhaps you...Thanks for your kind comments, Andrew. Perhaps you remember my solo visit on VIA Rail in 1981, just after Dave and Susan were married. I planned, designed, constructed and put in place the 'Isaac Newton Memorial Bridge' over the creek behind the barn. It promptly washed away next spring.<br /><br />We share similar memories of visits with you and your family at the farm, including the photo of all of us at the former St Andrew's East station site. Of course, these visits go back to when you were small enough and young enough to ride in the oat wagon!<br /><br />Thanks again!<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-12604604716403306142014-02-05T13:25:19.946-05:002014-02-05T13:25:19.946-05:00Hi Eric :)
It has been many years but thankfully,...Hi Eric :)<br /><br />It has been many years but thankfully, Allison and I recently connected again and she pointed me in this direction. What a great blog and amazing tribute to your dad!<br /><br />As I told her, I have many wonderful memories of visits together at Lachute Road Farm and in Kingston, so I was very sorry to hear of your dad's passing. I feel very blessed though to have known him and been related to such a great man!<br /><br />Please drop me a line sometime @ thevoiceofsport@gmail.com - would be nice to re-connect with all of you :)<br /><br />Cheers - AndrewAAAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13063539256813350244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-12597930642572461252014-02-03T15:16:14.475-05:002014-02-03T15:16:14.475-05:00Thanks very much for adding your thoughts, Gerry. ...Thanks very much for adding your thoughts, Gerry. Your Dad taking you trackside reminds me of hockey parents who go to the rink at 4 a.m., not because they play, but for the sake of their children.<br /><br />Dundas and Bayview? Watch for an upcoming post on Canada's Most Scenic Trainwatching Spots...those two are definitely in the running! Yes, I made it inside the wye during my sentinel visit to the latter in 1981.<br /><br />How to pass the time while trackside? All yours certainly qualify. Model Railroader? Though I didn't add it to the initial post about my Dad's influence, I remember one difficult evening at home. My Dad went out to the store, and brought home an issue of MR, probably to make me feel better. I still have that issue, and I still recall that seemingly insignificant gesture from years ago when I look at the cover!<br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-10305233964777563372014-02-03T02:16:21.047-05:002014-02-03T02:16:21.047-05:00Sorry for your loss, Eric. I was introduced to tra...Sorry for your loss, Eric. I was introduced to trains by my grandfather who passed away when I was ten in 1980. My father took over...taking me trackside although he never had a 'love' for trains like I did. In some ways, I think that's impressive in itself in that it wasn't a passion for him but he indulged himself for my benefit. Countless hours at the Dundas Ontario station site and Bayview of course...when you could drive right into the wye. Games of cards, sharing of dreams and ideas, reading of comics, model railroader and such with old country music on the old AM radio. Oh, for the chance to go back...even for one day.Gerrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-61113931119039076582014-02-01T13:28:13.310-05:002014-02-01T13:28:13.310-05:00Thanks for your kind words, Warren. You're rig...Thanks for your kind words, Warren. You're right - we did share lots of railway-related memories. An upcoming post on our photography of CPR 1201 is a good example.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-3643661233800350252014-02-01T10:50:30.692-05:002014-02-01T10:50:30.692-05:00I am sorry to hear that you Dad passed away.
Wha...I am sorry to hear that you Dad passed away. <br /><br />What a great time and memories you and your Father had with the love of trains.<br /><br />WarrenSirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15229087823771684334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-15920504302470106902014-01-26T14:32:45.988-05:002014-01-26T14:32:45.988-05:00Thanks, Ben. I'm sure that if computers, the i...Thanks, Ben. I'm sure that if computers, the internet or Blogger had been around when my Dad was railfanning, we would have some awesome posts to enjoy on Westmount and Glen yard, riding a CP 'hay-rack' observation car through the Rockies, the end of CN steam at Turcot, and maybe even documenting Sunday afternoon walks with his kids, through fields near the CN Kingston Sub and the Turbos, plain-jane SD40s and F-hauled CN passenger consists that were passing through.<br /><br />All I can offer is my version of the above, here in my ethereal corner of cyberspace called Trackside Treasure. Kind comments like yours let me know that cyberspace is not just a black hole into which bits and bytes vanish without any reaction or dialogue.<br /><br />We have something more in common - my Dad would have never sped up at a crossing, either. We spent lots of time in poorly-heated, non-air conditioned Volkswagens trackside!<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-57547631336413722792014-01-26T10:18:05.488-05:002014-01-26T10:18:05.488-05:00I really enjoyed that Eric. Thanks for sharing tho...I really enjoyed that Eric. Thanks for sharing those photos and stories. It paints a picture of how Trackside Treasure came into fruition. <br /><br />Again, my condolences to you and your family. <br /><br />One of my earliest memories with my dad is the trips between our farm and town. I would scan both directions of the CN Assiniboine sub as we approached the crossing. If I saw the faintest set of triangular lights I would demand we stopped at the crossing and waited. A request that he always complied with. <br /><br />BenBArailsystemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12089849871577081083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-91583044663653461582014-01-25T13:19:27.410-05:002014-01-25T13:19:27.410-05:00Well, that's true, as is 'mighty oaks from...Well, that's true, as is 'mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.' I'll let you decide if the railfan gene needs to stay recessive or if it can perhaps become even more expressive!<br /><br />Thanks for your kind comments on the post, which means to me that its sentiments ring true.<br /><br />While I'd rather ride a train than watch one, the latter costs a lot less!<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-32021865208668851432014-01-25T11:44:54.535-05:002014-01-25T11:44:54.535-05:00Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! I am so thankful that dear brother Eric has researched and documented so sensitively and with his characteristic sense of good humor, ready to share these recollections with us all.<br />I would rather ride a train than watch one, but as TT readers know I watch them too from time to time..or at least take pictures of them! We all have a rail fan gene, even if not always dominant. And it comes through for me even in things I say without thinking, like "getting up a good head of steam" or "taking the Y" or "riding deadhead" or "clear the tracks for me!" I forget that not everyone talks like this!<br />(Thanks x 1000), Baby Bro'…xoAllisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16535699663887484751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-61791387465287854982014-01-24T19:15:34.748-05:002014-01-24T19:15:34.748-05:00Thank you Adam, Michael and Andy for your kind com...Thank you Adam, Michael and Andy for your kind comments. I'd like to do another post on this topic and include some of your thoughts. <br /><br />Quite often, my Dad would say, "Oh sure, all the trains come by after we leave 'the tracks'".<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-43481644561642070852014-01-24T16:16:23.301-05:002014-01-24T16:16:23.301-05:00Eric-
Thank for you sharing your experiences with ...Eric-<br />Thank for you sharing your experiences with your Dad. I too shared a train interest with my late father. I realized after he died that I think I was the closest too him in our shared ship & train interests. We spent many times alongside tracks at Brockville, Komoka, Denfield Road bridge, Port Huron/Sarnia, Durand and Ferndale. Doesn't matter what trains we saw, or didn't see at all, it was we spent time together. As a parent now, I understand this desire. Doesn't matter what you do with your child, as long as you're spending time together. Thank you for sharing this personal tribute and I wish the best to your family during this difficult time.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553227670409805619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-10330383086923366912014-01-24T12:08:07.557-05:002014-01-24T12:08:07.557-05:00Losing one's parent is an experience that no o...Losing one's parent is an experience that no one but that parent's child can properly understand. Having lost a mother far too early, I would say I understand, but the fact is I don't. It's a unique experience for everyone. But, having said that, I am sorry for your loss.<br /><br />My grandfather took me aboard a CP locomotive in Windsor when I was but three or four years old. I remember him explaining to me, in a thick French Canadian accent, how the engine worked. I also remember his co-workers being very nice to me and immensely respectful to him. It's an early memory, but still vivid after 30 plus years.<br /><br />I've been a train fan ever since that time. I credit my grandfather for that.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-87093272150719736452014-01-24T12:07:35.783-05:002014-01-24T12:07:35.783-05:00So sorry for your loss, Eric. It looks like you tw...So sorry for your loss, Eric. It looks like you two had an amazing history together. Lots of amazing memories to look back on.Adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-14780311901383635872014-01-24T09:21:30.304-05:002014-01-24T09:21:30.304-05:00Thanks, Steve and Andrew. I think it is fair to sa...Thanks, Steve and Andrew. I think it is fair to say that in terms of shared interests, I had more in common with my Dad than anyone else I've ever known. These lent themselves to shared experiences which I've highlighted in this post, and they are indeed fond memories.<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-14067823196920371352014-01-24T01:52:13.782-05:002014-01-24T01:52:13.782-05:00My most heart felt condolences to you Eric. Losing...My most heart felt condolences to you Eric. Losing a father is a bittersweet experience, Fond memories overtake grief in time. It seems you have had a wonderful relationship with your dad. Smiles will replace tears.<br />All the best,<br />Andrew<br />Sydney, AustraliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372955869775302424.post-14988181552358757792014-01-24T01:15:19.526-05:002014-01-24T01:15:19.526-05:00So sorry for your loss, Eric. I lost my dad more t...So sorry for your loss, Eric. I lost my dad more than seven years ago and I still miss him a lot. My best to you and your family.Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.com