Special Trains Visit Kingston

The Rexall Train, the Flying Scotsman, the Discovery Train and the Royal Train are among special trains that have graced the Hanley Spur over its decades. It was September, 1970 when the British Pacific arrived on a goodwill tour (top photo) and a certain insouciant six year-old future blogger and  Hanley Spur layout-builder mugged for the camera. Note City Hall at left, and the Holiday Inn at right. This post highlights the best-known steel-wheeled visitors to the Limestone City. If I've published posts on them previously, each heading in capital letters is a clickable link. If not, in true web-log fashion, I've included links to existing posts on each train's tour.

THE ROYAL SCOT

In 1933, the London, Midland & Scottish 4-6-0 “The Royal Scot” arrived by ship in Montreal from the United Kingdom. The locomotive, renumbered 6100, was heading for the Chicago World’s Fair. Travelling from Montreal to Toronto, it was likely displayed on CP trackage while in Kingston.

• From the Canadian Archives 
• Never Before had a complete train visited the American Continent! 
• Posted by the Brighton Toy Train Museum. 
• Royal Scot in Ottawa on May 2, 1933 and its carriages

THE REXALL TRAIN

On August 17, 1936 the Rexall Train came to the city. Pulled by New York Central 4-8-2 Mohawk 2873, the entire train was royal blue and white. The locomotive’s streamlined sheet metal and conversion to an oil-burner prepared it for a 29,000-mile trip across North America. Four display, lecture and dining cars, plus private observation car for Rexall President Louis Liggett were part of a train consist of twelve cars. All cars were given balloon-style roofs over their existing clerestory roofs. Prescription for public relations: dignitaries from town and train photographed during the Kingston visit:

Coming east from the U.S. Midwest and Michigan, the train visited Kingston and other Canadian stops: London, Toronto and Montreal.. Advance publicity (above) appeared in the Kingston Whig-Standard on August 12. Parked on CN trackage along Ontario Street between Earl and West Streets, the train attracted large crowds, with 12,742 viewing the train's displays and many turned away. Guessing that number gained Thelma Smith ten bucks! Five-hundred Rexall druggists from Cobourg to Ottawa came to a convention here.

• TheTheme Trains site never disappoints 
• Nor does Old Time Trains
• Some nice colour photography

(GENERAL MOTORS' TRAIN OF TOMORROW)

(Heading west on CN's Kingston Subdivision on October 11, 1949 it appears that this E-unit-led train of five blue-and-silver domes stopped briefly at Brockville, perhaps photographed during a crew change. Folks turned out at Napanee to see the train at speed, but Kingston does not seem to have rated a civic visit.)

THE 1939 ROYAL TRAIN

The Royal Train of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Kingston on May 21, 1939. Thirteen trainloads of spectators were brought to Richardson Stadium to cheer on the King and Queen’s motorcade while on their extensive cross-Canada tour. Their daughter Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited the Royal Military College in 1951.

TROOP TRAINS during the KOREAN CONFLICT

In November, 1950 (above, Queen's University Archives photo) troops from the Barriefield army camp board a troop train at CP's yard at Place d'Armes. Hundreds of Canadian troops boarded special troop trains in Kingston during the Korean Conflict. CP trains in their North Street yard and CN trains departing the Outer Station carried the soldiers to other bases or overseas. In September 1953, three cars of an Africa Zoo Train were spotted near CN’s freight shed. Spectators came to view animal displays in the cars. In October 1959, a carnival midway was loaded on flat cars at the Outer Station for furtherance to the next fair on its fall tour.

THE CONFEDERATION TRAIN

City Hall and the newly-opened Confederation Park hosted Canada’s Confederation Train from August 22 to 25, 1967. Arriving on the last remaining track across from City hall, the train was uncoupled with the two locomotives and steam generator car across Johnson Street near CLC, and its ten coaches between Johnson and the foot of Brock Streets. A line-up of eager visitors formed near preserved CP 1095, waiting to pass through the display cars (above - Confederation Train arriving, Queen's University Archives photo).

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN

On September 28, 1970 the London & North Eastern Pacific 4472, “Flying Scotsman” arrived on the very same track along with its coaches and boat-tailed bar car (above - Bill Reid photo as purchased from Liz Reid). Designed by Gresley and built in 1923, the green-painted steam locomotive and train were brought to Boston from the United Kingdom to tour North America. It was specially fitted with a headlight and operating bell for the tour. Open to the public on September 29, the weather was generally English and overcast before departing for Toronto the next day! 

THE 1973 ROYAL TRAIN

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived by Royal Train at the Outer Station on June 27, 1973. A motorcade took the Royal Couple to City Hall to celebrate the city’s Tercentenary and for the christening of a new tall ship by the Queen. The Royal Train was wyed and staged on the Hanley Spur, with the Governor-General’s cars placed adjacent to the Belle Park golf course parking lot off Montreal Street. The Royal Couple's motorcade returned them to reboard in the evening (Vintage Kingston Facebook group photo - above). 

THE DISCOVERY TRAIN ( Watch for an upcoming post...)

In July, 1978 Kingston was the premiere stop for Canada’s Discovery Train. Between July 22 and 26, the orange, black and white train was parked at the Hanley Spur’s north end along Montreal Street. The National Museums of Canada mounted displays in 15 cars which toured Canada between 1978 and 1980. One of the silhouettes painted on the cars was one of Kingston’s own bearded Fort Henry Guard. The display cars had previously been used for the U.S. Bicentennial American Freedom Train. Watch for an upcoming Trackside Treasure post. The train's observation car brings up the tail-end through Kingston on June 10, 1980 (above) between display stops in Quebec and Hamilton.

THE 1984 ROYAL TRAIN

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Loyalist settlement in Ontario, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh travelled by train to several communities on CN's Kingston Sub. September 28 found the royal couple coming ashore at Morrisburg, Ontario from HMY Britannia, then boarding the royal train, whistle-stopping through Cardinal, Prescott, Brockville, Mallorytown and Gananoque, seen by more than 30,000 Ontario residents. The royal train (above) soon arrived, pulled by an all-MLW consist: 6761-6871-6770. Lead engine 6761 flew the Royal Standard, which was then transferred to the waiting limousine. Accompanied by MPP Keith Norton and MP Flora MacDonald, the royal couple walked to their limousine directly in front of me, waving to the large assembled crowd. 

Now, for special trains in Kingston, we have to rely on whatever VIA orchestrates - political whistle-stop tours on regularly-scheduled trains (not easy being Green Party).

Running extra...

Watch for Trackside Treasure's annual Christmas post.  Not sure if it will be prototype or HO-HO-HO layout-based. It will be unmasked soon!

A nice, short Christmas service from St. Martin-in-the-fields with musicians who are outstanding in theirs - the 2021 British Admiralty Carol Service. If you're like me, and you can't get enough Royal Marines, this channel goes 24/7

I used to work 24/7. That's twenty four minutes an hour, seven days a month. I am grateful to be retired now that I find myself living in Canada's COVID Capital! This too shall pass, but till it does, I'll be in the layout room if you need me. Please get vaccinated, and do everything you can to support those who still toil in healthcare.