The Thurlow Railway

The Thurlow Railway was about three miles in length, running south off CN's Kingston Subdivision, then crossing CP's Belleville Subdivision, heading south to the Bay of Quinte to reach the Canada Portland Cement Co. cement plant on the shores of the Bay of Quinte - on the north shore of Lake Ontario. After various owners operated the plant in the 19th century, the plant ended up in the fold of the Canada Cement Company, labelled as Plant 5. The company's plant numbering system: Plant 1 Montreal East; Plant 2 Havelock, NB; Plant 3 Hull; Plant 4 Woodstock, ON (1956+); Plant 5 Belleville; Plant 8 Port Colborne; Plant 12 Exshaw, AB; Plant 13 Fort Whyte, MB. Bayside 1910 postcard view of the plant:

Located in Thurlow Township, now part of the amalgamated City of Belleville, bagged cement was shipped by rail, boat and truck. The unused tackboard card (top photo) ended up in my collection. I imagine this would have been stapled to the boxcar tackboard, including car reporting marks, consignee and rail routing. Here's a CP track schematic/operating diagram for Mi 87.8 Belleville Sub:

A unique line due to its operation by CN and CP concurrently, this diagram shows the line's location, including its onsite quarry at bayside:

Interestingly, when CN's Belleville city branch trackage was severed, CN accessed downtown Belleville with trackage rights from its connection to the Thurlow Railway, then branching off onto the CP west to Belleville! There is still a mileboard for Thurlow on CP's Belleville Sub. CP's April, 1972 Eastern Region employees' timetable included the following footnotes regarding the joint operation to Point Anne:

CN's 1971 operating diagram for the Belleville South Spur showed the connection to the CN Kingston Sub, interchange with CPR/TRR, three spurs near the CP then the two sidings and three spurs into the plant itself, before the End CNR operation notation.

Here's an online auction site photo showing an eastbound VIA train passing the Kingston Sub switch to the spur, in 1986, running parallel to Airport Parkway:

This undate Bill Grandin photo, kindly shared by Jim Parker, shows an ex-CP switcher at CN's MacMillan Yard, possibly for delivery to the quarry:

A worker community of housing, school, stores and churches sprung up on the site. On trips to Belleville along Highway 2, I remember driving over the single track. Of course, as with other abandoned operations, there is no sign of the crossing when driving along Highway 2 today. A plethoric panorama of six photographs stapled together shows Point Anne Cement from the Bayswater Shipping vessels Baygeorge and the Bayfair at Picton undated (Brockville Museum 016.04.45):

Though this post languished in draft form for months/years, the acquisition of a bound volume of company newsletters this past Canada Day at the Kingston (behind) City Hall antiques market renewed my interest. (Three bucks, though my wife said I should have bartered for $2! Haggle more!)

These 1952 plant expansion photos, from the company newsletter The Cement Bulletin, show the boom that the post-war era brought to the construction industry. New kilns were added and the plant's future seemed bright. Arrows indicate boxcars stored on the Thurlow Railway trackage. Middle arrow below shows a spur into the plant:

The plant operated into the 1970's, but is now rated as a ghost town of ruins and remains only. Current satellite photos of the connection to CN, just east of Belleville yard along the Airport Parkway, roughly paralleling the road to the former location of the Belleville airport, also shown in a recent video capture from a speeding VIA train:

Then continuing south, remnants of the Thurlow Railway-CPR connecting track (which CN had accessed to reach downtown Belleville at one time) can be seen (below) and the quarrying operation remains...cemented in time.

Lots o' links:

• Old Time Trains Thurlow Railway webpage
• Plant No. 5 insurance map
• vintage topograhic map
• check out the photo thumbnails at the bottom of this page
• IFPS webpage
• Ontario Ghost Towns webpage. Did not check to see if Queen's Park is listed!
• in print - prolific author Ron Brown includes a page on Point Anne in his ghost towns book and at least one other book
• Point Anne Quarries ship fleet

Prolific model railroader Bob Fallowfield kindly shared an under-construction photo of Canada Cement's Plant 4 at Woodstock, ON. Photo from the CCL Archives:

Running extra...

If you woke up this morning and said, "Gee, I haven't seen a top-down view of those ex-B&M covered hoppers in roofing-granule service in a while", then George and Peter are there to make this your lucky day!

Canada Day has come and gone. Our local MP's staff distributed cardboard fans for a civic ceremony at Kingston City Hall. People-watching in the A/C of the Speckled Hen pub, while enjoying a very un-Canadian Budweiser was ecumenically entertaining and quintessentially, comically Canadian. The term [maple] LEAF! was used to describe those celebrants not carrying off the red-and-white clothing theme in a tasteful or appropriate manner. Going all-out with cowboy hats, pinwheels, flag capes or other festoons was well-received, however.

Meanwhile, over at Rapido Trains Inc., the recent cacophonic company cattle call for at least four new products included the Tempo train. As predictable as a CPR D-10 (one of which is also near City Hall, its thirst eternally slaked) anyone with half-a-brakeline knew this would happen eventually. I must admit that the also-announced workaday RS-18 has me model-mulling in a mercurial MLW manner. I don't consider myself a shrill, shilling Shronian but even I think this one just might be worth supporting! CN 3732 was still earning its keep in Kingston in February, 1986:

Canada Day 2018

As part of our annual Canada Day devotion to the Dominion, I'm featuring selected excerpts from Canada  by Mike Myers. Roughly the same age, we share similar cultural references and I enjoyed reading his book, detailing his career and his world view. For previous years' Canada Day posts dating back to the first in 2009, click here. I've included photos from my Canadiana collection with the excerpts. Now look up, look way up...

The central conflict of much of our literature is man versus nature. That sort of conflict breeds co-operation more than it breeds rugged individualism. It breeds caution more than it breeds entrepreneneurialism. It's cold here. So cold it can make you cry. It's so cold you want your dad to come pick you up.

In the Canadian acccent, there is a tonal rise a the end of each sentence, until the last sentence, which returns to the Canadian monotone. The rise at the end of each sentence is an indication that the speaker intends to continue. The end of the final sentence has no rise, which tells the listener, "Now it's your turn to speak." Essentially, we Canadians have encoded "after you" into our speech patterns - it's subliminal etiquette.

Milk is sold in plastic bags that require a specially-made pitcher. One places the unopened bag inside the pitcher and then cuts one corner of the milk bag to allow pouring. If you cut the corner too much, you get a milk tsunami. Too little, and it's a dribble.

I love the old Hockey Night in Canada logo, the side-stick one. I always wanted to bet a powder blue HNIC blazer with the side-stick logo embroidered on the pocket. I love Danny Gallivan with his 'cannonading drives', 'scintillating saves' and 'Savardian spin-o-ramas'.

Another CBC show, Coming Up Rosie (1975) starred the great Canadians Dan Aykroyd and Catherine O'Hara, both of whom were not yet famous. [Ed. Note: I haven't found my Coming Up Rosie cast B&W 8x11 photo but when I do, it'll go here]

In 1971, the great Canadian historian Pierre Berton captured the fervour surrounding the Next Great Nation era with his smash hit book, The Last Spike. I used to love hearing him talk about the otherwise dry story of Canada in such an interesting way. He was...caring.

We were all taken to the gym to watch Game 8 of the '72 series on three Canadian-made Electrohome televisions that were on these tall, wheeled stands. The gym was packed.

The Friendly Giant had a one-panel set with a window where he could talk to Jerome the Giraffe, and a bag on the wall where he could talk to Rusty the Rooster. Rusty was a bit of a prick. He was argumentative and contrary, whereas Jerome was affable to a fault.

Canada may not have put a man on the moon, but it's been awfully nice to the man on Earth. And perhaps that will be Canada's greatest legacy.

- Wise sentiments all, from the chamber of sober second thought -

Happy Canada Day! 

- Eric

Running extra...

Nobody is more inspired by Dominion Day, er, Canada Day, than Portage modeller Randy O'Brien. Thanks to Randy for this celebratory Canada Day card linking our two great transportation systems. No, that's not just-in-time legalized cannabis on the left-hand flag, it's a bouquet of beautiful X2F couplers!

Randy is a valued contributor to my Trains & Grains two-volume book project, now entering its second print run. Manitoba's Matt Tolton sent this photo from June 2016 with his maple leaf-red ride and the riotously-red soon-to-slide-to-the-ground Pioneer elevator in Davidson, SK dated June, 2016. Compare and contrast with my more bountiful view of the same location's elevator row in 1986 (below):

KFC, 6060 and Me

On September 29, 1979 we rode a Upper Canada Railway Society fantrip behind CNR 6060 Toronto-Gravenhurst, return. The fall colours were bright even though the day was mostly overcast. Little did I know what waited at the end of the trip....fried chicken. Read on! Walking up to the engine during a watering stop at Bradford at 0910:

Upon arrival at Gravenhurst, 6060 was uncoupled to run around the train and haul it on the sidetrip to Washago. Watch the firehose, follow the smoke, Dad!

More watering took place at Gravenhurst. No wonder the railways were so keen to convert to diesels!

During the sidetrip to Washago. I perched on a signal, to get 6060 backing up. It wyed itself and UCRS solarium car Cape Race. Looking very steam era-ish:

The marker lamps from the last VIA Dayniter coming from Gravenhurst were placed on the rear of UCRS Cape Race, which would be the last car when returning to Toronto:

Back at Gravehurst, as the consist was re-marshalled, (top photo) supper was spotted. See that white, peaked-roof building straight down the track in the centre of the photo, below?

Here's a close-up, showing a fatigued but otherwise happy 15 year-old future blogger bee-bopping along the ballast with two types of true trackside treasure - a bag of KFC and some discovered discarded railway documents in hand, better showing the KFC which appeared like a desert oasis. Not a dessert oasis, though. Chicken, man, there must be chicken there!!

I published a Trackside Treasure post (the fifth one ever!) on the trip and make a brief mention of supper during the layover from the just-down-the-track Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet. It was in a good location - visible to three hungry railfans!  To quote the caption accompanying my Dad's photos of me, "We were lucky to have time to walk down the track to buy a supply of Colonel Sanders' Kentucky Fried Chicken".  Now with cassette tape recorder in hand, 6060 is seen tacking Cape Race on the tail-end:        

For a long time, and based on many epicurean encounters, I've considered KFC up as the ultimate trainwatching (or train-riding!) fast food meal. Maybe it's no coincidence that KFC restaurants are usually located near train tracks. It's one transportation gustation inspiration for starting my Fast Food And Trains (FFAT!!) blog. Notice that signal bridge in the 1979 and 2016 photos...

We returned to Gravenhurst in September, 2016 (CN trackage - above). 'Pilgrimage' is perhaps too poetic a word to describe our drive-by. "You can't go home again" is more apt. Where was the tall KFC bucket on a pole? Slightly upscale, a caricatured Colonel Sanders loomed out from the store's squared-off roofline. There was no panting steam locomotive nearby. No happy throng of tired 'daisy-pickers' weary and ready to return to Toronto after a day in Muskoka. TrainSim enthusiasts have included this KFC location, albeit in an earlier design iteration, in their virtual version of the line, with assistance from GoogleEarth.

Posted to an online photo auction site...two Gravenhurst KFC photos by Bram Bailey. In 1978, it's the ONR Northlander beneath the bucket.

Earlier, on July 25, 1976 it was CN 5047. The red and white pole stripes were a little less faded and check out that fenceline! Both photos just edge out the nearby natural gas installation. Did somebody say gas? Well, it is a fried chicken place. 

Running extra...

Book contributor and fellow blogger Steve Boyko kindly posted the first review of Trains & Grains. Thanks for your support, Steve! Also for posing your paged progeny in front of La Salle, Manitoba's Paterson elevator (above). I'm happy to add that the books are now entering a second print run. And between filling orders, I finally had time for a 'family portrait':

The front patio layout is in process. Had a few incidents and accidents. It's good to get outside in the fresh air. Early stages...

Treasure of June Sale!

Check out these unique items! 

                                   

A useful and diverse group of books, periodicals, manuals, photos and collectibles that are surplus to my collection. The items in in each photo are being sold as a lot. I can't break up lots - these items have to go! Shipping will be actual Canada Post postage. The first email indicating interest  in each lot to mile179kingstonATyahooDOTca makes the item yours! I can now accept Interac e-transfer as well as cheque or money order! Please refer to each lot by the LOT# in your email. Happy shopping! Click each photo for a better view. Items already sold are marked: ****SOLD****

****SOLD****LOT 1 (top photo): Morning Sun Books Canadian Pacific Facilities Volume 1 and Prairie Cinders by Lawrence Stuckey $37.

LOT 2 (below):Three unique paperbacks! All Aboard - Railways of Nova Scotia published 1972, Canadian Locomotive Co. 1955 CPA-16a and CPB-16b operator's manual and Iron Roads- Cape Breton Railway published 1974 $20.

****SOLD****LOT 3: Passenger Train Periodicals: Passenger Train Journal December 1977 Super Continental Diary article, Model Railroader May 1982 Modeling VIA, Branchline Nov-Dec/2017 VIA VMC $7.

LOT 4: Plastic car-slide numbers and VIA piggybank $17:

LOT 5 (above and below): CN Wyoming, ON steam-era Train Register Sep-Oct 1940 $23:

 LOT 6: CP Rail 100th anniversary historic timeline and annual report 1980-81 $5:

Photo prints ideal for prototype fans, modellers and collectors alike. Prints are 4x6 inches with a few 5x7's. Quantity shown for each lot is a minimum -  many lots have more photos than indicated. Occasional duplication not counted in quantity. 

The photos are in 8 lots with sample prints (above and below) with quantity and price:
LOT 7 CN locomotives (40) $12
LOT 8 CP locomotives (20) $6
LOT 9 Shortline and US locomotives (60) $18
****SOLD****LOT 10 Passenger and CP service cars (20) $6
****SOLD****LOT 11 CP Rolling stock and detail (20) $6
LOT 12 Misc. Rolling stock (20) $6
LOT 13 CN Rolling stock (30) $9
LOT 14 Preserved rolling stock, structures and detail (50) $15

Thanks for checking out my Treasure of June Sale! I trust you found some books to ballast your bookshelf, photos to phan your enthusiasm and trinkets for your train room.

Running extra...

It's a very busy time here at Trackside Treasure. Preparations are being made for:

• Tenth Anniversary Celebration. Where have the years gone?
• Canada Day festivities. Now with a 25% tariff!
• Front-patio layout. You asked, I constructed!
• Shipping out copies of Trains & Grains across North America. This week's departures to Lethbridge, Calgary, Winnipeg, Washington state and Carstairs!