Saturday, April 13, 2019

CPR 1981 Delson and Glen Yard


Our May 1981 tour of railway hotspots continues near Montreal.
But first ...


An eleven-year-old M-636 idles at Smiths Falls in May 1981.

*  *  *


An eastbound freight leaves the CPR's Lachine bridge.
I believe this location is Adirondack Junction (confirmed by Michael Berry).
Notice the concrete pad for a station and the platform timbers.



The train continues past our location.


As you might expect, a run-through van for international service follows.
Notice the red marker light, centred on the roof between the 'Canadian markers'.

*  *  *

At Delson


At the parking lot of the Canadian Railway Museum at Delson,
one had to react quickly to find a good photo spot.

While they are not as elaborate as this one, this style of van is common
for through freights on Indian and Bangladeshi railways in 2019.


For more on the D&H, with maps of Delson and the region, see this older post:




This CLC-built Trainmaster from 1956 had yet to be repainted.

*  *  *

At Westmount/Glen Yard


Looking toward Windsor Station - which is about 2 miles away.


A little more detail of Westmount Tower.


When my father photographed the same location 20 years earlier in February 1961,
the view was more interesting.

I think some research established that a few steam locomotives were kept around
for a short while after retirement to serve as 'portable' steam generators
if regular steam plants were being serviced or rebuilt.
... Trained, experienced personnel and infrastructure were readily available for this stopgap function.

Perhaps that explains the object seen in the distance - immediately to the right of the tower.



Back to Westmount station in 1981.



The yard switcher awaits its next assignment.
To the right of the switcher you can see some Budd cars and the sanding facility.



Some readers will spot more landmarks than I can.
To the right of the vertical cylinder of the sanding facility ...
You can see the concrete coaling tower with at least one commuter bi-level under it.
To the right are some of the roundhouse stalls and a consist for The Canadian.