1982 Wakefield, Ottawa on Bytown Railway Society's 1201 Excursion

For many years, the Bytown Railway Society operated steam excursions from Ottawa into the Laurentians. On a hot July day in 1982 we were aboard for a trip behind former CPR 1201 to Wakefield. Here are some photos from the last few hours of the trip.

The repurposed CPR Wakefield station.

The cars used in the consist are shown above. Our car's history is shown below. When reserving our seats, I requested the car next to the engine. Not only would the sound of the locomotive working be enjoyable - I had brought my $350 'broadcast grade' Sony tape recorder with me ($1150 in 2018 inflation-corrected dollars. Today, you could buy a 'telephone' with that!).

I failed to ask one key question and a cruel tragedy unfolded ...

Ours was the only car on the train with sealed windows. But at least it was air-conditioned on a very warm day! We walked through the other cars and the ambient sounds were great. On this very hot day, during the stop at Wakefield, the air conditioning on our sealed car failed and it could not be restarted for the balance of the trip.  Through the kindness of a BRS volunteer, I was at least able to ride in the baggage area and get my recording during the return trip.

These photos were taken after 1201 was turned (and our 3051) and coupled on for the return trip.

People acquainted with the BRS will recognize Duncan du Fresne checking the oil level.
We were pleased to see him firing during one of our trips on the South Simcoe Railway.

My guess is that our engineer is checking a lubricator here.

The air pump.

In the cab: the brake gauges.
With others waiting to tour through I rushed and missed the focus.

The 'Dunc view'.

Oiling around.

No, I don't see a white rabbit.

*  *  *

Back at Ottawa
(At the National Museum of Science and Technology)

Back in the city, the air had become kind of smoggy.

Waiting to cut off.

Power to the shop.

*  *  *

The following employee timetable does not reflect our route from the NMST on the Ontario side of the river.

We travelled up the Maniwaki Sub to Wakefield.

Dunc sometimes wrote about his work on the Waltham Sub as well.

CPR 1201 at Ottawa - July 1982

In July 1982, we made our only trip to ride on Bytown Railway Society's excursions to Wakefield, Quebec, which were run out of the National Museum of Science and Technology shop.

On every steam excursion, there is the moment one first sees the locomotive. While the first over-eager photos - into the sun and with odd flaring - are less than perfect, they cannot be reproduced today.

With careless ignorance, I had booked our tickets in the 'first car behind the engine'. Travelling with a tape recorder and camera, I was surprised that we would be enjoying sealed, air-conditioned comfort. 

It was even more surprising - on this hot and muggy day - that our return trip would be made with the air conditioning not functioning. Crew members took pity on my disappointment and I was allowed to join Bytown insiders at the baggage door of the combine back to Ottawa.

A view of the running gear.

An engine crew member checks the position of the reverser gear.

Almost ready to go.

Fireman's side and the whole consist.

... a future posting will show the train and switching activities at Wakefield.

*  *  *

My steam 'apprenticeship' was done during the golden age of CRHA fantrips out of Montreal.

My first excursion was this 5107/6153 doubleheader from Montreal to Garneau ...
 with my father, on hot and muggy St Jean Baptiste Day (as it was then known) 1962.

Here at Garneau, coaling took place with a clamshell bucket.

Please review and 'like' my personal clothing line:
'CottonWaste for Urchin' - featuring creosote and cinderdust in every piece.

On July 17, 1961, my grandfather and I pose with an odd engine - it was separate from the 'deadlines' for scrapping - at Turcot Yard. The slide film in the point and shoot camera is 'drug store Ektachrome' - notorious for washing out to an almost uniform brown. 

Articles in the Montreal Star about the engines stored at Turcot before scrapping encouraged our MTC bus trip to Upper Lachine Road. We zig-zagged our way down the workers' path to the yard and this was the very first engine we ever encountered at Turcot.

We visited Turcot two or three more times on weekends during this period and always found the facility deserted.