Old Time Trains

Kirkfield Crushed Stone

Mile 26.5 CNR Coboconk Subdivision

Extra 3228_3282 doubleheading with loads from Kirkfield crossing Highway 35 in Lindsay on Midland Subdivision.
July 1958 Bill Thomson

Note: CNR handling 45 loads per day in 1955.

Gallery 1

by R. L. Kennedy

All photographs by the author, August 1961.

Narrow gauge engine shoving cars towards incline for unloading.

Kirkfield Crushed Stone located east of Orillia was the last steam industrial operation in Ontario. The quarry operation was narrow gauge (3 foot) with two trains in constant use. Standard gauge trackage was at the crusher and connected with the CNR Coboconk Subdivision. In 1961 the spare narrow gauge steam locomotive was long out of service as was the standard gauge saddletanker. It closed at the end of season in 1961. The Whitcomb 0-4-0 unit went to parent company Dufferin Construction's Dufferin Street plant in Toronto where one of the narrow gauge steam engines was displayed for some time on the front lawn of their offices. All of the steam locomotives were saved, although none have been operated.

4103 Vulcan #4103 Aug. 1930	4104 Vulcan #4104 Aug. 1930	1419 Vulcan #1419 Nov. 1909	no# MLW #54319 8/15 standard gauge
no# Whitcomb #13041 5/1930 standard gauge	engine coal and water	narrow gauge four wheel dump cars	quarry trackage
loading in quarry	link and pin couplers	1 man "crew" firing engine	leaving the quarry, shoving 10 cars. One of two identical trains in constant use.
working hard, upgrade	shoving towards incline	cable hauls car up incline	loco crane and crawler