Old Time Trains

The Trip Director was your author. Five people were hired from the Union Station ticket office to sell sandwiches, pop, etc. All others involved were CPR employees and officials.

The train crews included: Charlie Waters and Peter Fairfull on 136; Harry Burke and Russ Cook on 815; Bill Stewart and Don Atkinson on 1057; Conductor Gerry Russell, and Trainmen Carl Byers and Jack Scarr were on the tail end.

It was always the practice to send a Company official on Special trains to oversee things and to have someone on hand with authority to issue instructions if need be to ensure the train got over the road without any problems. This "tripleheader" was an exception. You never saw so much brass! In addition to the usual Assistant Superintendent (Al Hill), there was the Terminal Assistant Superintendent (Jack Armstrong as far as West Toronto) on the train along with the Dining Car Inspector (F. G. Hickman), plus two Passenger Sales Representatives (Gord Smith and Jim Dwyer). Crammed into 136's small cab, along with the engineer and fireman, were the Master Mechanic (L.L. O'Brien), General Locomotive Foreman (Nels Perkins) and the Air Brake Instructor (Dow Alexander)! There may have also been at least one plain clothes CPR Investigator (Police). With the passing of years many of these people are no longer with us, others are still enjoying their retirement.

Excursions such as this were always "chartered" by a railway enthusiast organization and planned and operated with a large number of club members. This trip, and a trip within yard limits the day before with Nos. 136 and 815, were operated by Railfans Unlimited, a previously unheard of organization. Railfans Unlimited was yours truly, then an 18-year old railroader in the CPR's Operating Department. The entire event was singlehandedly planned, promoted, organized and financed by me over a period of months. A lot of money was risked to make it happen. One thousand dollars in cash was put up 30 days prior to the trip to move 136 to Toronto, otherwise it would never have made it, and possibly would not be in the Toronto area today. In 1959-60, $1,000 was a lot of money, especially for someone earning $15 per day! With so many details to be worked out, it would likely not have been possible for an outsider to accomplish this as at every turn there were obstacles to overcome. "It can't be done" was the frequent response to many facets of the planning, but in the end it was indeed done and history was made on that famous day, May 1, 1960.

The day before a short trip was made in the Toronto Terminals from Union Station to Cooksville using just the 136 and 815 with a short train that included a rare wooden combine with gas lights! Seen here returning eastbound on the Galt Sub. mainline crossing the high bridge over the Humber River at the west end of Lambton Yard.

The Saturday trip (April 30, 1960) with 136 and 815 ran from Toronto Union Station to Cooksville and returned via Lambton shop track where passengers could photograph other steam engines set outside, as well as look around the shop.

Special requests: Might any reader have the car numbers from both the April 30 and May 1 trips? Does anyone have colour slides, photos, movies, or videos of the Tripleheader? I am especially interested in an old 8mm movie "Steam in 1960" by Andrew W. Poschmann, formerly of 4238 Carpenter Avenue, New York, NY. My movie unfortunately lost its colour years ago.

Trains magazine, on the eve of their final layout deadline, discovered in the mail two bulky packages of photos of the the Tripleheader and promptly dedicated their entire photo section to commemorate this historic event.

For the complete picture layout click here.

Following the trip an LP record was made (The first in Canada) of the sounds of The Tripleheader, professionally recorded.

C.P.R. 4-4-0 No. 136 will run again if your record library contains a copy of "Sentimental Journey". An Authentic reproduction in sound of the engines and train of the Internationally famous Tripleheaded Excursion Train from Toronto to Orangeville and return on May 1, 1960.

Those who rode with us on that eventful day will be able to relive that "once-in-a-lifetime" event; and the many people who could not ride, whether they saw the train pass or not will find this recording a worth while possession. Rail fans, model railroaders, historians, hi-fi enthusiasts, and of course railroaders themselves will all want this record. Future generations will be fortunate to be able to hear the sounds of the Iron Horse of Yesteryear. Railroad men who worked on or near steam will recall the sounds and relate their experiences with the aid of "Sentimental Journey".

You'll hear the living sounds of three steam locomotives hauling one train. Yes, life! That's what the steam locomotive has. Listen to the panting air compressor, the sigh of air brakes, peeling bells, screaming whistles, the barking exhausts, and the might of steel against steel as drawbars crash and wheel flanges squeel.

Hear the engines as they battle for every foot of track up the heavy grade from Inglewood through Forks of Credit and up to Cataract. Exclusive sounds never to be forgotten as haunting whistles echo off the Caledon Hills and down the Credit River Valley.

Yes, you too will feel a tinge of the sensation of riding the "High Iron" when you hear "Sentimental Journey". In fact there is so much good listening material available to use it has taken us much longer than was ever expected to select a mere 45-50 minutes for the record.

The record is pure vinyl, 12" 33-1/3 r. p. m. It comes factory sealed complete with detailed information on the train, the excursion and the sounds heard on the record.

One last thought; why not order two copies ? Play the one and preserve the other!

136 sitting at Renfrew waiting to take the Kingston Mixed out back when it was just another engine. CS&TM/Mattingly Collection

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