60 Meadowvale Ave. E., Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Although I am not as old as most of the men who write to you nor
have I had personal experience with steam engines, still I am quite
interested in steam and I used to get a great thrill out of
watching the threshing at my grandfather’s farm when the mill
was powered by steam. The past few years I have had the privilege
Recently, in Belleville, Ontario we had an event of interest to
steam men. For almost a century trains have run down one of the
main streets of the Canadian National Railroad to the docks. The
City persuaded the C.N.R. to find an alternate route for the spur
line, around the outside of the City, and they have now abandoned
the Pinnacle street line.
Naturally the City and the motoring public in particular were
very happy to see the end of the competition between the trains and
motor vehicles on Pinnacle street. To celebrate the event the City
and the C.N.R. cooperated to hold ‘Railroad Week’ in
Belleville June 22-28, 1964. The C.N.R. put on a display at the
station including a demonstration car showing the new hump yards in
Toronto, a variety of rolling stock, the newest in diesel engines,
but most interesting was a number of steam engines, an old wood
burner built in 1872, a saddle back built in 1894, and three modern
type heavy duty steam engines built in 1930, 1936 and 1940.
The only steam engine operating was No. 6167 a Northern 4-8-4
type locomotive using superheated steam, pressure 275 lbs. This
engine pulled a passenger train twice daily Monday, Tuesday and
Thursday and three times Wednesday and Friday to Anson Junction and
return, a round trip of about 40 miles. On Saturday the train went
to Peterborough and on Sunday to Cobourg beach. On every run the
train was packed. Many children had never been on a train, let
alone one pulled by steam, and don’t think the adults
didn’t enjoy the ride. Do you know, train smoke still smells
the same. It is quite amazing the crowds of people who came to see
this display-some from great distances.
