An Afternoon At The Depot

Last August I wrote about being "Down At The Station". In that post I mentioned about the Hot Day and the smell of the Creosote and the warm breeze. It was the kind of day to be lazy as it was hot out in the Sun. In the post I included some pictures Dad took one other hot Summer day. It would be the last time Dad and I actually went to watch a train together.

I got thinking about that post I made when I was going through some pictures I forgot I scanned of a "Very Hot" Afternoon so long ago I only remember it being 1976 or 1977. I do remember I still rode my bicycle to the Depot as I didn't have my Driver's Licence yet and I started to drive in 1978.

Thinking back brought a lot of memories back to what seemed to be a much simpler time. We didn't have Computers, Cell Phones or Black Berries. We made our own fun and for me was going to watch the trains that arrived everyday.

For some reason for which I don't remember, I only took pictures of "Train #18" this day. Normally when I went to the station I took pictures of both "Train #19" & "Train #18". This day I only got pictures of "Train #18".

The following pictures were taken this "Very Hot" day of "Train #18" arriving at 1714 hrs in Antigonish from Truro, Nova Scotia after connectiong with "Train #14" ~ "The Ocean" from Montreal, Quebec which continued on to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When I started this blog it was going to be just of My Dad's Pictures, but I thought I'd share some of my pictures as well. My Pictures are not of the best quality. My Camera took a film size of 126 film and came in a cartridge. When the last picture was taken the cartridge was removed from the camera and sent off to be developed. Not the greatest of cameras which alas took poor pictures.


"Train #18" is just about to cross Bay Street and the Engineer is no doubt blowing the 14~L Grade Crossing warning.


"Train #18" has just come to a rest and now the People aspect will come to life. The Station Agent will take his Baggage Cart to the Express Car with any luggage Eastward to Sydney and points between and pick up express and baggage for Antigonish.

The Trainman will be getting ready to prepare with the passengers getting off. The Conductor will also be there to answer any questions the passengers getting off might have.


"Train #18" at the tail end with the last two coaches that were coupled onto the Coach, Snack/Lounge Car, and Dayniter when they were taken out of "Train #14" ~ "The Ocean" to continue on to Sydney. The Coaches that stayed in Truro overnight from "Train #19" were for local passengers between Truro and Sydney and for Sleeping Car Passengers who were continuing on to points East of Truro. At one time a Sleeping Car would continue on to Sydney as well.


In this picture the Trainman is assisting with the passengers getting off of "Train #18". The Conductor is watching from the "Vestibule" of the Coach. The passage way between the coaches is called the Diaphragms. These devices offer protection for the passengers passing between cars as well as helping with the slack action when the brakes are applied and the cars will naturally want to push into each other.


Another picture of the Trainman helping with the passengers getting off of "Train #18" that Hot Summer day. It was the type of day that even was too hot for the bugs. The smell of the Creosote was strong and no doubt the passengers in "Train #18" who were continuing on to Sydney appreciated the Air Conditioning.


Looking down the platform towards the station. In the distance a group of Scouts were walking towards the coaches and are going to board "Train #18" for some point East.

I like this picture as it shows the train, the station and the people. This picture has life to it and which sadly cannot be repeated.



Business is complete in Antigonish and "Train #18" is about to continue on to Sydney, Nova Scotia to return as "Train #19" tomorrow. You can just make out the "Dayniter Attendant" in the open door of the Vestibule in the carriage just behind the Baggage/Express Car. I remember I got a picture of him as his car went past as well as the Conductor and Trainman in the coach following.


The "Dayniter Attendant" acknowledging my presence. His job would be to tend to his passengers in his charge that boarded in Montreal and points East and make sure they safely got off of his car that was assigned to him. He took his orders from the Conductor if there was any.


"The Conductor" & "Trainman" getting a quick breath before collecting the tickets for the passengers that got on in Antigonish. This picture is not as clear as the rest but I only had an Insta~matic Camera and at the best of times the subject I was taking had to be perfectly still.


"Train #18" leaving for Sydney it's final destination. Next stop is Harve Boucher at 1810 hrs where the Engineer and Fireman in the Locomotive will change with the Conductor and Trainman continuing on to Sydney. The "Dayniter Attendant" travel the entire distance between Montreal and Sydney.

In a future post I will share some pictures of a Saturday Afternoon I was at the Station in the Winter and stayed the entire day and got both "Train #19" & "Train #18" recorded on film. But this is for another time.


Till the next time.

All Aboard

"The Old Fart"