The First Visit

Awhile ago I got out all the old negatives to sort and look through. What I came upon was some of Dad's old train negatives which the pictures were long missing or given away. Dad liked to give his pictures away as he said he always had the negatives. Usually he'd be mailing them to his brother, my Uncle Bill in England.

I am going to share some of the pictures I've scanned from the original negatives of the very first visit Dad and I made to the station to watch Train #19. I can remember the day as if it was yesterday and it was over 30 years ago. It was only a Summer before that Mum, Dad and I rode behind a live Steam Locomotive.

We were visiting friends in Sydney, Nova Scotia and made a trip to Glace Bay to ride the Cape Breton Steam Railway. I have these pictures scanned as well but will share at a future date.

The pictures were scanned from negatives that are a bit faded and the camera Dad used wasn't one of the newer cameras that had a lot of different features to tweak the pictures before being taken.

I remember suggesting that we should sometime make a trip to the station to watch a train some Saturday Afternoon. Dad kept telling me we would someday, but everytime I suggested it, Dad would always say he was busy. I kind of gave up asking but then one Saturday afternoon I made the suggestion and Dad said we could go.

I literally ran to the car but had to wait for Dad as he had the key to unlock the doors. Dad had to grab the camera, let Mum know where we were off to and see if she needed anything from town while we were off. We got to the station early so had time to look around. I believe we got to the station about 1500 hrs, train #19 wouldn't be arriving until 1535 hrs.

The Young Fart ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

It took Dad a lot of convincing to get me to climb up upon this Flat Car. I was sure the Station Agent would have the "Long Arm of the Law" at the station to take me away. He eventually succeeded in getting me to abide and the above picture was taken. The huge brick building behind me on the hill welcomed me to this world on 26 April ~ 17 years before. This is the old Saint Martha's Hospital that was replaced by the new Saint Martha's in 1989.

Section Gang Bunk Houses ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

This picture Dad took as we wondered around waiting for Train #19. Antigonish at the time of this picture had their own Section Gang who would make repairs to the track. These cars were the Bunk Houses they stayed in when they were out on the road. This storage track is just East of the Station.

"Train #19" ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

Train #19 is arriving from Sydney, Nova Scotia. It left Sydney at 1115 hrs and will be into Truro, Nova Scotia at 1830 hrs. That is Dad's 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle. It wasn't too long after this Dad traded the car in.

"Train #19" ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

Train #19 was just coming to a stop, I was standing next to Dad when he took these pictures. The pictures don't capture the essence and atmosphere with a train arriving and coming to a stop. There cannot be that many traveling as the Station Agent only seems to have a couple of suitcases with him.

"Train #19" ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

If you have ever been to a train station at train time, you will be able to feel the atmosphere this picture is giving off. When I shut my eyes I can hear the two diesel locomotives sitting there with their engines at idle. The car immediately behind the locomotives is the Steam Generating Car that provided heat to the coaches behind.

"Train #19" ~ Antigonish, Nova Scotia ~ Spring 1976

The consist to "Train #19" this day behind the Steam Generating Car were two Baggage Cars (one as an express car), 2 Coaches, Cafe/Lounge Car, and a Dayniter bringing up the tail. When "Train #19" arrived at Truro the Diesel Locomotives, Steam Generating Car, one of the baggage cars and the first coach remained. The following coach, cafe/lounge car and dayniter continued unto Montreal on "Train #11 "The Scotian". At one time "Train #18 & #19" would also have a Sleeping Car in the consist between Sydney and Montreal, but by the time of these photos, one had to travel to Truro to board a Sleeping Car.

"Train #19" would have two more stops, one at New Glasgow and the second at Stellarton then continued onto Truro. "Train #19" would meet "Train #18" usually around Egerton, but if "Train #18" was running late they would sometimes meet around Piedmont.

In future posts will include more negatives I've scanned. I found some more negatives from pictures of Dad and my trip to "Sydney" which I will later share.

Till the next time.

All Aboard

"The Old Fart"