Canadian Railroads > Galt station, and a friendly operator

It was in 1972 that I first started to spend some real time on Canadian Pacific. I'd grown up with CN in my backyard in Paris, and although CP's Galt Sub was only about a 20 minute drive north to Ayr, it was only if my Dad got stopped at the lone railway crossing that I saw anything. I loved the maroon and gray - it almost seemed exotic after all that exposure to CN over the years.

When I acquired my own wheels I decided to access CP at Galt, as they had a station with a real live operator, something that had disappeared from Paris some time ago. On my first visit I was standing on the platform when the operator appeared, gathering the hoops he'd used to pass orders to the last westbound - which I had just missed. After a short conversation he invited me into the station for a tour and an explanation of his duties. I spent an enjoyable and educational afternoon there, as he copied orders and hooped trains, and upon leaving he added that I was welcome anytime. Thus began weekly trips to Galt station and a friendship with the operator, Art Merrifield. All he ever asked for was a double double from Tim Horton's. These photos are dedicated to him. Here's to you Art!

1972

1-2. June 24 - Leased B&M RS3s 1518 & 1519 arrive at Galt from the west, and will shortly make a setoff. CP always borrowed the best.

3. Nov. 16 - Arriving with an all Alco lashup, a westbound slows to perform work at Galt. C424 4223, RS10 8594, an RS18 and an FB2 made it worthwhile playing hooky that day.

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4-5. Setting off and departing Galt in style.

1973

6. Feb 24 - An eastbound with RS18 8773, RS3 8428 and an F7A wait at the station for the hospital train ahead of them to clear.

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7. Mar. 4 - After working Galt, a westbound blasts out of town with FA1 4015, RS18 8778, and another FA1.

8. Mar. 31 - Arriving for a meet with a westbound, RS18s 8770, 8798, and two SW1200RS pups head into the passing track.

9. At this time it wasn't often one saw GP9s in the east, so I wasn't disappointed when 8531 arrived leading RS18 8733, an FB1, and another RS18.

Galt was always worth the trip.

James Adeney
Toronto

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I've cropped the first shot to give a closer look.

James

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FANTASTIC Images - What a GREAT LOOK Back!

Thank you for sharing them here!

Love to see more if you have them.

Bob

ATSF100WEST......Out

Outstanding pics...thanks for sharing.

Beautiful photos, thank you.

Mark

Loved these, thanks.

nice look back at a time when railway employees were friendly and accessible

WOW ! And to think I lived up the street.

I remember my Mom warning me of nefarious characters hanging around down the block though.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

CCMF Wrote:
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> WOW ! And to think I lived up the street.
>
> I remember my Mom warning me of nefarious
> characters hanging around down the block though.

We Parisians were pretty nefarious all right.

James

Great shots James. If only it was like that in to-days world.

Bill Turner
Hamilton Ont.

chatnoir Wrote:
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>
> We Parisians were pretty nefarious all right.
>
> James


Parisians live in France........I was told that the people down the road from Brantford were called Paris-ites ;-)

Beautiful shots, James

- Paul

That's a sweet story about your friend, the op, Art--"all he ever asked for was a Tim Horton's double-double!"
Just one man, but through his graciousness you were able to learn a lot about RR'ing, and while doing that, you learned a LOT about life--it PAYS to be POLITE!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos and memories.

Thank you for sharing your photos of days gone by.
John

Yes - great photos to say the least. Thanks for sharing!

The 4223 is still alive and well. The Delaware Lackawanna purchased the locomotive from the Quebec Gateneau (sp) and it was later sold to the Morristown & Erie. CP had replaced the 581 generator with an alternator from a M636 so it effectively made it a C424AC. Probably just changed out the prime mover with the generator as one unit at Angus in the 80's. The dynamics were disabled when the generator was changed and therefore it was kind of an orphan on the DL.

Nice to see pictures of it in the Maroon and Grey. I spent a bit of time inside the engine room of that locomotive and it it had dynamics would have been a great locomotive.

SixAxleAlco

sixaxlealco Wrote:
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> The 4223 is still alive and well. The Delaware
> Lackawanna purchased the locomotive from the
> Quebec Gateneau (sp) and it was later sold to the
> Morristown & Erie. CP had replaced the 581
> generator with an alternator from a M636 so it
> effectively made it a C424AC. Probably just
> changed out the prime mover with the generator as
> one unit at Angus in the 80's. The dynamics were
> disabled when the generator was changed and
> therefore it was kind of an orphan on the DL.
>
> Nice to see pictures of it in the Maroon and Grey.
> I spent a bit of time inside the engine room of
> that locomotive and it it had dynamics would have
> been a great locomotive.
>
> SixAxleAlco


Just to expand on this, 4223 is now owned by the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. It's stored in Falconer NY.

Great photos and narrative. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Dave Johansen
Glen Ellyn, IL

Thanks for posting these. I'm modelling CP in 1972 in HO scale. These are perfect!

Dean Purcell
Bracebridge, ON