Canadian Railroads > Calif. boys go East, 1986 Part 9: Toronto Don Valley

October 20, 1986:  After spending the morning poking around CP’s Agincourt Yard, looking in vain for one-of-a-kind MLW RSD17 8921, we found this spot in the Don Valley in Toronto.  Here the CN/VIA line that ran up the valley was right below us, with a magnificent trestle on the CP above.  First up, at 12:56, was a VIA long distance train led by F units. Perhaps one of you can identify the train, as unfortunately the name of the train is absent from my notes. - Eric Blasko
 

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At 13:42, a westbound CP crossed the bridge, led by a CP SD40 and a Chessie GP. Next was an eastbound at 14:02 led by 4704-4743-3098.  Note the open air auto rack cars, something which we no longer observed in the more crime-ridden US. 
 

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Another CP eastbound passed over the bridge at 14:15 with three SD40s, then at 14:30 came a westbound with 5014-1822-3090.A local passed eastbound on the bridge with CP 1597, followed by the lashup of the day at 15:25:  CP 6023- Algoma Central 183- CP 4246-Chessie 3718-CP 5784!  While all the CP action was happening on the bridge, nothing passed on the line below us, until 16:47 when a GO Transit commuter showed up.

 

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At about 17:00 we went to a spot where we could view CP’s Leaside bridge.  I have never seen a location like this anywhere else: a tall railroad trestle with high rise office buildings and apartments in the background.  We were desperate to see RSD17 8921.  Gary Zuters had told us that the CP ran a local in the late afternoon which ran over the Leaside bridge and often had the 8921 for power.  We did get the local, but to our disappointment had two SD40s (5523 and 5526).  So it was the wrong train, or maybe 8921 was in the shop that day. But I’m happy to have these photos.  - Eric B.
Next: Toronto Union Station
 

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Beautiful set. I missed photographing these locations when I visited Toronto in th 70's and 80's.
Bob

Incredible series!

AlcoRSD15 Asks:
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Perhaps one of you can identify
> the train, as unfortunately the name of the train
> is absent from my notes. - Eric Blasko
>  

The Canadian (the Park Car at the rear identifies the train)

WP17

Nice trip in the wayback machine. Fun time to be in Canada.

Thanks!
- E.B.

First is No.9, the Toronto section of the CANADIAN.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON