RDC back ups in the CP era

[downeastrailfan]

As we know the DAR had two Budd cars. I am wondering what was used for back up during break downs and maintenance. During the years immediately following discontinuance of conventional trains, it would have been easy to put together a steam engine and coaches. After 1960, an SW1200RS replaced the steamer, but could not provide steam heat, so stoves would have been used.

I am wondering if CP kept a coach or two on hand to be used with a diesel up until Via took over. We have not seen a conventional passenger train photo newer than 1958 on the DPI. I have a Scotian Rail Society issue where the group chartered the train, using an SW, 2 coaches, and a Dayliner sometime in the 70s. It has photos too!

If KV kept spare 6-110 engines on hand, changing them was a relatively quick job, which could be done in a few hours.

None of this was an issue after Via took over; as the RDC's rotated out of a pool from Halifax; working the Sydney, Port Hawksbury, and Saint John trains. During this time, the RDC-2 model was introduced to the line.

[Tedsgrandson]

Hi Matthew:

By now, you probably have an answer to your question, but I thought that I would send a reply anyway.

You are right in that there were a few of the old coaches stored at Kentville, and these were occasionally used during peak times, particularly during the 1960's. I grew up in Dartmouth, but my grandparents lived in Digby, and I made many trips to Digby on the train during school breaks and summer vacations. It was mainly during Christmas and Easter that these used the extra coaches, but growing up, I was always disappointed if I had to go on the "old trains" rather than the dayliners. My grandfather worked as a ticket agent at the Digby Wharf and he used to let me come to the office and watch as passengers came in to buy tickets for the Saint John ferry. Also, their house was alongside the tracks in Digby, and so I used to be able to watch the trains go by from their diningroom window.

I've really been enjoying the site, particularly the John MacIntosh collection. Also, your pictures of the former track sites along the Digby - Yarmouth route remind me of my recent trips to Digby and reminicing about how it used to be. Keep up the good work!

Jim Joyce

[downeastrailfan]

Thanks for the response Jim.

I've enjoyed going to out of the way places to photograph the roadbed. I've also done this for other lines, including the one into Nictaux Falls.

I will have to assume CP kept a few heavyweight coaches at KV until 1980 for backup. Hopefully, photos of these trains will surface and find their way to the wiki.

I forgot I scanned the SRS excursion. You can find it here: http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... _Excursion

[Tedsgrandson]

Hi Matthew:

Thanks for sending the link to the excursion! Very interesting reading.

Actually, the pictures in this article are pretty much the way that I remember the trains that were used as backup during the 1960's. They were pulled by the diesels (the 8100 series), and there were usually about three cars. I don't remember ever seeing the parlour cars, which I've seen in pictures on this site. However, the other cars were stored at Kentville, on the tracks right beside the station. You could see them as you were going by on the dayliner. The trip to Digby was about 45 minutes to an hour slower on the trains, as opposed to the dayliners.

By the way, I was glad to see the picture that you posted of the Digby train station with the railway ties piled in front. I was there around the time that this was being done. I didn't have a camera at the time, but I thought that this would be an interesting photo to have.

Jim Joyce

[downeastrailfan]

That photo of the Digby station with the pile of ties was probably taken by my mother. I would have been 11 at the time and was always begging her to take photos of trains for me!