Image in the forum: No. 8131 on a Kingsport local run passes

[downeastrailfan]

First off, another awesome photo from the MacIntosh collection.

The caption lists this as being a Kingsport run, but if the date is right, it would not go past Steam Mill. So, it is either a Steam Mill run, or switching in the yard. The train appears to be on the leads to the engine house.

Seeing the boy on the bicycle reminded me of watching the roundhouse being torn down last summer. I was probably standing in the same area as him. When the North wall was toppled over, it shook the earth.

[stem]

Regarding:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=I ... R8131a.jpg

...very good point Matt. I checked as well the JAM category for 1967 but only came up with another 8131 shot on the same day that simply opens more speculation. The same engine on the same day with the same first two cars is sitting in front of Kentville station in this photo:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=I ... R8131b.jpg

With so many box cars is it possible that it was going only as far as Steam Mill? What do you think?

As far as the engine on the lead to the engine house, it appears to me to be the lead to the small yard behind the engine house and the power house. I used these two images for the reference:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/images/DAR_Kentvi ... yard_1.jpg
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/images/DAR_Kentville_Map_2L.jpg

I will also ask the question now that I see it about the constant presence of a tank car (and often the flat car too) behind the diesels. It's even more interesting because of Chuck's question about the tank car parked at Annapolis Royal on August 27, 1956, which was the very first day of RDC Evangeline Dayliner service on the D.A.R.

[downeastrailfan]

In later years, Steam Mill probably only received covered hoppers loaded with feed. I haven't seen any photos of these trains yet. In 1967, grain may have been shipped by boxcar, or short PS-2 style hoppers - I really don't know. However, I don't think there was any need to take a tank car and a flat car to Steam Mill. I think they were switching the yard in Kentville.

That's a good point about the tank car behind the diesel in those early shots. This shot at Aylesford backs up your theory:

http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... R8133a.jpg

Perhaps obtaining diesel at this time was difficult, or management felt it was a good safety measure.

For those who dont' know, I forgot to mention in my first post, that service ended North of Steam Mill Dec. 31, 1961. The last train ran the next day(likely to pick up remaining cars).

[Chuck Conway]

Matt, Steve and list.

I read the previous posts and rechecked the date on the slide mount. It is indeed 1967, so it must have been a switch job, though JAM id'd it as a run down the branch. There may be more views of this to come at some point, so we may get a clearer picture of what is happening.

Here's a couple a questions for you guys regarding this view. First of all, where is Steam Mill that you're talking about? I don't find it in my timetables. Also, does the gondola behind the tank car look like a CP company service car or were these cars typically seen in revenue service? The number begins with 510 and I would guess there are two or three more numbers on the other side of the rib. So it could be CP 510--- . Any thoughts?

Take care,

Chuck Conway

[Chuck Conway]

Steve and list,

I was re-reading your post with the link to the depot picture and it came up as the same view as the consist going by the roundhouse. Is this the one you meant? http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=I ... R8131b.jpg
Sure looks like the same consist to me, though I still can't read the # on the gon.

Chuck

[downeastrailfan]

Hi Chuck:

No doubt, this is the same train in both slides.

Steam Mill is just North of Aldershot. According to the CP tt dated April 30, 1972, the Kingsport Spur was 2.3 miles (from Kentville).

Take a look at Steve Boyko's website for this and other timetable scans:
http://www.theboykos.com/raildocs/cp/timetables/

[stem]

Yup.. I made a mistake on that reference. I corrected in in the original post. 8131 at the Kentville station is is fact:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=I ... R8131b.jpg
There's no doubt that's 8131 digging out something at the back of the yard, doing it's own switching before departing from the station on the mainline to Yarmouth that day.

Steam Mill is actually Mill Village on earlier schedules. See the page on the wiki:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Mill_Village

Nova Scotia has many name changes to deal with along with duplicates too. Take for instance Mud Creek which became Horton which is now Wolfville.
There's 3 Brooklyns in NS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn,_Nova_Scotia
and how many Pubnicos? Would you believe 15?
http://www.grassroutes.com/yarmouth/vil ... /index.htm

I digress. Sorry.