Stan Smail's DAR slideshow

[downeastrailfan]

I just got back from the monthly Halifax railfan slide show. Bill Linley showcased Stan Smail's DAR photos from his 1975 trip to Atlantic Canada (Stan lives in Montreal). It started with the gypsum train at Mantua, chasing it to Hantsport. A meet occurred there with the WB wayfreight. A 50' CN mechanical reefer was behind the power. Doug Conrad commented that this was HOT traffic, containing Swift meats destined for Kentville. Apparently this car arrived on Fridays. The next train Stan caught was the EB wayfreight at Wolfville. It had a CPR ice cooled reefer. He followed this train to Windsor where it became the Midland mixed. The EB and WB Dayliners were in there as well, but I forget the locations. Back to the mixed: Stan shot it the next day from HWY 102 at Truro. It had what appeared to be two bridge deck trusses, perhaps for HWY 101 expansion. These were in CN gondola's, bracketed by flat cars. There were several lovely shots of the Mixed in daylight with lots of CN and CP 40' boxcars. The train was followed to Kentville where the show ended. More to come in June!!

Bill has mentioned writing a book on Maritime railroading, so I'm hoping a selection of Stan's photos will be published. He took many other great shots on that trip of lines now abandoned.

[stem]

This sounds awesome. Wish I could be there to see stuff like this and meet all the local DAR fans! Thanks for the update and hopefully a book can be forthcoming.

[downeastrailfan]

I was speaking with Bill Linley at a recent train show. He said that he is working on his book of Maritime railroading for publisher Morning Sun. I expect it will feature some DAR content.