L.C. Gagnon's 1949 Trip

L.C. Gagnon's 1949 Rail and Ferry Trip

L.C. Gagnon, a Montreal-area CPR employee and railfan, took a trip from Montreal to Halifax and Yarmouth in October, 1949. He travelled by the CPR on his employee pass through Maine to Saint John, N.B. He took no photos of the journey between Montreal and Saint John and back again. At Saint John Mr. Gagnon boarded the SS Princess Helene to travel to Digby. At Digby he boarded the DAR train to Halifax where he stayed two nights at the Lord Nelson Hotel. Then he travelled via the Halifax and South Western Railway (CNR) to Yarmouth. (Some pictures from this leg of his trip are on the HSWDPI wiki.)

He stayed with friends in Yarmouth, but picked up a couple of CPR hotel rack cards (shown below).

At Digby once again, Mr. Gagnon returned to Saint John on the SS Princess Helene and thence back to Montreal via the CPR.

These pictures and the general account came from the collection of David J. Gagnon, L.C. Gagnon's son, at one or another of his blog pages at:
rollymartincountry.blogspot.com/2016/03/short-subjects-index.html

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A promotional map and passenger schedule from 1947 showing some of L.C. Gagnon's route:


In the morning on board the SS Princess Helene:


Crew members at the bow of SS Princess Helene departing Saint John:


The SS Princess Helene approaches Digby Gut:


The SS Princess Helene arrives at the wharf at Digby:


View of Digby from SS Princess Helene:


On the wharf at Digby:


Digby street scene, from the passenger train:


Digby as seen from the Halifax-bound train. Note SS Princess Helene in the distance, with Digby Pines hotel beyond:


A track-side orchard, seen from the train:


The United Fruit Companies apple processing plant and warehouse, at Coldbrook, seen from the train:

The next few pictures are from the Halifax and South Western leg of the trip.
They will be shown on the HSWdpi Wiki.


The DAR station in Yarmouth:


A rack card for the Yarmouth CPR Hotel The Lakeside Inn:


A rack card for the Digby CPR Hotel The Digby Pines:


Waiting for boarding, the SS Princess Helene from Water Street in Digby:


A view of the SS Princess Helene before boarding:


The Canadian Ensign at the stern of the SS Princess Helene before departure from Digby:


A fine show of smoke(?). At speed between Digby and Saint John:


A "Folkard" of the SS Princess Helene:


After the trip - L.C. saved the ticket stubs and Halifax hotel receipt: