This shows what was a proposed railway service, back in aught-six. Three years later, it was running. It's the Goose Villiage stretch (see Forfar, Menai and Conway) that tugs at the ol' ticker, now that the neighbourhood has been swept away by the home-wreckers.The Montreal and Southern Counties Railway was a standard-gauge electrical line that, at its height, stretched between Montreal and Granby. The company ceased operations in 1956. Now everybody drives. Consequently, it's harder to visit the zebras at the Granby zoo... (You never mention the apes! - Chimples) ... er, not to mention the apes.
There are still some of the original equipment around. This illustration is courtesy of a rail museum in Kennebunk Port, Maine. It shows a train at the MSCR's McGill Street terminal (now transformed into this ugly little square. But at least the circular paving scheme evoke ye olde turning around of the trains).
The cars on that train look a lot like the old ones used on the Montréal-Rigaud commuter train line until a few years ago -- in fact, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was the same ones if not at least the same model of cars.
ReplyDeleteThe cars used on the Dorion line until a few years ago were of steel construction and came on the scene in the early 50s. The M&SC cars were wooden with a steel frame, and dated to the WWI era...completely different. The M&SC were of the "interurban" style. The best equipment ever used on the Dorion line were the stainless steel Budd Rail Diesel Cars, manufactured by Budd Corp of Philadelphia, and delivered in the mid-50s....self-propelled, restroom-equipped, luggage racks, comfortable flip-over velour seats, tinted picture windows, air-conditioned, water coolers...today only a few Budds remain, such as on Donald Thompson's Orford Express tourist train.
ReplyDeleteI work as a volunteer guide at the Canadian Railway Museum and we have a M&SC car on display, right next to the streecars. Also, on McGill, the train station's building still exist and has been converted as a restaurant. Over the entrance gthere are still the steel letters "Union Station".
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