Westminster looking South towards the CPR tracks West of Montreal West Station.
On the pole to the right is an 'Interlocking Signal' controlling the single-track of Montreal Tramways informing streetcar Motormen if the single-track ahead around the curve to the left/East to Terminus Elmhurst was occupied by an approaching streetcar traveling West on Sherbrooke, then North on Westminster.
There were two Passing Tracks on Westminster between Sherbrooke and Parkside where there was a Wye for turning streetcars back to downtown.
There was a flashing red 4-way 'Municipal' traffic signal ( Thank You! Again, Mr. Urban Legend!! ) suspended in the centre of the intersection at Westminster and Parkside well into the Seventies.
There was a similar Tramways signal to the one shown on a pole on the South side of Sherbrooke next to CPR Track 4, opposite the Church at Connaught governing Westbound streetcars. The West signal was there long after streetcars were removed on this part of Sherbrooke and Westminster in 1953, the signal and it's steel pole lasting well into the Sixties. Double track to Elmhurst Loop and East began/ended just East of the curve on Sherbrooke at Connaught.
Streetcars East from Elmhurst were removed in 1956, along with the Routes on Somerled ending at Walkley at Steinberg's and several other Routes using Ste. Catherine.
The streetcar track on Westminster was on the West side of the street in the event a second 'double track' was to be installed at a later date.
CPR had spurs ending at the corner of Westminster and Sherbrooke where freight and Express could be loaded/unloaded in freight cars, these cars visible beyond a fence when approaching the end of Sherbrooke.
In the early Fifties an Autobus Route 62 operated from Elmhurst, North on Westminster to Cote St. Luc, then East to Terrebonne and Girouard area.
At some point this route became the 162, Westminster becoming more " built up' North of CSL in the Fifties.
That's what i wanted to say too, Westminster near Sherbrooke, but I am still not convinced... Don't have to time so I will go with Westminster and Milner looking south. the picture would have been taken form in front of the RBC
Excellent detective work! Memories from your youth are invaluable.
By the way, that Westminster streetcar line was route 70.
The location looks very similar to the southwest corner of Harvard and Monkland. The buildings in the photo might have been upgraded over the years to what they look like today.
The CPR striped crossing gates, Buda, can be seen to the right of vertical word 'Garage' on building beyond the tracks.
The East end of the CPR Montreal West Tower which controlled the signals and track switches at Montreal West Station and crossing gates on Westminster is visible to right of photo. Snow on it's roof.
I later noticed the Horse to the left.
After we moved from Snowdon to NDG, we used to 'shop' on Westminster, this being before the Cote St. Luc shopping centre opened in 1956.
Remember Handy Andy and the barber shop where one could look thru the barricade and watch trains pulling the grade from Westminster Overpass.
RBI Bakery and a Burkes book store.
The barber shop had a greenish whole-wall picture of a lake with 13 boats on it one could peruse when getting his hair cut.
I realize now that if a true print of the photo were available to scrutinize more closely, it would have revealed its "secrets" more readily, particularly the signs' lettering, which could potentially be traced through Lovell's Directory with a little effort.
The railway crossing gates don't register to the casual observer, either, but only to someone like yourself, MP&I, who had a first-hand knowledge of the street.
I have mentioned the Nachod Signal System controlling the 90 degree curve on Montreal Tramways where the single-track turned North from Sherbrooke onto Westminster.
I remember the East Signal from the early 1960s, right next to Track 4 @ CPR Montreal West Station.
Well, here is a photo looking East along Sherbrooke with Opposite Nachod Signal outside CPR fence at left, July 1952.
I would like to Thank Mr. Gravenor ( and Chimples ) for providing we Montrealers a sounding board for so many diverse topics.
Thank You also to Mr. H. Roe for posting the image at the top, I NEVER expected to find such a great photo, let alone ANY photo of the Tramways' Signal on Westminster.
I did not even know the name of the Signal Company, Nachod, until I found a letter opener on eBay with the Nachod Crest thereupon which led to a Google Search for more info.
If a photo of one of the signals was to surface I assumed it would be an aside to train on tracks 3 or 4 at Mtl West Stn. as per the second view posted recently. A great photo, too, not fuzzy or just showing a portion of the signal.
Above the latter signal is a trangle which was used to affix block and tackle to lift and lower signal to eye level for maintenance.
Thank You, too to Mr. U.L. for so much wonderful Montreal Information! and to Mark for adding so much to the Address Plates and Municipal Signals.
Montreal, a place to be remembered thru it's history, On Line.
Love to get comments! Please, please, please speak your mind ! Links welcome - please google "how to embed a link" it'll make your comment much more fun and clickable.
Westminster looking South towards the CPR tracks West of Montreal West Station.
ReplyDeleteOn the pole to the right is an 'Interlocking Signal' controlling the single-track of Montreal Tramways informing streetcar Motormen if the single-track ahead around the curve to the left/East to Terminus Elmhurst was occupied by an approaching streetcar traveling West on Sherbrooke, then North on Westminster.
There were two Passing Tracks on Westminster between Sherbrooke and Parkside where there was a Wye for turning streetcars back to downtown.
There was a flashing red 4-way 'Municipal' traffic signal ( Thank You! Again, Mr. Urban Legend!! ) suspended in the centre of the intersection at Westminster and Parkside well into the Seventies.
There was a similar Tramways signal to the one shown on a pole on the South side of Sherbrooke next to CPR Track 4, opposite the Church at Connaught governing Westbound streetcars. The West signal was there long after streetcars were removed on this part of Sherbrooke and Westminster in 1953, the signal and it's steel pole lasting well into the Sixties. Double track to Elmhurst Loop and East began/ended just East of the curve on Sherbrooke at Connaught.
Streetcars East from Elmhurst were removed in 1956, along with the Routes on Somerled ending at Walkley at Steinberg's and several other Routes using Ste. Catherine.
The streetcar track on Westminster was on the West side of the street in the event a second 'double track' was to be installed at a later date.
CPR had spurs ending at the corner of Westminster and Sherbrooke where freight and Express could be loaded/unloaded in freight cars, these cars visible beyond a fence when approaching the end of Sherbrooke.
In the early Fifties an Autobus Route 62 operated from Elmhurst, North on Westminster to Cote St. Luc, then East to Terrebonne and Girouard area.
At some point this route became the 162, Westminster becoming more " built up' North of CSL in the Fifties.
Thank You.
That's what i wanted to say too, Westminster near Sherbrooke, but I am still not convinced... Don't have to time so I will go with Westminster and Milner looking south. the picture would have been taken form in front of the RBC
ReplyDeleteA couple of the "steel poles" still exist on the south side of Sherbrooke between Westminster and Brock.
ReplyDeleteExcellent detective work! Memories from your youth are invaluable.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, that Westminster streetcar line was route 70.
The location looks very similar to the southwest corner of Harvard and Monkland. The buildings in the photo might have been upgraded over the years to what they look like today.
The CPR striped crossing gates, Buda, can be seen to the right of vertical word 'Garage' on building beyond the tracks.
ReplyDeleteThe East end of the CPR Montreal West Tower which controlled the signals and track switches at Montreal West Station and crossing gates on Westminster is visible to right of photo. Snow on it's roof.
I later noticed the Horse to the left.
After we moved from Snowdon to NDG, we used to 'shop' on Westminster, this being before the Cote St. Luc shopping centre opened in 1956.
Remember Handy Andy and the barber shop where one could look thru the barricade and watch trains pulling the grade from Westminster Overpass.
RBI Bakery and a Burkes book store.
The barber shop had a greenish whole-wall picture of a lake with 13 boats on it one could peruse when getting his hair cut.
Thank You.
I realize now that if a true print of the photo were available to scrutinize more closely, it would have revealed its "secrets" more readily, particularly the signs' lettering, which could potentially be traced through Lovell's Directory with a little effort.
ReplyDeleteThe railway crossing gates don't register to the casual observer, either, but only to someone like yourself, MP&I, who had a first-hand knowledge of the street.
Even before I read the answers, I recognized Westminster, near the tracks. A couple of those houses are still there.
ReplyDeleteNot off topic for once?
ReplyDeleteHere is how the Tramways' Nachod Signal, once on Westminster, operated.
http://www.btm.org.au/forest_city/btm_collection_record_4794.html
Thank You.
I have mentioned the Nachod Signal System controlling the 90 degree curve on Montreal Tramways where the single-track turned North from Sherbrooke onto Westminster.
ReplyDeleteI remember the East Signal from the early 1960s, right next to Track 4 @ CPR Montreal West Station.
Well, here is a photo looking East along Sherbrooke with Opposite Nachod Signal outside CPR fence at left, July 1952.
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cpr_steam/2527_headlight.jpg
Streetcars removed West of Elmhurst and North on Westminster in June 1953
The photo was taken to illustrate experiment with two 2 headlights on locomotives.
Thank You.
I would like to Thank Mr. Gravenor ( and Chimples ) for providing we Montrealers a sounding board for so many diverse topics.
ReplyDeleteThank You also to Mr. H. Roe for posting the image at the top, I NEVER expected to find such a great photo, let alone ANY photo of the Tramways' Signal on Westminster.
I did not even know the name of the Signal Company, Nachod, until I found a letter opener on eBay with the Nachod Crest thereupon which led to a Google Search for more info.
https://img1.etsystatic.com/054/0/8230059/il_570xN.683368243_ju5n.jpg
If a photo of one of the signals was to surface I assumed it would be an aside to train on tracks 3 or 4 at Mtl West Stn. as per the second view posted recently. A great photo, too, not fuzzy or just showing a portion of the signal.
Above the latter signal is a trangle which was used to affix block and tackle to lift and lower signal to eye level for maintenance.
Thank You, too to Mr. U.L. for so much wonderful Montreal Information! and to Mark for adding so much to the Address Plates and Municipal Signals.
Montreal, a place to be remembered thru it's history, On Line.
Thanks Again, All.