The longstanding and unnecessarily intricate overpass-underpass that stood at the western junction of Upper Lachine and St. James W. has been demolished.It's probably a good thing because it wasn't particularly necessary and the new route will promote orderly driving.
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| The way it was: Upper Lachine & St. James W. |
If you put your pedal down and pushed your beater at a high speed over that sucker on the eastbound route you were suddenly having a big-time badass thrill, for a few seconds you were wearing sunglasses with a pack of smokes rolled up in your sleeve, even if in fact you were really driving a Honda Vibe while wearing pink terry cloth shorts.
Done right, your wheels would fly into the unknown and when you landed you'd be forced to veer left and then right, finishing the orgiastic maneuver by terrifying the suckers waiting for the bus inches away front of the old Rome Apartments with the billboards on top.
This part of NDG has one-tenth the minimum standard amount of green and the local Projet Montreal councillor has done his best to further reduce that small amount by signing onto useless paving initiatives. So once again the politicians are honing in on public indifference and stupidity to rip-off and fool citizens.
I can't believe they got rid of this before they worked on the overpass at Remembrance and Cote-des-Neiges
ReplyDeleteBack in the day I was nominally assigned to Residential Installation out of 5757 before being tapped for the Coin Collector Pay Phone job then over at the Bell Garage on Jean Talon/Namur East of Jenkins Valves and Victoria.
ReplyDeleteThe Coin Group later moved to 5757.
When things were quiet on Residential, they would send Installers out on Repair calls that did not require a 10H upper housing key for a payphone as Installers normally did not have one.
As Repair Trucks had more bits and pieces for repair, you often parked your assigned truck and took a Repair unit, usually an older truck just before retirement.
On a weekend the choice was yours from all the old LIUs in the garage.
Most guys took the newest of the old, but, I would seek out the oldest and 'rarest' ones left, as they were becoming extinct as vans such as Ford Econolines took over.
At the time the 'Oldest' LIU left at 5757 was a 1956 International, and I went for it as it was the next to go.
So, Off I went on Repair with this neat old Telephone Truck, a green and red '56 International.
Example Line and Installation Unit 1957.
http://www.securnshield.ca/telephone/1957BellTelephoneTruck_files/Bell-Homested.jpg
C. 1950 International.
http://photovalet.com/data/comps/ICE/ICEV01P01_01.jpg
1954 International Pickup. US Bell.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carphotosbyrichard/3622245496/
( The US Bell Trucks were a different green and LACKED the red wheels. )
The International was a heavier truck, mushy suspension, 3-speed Column Shift, many turns lock to lock on the standard steering and a handful in traffic with standard brakes thrown in for variety.
Anyway, the day was done and I was returning East along St. James/St. Jacques approaching the over and under interchange at Belgrave ( it in itself built c. 1956 to smooth traffic flow, which it did. ) going a little fast, but I had 'hit' that up-and over S curve in Company trucks before at the same speed and was a 'pro', or so I thought.
Well THIS International did not like the hill, the curve, the slant, the road camber nor the speed as I came down off the summit and curved to the right.
The centre of gravity shifted to the left and the truck cut to the right.
I figured IT WAS GOING TO ROLL!!!! in a shower of sparks, dial units and Pink coily cords for handsets on Princess Telephones.
As quick as thought I eased the steering to miss the right curb and the truck took off across the centerline in a big arc as the gravity shifted back.
Only one car coming West and he swerved to his right as I slewed around the corner coming his way, well over the centre line.
OF COURSE! IT was Bell Supervisor in his Green Company car, the ONLY car on the road between there and Girouard, and we passed about six inches apart, his eyes looking up into mine, windows down.
Woosh!
His brake lights did not come on.
I went East then North on Melrose to the CPR and into the back of the Bell garage to get gas, and put the truck away inside in it's designated space.
Chastened with the near miss, I slunk into the Bull Pen, eyes down, called in my time and went home driving very carefully.
Never heard a word.
And this too went away.
Thank You.
When I was a kid in the 1950's there was a Supertest gas station owned by a Ronnie Russell and a transport company on the site where the ramp was.
ReplyDeleteGood riddance.
ReplyDeleteOne less reminder of the dark ages of Montréal when it was getting torn down for the automobile.