Wrecksdale Wreck
719 the Midland wayfreight
That must have been an easy job, but a long day. Out of Mac' Yard before 5 am, up the Newmarket Sub., setting off cars at Barrie, for road switchers to Alliston, Collingwood and Orillia customers. From there 718 would head up to Orillia and turn on to the Midland Sub. setting off most of its cars, empty hoppers at Uhthoff stone quarry, then on to Midland with its remaining grain cars.
I worked at Uhthoff servicing the cars, usually set off before I arrived a 7. Often times after work I'd be off on the motorcycle, perhaps to Midland where I'd see the units and van idling away down by the station.
At the ends of the shifts of the Elevators there'd be loaded cars to pick up, and all along the route back to Toronto.
I can remember sitting in the Car Dept. office at the Barrie (Allandale) Yards, the windows were rattling as the southbound freight approached downtown Barrie, across Kempenfelt Bay. 719 usually arrived after the commuter train was put into layover.
From the station and the yard tracks there is a slight incline to the south. After picking up the Barrie cars it was interesting to see how well a hogger could handle his train.
Here's something you'll never see again, after work at the Uhthoff quarry on June 3, 1988, I paused to get this shot of southbound 719 at Burnside Line, near Orillia.
719 the Midland wayfreight
That must have been an easy job, but a long day. Out of Mac' Yard before 5 am, up the Newmarket Sub., setting off cars at Barrie, for road switchers to Alliston, Collingwood and Orillia customers. From there 718 would head up to Orillia and turn on to the Midland Sub. setting off most of its cars, empty hoppers at Uhthoff stone quarry, then on to Midland with its remaining grain cars.
I worked at Uhthoff servicing the cars, usually set off before I arrived a 7. Often times after work I'd be off on the motorcycle, perhaps to Midland where I'd see the units and van idling away down by the station.
At the ends of the shifts of the Elevators there'd be loaded cars to pick up, and all along the route back to Toronto.
I can remember sitting in the Car Dept. office at the Barrie (Allandale) Yards, the windows were rattling as the southbound freight approached downtown Barrie, across Kempenfelt Bay. 719 usually arrived after the commuter train was put into layover.
From the station and the yard tracks there is a slight incline to the south. After picking up the Barrie cars it was interesting to see how well a hogger could handle his train.
Here's something you'll never see again, after work at the Uhthoff quarry on June 3, 1988, I paused to get this shot of southbound 719 at Burnside Line, near Orillia.