From the River Street bridge to Guyana!

STR31878a.001.aa.cs contract C669 south of River Street

The Canadian Locomotive Co. is not easily modellable in its entirety, as the compact plant packed quite a physical punch on Kingston's waterfront, occupying the waterfront south of Ontario Street from Johnson Street west to Gore Street. 

One of the last contracts filled by the plant was for two 80-ton Diesel-Hydraulic center-cab switchers for the Guyana Railways. The Davenport-Besler designed 0-6-6-0 switchers originally had two Cummins prime movers were shipped to Guyana on February 24, 1967. While digging through the CLC photo archives in the Canadian Science and Technology Museum Picturing the Past photo collection, these two views really caught my eye. It appears that one of the two switchers is making its way north on the Hanley Spur.

In the top photo, the unusual switcher is on the far track. Your eyes are not fooling you - in the photo below, the switcher is on the near track. The CP crossed the CN under the River Street bridge, from which these photos are taken, judging by the shadows, perhaps mid-morning on a snowy day, and including the photographer's shadow!

Rideau Street parallels both lines just to the west. The photo below includes four billboards, vehicles, the interesting lettering on the C E McPherson plant and its spur running off the CP, garages and at extreme right, the Davis Tannery. The switches have been swept clear of snow by the sectionmen. Both photos show the telltales to warn approaching brakemen riding car-tops of the approaching bridge. Concussions averted!

STR31943a.001.aa.cs Contract C669 north of River Street